April 30 (UPI) — International Marine & Industrial Applicators and QED Systems have been awarded a $260.1 million joint contract for coating work on U.S. Navy vessel surfaces, the Department of Defense announced.
The work includes a variety of applications, including multiple-coating, ultra-high solids, epoxy and solvent based. It is also crucial to anti-fouling surfaces and structural repair for aircraft carriers, submarines, and assorted surface vessels.
The contract will include competitive bidding from multiple individual order suppliers over the course of five years, with most of the work expected to be completed in Bremerton, Wash., with ancillary work in Bangor, Wash. and Everett, Wash.
Coatings of all kinds play an extremely important role in Naval operations. Beyond simple paint, protection from salt-water corrosion is paramount, along with fuel fumes, grease and other contaminants.
Modern submarines use anechoic tiles, advanced coatings filled with thousands of tiny bubbles in order to absorb sonar sound waves and help avoid detection by the enemy.
Initial funding of $2000 dollars has been allocated for Fiscal 2017 to start the process, which is expected to be completed by May 2022.
The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Bremerton issued the contract.
