$38 MILLION CONTRACT AWARDED FOR UPGRADES AND MODERNIZATION AT PORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD
WASHINGTON, D.C. - US Senator Susan Collins, a member of both the Senate Armed Services Committee and Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced that the U.S. Navy has informed her that it has awarded a contract, in the amount of $38,228,490, to Environmental Chemical Corp., based in Marlborough, MA, for energy and structural repairs to the consolidated submarine operations, Building 178, at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery (PNSY).
In November 2010, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report, requested by Senator Collins, that found that the Navy's modernization requirements at nation's four public shipyards, including PNSY, were underestimated, even though the Navy has stated that the backlog of facility improvements at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard alone is $513 million. In March 2011, the Navy announced that it intends to invest approximately $100 million during Fiscal Year 2012 to upgrade and modernize facilities at PNSY. The funding, including that announced today, is provided through the Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization budget, and would be used for energy conservation and repairs to submarine enclosures, building renovations, and repair to the waterfront support facilities.
"The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery is an economic engine that drives the economy of southern Maine and New Hampshire," said Senator Collins. "I have strongly advocated for the Navy to accelerate military construction and facility modernization projects at the yard. I am pleased that the Navy recognizes the critical need for these investments at the shipyard. This will help improve the safety and efficiency of the terrific workforce that keeps our Nation's nuclear submarines ready for sea every day."
According to the Navy, work to Building 178 at PNSY will include structural repairs and modernization to create a consolidated state-of-the-art shipyard industrial material handling facility, and reduce energy consumption. Work is expected to be completed by December 2014.
In November 2010, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report, requested by Senator Collins, that found that the Navy's modernization requirements at nation's four public shipyards, including PNSY, were underestimated, even though the Navy has stated that the backlog of facility improvements at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard alone is $513 million. In March 2011, the Navy announced that it intends to invest approximately $100 million during Fiscal Year 2012 to upgrade and modernize facilities at PNSY. The funding, including that announced today, is provided through the Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization budget, and would be used for energy conservation and repairs to submarine enclosures, building renovations, and repair to the waterfront support facilities.
"The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery is an economic engine that drives the economy of southern Maine and New Hampshire," said Senator Collins. "I have strongly advocated for the Navy to accelerate military construction and facility modernization projects at the yard. I am pleased that the Navy recognizes the critical need for these investments at the shipyard. This will help improve the safety and efficiency of the terrific workforce that keeps our Nation's nuclear submarines ready for sea every day."
According to the Navy, work to Building 178 at PNSY will include structural repairs and modernization to create a consolidated state-of-the-art shipyard industrial material handling facility, and reduce energy consumption. Work is expected to be completed by December 2014.
