MCLEAN, Va., Aug. 28, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection, an agency of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a contract to provide border security surveillance for land ports of entry along the southwest U.S. border. The pilot program will offer total operational security while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel.
As part of the contract, Northrop Grumman's Information Technology (IT) sector will design, develop, test, and install a surveillance solution to secure more than 40 official border crossings along the 1,900-mile U.S. border with Mexico, from San Diego, Calif., to Brownsville, Texas. The company will also train personnel.
"Our team's past experience designing the DHS's security command center as well as our extensive work for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) installing similar security systems and command centers along the entire northern U.S. border speaks to our ability to serve CBP effectively," said Wood Parker, president of Northrop Grumman IT's intelligence group.
Northrop Grumman will also design and implement four regional command centers to monitor security systems at each port of entry. These centers will allow designated personnel to survey port perimeters, secured areas, and the interactions between CBP personnel and the public at these critical facilities. The security solution includes surveillance, communications, video analytics, network and IT components, and data archival capabilities.
"Border security problems should be addressed with an integrated solution of processes, technology, infrastructure and rapid response capability, which will produce a comprehensive border protection system," said Tom Arnsmeyer, Northrop Grumman vice president and program manager. "Through our experience integrating large, complex programs, our integrated security solution for this contract will allow border agents to focus on what they do best: protecting our borders."
Northrop Grumman and its team will deliver a system that will identify potential threats at and to ports of entry; collect information through surveillance technologies; characterize and resolve threats through preventive measures and interdiction of cross border violations; tie sensing capabilities into a common operational picture, allowing surveillance of port activities at Customs Area Security Centers and other entry ports; and allow designated personnel to survey port perimeters, secured areas, and personnel interaction.
The contract is potentially valued at up to $33.7 million over five years, and was awarded by the General Services Administration (GSA) under the GSA Millennia contract.
Northrop Grumman's team includes New Technology Management, Inc., Reston, Va.; CLMS, LLC, Arlington, Va.; and GRW, Inc., Muskogee, Okla.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense company headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in systems integration, defense electronics, information technology, advanced aircraft, shipbuilding and space technology. With more than 120,000 employees and operations in all 50 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.