GAO clears way for Birdon to build Army boats

Birdon bridge erection boat is based on design delivered to the Australian military

MARCH 18, 2014 — The GAO has rejected a bid protest, clearing the way for New Orleans based Birdon America, Inc., a subsidiary of Australia’s Birdon Pty Ltd, to supply the U.S. Army worth up to $259 million to supply the United States Army with up to 374 bridge erection boats.

Birdon America was awarded a $9,397,711 firm-fixed-price contract for hardware, test, logistics demonstration, contractor support and data deliverables for the bridge erection boat on November 19, 2013. The contract also includes options for additional production units and services.

The award was protested but GAO ruled in favor of the Birdon boat, which is based on a boat supplied to the Australian military that, in turn, was developed from a German design. The boats that will be supplied to the U.S. Army will feature Traktor waterjets supplied by another U.S. subsidiary of Birdon, Namjet, LLC, Benton, AR. Namjet is the former North American Marine Jet, which was purchased by Birdon in 2011.