RESTON, Va., May 6, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has signed a U.S. Department of Defense Mentor-Protege agreement with the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) to provide hands-on development assistance and mentoring to MicroTech LLC, Vienna, Va.

Founded in 2004, MicroTech is a service-disabled, veteran-owned, small business that specializes in information technology services, value-added resale and network management and consulting services to clients in the U.S. federal government and state and local government agencies.

"We are very excited about our new partnership with MicroTech. They are an up-and-coming company with tremendous potential, and I feel Northrop Grumman can assist them a great deal as they continue their extraordinary growth," said Mike Burnett, director of Northrop Grumman's Joint Command and Control Systems business unit. "This relationship will be a win-win for both companies."

Under this three-year agreement, Northrop Grumman's Mission Systems sector will mentor MicroTech in areas that include business development and the business acquisition process, human resources, contract and program management, and attaining a Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) rating.

Northrop Grumman and MicroTech will also work with subject matter experts from George Mason University, Fairfax, Va., one of more than 90 Defense Logistics Agency Procurement Technical Assistance Centers. These centers educate businesses nationwide on the requirements of government contracting and the marketing necessary to obtain and successfully perform federal, state, and local government contracts, and they support government agencies in reaching and working with the suppliers.

The Defense Department's Mentor-Protege program was created to help small business concerns compete for and win Defense Department and other federal contracts by establishing long-term relationships with large defense contractors.

Since 1992, Northrop Grumman has assisted approximately 100 small businesses under the program and currently has 28 active Mentor-Protege agreements. Northrop Grumman has received 17 Nunn-Perry Awards from the Defense Department since 1995 for its work with protege companies.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense and technology company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide. 

  CONTACT:  George I. Seffers
          Northrop Grumman Mission Systems
          703-345-8548
          George.Seffers@ngc.com