Harris wins $1B services pact

The company will lead an industry team operating the National Reconnaissance Office's communications and information systems.

Officials at Harris Corp. announced today the company will lead an industry team to operate the National Reconnaissance Office's communications and information systems.

NRO officials awarded Harris a contract worth up to $1 billion to provide communications and information technology services for the spy satellite intelligence agency. The work includes operations, maintenance and support services, according to an Aug. 26 Harris statement.

Harris Technical Services Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of the company, will work with AT&T, CACI International Inc. and Raytheon Co. on the contract. "The NRO systems support work will focus on transforming the existing mode of delivery of communications and IT services to a performance-based IT Infrastructure Library-compliant way of doing business, which will ultimately result in more cost-effective IT service management for the agency," said Larry Whitfield, president of Harris Technical Services Corp.

NRO designs, builds and operates the country's spy satellites. It provides the CIA, the Defense Department and other government agencies with imagery gathered by the satellites.