A Medical Device Daily

Harris (Rochester, New York) reported it has been awarded contracts totaling about $50 million from the U.S. Army for its Falcon II AN/PRC-150(C) high-frequency (HF) radios.

In addition to supporting the Army's ongoing missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the AN/PRC-150(C) radios will be used to support several distinct efforts by the Army, including communicating potential biohazards and providing a communications backbone during times of natural disasters.

The company received a contract as part of the Joint Biological Point Detection System/Biological Integrated Detection Systems (JBPDS) program by the U.S Army Research, Development and Engineering Command. JBPDS equipment will monitor, detect and alert officials to airborne biological threats.

The HF radios will be utilized as part of the communications system to relay possible threat information.

Harris has also received contracts to provide the Army National Guard with AN/PRC-150(C) radios for much-needed emergency communications as the hurricane season begins. The HF radios will provide rugged, long-haul communications in several states where hurricanes may be prevalent, the company said.

“With its digital voice algorithm, the AN/PRC-150(C) provides clear voice communications over stressed HF channels, making it highly reliable in times of crisis,” said Jerry Adams, director of U.S. Army sales, Harris RF Communications. “Its embedded, high-speed modem and automatic link establishment ensure that the Army can transmit crucial data rapidly, securely and effectively, even in degraded channel conditions.”

In other contracts news, Oncura (Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania), which focuses on the minimally invasive management of prostate cancer, and Novation (Irving, Texas) the healthcare contracting services company of VHA (also Irving) and the University Health System Consortium (UHC; Oak Brook, Illinois), reported that Oncura has been awarded a three-year contract to provide VHA and UHC members with a portfolio of prostate brachytherapy products.

The three-year agreement became effective June 1, and offers Ocura's Iodine-125 and Palladium-103 products.