The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command on July 17 awarded Rockville, Md.-based Grunley Construction Co. a $117.8 million military construction contract for the MQ-25 aircraft staging facility at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., in support of the Navy’s carrier-based unmanned aerial refueling program.
The firm-fixed-price contract calls for construction of a hangar annex, renovations and additions to existing Hangar LP48, a ground-based Sense and Avoid antenna tower, aircraft platform improvements and related infrastructure, according to Navy project documents.
An aerial view of Naval Station Norfolk, Va., shows the world’s largest naval facility, where the Navy plans to build new MQ-25 aircraft staging facilities under a $117.8 million contract awarded to Grunley Construction Co. The project will include a hangar annex, renovations to Hangar LP48 and support infrastructure for the Navy’s unmanned aviation program.
Photo: US Navy
The scope also includes utility relocation, deep pile foundations, stormwater management improvements, expanded security fences, underground electrical and communications systems, and new water, sewer, natural gas and fire protection infrastructure.
Construction is scheduled for April 2029. The Navy obligated the award for $65.8 million, and the remaining contract value will be funded through future military construction appropriations. The contract was competitively procured through SAM.gov, with four bids received.
The application documents identify significant site development challenges. The work site is a man-made terrain affected by decades of industrial and airfield operations, requiring remediation of contaminated soils and groundwater, treatment of dewatering runoff, and removal of legacy aqueous film-forming foam associated with Hangar LP48’s fire protection system.
According to the Navy’s fiscal year 2024 military construction program justification presented to Congress, the project will provide operational, maintenance, training, administrative and command facilities that support MQ-25 operations.
The rationale says Naval Station Norfolk was selected because the squadron must operate within 500 nautical miles of the Virginia Capes area of operations to support Carrier Strike Group training and Fleet Optimized Response Plan requirements.
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In its version of the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act passed last October, the Senate included approximately $1.6 billion in military construction authorizations for the facility, highlighting MQ-25 aircraft staging facilities, dry dock modernization and other projects.
Separately, the July 17 contract announcement included a second NAVFAC award of interest to design firms. NAVFAC Northwest selected Trevet-NOREAS JV LLC, San Diego, for a $45 million architect-engineer IDIQ contract to provide environmental restoration services throughout the command’s area of responsibility through January 2032.
