The U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast awarded a $25 million contract to Sauer, Inc. for the construction of a littoral combat ship (LCS) operational training facility at Naval Station Mayport, Florida.
The building will include systems trainers, simulators, classrooms, personnel support space, a high-bay operational training area and applied instruction space specifically designed to train personnel for the Freedom-class platform which will be homeported at NS Mayport.
All training will be performed within the LCS operational training facility with no training taking place on the actual ships.
“Awarding this contract marks another significant step in supporting additional homeporting of littoral combat ships at NS Mayport,” said Capt. David Yoder , commanding officer, NS Mayport.
“Training of LCS crews is unique and is a key enabler to operating these ships,” said Yoder. “The small crew size and multi-crewing is a departure from traditional Navy manning concepts. Operational demands on the small, rotating LCS crews will not allow sufficient time for underway instruction as is practiced in legacy crewing concepts. LCS sailors must therefore report to a seaframe ready to deploy for a mission, stand watches and carry out their other duties prior to deployment.”
The project will provide anti-terrorism/force protection (AT/FP) features and comply with AT/FP regulations, and physical security mitigation in accordance with DoD minimum anti- terrorism standards for buildings.
According to the U.S. Navy, paving and site improvements will include grading, parking for approximately 225 vehicles, access roads, curbs, sidewalks, landscaping, fencing, signs, replacement tennis courts, replacement gazebo/shelters, and a concrete pad for TBEC launching simulations.
The new facility is expected to be completed by April 2018.