United Launch Alliance Honors Three California-Based Suppliers with Small Business Excellence Award

United Launch Alliance recently honored three California-based suppliers with a 2012 Small Business Excellence award for their support of the Atlas V and Delta IV launch vehicles. ULA’s Atlas and Delta vehicles support a wide range of missions including the Department of Defense Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Program and NASA science missions, and are poised to launch the next generation of astronauts to the International Space Station.

Hurlen Corporation of Santa Fe Springs, Calif., was recognized for its outstanding support of providing raw materials for both the Atlas V and Delta IV launch vehicles.
Innovative Engineering Solutions Inc. of Murrieta, Calif., demonstrated excellent support to ULA and the U.S. Government programs by providing essential hardware delivery and critical testing services which proved development hardware, and then followed with qualification testing and production support.

Space Vector Corporation (SVC) of Chatsworth, Calif., supported ULA in the successful design, development, qualification and production of components for the new Global Positioning System metric tracking system, which has flown successfully on three certification missions.
“ULA places a strong emphasis on the value and contribution of small business,” said Mike Jensen, ULA’s vice president of Subcontract Management and Procurement. “Just last year in 2012, we awarded more than $170 million to small businesses throughout the country. Small businesses are the engine of our nation’s economy and ULA is proud to recognize these suppliers who have demonstrated outstanding effort in 2012.”

In the state of California, ULA has 401 suppliers, more than 6,500 ULA and supplier support jobs, and contributes nearly $600 million to the state’s economy.

The EELV program was established by the United States Air Force to provide assured access to space for Department of Defense and other government payloads. The commercially developed EELV Program supports the full range of government mission requirements, while delivering on schedule and providing significant cost savings over the heritage launch systems.

ULA program management, engineering, test, and mission support functions are headquartered in Denver, Colo. Manufacturing, assembly and integration operations are located at Decatur, Ala., and Harlingen, Texas. Launch operations are located at Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., and Vandenberg AFB, Calif.

For more information on ULA, visit the ULA Web site at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321). Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch and twitter.com/ulalaunch.