Contracts

Boeing Gets $153.5 Million GPS Technology Contract

The Naval Research Laboratory gave The Boeing Co. [BA] a $153.5 contract to demonstrate High Integrity Global Positioning System (GPS) technology concepts.

That contract is expected to run through 2010.

The High Integrity GPS effort combines satellite signals from the Iridium Low Earth Orbit telecommunications system and GPS Mid Earth Orbit navigational satellites to enhance navigational availability, integrity, accuracy and jam-resistant capabilities for warfighters.

The need to provide a more capable GPS for warfighters stems from the increasing sophistication of hostile jamming capabilities. GPS supports numerous military and civil applications, so the ability to jam the system presents a grave threat.

Based on its years of experience supporting the operation of the Iridium system, Boeing is able to integrate the system with GPS to create the first such combined navigation and communication "system-of-systems."

The High Integrity GPS team includes Boeing Advanced Systems and Phantom Works, Iridium LLC, Rockwell Collins, Coherent Navigation and experts from academia.

Iridium Satellite LLC, headquartered in Bethesda, Md., operates the Iridium constellation to provide worldwide voice and data satellite communications services for the private sector and the U.S. government. Boeing has provided Iridium with systems engineering and constellation management functions since the system became operational in 2000.

NASA Gives Northrop Global Hawk Support Contract Worth Up To $25 Million

NASA gave Northrop Grumman Corp. [NOC] a contract worth up to $25 million for engineering and technical services on two Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles that NASA will operate, the space agency announced.

The contract runs for five years, to Aug. 5, 2013.

Dryden Flight Research Center, a NASA facility, will operate the robotic aircraft, and their ground control stations and related systems.

Technical assistance will include analysis, design support for unique systems, simulations, software development and engineering, and operational and manufacturing support as needed.

Dryden will use the autonomously operated unmanned aircraft for missions supporting the Science Mission Directorate in the space agency and the Earth science community that need high-altitude, long-endurance, long-distance airborne capability.

The two pre-production Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration aircraft recently were transferred to Dryden from the Air Force, which had no further requirement for the craft.

NASA Awards $88 Million Glenn Research Center Support Services Contract

Glenn Research Center awarded a follow-on contract to DB Consulting Group Inc. of Silver Spring, Md., for support services at the Ohio center, NASA announced.

DB will provide a variety of tasks including work involved in computer science, computer and software engineering, security, networking, application development and Web services at the center.

The total value of the indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract, including a three-year base period of performance and one two-year option, is approximately $88 million. The contract is to begin in September.

NASA Awards Contract Worth Up To $40 Million

NASA gave Information Dynamics of Elyria, Ohio, a contract to provide business and data architecture, technical architecture, architecture integration and governance, and compliance reporting services.

The firm fixed-price blanket purchase agreement has a base period of two years, with three one-year options. The total value of the contract is $40 million if all options are exercised.

Subcontractors include NextConstruct of Dayton, Md., Patriot Technologies of Reston, Va., and EDS of Herndon, Va.

The contract will be managed by the NASA Shared Services Center in Bay St. Louis, Miss.