WASHINGTON — Booz Allen Hamilton won a seven-year $630 million contract from the U.S. Space Force for systems engineering and integration of satellite systems used for missile warning, environmental monitoring and surveillance, the corporate announced Oct. 4.
Based in McLean, Virginia, Booz Allen is a big consulting firm that gives management and technology services. The Space Force contract is for support services of satellite programs run by the Space Systems Command’s space sensing program office, including the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) and legacy constellations.
The corporate originally won the Space Sensing Systems Engineering and Integration contract in 2022 however the award was placed on hold on account of protests.
Booz Allen shall be answerable for the combination of various elements of major space sensing programs, comparable to the satellites and ground stations used for missile warning and missile tracking, environmental monitoring and other data collection from space, Eric Hoffman, vice chairman and leader of Booz Allen’s space business, told .
The role of the systems integrator is important in a program like Next-Generation OPIR where there are different contractors working on the satellites and the bottom systems, he said.
“The federal government has to essentially act because the integrator and make certain all this stuff come together and ultimately deliver warfighter capability,” Hoffman added. “Our role is to assist make that occur, make certain that digital engineering environments are arrange and may seek advice from one another, and the bottom systems are synchronized.”
One other task under this contract is to support the users of the infrared imagery and other data collected by satellites. “There’s so far more that could be done with the information that comes off of the assorted platforms,” Hoffman said. Booz Allen will apply artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to assist operators analyze data, he said.
Contract under protest for 16 months
The Space Sensing SE&I contract was previously held by SAIC. The Space Force recompeted it and chosen Booz Allen in January 2022. Shortly after, the award was protested by SAIC and Mantech International.
After the bid protests were settled, the Space Force was cleared to maneuver forward with the contract award to Booz Allen in June 2023.