8-koi Receives Patent for Military Approved Bollard System

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The US Patent Office issued Patent No. US 11,319,681 B2 to 8-koi on May 3, 2022 for a bollard system invented by 8-koi VP of Construction Otto Herrera. The patent application for the physical security device used to restrict vehicular movement was filed August 6, 2020 in response to a DoD customer’s request for a solution to their force protection.

“Their fancy hydraulic traffic retractable bollard system was inoperable because of built up debris and muck within the mechanism. I couldn’t fix the existing problem, nor could the manufacturer, but I thought a simpler retractable system could serve the same purpose,” says Otto. “I proposed a conceptional system with a cardboard model to test the basic functionality for a customer demonstration and they greenlighted it.”

Otto went to work to complete the design and fabricate a full-sized prototype to install and test. The total cost for the first unit is a tremendous cost savings when compared to the dysfunctional barrier system that was installed, not inclusive of the time lost and the associated labor required to maintain the original system.

8-koi’s patented OttoBollardTM deployed at secure facility

The simple OttoBollardTM design is made to be permanently installed, stowed in place, easily maintained, and operated manually to replace more complicated and expensive hydraulic traffic control systems. It is designed to give property owners the choice of how and when they change protection levels and or traffic patterns. As an example of maintainability, 8-koi’s OttoBollardTM was easily repaired and made ready for service with minimal downtime the same day following impact.

Applications include property egress paths, facility egress paths, civic meeting places, and roads and other similar locations where bollard systems are not to be permanently installed and there is a need to modify or change potential traffic patterns. The OttoBollardTM eliminates off site storage of temporary bollards or other similar systems when not in use. The OttoBollardTM reduces recurring costs of transport, manpower, rental, and deployment.

8-koi’s patented OttoBollardTM in the secured position

“Our patented bollard is a simple system that is quick to deploy, operates without electricity or hydraulics, requires no storage, and works in all weather conditions,” says 8-koi President Inga Young. “We are looking forward to targeting sales to municipalities for secure event areas like sports arenas, stadiums, and parks to help with crowd control and hopefully avoid tragic public safety disasters such as the recent parade crashing events we see on the news.”

A woman-owned company, 8-koi currently supports design engineering and construction contracts with public and private organizations to include Eastern Florida State College, Daytona State College, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, and Army Corps of Engineers among others. See more construction capabilities.

DOWNLOAD OttoBollardTM sales flyer PDF.

8-koi Supports Opening of NASA Lunabotics Competition Arena at Kennedy Space Center

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The NASA Lunabotics Competition Arena is open for the first time to students after a two-year delay caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Designed and constructed in 2019 by 8-koi, the Lunabotics Artemis Arena at Kennedy Space Center in Florida serves as the venue for the fourth and final competition event of the year-long challenge. Lunabotics challenges college and university teams of students from across the United Sates in a full-on engineering exercise where participants receive practical experience in the full engineering lifecycle process from concept development to system closeout.

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8-koi Names Robert M. Sullivan, P.E. as Vice President, Engineering Division

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Robert Sullivan is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Florida who enthusiastically accepted the position of Vice President for 8-koi’s Engineering Division, effective March 11th. In this leadership position, Robert will be taking the lead for current and future projects at Cape Design Engineering Co. (CDE), a wholly-owned subsidiary of 8-koi.

Robert joins the team in Merritt Island with over forty years of experience as an innovator in the fields of capital project contracts management, civil environmental, structural, and construction engineering, planning, forensics, emergency and reconstruction management, expert litigation support, and safety.

With over 25 years of service with the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department FEMA response team, Florida Task Force One (FL-TF1), Robert’s work as a Structural Specialist with this international response rescue team has been integral in the development of his operations management skill set to include accurate rapid assessment and detailed analysis to achieve mission-critical goals when time and resources are not always optimum.

“Robert brings a high level of industry expertise and keen understanding of senior/executive management to 8-koi and CDE. His multi-disciplinary experience and background in Earned Value Analysis (EVA) will be an asset to growing our Design Engineering capability for years to come,” stated Dean Rosenquist, 8-koi’s Chief Operating Officer.

With a portfolio that includes work on special capital projects related to construction of unique buildings/facilities, airport and airfield upgrades, harbor dredging, environmental and hazardous waste system upgrades, value engineering, roadway and bridge transportation project management, Robert will be tasked with aligning business development strategy to CDE’s in-demand capabilities.

“My motivation and motto is: Plan the Work – Work the Plan,” says Robert. “I’m really looking forward to making the most of the next chapter in my career with this dynamic small business.”

Please help us welcome Robert to the Team and be sure to connect with him on LinkedIn to learn more about his work.

8-koi Exhibits at Navy Contracting Summit June 24-25

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8-koi is a virtual exhibitor at the Southwest Defense Contracting Summit June 24-25, 2021. We are joining hundreds of prime contractors, subcontractors, military officials, contracting officials, financing experts, and defense agencies from throughout the country at this year’s Navy Contracting Summit with Defense Leadership Forums.

Sign-up for our quarterly newsletter before June 30th to be entered in a random drawing for a $100 cash card. Join at 8-koi.com.

