Navy issues $262M contract modification to Austal for EPF-13 and EPF-14

The Navy yesterday issued a $261.8 million contract modification to Austal USA for the Expeditionary Fast Transport-13 and EPF-14.

"This modification will award the [detail design and construction] effort for EPF-13 and EPF-14 and definitize and subsume the long-lead-time material undefinitized contract actions for EPFs 13 and 14," the announcement reads.

In October, the Navy issued Austal a $57.8 million contract for EPF-13 long-lead-time materials and a $40.3 million contract in December for EPF-14 long-lead-time materials.

A majority of the work on the vessels will take place in Mobile, AL, according to the March 25 announcement.

"This contract reflects the confidence the U.S. Navy has in Austal’s talented workforce to build these highly capable, cost-effective ships," Craig Perciavalle, the president of Austal USA, said in a statement.

"It's exciting to see how the EPF ships are supporting the [Military Sealift Command] fleet in so many different capacities," he continued.

The options available for yesterday's award could produce a $370.7 million contract in total, the announcement reads.