Northrop Grumman Files Second Protest About Air Force Choice for Distributed Common Ground System Upgrade Program
BALTIMORE - March 12, 2004 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has initiated a second protest over the award by the U.S. Air Force's Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., of a $157 million contract to a competitor for the modernization and upgrade of the Air Force's existing Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS).
The DCGS 10.2 program is intended to modernize existing Air Force Distributed Common Ground System sites through a block upgrade effort that establishes a multi-intelligence environment. Further, the effort will establish standards and appropriate activities through a DCGS integration backbone, which will facilitate data and product sharing with other U.S. military services, while protecting their investment in ongoing service programs.
On March 2, Northrop Grumman filed a new protest with the General Accounting Office (GAO) challenging the Air Force's new source selection. On March 9, the GAO denied an Air Force request to dismiss this second protest by Northrop Grumman.
The Air Force selected a competitor for the DCGS 10.2 program in spite of: a Northrop Grumman price that was $52 million below the competition; and admissions by the Air Force that Northrop Grumman's requirements-compliant, service-oriented solution fully met all DCGS program requirements. Also, Northrop Grumman has an existing and available baseline system that already meets 80 percent of the DCGS multi-intelligence requirements - unlike the competitor's - and which can be rapidly spiraled to meet the DCGS requirements, including the DCGS Integration Backbone (DIB), with low technical, financial and programmatic risk.
Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector, headquartered in Baltimore, is a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of defense and commercial electronic systems, including airborne radar, navigation systems, electronic countermeasures, airspace management systems, communications systems, space sensors, marine and naval systems, government systems and logistics services.
CONTACT: Jack Martin Jr.
Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems
(410) 765-4441
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