Navy greenlights global construction contract

The Navy has lifted a stop work order on a Global Contingency Construction Contract awarded last year, allowing the three prime contractors to move ahead on the work. The Navy had suspended the contract to resolve a protest filed by another company.

The multiple-award contract pertains to "contingency construction" worldwide, meaning construction projects made necessary by natural disasters or other emergency situations, or to provide humanitarian aid.

The contract could span five years and be worth up to $1 billion if the Navy uses all of the optional extensions. To make up for the period in which the contract was suspended, the Navy changed the start and end dates of the initial base year. It now runs from June 22, 2007, through June 21, 2008.

The Navy awarded it in August 2006 to Fluor Corp., Irving, Texas; Atlantic Contingency Constructors LLC, which is a subsidiary of The Shaw Group Inc. in Baton Rouge, La.; and a joint venture of IAP Worldwide Services in Cape Canaveral, Fla., and URS Corp. in San Francisco.

"Contingency operations can be some of the most demanding work in the world and we are committed to supporting the Navy and its mission," said John Hopkins, president of Fluor's Government Group.

The contract calls for engineering, construction, procurement and shipment of equipment and materials, providing labor and any other tasks needed to provide a quick response to the Navy's construction needs.

Fluor ranks No. 8 on Washington Technology's 2007 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.