Navy awards contract mods to the five companies creating FFG(X) designs

By Justin Katz / July 30, 2018 at 6:17 PM

Austal USA, Fincantieri Marinette Marine, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Huntington Ingalls Industries and Lockheed Martin have all been awarded contract modifications to mature their designs for the Navy's future frigate, according to a Defense Department statement.

The awards are to mature each company's "proposed ship design to meet the FFG(X) System Specification," the July 30 statement said.

"The conceptual design effort will inform the final specifications that will be used for the detail design and construction request for proposal that will deliver the required capability for FFG(X)," the statement continued.

The value of each contract modification ranged between $6.3 million and $7.9 million depending on the company.

All five companies were previously awarded conceptual design contracts -- each worth roughly $14.9 million -- in February, Inside the Navy reported. These modifications represent options within the previously awarded contracts.

The conceptual design phase is slated to last about 16 months. The Navy expects to then release a request for proposals in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2019; a contract award is slated for FY-20.

Although these five companies were awarded contracts, the actual competition to design and construct the next frigate will be a full and open one.

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