Hughes snags $27.8 million NOAA pact

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last week awarded a contract worth an estimated $27.8 million to Hughes STX Corp. to support the National Weather Service's modernization and restructuring programs.

Under the Systems Engineering and Technical Support Services (SETSS) contract Hughes the incumbent contractor will support several programs in NWS's $4.5 billion modernization effort.

Hughes will provide production and field implementation support test and evaluate weather sensors and develop algorithms for the Automated Surface Observing System program. ASOS is a network of ground-based sensors that automates weather data collection and dissemination.

Hughes also will support program planning and scheduling for the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System which processes and displays weather data.

In addition the contractor will maintain the agency's National Transition Database which tracks milestones related to modernization programs and support the weather forecast office certification processes as new offices are opened and new technology is introduced.

Although a recompete SETSS contract requirements have been adjusted to meet the new workload activities for the systems and the modernization effort said Stephen Auer contracting officer technical representative at the NWS.

Hughes vice president Dick Bishop said about 90 people will work under the new SETSS contract. EG&G Washington Analytical Services and an 8(a) company SES are Hughes' subcontractors.

SETSS is a five-year contract with one base year and four one-year option periods.

Unsuccessful bidders on the contract are believed to include CTA Inc. and subcontractors RDC and GSC a subsidiary of Science Applications International Corp.