TAI Awarded US Army Fireboat Contract

Technology Associates, Inc. (TAI) of New Orleans, La., announced that it has been notified by the U.S. Army Contracting Command – Rock Island (ACC-RI) that it has been evaluated as the successful offerer for a contract to design and supply a 75 ft high speed fireboat to the U.S. Army. The fireboat will provide maritime firefighting protection and support at the Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO) in Concord, California. The U.S. Army will receive this Fast Response Fire Fighting Vessel in support U.S. Military Surface Deployment Distribution Command (SDDC) 596th Transportation Brigade (TB). The fireboat will be fitted with marine diesel engines and water jets to get the high speed to respond to fires fast and will have firefighting equipment including fire pump engines, pumps, foam system and remote controlled nozzles to deliver 10,000 gallons per minute water and foam up to 400 ft away. The water jets will allow access to shallow water areas, and superior maneuverability in close quarters.

This vessel is planned be built in Harvey, La. It will meet Type II classification satisfying National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1925 Rules. Construction will be managed, supervised and inspected by the TAI to ensure that the U.S. Army gets a contractually compliant Fire Fighting Vessel. TAI will be in charge of performing the Design, Program Management and Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) functions. This contract was won in a competition where the U.S. Army evaluated the technical and management capabilities of Technology Associates, Inc as well as the price. Eight bids were received. The firefighting boat is planned to be delivered to the Army MOTCO in less than 365 days.

Anil Raj, President of Technology Associates, Inc (TAI) said, “We are pleased that the U.S. Army has chosen the TAI 23M Fast Response Fire Boat (FR FB) design for this award. TAI has contracted ‘design-build’ responsibility programs for U.S. Government agencies and private owners before. TAI has been instrumental in showing many shipyards how to get into newer markets and build new types of vessels. Currently several hundred million dollars in vessels from TAI designs are under construction. This is another such opportunity.”