|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: SHAYE O’DONNELL
SEPTEMBER 29, 2005
Tel: (202) 224-7073
ALBUQUERQUE SMALL BUSINESS TO MANAGE
$12 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT FOR AIR TEST BED
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator
Pete Domenici today praised Applied Technology Associates (ATA) in Albuquerque for securing a
$12.04 million contract with the Army to help in the research and development of cargo planes
capable of conducting in-flight experiments.
The small business, located
at the Sandia Science and Technology Park, gained the substantial funding to support the mission
of the NKC-135 or “Big Crow,” a modified cargo aircraft designed to be an airborne laboratory
for testing and training.
“The work performed by this
small business is part of the Pentagon’s efforts to invest in research that provides the best
technology for our troops. There is no better substitute for information gathered in
in-flight testing that could be more valuable to pilots and astronauts,” Domenici said.
Domenici is a member of the Senate Defense
Appropriations Subcommittee who has secured $100 million in New Mexico-related funding within
the FY2006 Defense Appropriations Bill that was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee
Wednesday.
The $12 million grant from
the Army will allow ATA to provide technical, analytical, advisory, management and security
services for the research, development, testing and evaluation of Big Crow program operations.
The work will be conducted at Kirtland Air Force Base and is scheduled to be completed in 2010.
The Big Crow air test bed
performs a variety of work, including refueling tests with new aircraft types, airborne laser
trials, electronic countermeasures testing, weightlessness training for astronauts, and numerous
programs involving the testing of airborne equipment and space technology.
ATA specializes in all aspects of
precision sensing, measurement and controls. In its 30-year history, ATA has provided
large-scale experiment support to government and DOD sponsored advanced technology demonstration
programs, and has created unique technical solutions in response to program needs.
|
