Portions of DDG 1001 delivered

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Ingalls Shipbuilding has delivered the final aft peripheral vertical launch system assemblies for the Navy's second Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyer, Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001). Four assembly units make up the aft PVLS, and the first two units were delivered in July 2012. The latest two units were delivered a week early. Ingalls also builds the vessel's hangar and composite deckhouse at its composite center of excellence in Gulfport, Miss. The ships are built at General Dynamics' Bath Iron Works in Maine. (Source: Mississippi Press, 07/24/13)

Contract: SAIC, $10.2M

Science Applications International Corp., McLean, Va., is being awarded a $10,196,609 modification under a previously awarded contract to exercise an option for services supporting Military Sealift Command's (MSC) information technology ashore operations. These services assist MSC's command, control communications and computer systems in merging the physical, financial, contractual, and performance attributes of its IT investments to enable cost-efficient, timely business decisions. Work will be performed in Washington, D.C. (74.7 percent); Norfolk, Va. (16.9 percent); San Diego, Calif. (5.9 percent); Pensacola, Fla. (2.4 percent); Scott Air Force Base, Ill. (less than 1 percent);Yokohama, Japan (less than 1 percent); and Naples, Italy (less than 1 percent), and is expected to be completed by July 2014. The Military Sealift Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/16/13)

State might fund academy annex

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Ingalls Shipbuilding has applied for a $1.3 million Hurricane Katrina-related community development block grant to add a basic skills training annex to the nearly complete Haley Reeves Barbour Maritime Training Academy. The Jackson County Board of Supervisors agreed to request proposals for professional services, such as engineering, for the project. The project is a 4,105-square-foot multi-purpose classroom that will be able to hold 320 people in an auditorium-style setup. The room will be equipped with projectors and other technology need for presentations. (Source: Mississippi Press, 07/15/13)

Maritime worker demand high

The demand for jobs in South Mississippi's maritime industry is higher than ever. Huntington Ingalls, VT Halter Marine, both in Pascagoula, and Trinity Yachts in Gulfport are constantly seeking skilled workers for new projects. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, along with coastal industries, are training and placing these workers quickly, but the demand remains high. "We've never seen it higher than what it is right now," said John Shows, MGCCC associate vice president for community campus and career technical education. (Source: Sun Herald, 07/11/13)

New supply vessels to be built

NEW ORLEANS -- Edison Chouest Offshore will build more than 40 new vessels to meet demand for offshore oil and gas support in the Gulf of Mexico, the Arctic and Brazil. The Galliano-based company did not disclose the cost of the newest round of builds. Most of the construction work will be spread among Chouest U.S. shipyards, North American Shipbuilding in Larose, LaShip in Houma, Gulf Ship in Gulfport, Miss., and Tampa Ship in Tampa, Fla. (Source: AP via nola.com, 07/10/13)

Contract: Raytheon, $14.2M

Raytheon Integrated Defense System, Portsmouth, R.I., is being awarded $14,211,010 for cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order #0004 under a previously awarded Basic Ordering Agreement for upgrading the AN/AQS-20A mine hunting sonar 3493-AS-780-9 configuration with a high frequency wide band forward look sonar and multi-function side looking sonar and associated components. The work will be performed in Portsmouth, R. I., and is expected to be completed by September 2014. Fiscal 2013 Research, Development, Test and Evaluation funding in the amount of $2,500,000 will be obligated at the time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division, Panama City, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/01/13)