General Dynamics to retool HHS grants portal

General Dynamics Corp. won a five-year, $18.8 million contract from the Health and Human Services Department to deliver systems integration services for a portal where prospective grant recipients can find information about federal grants and apply for them.

General Dynamics IT will relocate and maintain the current grants.gov system through March 2007. The company also will create an improved Web site to be delivered next March and supply continued maintenance and enhancement of the new systems during the contract's duration.

Launched in 2003, Grants.gov lets applicants search for grants, register to receive notices about new opportunities, download application packages and instructions, complete applications offline and upload completed applications.

The Web site sends an electronic receipt confirmation to applicants and delivers their completed package to designated agencies. The new system will support all grant applicant communities no matter which computer operating platform they use.

HHS issued the award in the name of Anteon International Inc., which General Dynamics acquired in June.

General Dynamics of Falls Church, Va., has about 81,900 employees and reported 2005 revenue of $21.2 billion. The company ranks No. 4 on Washington Technology's 2006 Top 100 list of the largest federal IT contractors.