Team wins $2.7 billion Air Force deal

A joint venture of Computer Sciences Corp., El Segundo, Calif., Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., Pasadena, Calif., and General Physics Corp., Elkridge, Md., has won a contract worth up to $2.7 billion to support an Air Force flight testing center, CSC announced July 30.

Under this 12-year contract, which starts Oct. 1, the companies will support the Air Force Materiel Command's Arnold Engineering Development Center, a flight-testing center located at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn., as well as a wind tunnel located in White Oak, Md.

Jacobs Engineering is the managing partner for the venture, called Aerospace Testing Alliance. Jacobs specializes in professional technical services for industrial and government clients. It reported $4.6 billion in revenue for 2002 with a $110 million in profit, according to Hoover's Online of Austin, Texas.

General Physics, a subsidiary of GD Strategies Corp., White Plains, N.Y., specializes in offering training, engineering and technical services.

"The ATA joint venture formalizes a relationship that has existed informally since 1995," said Jim Nicholson, CSC vice president for its defense group. "Through [Aerospace Center Support], a joint venture between CSC, DynCorp and General Physics, we supported many of the center's operations while a Jacobs Engineering-led group supported others."

More than 2,000 people from the three companies will support the center, which simulates atmospheric conditions for testing aircraft, missile and space launch systems.