RESTON, Va., March 6, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has signed a U.S. Department of Defense Mentor-Protege agreement with Adept Technologies, a teammate on Northrop Grumman's Command Post Platform (CPP) program. The program provides the U.S. Army with high-mobility tactical operations centers for command, control and communications on the battlefield.
Adept Technologies is a Native American-owned, small disadvantaged business established in 1995 and headquartered in Huntsville, Ala. The company offers precision design and production of components and systems for aerospace, military and communications applications.
"The Mentor-Protege Program provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen our supply base and to broaden existing relationships with some of our strategic small business partners, such as Adept Technologies, through the application of process improvement techniques and technology transfers," said Calvin Freeman, director of procurement and socio-economic business programs for Northrop Grumman's Information Systems sector.
Under the 18-month agreement approved by the Defense Contract Management Agency, Northrop Grumman will mentor Adept Technologies in several areas, including engineering and technical training, business development, contract management, human resources, security and employee clearances, lean manufacturing and quality control. The core objective is to enhance Adept Technologies' ability to perform as a subcontractor and teaming partner with prime contractors and other businesses, the Department of Defense, NASA and other federal agencies.
The Defense Department's Mentor-Protege program was created to help small business concerns compete for and win Defense Department and other federal contracts by establishing long-term relationships with large defense contractors.
Since 1992, Northrop Grumman has mentored approximately 100 small businesses and currently has 30 active Mentor-Protege agreements. Northrop Grumman has received 18 Nunn-Perry Awards from the Defense Department since 1995 for its work with protege companies.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.