Navy Awards General Dynamics $15.5M for Work on USS Virginia

The U.S. Navy awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $15.5 million contract modification to perform a range of work on USS Virginia (SSN-774) following its shakedown period. The work, known as a Post-Shakedown Availability, comprises maintenance, repairs, alterations, testing and other activities and will be completed in November 2006. Ninety-nine percent of the work will be performed at Electric Boat's shipyard here; one percent will be performed at Quonset Point, R.I. The award modifies a contract received earlier this year and brings its total funded value to $54.8 million. The lead ship of its class, USS Virginia is the first of the Navy's major combatants to be designed specifically for post-Cold War missions. Electric Boat has contracts to produce nine more Virginia-class ships with its construction teammate, Northrop Grumman.