Austal will carry out work on the Post Shakedown Availability phase for Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Gabrielle Giffords under a contract from the US Navy announced on 19 October. The cost-plus-award-fee contract is valued at $12 million.
The company will provide engineering and management services in support of post shakedown, including providing design, planning, and material support services. Services will include programme management, materials planning, engineering and design, material kitting, liaison and scheduling.
The future Gabrielle Giffords is currently undergoing sea trials. The vessel is the tenth of eleven Independence class LCS being built for the navy. Vessels one through four have been delivered, and seven, including Gabrielle Giffords, are under construction.
The contract was awarded to HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division and General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB). As well as for the building of the boats, contract money will also go towards improving productivity at the shipyards, workforce support and other investment.
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