Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Atlantic (NAVFAC Atlantic) awarded a $654.3 million contract for critical power and water infrastructure improvements designed to increase reliability, resilience and capacity at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine.
The firm-fixed-price contract supports military construction (MILCON) Project P-1080, Power Reliability and Water Resiliency Upgrades, a major Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) initiative to strengthen the utility systems necessary to sustain the shipyard’s mission of overhauling, repairing and modernizing the Navy’s nuclear-powered attack submarines.
“Investments in power reliability and water resiliency are essential because Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is primarily responsible for the overhaul, repair and modernization of the U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered attack submarines,” said Russ Gagner, director of the SIOP Department at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. “Maintaining nuclear support facilities and executing complex dry dock operations requires redundant, high-capacity power and water utilities to ensure environmental safety, protect assets and prevent failures.”
The contract awarded to 1080 Constructors of Omaha, Nebraska, specifically supports the Navy’s on-base construction component of the broader P-1080 effort.
The on-base construction component includes upgrades and modifications to the shipyard’s power distribution system, energy storage and on-site generation to increase electrical capacity, capability and resilience; substation renovation; installation of natural gas generators; installation of new water mains; integration of a water storage tank; and upgrades to the water pump station and auxiliary seawater system. The project also includes off-base water system improvements through Kittery Water District and off-base electrical system improvements through Central Maine Power.
“P-1080 drastically reduces the risk of operational downtime by adding critical capacity and fault tolerance to the shipyard’s infrastructure,” said Keith Barbish, SIOP program director. “This modernized, resilient utility framework will help ensure shipyard operations can meet current demands and future capacity requirements while reducing the risk of utility failure. Ultimately, reliable infrastructure helps Portsmouth Naval Shipyard return attack submarines to the fleet on schedule.”
P-1080 is a foundational component of SIOP, the Navy’s long-term effort to modernize infrastructure at its four public shipyards and ensure they can support the maintenance requirements of the current and future fleet. NAVFAC supports that effort through the planning, design, acquisition and delivery of shore infrastructure required to enable shipyard operations.
“Recapitalizing aging infrastructure directly supports America’s undersea warfare capability and long-term readiness,” Barbish said. “By executing major MILCON projects such as P-1080, NAVFAC is helping deliver the infrastructure SIOP requires to ensure the Navy has the industrial capacity necessary to maintain modern nuclear-powered submarines and support fleet readiness for decades to come.”
Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command is the Navy’s facilities and expeditionary systems command, delivering the planning, design, construction, sustainment and environmental services that support Fleet readiness, warfighter capability and shore infrastructure resilience worldwide.
For more information about the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program, visit https://www.navfac.navy.mil/PEO-Infrastructure-and-Expeditionary/PMO-555-SIOP/, and for more news from Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, visit https://www.navfac.navy.mil/Media/.