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David E. Steitz
Headquarters, Washington        May 15, 2003
(Phone: 202/358-1730)

RELEASE: C03-p

NASA SELECTS RAYTHEON INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR EARTH 
OBSERVING SYSTEM DATA AND INFORMATION SYSTEM SUPPORT

     NASA has selected Raytheon Information Systems (RIS), 
Upper Marlboro, Md., to provide data and information support 
services for the NASA Earth Science Enterprise. This award 
supports the Earth Observing System Data and Information 
System (EOSDIS) that provides for processing, archiving, and 
distributing science and engineering data from the NASA 
Earth Observing research satellites.

"This selection will ensure a smooth transition from the 
development to the full operational phase of this unique and 
comprehensive data and information system. It also assures 
continuity of critical functions such as capturing, 
processing, archiving and distributing a wealth of data and 
information resulting from our comprehensive constellation 
of NASA Earth observing research satellites," said Dr. 
Ghassem Asrar, associate administrator for NASA's Earth 
Science Enterprise, NASA Headquarters, Washington.

The system is serving more than two million users annually 
through a network of eight Distributed Active Archive 
Centers and a host of principal investigators responsible 
for research and analysis of data provided by NASA's 
research satellites. The system uses a network-wide EOSDIS 
"Core System," providing uniform support for all of these 
activities.

This contract award is a follow-on to the EOSDIS Core System 
development contract. This is an Indefinite Delivery-
Indefinite Quantity, Cost Plus Award Fee, performance-based 
contract with a minimum dollar amount of $1,000,000 and a 
maximum dollar amount of $500,000,000. The period of 
performance for the new contract is five years. 

Under the task contract RIS will provide the necessary 
personnel, materials and facilities to perform maintenance 
and operation for hardware and software elements of EOSDIS 
supporting science data management for NASA's Earth Science 
Enterprise.

The contract also allows for the provision of the following: 
Program Management; Transition of Maintenance and 
Development Responsibilities; Maintenance of Custom Software 
Code, "Commercial off the Shelf" Software and Hardware; 
Development of Custom Software Code, Commercial off the 
Shelf Software and Hardware; Systems Engineering; Science 
Support; Operations Support; Studies and Prototyping.

The main focus of this contract is on providing a stable 
environment for taking full advantage of the current wealth 
of data and information that NASA satellites are providing, 
while ensuring this system will be able to take advantage of 
emerging information technologies to meet our future 
objectives. 

NASA's Earth Science Enterprise is dedicated to 
understanding the Earth as an integrated system and applying 
Earth System Science to improve prediction of climate, 
weather, and natural hazards using the unique vantage point 
of space.

For information about NASA and the Earth Science Enterprise 
on the Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

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