Bechtel awarded over $1.2B in nuclear propulsion contracts

Dec. 3 (UPI) -- Bechtel Plant Machinery is receiving two contracts from the Navy for nuclear propulsion components and work totaling over $1.2 billion.

Bechtel is the sole-source supplier for the work involved, which is supervised under the U.S. Department of Energy along with the rest of the U.S. military and civilian nuclear infrastructure.

The program falls under Navy fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion funds. Work is expected to run through 2024 with possible extensions to 2027.

Nuclear propulsion is the power plant for the U.S. Navy's supercarriers and submarine fleet, with responsibility divided between the Department of Energy Nuclear Security Administration, contractors and the Navy.

Bechtel runs nuclear laboratories in several domestic locations and provides nuclear services for deployed ships. It is a key contractor for the nuclear power plants on the new Ford-class carriers currently coming online.