Contract Award: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. (Linthicum Heights, Maryland) – $15,418,946

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Linthicum Heights, Maryland, is awarded a $15,418,946 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Cooperative Engagement Replacement Elemental Digital Beamforming (EDBF) System (CERES) for Multi-Beam Array for Cooperative Engagement (MACE) — an advanced AESA (Active Electronic Steered Aperture) transceiver system for shipboard application. This contract provides for the development of a next-generation MACE transceiver array system prototype. This effort pursues an upgrade to the Planar Array Antenna Assembly (PAAA) Line Replacement Modules (LRMs) and array with new radio frequency and digital LRMs that provide simultaneous multi-beam communication capability. Work will be performed in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, and is expected to be completed by July 10, 2025. The maximum dollar value, including a 36-month base period with no option periods, is $15,418,946. Fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,476,732 are obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured from Special Notice (N00014-21-S-SN13) entitled, “Multi-Beam Array for Cooperative Engagement (MACE) under (N00014-21-S-B001), entitled “Long Range Broad Agency Announcement for Navy and Marine Corps Science & Technology”. Seven proposals were received in response to the notice. The Office of Naval Research, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00014-22-C-1067).