The U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract for its Design and Engineering Support Program (DESP III).

Northrop Grumman is one of 26 companies to receive awards under the contract, which has an overall ceiling valued at $1.9 billion.

The DESP III contract is specifically established with Air Force Material Command, but it may be used by all Department of Defense (DoD) agencies.

"Our sustained performance and innovative logistics coupled with more than 20 years of supporting earlier versions of this contract were paramount in our selection for one of the DESP III awards," said David Gustafson, DESP III Program Manager, Northrop Grumman Technical Services.

"DoD and our nation's warfighters will now continue to have a partner with the highest level of integrity committed to unparalleled performance in keeping our nation's weapon systems mission-ready," he added.

Under the DESP III contract, Northrop Grumman will compete for individual task orders focused on improving life cycle costs, operational life, performance and sustainment of DoD weapon systems. The contract vehicle has a seven year period of performance.

"Our heritage with supplier and subcontractor management across many programs - to include those at our logistics and sustainment centers of excellence supporting the three Air Force logistics centers - strategically positions us to better partner with our customer," said John Parker, Director, Global Logistics and Modernization, Northrop Grumman Technical Services.

"Worldwide missions demand worldwide support, and we're standing by to carry out these DoD missions whenever and where ever," Parker added.