We stand ready to partner in capturing a portion of the new Pentagon and Navy contracts resulting from the $740 Billion 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. Our design engineering and construction capabilities include post-catastrophe response, BIM modeling, energy simulations, underground, infrastructure, safety planning, communications, and logistics.
Not limited to buildings and infrastructure, 8-koi contributes to developing public health resiliency during the COVID-19 pandemic with healthcare-related capabilities to include direct care, medical supplies (PPE), logistics, training, administration, and contract support services.
Be sure to visit our virtual booth at the Summit and we look forward to connecting with you on LinkedIn!

8-koi Wins Army Corps Three-Year Renovation, Repair Contract

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8-koi is one of six competitively selected Woman Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs) to win the Army Corps of Engineers’ Horizontal Construction, Renovation, Repair, and Incidental Design Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for a three-year period of performance with work taking place in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Georgia.

The general construction contract requires 8-koi to provide supervisory, technical, and administrative staff to include field superintendents, quality control managers, architects, engineers, interior designers, clerks, and project managers, among others. 8-koi maintains a General Contractors license in the state of Florida and has provided design-build services to government clients since 2016.

Task orders for engineering-design and construction projects may include new construction and/or rehabilitation of facilities and structures such as project management offices or shop buildings, storage facilities, campsites, bath houses, picnic sites, playgrounds, picnic shelters, courtesy docks, boat storage, etc. to include power, paving, and roofing in the Army Corps’ Mobile District.

“This is our first contract with the Army Corps and our team is looking forward to supporting this agency with improvements to public use areas in the Southeast region,” said 8-koi President Inga Young.

8-koi Construction Division Vice President Otto Herrera says, “It’s always exciting to start work with a new customer to learn their preferences, adopt their standards, and develop the relationship over time to meet their needs.”

In March 2019, 8-koi acquired Cape Design Engineering Co. (CDE) to expand its WOSB design engineering and mil-spec construction capabilities. The company is headquartered in Merritt Island, Florida and has completed projects for the US Navy in Jacksonville and in Kings Bay, Georgia, among others. 8-koi currently employs 130 people to support its construction and design engineering divisions.

8-koi Exhibits at Southwest Defense Contracting Summit April 6-7

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8-koi is a virtual exhibitor at the Southwest Defense Contracting Summit April 6-7, 2021. We are joining hundreds of prime contractors, subcontractors, military officials, contracting officials, financing experts, and defense agencies from throughout the country at this year’s Southwest Defense Contracting Summit with Defense Leadership Forums.

All new followers between March 30th and April 16th will be entered in a random drawing for a $100 cash card. Follow 8-koi on LinkedIn!

Because so many installations were affected by extreme weather events earlier this year, a major general session on energy resiliency will be included in this year’s summit program. Our design engineering and construction capabilities include post-catastrophe response, BIM modeling, energy simulations, underground, infrastructure, safety planning, communications, and logistics.
Not limited to buildings and infrastructure, 8-koi contributes to developing public health resiliency during the COVID-19 pandemic with healthcare-related capabilities to include direct care, medical supplies (PPE), logistics, training, administration, and contract support services.
Be sure to visit our virtual booth at the Summit and we look forward to connecting with you on LinkedIn!

New Field Office in Jacksonville

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8-koi is pleased to announce the opening of a new field office in Jacksonville, Florida. The new Orange Park location at 534 Park Avenue is the company’s fourth brick-and-mortar office and will become home to a growing construction team already operating out of the Jacksonville area. Located just three miles away from NAS JAX, this field site will allow us to expand our capacity as a leading provider of building and construction services to Government agencies across the Contiguous United States (CONUS) and Outside Contiguous United States (OCONUS). It has been an exciting twelve years for 8-koi, and this recent expansion reflects our vision for growth and will better position us for future success as an EDWOSB contracting partner of choice.

Read the coverage in the March 2021 issue of Brevard Business News.

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NASA Lunabotics Competition Arena Construction at KSC Completed by 8-koi

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8-koi has completed the construction contract to build the Robotic Mining Competition Indoor Arena at KSC in Florida. Awarded by the NASA Shared Services Center (NSSC), 8-koi furnished all the labor, equipment, materials, transportation and supervision within a budget of $292,957.

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The newly constructed arena will host the international competition on May 18-22, 2020, at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation in the Center for Space Education at KSC. Competing teams are challenged to design and build a robotic excavator that can excavate the most simulated lunar dirt within a specified time. Teams submit a systems engineering paper and educational outreach project. The competition is designed to promote and engage students in the science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, disciplines critical to NASA’s missions.

Check out the video from the previous Robotic Mining Competition.

8-koi Acquires Cape Design Engineering as Wholly-Owned Subsidiary

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8-koi is pleased to share that President Inga Young negotiated the acquisition of Merritt Island design-build firm Cape Design Engineering  (CDE) as a wholly-owned subsidiary to expand WOSB mil-spec construction capabilities. CDE was founded in 1997 and has completed an extensive portfolio of high-profile specialty work for government and commercial customers.

“8-koi acquired CDE because of the similar and familiar culture. We’ve been doing business together for years and have found compatibility that will help to ensure a smooth transition with little to no effect on day-to-day operations. Our focus will remain on supporting our customers with our core values,” says 8-koi President Inga Young.

The acquisition will allow 8-koi to pursue more competitive opportunities for specialized mil-spec construction work to include healthcare and training facilities as a complement to existing capabilities.

Read the full press release here.