Defense agency taps ODIN Tech for RFID equipment

The Pentagon's objective to have all its distribution centers capable of receiving shipments with passive RFID tags has come closer to fruition with a newly awarded contract.

ODIN Technologies of Dulles, Va., won a Defense Logistics Agency deal to deploy passive RFID equipment at 26 facilities globally by the end of 2007. The award is worth up to $7 million.

RFID tags contain chips or antennas that enable them to receive and respond to radio frequency queries from a transceiver. They are widely used in shipping and supply-chain management.

Since 2005, the Defense Logistics Agency has required some suppliers to add RFID tags to cases and pallets of military supplies being shipped to its two busiest distribution centers.

The intent of the contract is to extend RFID capability to all Defense Department distribution centers worldwide. The contract will allow the use of passive RFID tags within the military supply chain.