The University of Florida has been awarded a $49 million contract by the U.S. Air Force to deliver services for its Research and Engineering Education Facility, or REEF.
Enhancing Education & Research Capability
The Department of Defense said Friday the indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract covers the academic core of a regional innovation, education and workforce development competency. In addition, the Gainesville, Florida university will provide open and applied research capability that supports Air Force Research Laboratory and Eglin Air Force Base missions.
Under the sole source acquisition contract, UF will perform work at Shalimar, Florida. It is anticipated to be completed by Feb. 7, 2030. The contracting activity is the AFRL in Eglin AFB, which is located adjacent to the university. It will not allocate funds at the time of the award.
The University of Florida REEF, an extension of the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, was established in 1969 to foster and sustain partnerships with the private, academic and public sectors in Northwest Florida. It aims to drive the growth of the region’s innovation economy by offering courses and curricula in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical and computer engineering and industrial systems engineering.
The REEF works with the Air Force on its research requirements while students gain experience working with UF and USAF researchers on a variety of complex subjects, particularly autonomy, data science and solid mechanics.
