(Newport, RI) -- The Naval Undersea Warfare Center is announcing a significant new agreement with a Middletown-based group. The Newport center and the Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium will enter into a three-year agreement to speed up the federal contracting process for the acquisition of prototype undersea technology and innovative maritime systems. Senator Jack Reed, a ranking member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, says the move will allow for priorities to be streamlined. Congressman Jim Langevin, a senior member of the House Armed Services and Homeland Security committees, also attended yesterday's announcement.