State accepts only parts of Northrop Grumman’s plan

While acknowledging parts of a Northrop Grumman fix-it plan for the government's troubled IT network could work, Virginia is not retreating from its claim that the giant company has violated its contract with the state.

Northrop Grumman, hired under a 10-year, $2.3 billion contract that is at least a year behind schedule, is asking for more time and a freer hand to complete Virginia's switch to a privately managed information-technology system.

George F. Coulter, head of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, said yesterday that he does not object to components of the plan to help complete the shift by June 2010 -- a year after the original deadline.

"VITA's amenability to using portions of the Corrective Action Plan as a reference in scheduling transition activities should not be construed as acceptance of the Corrective Action Plan in its entirety," Debbie Secor, a VITA manager, said in a letter to Northrop Grumman executives.

In a statement, Coulter signaled that VITA still views Northrop Grumman as in breach of the contract. Having declared the company in violation, VITA could take Northrop Grumman to court -- a threat that maintains pressure on the firm to improve.

"From an operational standpoint, this plan is nevertheless a significant improvement to what was previously in place," Coulter said.

Christy Whitman, Northrop Grumman spokeswoman, said in an e-mail that "significant progress is being made on a daily basis."

"Cooperation and coordination between Northrop Grumman, VITA and the executive agencies is a critical factor in achieving the transition milestones as scheduled," she said.

"Northrop Grumman is dedicated to meeting its obligations and making this . . . modernization of IT infrastructure work. We believe the Corrective Action Plan is the best path to success."

Contact Jeff E. Schapiro at (804) 649-6814 or .

Contact Olympia Meola at (804) 649-6812 or .