PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- VT Halter Marine Inc, Pascagoula, Mississippi, is awarded a $77.9 million firm-fixed-price contract for the detail design and construction of the Auxiliary Personnel Lighter - Small (APL(S)). As these barracks craft (berthing barge) are similar to accommodation barges used in the commercial oil and gas industry, APL(S) was determined to be a commercial item and is being acquired under the procedures in Federal Acquisition Regulations Part 12 "Acquisition of Commercial Items".
The initial contract is for the detail design and construction of the lead and second craft in the APL(S) 67 class. This contract includes options for four additional craft and associated crew familiarization and packaging and delivery, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $244.1 million.
Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Mississippi (58 percent); the remaining 42 percent will be performed in the following areas: Mandeville, Louisiana; Metairie, Louisiana; Gautier, Mississippi; Billerica, Massachusetts; Boca Raton, Florida; and is expected to be completed by July 2020.
Fiscal 2018 and 2017 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amounts of $39 million, and $38.9 million, respectively, will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a limited competition between VT Halter Marine Inc. and Bollinger Shipyards Inc. under 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(3) implemented at Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-3. Industrial Mobilization; Engineering, Developmental, or Research Capability; or Expert Services.
The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-18-C-2230).