RESTON, Va., Dec. 16, 2005 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC (RTSC), a subsidiary of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), has been awarded a United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) task order to provide technical and management support to the HHS Biotechnology Engagement Program (BTEP).

Through this five-year task order, which has a base year and four one-year options -- and a potential value of up to $25 million, including options -- RTSC will provide program management, scientific, technical and administrative support on existing HHS projects. RTSC will also help publicize and expand the program beyond the current group of sponsored scientists and institutes. Work will be performed primarily in Russia, as well as in Kazakhstan, Georgia and Armenia.

Administered by the HHS Office of Global Health Affairs (OGHA), the BTEP program is designed to encourage former Soviet biological and chemical weapons scientists not to proliferate their weapons-related expertise and to develop new civilian-oriented research skills. The program encourages joint teams of Russian and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) scientists with weapons of mass destruction (WMD) expertise to co-develop projects with U.S. experts and apply for support and cooperation in areas of research and development that address urgent public health concerns in Russia and the Eurasia region. Basic and applied research, technology development and demonstration and training projects are all candidates for BTEP support.

"We're pleased to partner with the Department of Health and Human Services, a new customer for RTSC, to support these gifted scientists and researchers in their efforts to develop cures for global health concerns and to encourage Russian and CIS scientists not to proliferate WMD materials and manufacturing knowledge," said Dan Schultz, RTSC vice president and general manager of one of RTSC's Reston, Va.-based business units. "Counter- proliferation and non-proliferation are strategic growth areas for us, and Raytheon is proud to support this international humanitarian effort to enhance global safety and security."

RTSC provides technology solutions for defense, federal and commercial customers worldwide. It specializes in Mission Support, counter-proliferation and counter-terrorism, and base and range operations. Mission Support -- Raytheon's integrated approach to providing total life-cycle support, predicting customer needs, sensing problems and proactively applying solutions -- enables Raytheon to maintain readiness and deliver operational capability on demand, enhancing customer mission success.

Raytheon Company, with 2004 sales of $20.2 billion, is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 80,000 people worldwide.

Note to Editors: Additional Information

Work will be performed under the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Mission Oriented Business Integrated Services (MOBIS) and Schedule 70 Information Technology indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contracts and is expected to be completed by September 2010.

  Contact:
   Kristen Giddens Pinto-Coelho
   703.295.2535

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

CONTACT: Kristen Giddens Pinto-Coelho of Raytheon Company, +1-703-295-
2535

Web site: http://www.raytheon.com/