[SatNews] Cobham plc (‘Cobham’) has announced their Cobham Analytic Solutions (SPARTA, Inc.) strategic business unit has been awarded an Indefinite Delivery/ Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with a not to exceed ordering ceiling of $1,618,900,000 to provide advisory and assistance services to the Directorate for Engineering and the Directorate for Test, Missile Defense Agency (MDA). Cobham will bid on task orders over the next five years in support of the Ballistic Missile Defense System, with work performed in all MDA operating locations to include Huntsville, Alabama, Washington D.C. and Colorado Springs. The contract is managed by the MDA Engineering and Support Services (MiDAESS) Program Office, which has awarded similar contracts to four other companies. All companies have the opportunity to bid on each individual task order, which are expected to start before the end of 2010. Cobham Analytic Solutions is a strategic business unit of Cobham Defense Systems and is comprised of technical and military domain experts with security clearances and secure facilities and communications to provide defense customers the full scope of services necessary for successful weapon systems design, development and employment.