Navy adds another $407.4 million to Kennedy contract

MARCH 22, 2013 — The Navy is modifying the total amount of a previously awarded contract to Huntington Ingalls Inc, Newport News, Va., (N00024-09-C-2116) by $407,408,093 in order to extend construction preparation efforts and provide the ability to procure additional long lead material and advance construction activities for CVN 79  — the second Ford class aircraft carrier, the John F. Kennedy — if required.  The current contract has been in place since 2009.  The Navy says this modification for additional long lead material and advance construction activity may help preserve the construction schedule.  Work will be performed in Newport News, Va., and is expected to complete by October 2015.  Additional funding is not being obligated at this time.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

The Navy announced a similar modification of the contract, by $65 million, earlier this month.

Huntington Ingalls’ Newport News Shipbuilding is performing work on CVN 79 under a construction preparation contract that allows for engineering, planning, long-lead time material procurement and initial manufacturing to begin before the full construction contract is awarded. The full contract is scheduled to be awarded later this year.

“This is a critical phase of construction on John F. Kennedy as key material procurement and production activities are taking place every day,” said Mike Shawcross, NNS vice president, CVN 79 construction. “It is very important to get a good start on a ship of this magnitude and complexity, and this contract extension allows for those activities to continue and keep the ship on a path for success in meeting our customer’s goals.”