WORKMERK LLC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: X224-OCSO1

Description

WorkMerk, a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDOVB) currently providing technology to businesses in multiple sectors, proposed to embark upon a research and development project to develop technology that would allow efficiencies in the food service operations on base as well as the development of technology that would allow for a personal repository of training and certifications.   This project would be conducted in Alignment with the Air Force Food Transformation Initiative. The research and development project will determine the potential efficacy around technology that will: Identify Food Safety and Process issues and inefficiencies Food Handler and management process management. Risk Management and rapid reporting. Stakeholder identification and analysis. Bottom-up investigation: Roles, responsibilities, areas demanding attention.  Provide Access to and a Database for Training and Accomplishments Access to industry training and certificate programs Access to individual base food safety training Individualized upload of classes taken, and certifications received Improve readiness Verification of standard operating procedures that are in accordance with base level and national food safety code. Reduction in time historically taken to identify and stop the spread of food borne illness. Improve culinary proficiency The research and development is proposed based on the identification of the following high level opportunities. Lapses in food safety are extremely detrimental to unit readiness Validation of critical compliance procedures are mostly paper-based and rearward looking Food safety incidents are reported through message traffic, leading to delays in response In conjunction with the Air Force Food Transformation Initiative, The Honorable Jack Reed Chairman Committee on Armed Services United States stated, “Building on past food service transformation efforts, DoD is looking across all sectors of the DoD food environment to identify and address barriers to, and opportunities for, modernizing the on-installation food service system.” The research will help determine the efficacy of a platform that expands the reach of current data collection to improve foodservice, hospitality training and readiness across the Air Force.