Gilbane Federal, a division of Gilbane Building Co., has won a $114 million contract to modernize the water distribution system at Alaska’s Coast Guard Base Kodiak, according to a news release from the military branch.
Overall, Gilbane will improve and modernize the water system at the base, the Coast Guard’s largest operational installation, per the announcement.
As part of the scope, the contractor will replace and upgrade more than 8 miles of main water distribution lines, swap out four large-scale water storage tanks and work on a system that will provide water for fire suppression systems at key facilities and two aircraft hangars.
The $114 million contract is funded via the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, according to the announcement. Previously, experts told Construction Dive that defense-related construction could be a beneficiary of the bill.
The Coast Guard has taken advantage of the $25 billion it’s received from the act and ordered more than $20 billion in new assets and capabilities, per the Nov. 3 announcement, which include depot maintenance and shore facilities.
Indeed, the water infrastructure improvements at Base Kodiak are not the only projects in motion at the installation as Gilbane’s work comes alongside other initiatives that are planned or underway.
One such job is the construction of a new fuel pier, which will be built by Tutor Perini subsidiary Perini Management Services. Other projects include cargo wharf upgrades to support major cutters and icebreakers as well as the construction of 30 additional family housing units and a new child development center.
“By investing $114 million to modernize Base Kodiak’s critical water and fire-suppression infrastructure, we are directly supporting our forces and their families while building the foundation for our expanding polar fleet and long-term mission readiness,” said Rear Adm. Jon Hickey, deputy commandant for systems for the Coast Guard, in the announcement.
Other Coast Guard jobs underway include a $173.7 million base modernization in Seattle alongside $612 million in improvements at facilities in Cape May, New Jersey, and Charleston, South Carolina.
Base Kodiak holds high strategic value for the Coast Guard, per the release. The base will act as the future home port for two Arctic Security Cutters, core parts of the branch’s icebreaker fleet meant to protect shipping lanes alongside energy and mineral resources, per the branch.
