L-3 gets $126.9M to build massive underwater training range

L-3 Communications Maripro Inc. to contruct undersea warfare training range, the size of Los Angeles.

Jacksonville, Fla., will soon have an underwater training range bigger than the city of Los Angeles.

Under a $126.9 million firm-fixed-price contract, the Navy has commissioned L-3 Communications Maripro Inc., a division of L-3 Communications Corp., to build an undersea warfare training range spanning 500 square nautical miles by October 2025, if contract options are exercised. Base value of the contract is $28.8 million.

L-3 will provide program management, system production engineering, integration, manufacturing, and the range’s installation and checkout. It is slotted to be built in two phases. Phase I will install infrastructure, trunk cabling and the initial 200 miles of the range, while the remaining 300 miles will be constructed during Phase II.

Work will take place in Goleta, Calif., and Jacksonville Fla., If contract options are not exercised, work will be completed by June 2018.

Two offers were received for this contract, procured competitively via the Federal Business Opportunities website. The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport, R.H., is the contracting activity.