BIW 2014 Navy Destroyer Contract Awards Announced

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Today, the Navy announced two separate contract awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 destroyers. 

The first contract award funds one FY 2014 DDG 51 Arleigh Burke Class destroyer under a previously awarded FY 2013-2017 multiyear procurement (MYP) contract with Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII). The second award is to exercise the option for one DDG 51 Class ship to General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW) under a previously awarded FY 2013-2017 MYP contract. 

General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW) is being awarded a $642,583,946 modification to their existing fixed-price incentive firm target (FPIF) contract to exercise options for construction of a DDG 51 Class ship. The modification also provides $79,400,000 in advanced procurement funding for the FY 2016-2017 ships. 

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) is being provided funding of $601,990,190 for the FY 2014 DDG 51 class ship and exercised options. The modification also provides $79,400,000 in advanced procurement funding for the FY 2016-2017 ships. 

These awards bring the total number of awarded ships to 10 across the FY 2013-2017 MYP contracts, stabilizing the industrial base and increasing Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) savings to the Navy. The Navy successfully worked with Congress to resolve funding shortfalls resulting from sequestration reductions before contracting for the option ship. 

"These awards demonstrate the Navy's commitment to instilling the tenants of Better Buying power in our acquisition programs," said Sean Stackley, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition. "By successfully leveraging competition throughout the DDG 51 shipbuilding program, the Navy was able to apply the cost savings and procure one additional ship, delivering a vital warfighting asset to the Fleet." 

A competitive allocation strategy used in the DDG 51 class shipbuilding program since 1996, known as Profit Related to Offers, or PRO, uses FPIF contracts to ensure reasonable prices while maintaining the industrial base. Congressional approval for the use of MYP contracts facilitated program budget savings of more than $2.2 billion while enabling the shipbuilders and equipment manufacturers to more efficiently plan future workloads. 

"The continued support of Congress for the DDG 51 program, including the appropriation of funding required to resolve sequestration shortfalls and allow funding of the option ship, enables critical industrial base stability while ensuring the most efficient and affordable build plan for these destroyers," said Stackley. 

The destroyers are being procured in a Flight IIA configuration, relying on a stable and mature infrastructure while increasing the ship's air and missile defense capabilities through spiral upgrades to the weapons and sensor suites. 

BIW USS Zumwalt Launch Gallery

The Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer DDG 1000 is floated out of dry dock at the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard. The ship, the first of three Zumwalt-class destroyers, will provide independent forward presence and deterrence, support special operations forces and operate as part of joint and combined expeditionary forces. The lead ship and class are named in honor of former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo R. "Bud" Zumwalt Jr., who served as chief of naval operations from 1970-1974. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of General Dynamics/Released)

The Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer DDG 1000 is floated out of dry dock at the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard. The ship, the first of three Zumwalt-class destroyers, will provide independent forward presence and deterrence, support special operations forces and operate as part of joint and combined expeditionary forces. The lead ship and class are named in honor of former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo R. "Bud" Zumwalt Jr., who served as chief of naval operations from 1970-1974. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of General Dynamics/Released)

The Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer DDG 1000 is floated out of dry dock at the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard. The ship, the first of three Zumwalt-class destroyers, will provide independent forward presence and deterrence, support special operations forces and operate as part of joint and combined expeditionary forces. The lead ship and class are named in honor of former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo R. "Bud" Zumwalt Jr., who served as chief of naval operations from 1970-1974. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of General Dynamics/Released)

First Zumwalt Class Destroyer Launched

BATH, Maine (Oct. 28, 2013) The Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer DDG 1000 is floated out of dry dock at the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard. The ship, the first of three Zumwalt-class destroyers, will provide independent forward presence and deterrence, support special operations forces and operate as part of joint and combined expeditionary forces. The lead ship and class are named in honor of former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo R. "Bud" Zumwalt Jr., who served as chief of naval operations from 1970-1974. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of General Dynamics/Released)

BATH, Maine (NNS) -- General Dynamics Bath Iron Works successfully launched the Navy's first Zumwalt-class destroyer Oct. 28 at their Bath, Maine shipyard.

The future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) will be the lead ship of the Navy's newest destroyer class, designed for littoral operations and land attack.

The ship began its translation from Bath Iron Works' land-level construction facility to a floating dry dock on Friday. Once loaded into the dry dock, the dock was flooded and the ship was removed from its specially designed cradle. By late Monday, the dock had been flooded and the ship was floated off and tied to a pier on the Kennebec River.

"This is the largest ship Bath Iron Works has ever constructed and the Navy's largest destroyer. The launch was unprecedented in both its size and complexity," said Capt. Jim Downey, the Zumwalt-class program manager for the Navy's Program Executive Office, Ships. "Due to meticulous planning and execution, the operation went very smoothly. I'm extremely pleased with the results and applaud the combined efforts of the Navy-industry team."

