Enhanced Polar System
Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP)
Program facts
- Program number
- 121
- Short name
- EPS
- Acquisition pathway
- Major Capability Acquisition (MCA)
- Acquisition category
- ACAT IC
- Acquisition status
- Full operational capability or full deployment (FOC/FD)
- Lead component
-
Air Force Space Command
Air Force, Department of Defense
- Contract awards
- 29
- Contract obligations
- $1,770,470,213 Since fiscal year 2008
Program details come from the Department of Defense's acquisition program list. Contract figures come from SAM.gov (formerly FPDS).
Contract obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Obligated |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $53,623,978 |
| FY2025 | $93,222,881 |
| FY2024 | $121,330,743 |
| FY2023 | $111,800,813 |
| FY2022 | $161,462,602 |
| FY2021 | $177,191,555 |
| FY2020 | $329,626,123 |
| FY2019 | $308,746,368 |
| FY2018 | $211,435,021 |
| FY2017 | $54,465,425 |
Top contractors by obligations
| Rank | Contractor | Obligated | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northrop Grumman Systems Corp | $481,645,246 | |
| 2 | AC First, LLC | $391,326,658 | |
| 3 | TECH Systems Inc. | $156,513,990 | |
| 4 | KBR Wyle Services, LLC | $134,314,401 | |
| 5 | Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation | $119,780,174 | |
| 6 | Maersk Line, LIMITED | $119,195,594 | |
| 7 | Red River Science & Technology, LLC | $85,739,076 | |
| 8 | Tecolote Research, Inc. | $83,138,826 | |
| 9 | U.s. Marine Management, LLC | $54,697,779 | |
| 10 | Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation | $51,143,004 |
10 of 22 contractors listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Contract awards
Show all 29
About this program
The Enhanced Polar System (EPS) is a Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) managed under the Major Capability Acquisition pathway with an Acquisition Category IC designation. The program appears focused on military satellite communications capabilities, particularly for polar regions, encompassing both space and ground segments. Based on the contract descriptions, EPS includes specialized payloads, control and planning segments, and supporting operations and maintenance activities for extremely high frequency military satellite communications systems.
The federal contracts associated with EPS range from small purchase orders for equipment maintenance ($7,935) to large system development efforts exceeding $500 million, with typical contract durations of 3-5 years. Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation serves as a primary contractor for major system components, including a $502 million contract for payload development and a $115 million contract for control and planning segment recapitalization. Other significant prime contractors include Tecolote Research ($83 million for acquisition services), ASRC Federal System Solutions ($35 million for operations and maintenance), and Red River Science & Technology (multiple contracts exceeding $100 million for logistics support). The Space and Missile Systems Center and Army Sustainment Command are the primary contracting agencies. While some contracts utilize small business set-asides, particularly for logistics and support services, the major system development efforts are unrestricted. Contract types include both firm-fixed-price and cost-plus arrangements, with significant work performed at Space Force and Army facilities.
Quick answers
What is EPS?
Enhanced Polar System (EPS) is a Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) led by the Air Force Space Command. It follows the Major Capability Acquisition (MCA) pathway and is ACAT IC. Its acquisition status is full operational capability or full deployment (FOC/FD).
How much has EPS obligated on contracts?
29 contract awards are coded to EPS, and their actions have obligated $1,770,470,213 since fiscal year 2008.
Who are the top contractors on EPS?
The contractors obligated the most on EPS contracts are Northrop Grumman Systems Corp ($481,645,246), AC First, LLC ($391,326,658) and Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation ($170,923,178 across 2 registrations).
How much did EPS obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Contracts coded to EPS obligated $93,222,881 in fiscal year 2025.
What is the latest contract award for EPS?
The latest contract award coded to EPS is FA882325CB001, awarded to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation on August 23, 2025.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
- Every contract award coded to this program
- Funding analysis by contractor, agency, place of performance and set-aside
- Alerts for new awards
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