bd Systems (bd), Inc. was founded in November 1981 as a space systems engineering services company, providing support to the United States Air Force and prime space contractors. The three founders, Clarisa Howard, Don Howard, and Barbara Corn, all had substantial experience in the aerospace industry, previously with The Aerospace Corporation. bd Systems officially opened for business in 1981, in the basement of a condominium in Torrance, California, with an initial investment of $2500 and funds borrowed from the retirement accounts of the three original partners.

During the early 1980’s, bd found work primarily as a consultant subcontractor to several major prime contractors, including TRW (now Northrop Grumman), Rockwell International (now Boeing), Hughes Aircraft Company (now Raytheon), and Aeroject-Electro Systems in Azusa, California. The first break for the new company came when Aerojet awarded bd a consulting contract to provide strategic planning in support of their Defense Support Program. bd Systems also won several Small Business Innovative Research Program contract awards during this period.

In the late 1980’s, bd Systems won its first major prime contract from the United States Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), the Acquisition Logistics and Product Assurance (ALPA) task order contract. This contract allowed bd to expand its services into several key disciplines, including acquisition logistics, configuration and data management, product assurance, and information systems operational support. This contract also provided the opportunity to win Task Orders at other SMC operating locations, such as Vandenberg Air Force Base and Cape Canaveral.

bd Systems has consistently performed above expectations, taken advantage of market-driven opportunities, and established an unparalleled reputation as a “go to” aerospace engineering and information technology company.

The staff of bd Systems are especially proud of the fact that despite extraordinary growth and success, the company has never lost sight of its founding principles.

QUALITY
TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE
HIGH INTEGRITY
TIMELY RESPONSE

Today, the commitment and expertise of a highly trained team help to make bd a world-class provider of aerospace engineering and information technology solutions to government and commercial clients. bd Systems has a nationwide workforce of more than 350 employees, with operations in 21 locations.

bd Systems Milestones

• Late 1981: bd Systems incorporated by three founders, Clarisa Howard, Don Howard, and Barbara Corn.

• Early 1982: Aerojet Electro Systems, Azusa, California, awards bd its first contract, working on the Boost Surveillance and Tracking systems Program (BSTS). 

• Partners and founders, Clarisa Howard and Don Howard, develop a 10-year strategic plan aimed at an annual planned growth rate of 50 percent. Four years after opening for business, bd revenue exceeds $1 million annually.

• Late 1987: Clarisa Howard becomes President, CEO and majority owner.

• 1988: United States Air Force and Missile Systems awards bd Systems its first major prime contract. 

• 1989: bd Systems receives a key ALPA Task Order for support services to the Defense Satellite Program (DSP). 

• Total assets passed $1Million.

• 1990: bd wins a prime contract for Program Office Support (POS) services at Vandenberg Air Force Base and Cape Canaveral Air Force Base. 

• 1993: The Metropolitan Transportation Agency’s Board approved Contract Award for Management Information Systems Support. A $6 Million, two year effort. 

• Revenues doubled to $11.7Million.

• 1994: bd Systems acquires Logicon-RDA’s Control Dynamics Division. Provided a NASA Marshall Business base.

• Established internal MIS department/Upgrade from Mac’s to PCs. Capital Investment over $200K for office automation/MIS Upgrades.

• 1995: bd competes for and wins two of the four competitively bid prime contracts for the Space Systems Acquisition Support (SSASII) program; SETA support to Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) at Los Angeles Air Force Base. bd Systems ultimately bids and wins 103 of the Delivery Orders that are under SSAS II and receives consistent “Excellent” Contract Performance Assessment Report (CPAR) ratings across the board.

• 1995: bd Systems partners with the Northrop Grumman (formerly BDM/TRW, Inc.) AFOTEC Team. This five-year ID/IQ contract allows bd to expand its support of Kirkland AFB, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

• 1996: Expanded to Colorado Springs, CO.

• 1997: bd Systems acquires Larsen Electronics (Centurion). Provides an Air Force Intelligence Services business base at Lockland Air Force Base (HQ AIA/XP, AFIWC); adds industry customers (i.e. Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman. 

• 1998: bd’s investment in the Colorado Springs area paid off significantly when bd Systems was awarded the PeakNet (formerly called 21 NET PLUS) contract to provide the LAN/WAN Networking Support to Peterson Air Force Base and Colorado Springs area. This five-year contract provided bd the opportunity to pursue and achieve Award Fee ratings consistently above 98%, testifying to bd’s commitment to providing excellent service to our customers.

• 1998: bd Systems acquires GIS/Trans, Ltd. to provide a state and local government agency business base for geographic information systems and data base applications software.

• 1999: bd Systems receives the Technical Acquisition Support Services (TASS) Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) contract as a recompete of the SSAS II contract. The TASS BPA allows bd to provide Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) services to Space and Missile Systems, and the Air Force Space Command (AFSPC).

• 2000: Northrop Grumman (formerly TRW, Inc.) awards follow-on subcontract to bd for the Operational Test Support (OTS) contract. This OTS is a recompete of the five-year General Support contract to AFOTEC, Kirkland AFB.

• 2001: bd Systems bids on and receives a General Services Agency Professional Engineering Services (PES) Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contract. This five- year GSA contract (with a priced five-year option) positions bd to expand its engineering base of customers and provides another contracting vehicle that permits bd customers to place orders without the expense of a full and open acquisition.

• 2002: bd receives two new five-year Cost Plus ID/IQ contracts at Marshall Space Flight Center. Additionally, the Air Intelligence Agency (AIA), San Antonio, Texas, awards bd Systems another five-year Cost Plus ID/IQ contract.

• 2003: bd Systems pursues and wins the Peterson AFB Network Services (PANS) contract, the recompete of the PeakNet contract. The Peterson contract previously had been awarded five times over the years, with no incumbent contractor ever winning the recompete award.

• 2003: Upgraded financial management reporting system from DELTEK to Costpoint. Capital investment over $750K.

• 2004: Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) awards bd an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract for Advisory and Assistance Services and Engineering Technical Assistance (CAASETA) for Headquarters AFSPC at Peterson AFB, Colorado. Under the framework of the CAASETA contract, bd Systems will compete equally with one other small business and two large business awardees for task orders with an aggregate ceiling value of $610 million over a five-year period.

• 2004: bd Systems wins the GN&C design contract for Spaceplane. This contract establishes bd’s Advanced Technology Division in the field of commercial space launch services.

• 2005: Marshall Space Flight Center awards contract to bd’s AT Division to establish an Automated Rendezvous and Docking Center of Excellence at Marshall.

• 2005: Under an option exercised by Air Force Space Command on an existing network services contract, the bd Systems team will provide a full range of information technology services to military units with NORTHCOM at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.

• 2006(September): bd Systems becomes a subsidiary of SAIC reporting to Space & Geospatial Intelligence Business Unit.