The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) awarded BAE Systems a $146 million contract to conduct fiscal year (FY) 2018 modernization and maintenance on the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG-64).
The work is being done during a long-term modernization period availability that combines modernization, maintenance and repair for the ship.
A BAE spokesperson told Defense Daily this work includes some weapons and engineering upgrade work like supporting the installation of a new Lockheed Martin [LMT] Aegis Combat System and the Consolidated Afloat Network and Enterprise Services (CANES).
in the Persian Gulf in 2003. (Photo: U.S. Navy)
CANES upgrades the Navy’s various shipboard computing IT systems and consolidates five networks into one. Northrop Grumman [NOC] designed CANES for the Navy, but the service retains the intellectual property rights, so it plans to regularly compete CANES contracts among BAE Systems, General Dynamics [GD] C4 Systems, Global Technical Systems, Northrop Grumman, Serco, CGI Federal Inc., and DRS Technologies.
NAVSEA said the contract was competed on a coast-wide basis so as to not limit performance to the ship’s homeport in Norfolk, Va. However, BAE will conduct the work in Norfolk. As the lead integrator, BAE will provide the human resources and facilities needed to complete, coordinate, and integrate several areas of ship maintenance, repair, and modernization.
The contract is expected to be finished by March 2020, but also includes options that, if exercised, would raise the total value to $151 million.
In all, $146 million in FY ’18 Navy operations and maintenance and other procurement funds was obligated at award time and does not expire at the end of this fiscal year.
BAE said it expects to extend the Gettysburg’s service life to 2035.
NAVSEA said the contract was competitively procured using “full and open competition” on the FedBizzOpps website, but only one offer was received in response to the solicitation.
Earlier this month General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. (NASSCO) won a $148 million contract for FY ’18 modernization work on the USS Cowpens (CG-63) in San Diego, where the Cowpens is based (Defense Daily, Aug. 15).
Both the Cowpens and Gettysburg were built by GD Bath Iron Works (BIW) in Bath, Maine.
A Navy cruiser fact sheet explained in the FY ’15 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Congress directed cruiser modernization along a 2-4-5 plan so the Navy would be restricted to modernize two cruisers a year, keep cruisers out of service under modernization for no more than four years, and allow no more than six ships to undergo modernization at any one time.
The modernization program aims to improve the ships by modernizing computing and display infrastructure as well as the hull, mechanical and electrical (HM&E) systems.
The Navy also said the upgrade program will improve cruiser weapons and sensor sets to upgrade anti-submarine capabilities, add short-range electro-optical systems to monitor a ship’s surroundings without using radar, and routine machinery upgrades to improve ship functionality.