State Department Awards Messaging Contract To Northrop Grumman

The State Department has awarded a contract to Northrop Grumman Corp.'s IT unit to modernize its messaging systems to serve 46,500 foreign-service workers employed at 260 locations worldwide.

The contract, announced Thursday, is initially valued at $3 million, but could grow to $237 million over 10 years if all options are exercised.

The system, known as Smart (State Messaging and Archive Retrieval Toolset), will replace the department's multiple fragmented messaging systems. Smart is designed to simplify how employees to find and access all information necessary to analyze foreign policy issues.

Northrop Grumman says it will replace existing messaging and E-mail systems; incorporate document management, search and retrieval, and build the foundation for knowledge management; provide commercial-off-the-shelf integration with minimum essential customization; design, integrate, test, pilot and deploy the Smart system; and provide operations and maintenance.

In June, a pilot system will be tested by 3,000 State employees in the United States and selected overseas locations. Worldwide deployment is slated to occur throughout 2005.

Subcontractors include Advanced Research Technologies, Allied Technology Group, BEA Systems, Computer Information Specialists. Integrated Technologies, Crius, Data Systems Analysts, DigitalNet, Bantu, Hewlett-Packard, and Worldwide Information Network Systems.