Up to $881M for Virginia Class Submarine Design Services
Oct 30, 2011 18:26 UTC
Oct 26/11: Electric Boat Corp. in Groton, CT, received a $91.2 million cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract for lead yard services efforts related to the US Navy’s nuclear-powered Virginia Class fast attack submarines. If all options are exercised through 2014, the contract has a potential value of $881 million. Work will be performed in Groton, CT (91.1%); Newport News, VA (4%); Quonset. RI (3.5%); and Newport, RI (1.4%). Work is expected to be complete by September 2012, with possible options to September 2014. US Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC manages this contract (N00024-10-C-2118, PO 0012).
Under the contract, Electric Boat will develop, maintain and update design drawings and data, including technology insertions, for each Virginia Class submarine throughout its construction and post-shakedown availability periods. This work will engage Electric Boat’s engineering and design organization, which is important to long-range American industrial policy, and comprises more than 3,000 employees. Still, it isn’t just busywork. GDEB will also perform research and development work required to evaluate new technology to be inserted in newly built Virginia Class ships, which has kept them busy with major modifications like the new Block III bow. As reports continue to surface that stretched Virginia Class boats might replace the US Navy’s SSGN special forces submarines, or even its SSBN nuclear missile submarines, those designers could find themselves busier than ever. See also GDEB release.
