yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (11/17/88)
Sarah Keegan
Headquarters, Washington, D.C. November 10, 1988
Dick Young
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
RELEASE: 88-156
SHUTTLE ORBITER LOGISTICS CONTRACT EXTENDED
An agreement, designed to enhance the efficiency of Space
Shuttle logistics operations by consolidating them at the Florida
launch site, has been negotiated with Rockwell International
Corporation's Space Transportation Systems Division.
NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a cost-plus-
fixed-fee/award fee contract extension for $419,187,597 to the
Rockwell division. The contract covers the 3-year period
beginning Oct. 1, 1988. The award does not represent any new
work but is an extension and consolidation of existing functions
managed by the Kennedy Space Center.
The present plan will consolidate Rockwell's Space Shuttle
orbiter logistics operation now on the west coast with its Launch
Support Operations facilities at the Kennedy Space Center and
Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Under the contract, Rockwell's orbiter logistics operations
in Downey, Calif., will be transferred to its existing Launch
Support Operations activity at KSC. During this same period,
Rockwell's component overhaul and repair activities will be moved
from its network of original Shuttle equipment manufacturers
across the nation to the Rockwell Services Center at Cape
Canaveral, Fla. The move will complete a consolidation begun in
1985.
The co-location of these activities will increase the
efficiency and responsiveness of the company's Shuttle flight
support operations, according to NASA and Rockwell officials.
Rockwell's orbiter logistics operation covers all functions
associated with the purchase of orbiter ground support equipment
(GSE) spares and the repair of existing orbiter and GSE hardware
assigned to the Shuttle program. The consolidation will transfer
in total all program management, logistics, material, quality
assurance and business management functions to the company's KSC
area facilities.
The consolidation is expected to create 400 to 450 new jobs
in Florida. About 100 to 125 experienced personnel will be
transferred from Downey or other Rockwell divisions to the
Florida operation. The company's orbiter logistics support
complement in Florida presently numbers approximately 200.
The Rockwell Services Center in Cape Canaveral will assume
full responsibility for orbiter component overhaul and repair, as
well as provide engineering support for repair activities.
Certain engineering design support and manufacturing tasks will
continue to be performed at the company's Downey, Calif.,
facilities.