Austal USA, the American arm of the West Australia based shipbuilder Austal Limited, has been awarded a A$100.4 million contract by the US Navy to perform maintenance on Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) deployed to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and the countries and ports therein.
Austal said the contract value could increase to A$298.9 million “if options for further periods contained in the contract are exercised by the US Navy”.
Austal CEO Patrick Gregg said the deployed LCS contract adds to Austal USA’s recent inclusion in the Sustainment Execution Contract panels in both San Diego, California, (SEC West) and Mayport, Florida, (SEC East), as well as the company’s pending lease of a ship repair facility in San Diego.
“This award is an important milestone in growing Austal’s vessel sustainment business, and positions Austal USA to be the prime contractor for all continuous and emergent maintenance on the LCS as they transit and operate in the region,” Mr Gregg said.
According to the company’s statement, the maintenance award is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for emergent repair and continuous maintenance, on the multiple Independence-class LCS deployed to the Western Pacific.
“Work for an initial 24-month base period will begin in January 2022 and will be completed by December 2026 if all further options are exercised,” reads the statement.
