Contract: Austal Chartering, $8.2M

Austal Hull 130 Chartering LLC, Mobile, Ala., is being awarded an $8,225,850 fixed-price contract for the worldwide charter of one U.S.-flagged passenger/cargo ferry. The ferry will support the Marine Corps Third Marine Expeditionary Force. This contract includes three six-month option periods, which, if exercised, would bring the potential value of this contract to $30,321,200. Work will be performed at sea in the Far East, and is expected to be completed by August 2012; with options exercised, by January 2014. This contract was competitively procured via Navy Electronic Commerce Online and Federal Business Opportunities websites, with three offers received. Commander, Military Sealift Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 12/21/11)