Construction began on DDG 1000 in February 2009, and the Navy and its industry partners have worked to mature the ship's design and ready their industrial facilities to build this advanced surface combatant. Zumwalt is currently more than 87 percent complete, and the shipbuilder will continue remaining construction work on the hull prior to planned delivery late next year.

Because of the complexity of the first-of-class ship, the Navy will perform a two-phase delivery process. Bath Iron Works will deliver the ship itself to the Navy in late 2014. Upon delivery, the Navy will then conduct combat systems activation, tests and trials, to include multiple underway periods. The ship is expected to reach its initial operating capability in 2016.

The ship, the first of three Zumwalt-class destroyers, will provide independent forward presence and deterrence, support special operations forces and operate as part of joint and combined expeditionary forces. The Navy has incorporated many new technologies into the ship's unique tumblehome hull, including an all-electric integrated power system and an Advanced Gun System, designed to fire rocket-powered, precision projectiles 63-nautical miles.

The shape of the superstructure and the arrangement of its antennas significantly reduce the ship's radar cross section, making the ship less visible to enemy radar at sea. The design also allows for optimal manning with a standard crew size of 130 and an aviation detachment of 28 Sailors thereby decreasing lifecycle operations and support costs.

The lead ship and class are named in honor of former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo R. "Bud" Zumwalt Jr., who served as chief of naval operations from 1970-1974.

As one of the Defense Department's largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships, an affiliated PEO of the Naval Sea Systems Command, is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all major surface combatants, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships and special warfare craft.

Navy Cancels, Postpones Zumwalt Christening at BIW

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy announced today that the christening of the future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) originally scheduled for Oct. 19 has been cancelled and postponed until a future date.

"It is incredibly unfortunate that we are being forced to cancel the christening ceremony for this great warship," said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, "but the ongoing government shutdown prevents us from being able to honor Admiral Zumwalt's memory with a ceremony befitting his and his family's legacy of service to our Nation and our Navy." 

The future USS Zumwalt is a first of class ship for the Navy's next generation destroyer. Zumwalt class ships are tailored for sustained operations in the littorals and land attack, and will provide independent forward presence and deterrence, support special operations forces, and operate as an integral part of joint and combined expeditionary forces. 

The Zumwalt honors Navy Adm. Elmo R. "Bud" Zumwalt Jr., who became the 19th Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in 1970, and passed away in Durham, N.C., Jan. 2, 2000. 

The Navy is in coordination with the Zumwalt family and General Dynamics - Bath Iron Works to reschedule the christening ceremony.

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Navy Will Announce Contracts For Up To Ten DDG-51 Destroyers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of the Navy today notified U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) that it is pursuing the award of multi-year procurement contracts critical to the work of Bath Iron Works (BIW). The Navy will announce contracts for up to ten DDG-51 destroyers and associated systems for Fiscal Years 2013-2017 by June 4th. BIW is a strong competitor for some of those contracts.

Senator Collins is a senior member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, and Senator King is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Both senators have worked to help ensure that Congress provides the necessary funding and certainty to enable the Navy to continue building the DDG-51. In their first event together in Maine in February, Senators Collins and King visited BIW to express their strong intention to work together to protect BIW and the jobs of thousands of Mainers.

In March, the Senators advocated for the passage of a Consolidated Continuing Appropriations Act to fund the federal government through September 30, 2013, which included a full Defense Appropriations bill to fund the construction of these ships. In December of 2012, Senator Collins supported the passage of the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, which granted the Navy the authority to move forward with the five-year contracts.

“This is certainly welcome news for BIW, its dedicated workforce, and for the State of Maine,” said Senator Collins. “These ships would have been in jeopardy if the Navy had been forced to operate under a long-term Continuing Resolution. The fact that the Defense Department is committing to building up to ten DDG-51s over the next five years means a guaranteed opportunity for BIW to compete to build these ships. It provides a much-needed sense of job security for the highly-skilled men and women who work there.”

“I am pleased to learn that the Navy is moving forward with its pursuit of multi-year procurement contracts for DDG-51 destroyers and look forward to the Navy’s announcement next month about the details of the contracts,” saidSenator King. “The talented workforce at Bath Iron Works builds some of the best ships in the world, and I have no doubt that they are strong competitors to build a significant number of these vessels.”

BUILDING DDG 1000 The Navy's Newest Destroyer at Bath Iron Works

BUILDING DDG 1000

Take a look at this amazing time-lapse video of the 1,000 ton deckhouse being integrated to the hull of the future USS Zumwalt. Time-lapse video courtesy of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works.

USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) Taking Shape At Bath Iron Works

Historic Achievement - General Dynamics Bath Iron Works erects the DDG 1000 Deckhouse.

BATH , Maine (Dec. 14, 2012) The 1,000-ton deckhouse of the future destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) is craned toward the deck of the ship to be integrated with the ship's hull at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. The ship launch and christening are planned in 2013. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)