| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Defense contracting |
| Founded | 1966 (incorporated as The Analytic Sciences Corporation) |
| Founder(s) | Arthur Gelb Harry B. Silverman |
| Headquarters | Chantilly, Virginia, U.S. |
| Number of locations | 20 offices nationwide (as of October 2011[update]) |
| Key people | David Langstaff (President and CEO) |
| Services | Systems engineering Systems integration Decision support |
| Employees | nearly 5,000 |
| Website | tasc.com |
TASC, Inc., or The Analytic Sciences Corporation, Inc., is private, defense contractor based outside Washington, DC, in Chantilly, Virginia, established in 1966 and sold off by parent Northrop Grumman in 2009 to comply with new government regulations.
The firm describes itself as "a leading provider of advanced systems engineering, integration and decision-support services to the intelligence, defense and, homeland security communities, as well as other federal agencies."[1]
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The 2009 Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act (WSARA) forbids conflicts created by use of federal contractors as both advisors of support services and developers of major defense acquisition programs. This put Northrop Grumman in legal conflict, since provided both development and advisory services to the Federal government.[2]
As a result, in November 2009, Northrop Grumman sold its TASC, its advisory services group, to investors led by General Atlantic Partners and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts for $1.65 billion.[3][4][5][6][7]
In 1966, Arthur Gelb[8] and Harry B. Silverman[9] formed The Analytic Sciences Corporation (TASC) in Winchester, Massachusetts. The firm provided the US government with modeling, simulation, analysis, and evaluation of integrated navigation and guidance systems for programs including the Trident Submarine, Minuteman Missile, and the Space Shuttle.[2]
During the 1970s, TASC's efforts grew in information management and decision support systems, analytical approaches for disposing of nuclear waste, and software engineering for embedded software systems. It commenced technical support, focusing on issues of reliability, life-cycle cost, and data tracking. It also established an economics and management sciences division in Rosslyn, Virginia, for analyzing and supporting government procurement activities. In 1978, TASC purchased a Reston, Virginia-based engineering group specializing in reconnaissance, communication, and intelligence. It built research facilities and laboratories for image-processing, artificial intelligence, and microelectronics.[2]
During the 1980s, TASC bought WSI Corporation, based in Billerica, Massachusetts, which provided real-time weather information to the public and private sector (including broadcast, aviation, and agriculture). It also bought ESD Corporation, to complement WSI.[2]
During the 1990s, Primark Corporation bought TASC. Primark (now owned by Thompson Financial) provided financial, economic, and market research information. TASC developed system architectures for Primark subsidiaries and special product design and research services. In 1998, Litton Industries bought TASC from Primark.[2]
In 2000, TASC sold three stand-alone commercial operations: Adesso Software, WSI Corporation, and Emerge. TASC then refocused on government markets and related industrial applications of its technology. In 2001, Northrop Grumman bought Litton Industries and made TASC part of its Information Technology division. In 2002, Northrop Grumman bought TRW. In 2008, TASC (as a subsidiary) bought 3001 International, specializing in geospatial data production and analysis. In 2009, Northrop Grumman merged its Information Technology and Mission Systems divisions. All systems engineering, technical assistance, and advisory services fell under TASC, with development project moving into other units.[2]
TASC helped assure launch of the Minotaur IV from Kodiak, Alaska, for U.S. Navy experimentation in September 2011. The rocket placed a U.S. Navy TacSat-4 (Tactical Satellite 4) spacecraft into a highly elliptical orbit at 7,500 miles above Earth[10]
In June 2011, TASC bought TexelTek, specializing in secure cloud solutions for the U.S. government.[2]
In July 2011, TASC responded to passage of the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act. The NDAA gives defense agencies unlimited rights to technical data arising from federally funded independent research and development. Company chief technology officer, Richard Rosenthal, commented, saying:
It’s not clear how it will effect the intellectual property rights. But if the alternative is that government will receive unlimited rights, contractors might opt to just pay for the research and development from their own profits. That could change the playing field — favoring the large companies that can afford to make those investments.
“Small businesses tend to have just one or two key products that they sell to government as their discriminator. And a lot of initial profits go into keeping talent at the company, rather than investing in the next big development. For all of industry, this requirement will force some business decisions to be made. But for these smaller companies, there’s a lot more to consider.[11]
In October 2010, TASC won a contract from the FAA, capped at $827.8 million dollar, to support the agency's transition to its Next Generation Air Transportation System.[12]
In March 2011, TASC won a $97 million dollar contract for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency to provide advice and assistance to the agency's Combat Support and Nuclear Support directorates. Services will cover areas of nuclear deterrence.[13]
In April 2011, TASC won a single-award, five-year IDIQ contract, capped at $600 million, to support the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's Research and Development Entrprise.[14]
Since its spin-off from Northrop Grumman, TASC has hired many new corporate officers:
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