A major U.S. defense contractor has been awarded a
project to provide Arabic translation services in Europe.
The U.S. Army, Europe, has awarded Northrop Grumman a $97 million
contract to continue providing Arabic support services in Europe over the
next
3.5 years. The contract's six-month base period was valued at $9.5 million
with three additional one-year options.
Under this contract, Northrop Grumman will recruit, screen and train
translators fluent in several languages, including Arabic, to serve as
interpreters for commanding officials, military intelligence units,
political advisers, military patrols and police units. In addition to
providing Arabic, the company will also be contracted for support services
in Serbo-Croatian, Albanian, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Macedonian, Romanian,
Russian and Slovenian.
In 1995, Northrop Grumman was first awarded what was termed the Balkans
linguist
support contract. So far, the company has been paid more than $225
million for the translation service.
"This important win not only maintains Northrop Grumman's position as a
major provider of linguist support to the military but also provides for
growth as U.S. forces reposition to bases in Eastern Europe," said Jim
Johnson, Northrop Grumman's program manager for the Balkans linguist support
contract.
Johnson said candidates for the job of translators include U.S. citizens
and local
nationals. He said recruits must pass a rigorous screening process that
includes
language testing, security clearance determination and a medical examination
before receiving orientation from Northrop Grumman personnel.
Trained interpreters would then be transported by the military to the
Balkans. The interpreters would wear military-issued battle dress uniforms,
eat in the army's dining area and given access to the same facilities as
soldiers.
Executives said Northrop Grumman would also recruit civilians fluent in
Arabic, Farsi, Pashto and Urdu to serve as translators in a number of
different
locations around the world for other U.S. Army projects.