TRW AWARDED CONTRACT: POTENTIAL OF $55 MIL TO PROVIDE T&E TO SUPPORT TO DOD.

TRW Inc. (NYSE: TRW) has been awarded a follow-on contract with a potential value of $55 million over five years to provide engineering, technical and analysis support for the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) in the Department of Defense (DoD).

TRW will provide independent review, assessments, recommendations, project management, technical expertise and other capabilities and skills that will assist the Office of the Director and subordinate organizations in a wide range of test and evaluation activities.

Over half of the work provided under the contract will support the DOT&E's Resources and Ranges Directorate, which has oversight authority over the Major Range and Test Facility Base, a group of key test installations, facilities, and ranges located throughout the United States and abroad. A comprehensive list of locations can be found at http://www.acq.osd.mil/te/mrtfb.html.

As the senior advisor to the Secretary of Defense on the testing of DoD weapons systems, the DOT&E is responsible for reviewing and analyzing the results of tests conducted for each major DoD acquisition program and for providing oversight to ensure DoD acquisition programs are adequate to confirm the operational effectiveness and combat suitability of a defense system. The DOT&E also provides independent test and evaluation assessments to the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics and to Congress.

"The test and evaluation phase is an integral part of the acquisition process," said Pam Sullivan, vice president and general manager, TRW Information and Technical Services. "For more than 20 years, TRW has been committed to assisting the Department of Defense with systems acquisition oversight to help ensure that the products and services fielded to our troops meet operational requirements."

The cost-plus-fixed-fee contract, which includes a one-year base award of $10,487,142 with four one-year options, was awarded by the Defense Supply Service-Washington on Oct. 15. Work will be performed in Arlington, Va. Teammates include Science Applicatioto the warfighter by conducting operational assessments to identify and solve deficiencies throughout the military's command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems (C4ISR).

In addition, TRW last month won a contract with a potential value of $262 million to support the Joint Warfighter Center in Suffolk, Va. The JWFC conducts joint and multinational training exercises, crisis rehearsals; and aids the Chairman and Joint Chiefs of Staff to prepare for joint and combined operations and assists in the conceptualization, development and assessment of joint doctrine.