Description
TASC, Inc., formerly known as The Analytic Sciences Corporation, is an American private defense contractor based outside Washington, D.C., in Chantilly, Virginia. Northrop Grumman owned TASC from 2001 to 2009, when it sold the unit to comply with new government conflict of interest rules.
In February 2015, Engility Holdings announced that it had completed its acquisition of TASC. in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $1.3 billion, including the assumption of net debt.
History
Background
In 1966, Arthur Gelb and Harry B. Silverman formed The Analytic Sciences Corporation (TASC) in Winchester, Massachusetts. The firm provided the U.S. 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.
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.
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.
During the 1990s, Primark Corporation bought TASC. Primark (now owned by Thomson 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.
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.
Formation
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 it provided both development and advisory services to the federal government.
As a result, in November 2009, Northrop Grumman sold TASC, its advisory services group, to investors led by General Atlantic and KKR for $1.65 billion.
Recent history
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.
Engility Corporation acquired TASC in 2015.
