US Navy issues RFP for design of shallow-water warships

The U.S. Navy released the final terms for a multibillion-dollar competition between General Dynamics Corp and Lockheed Martin Corp. to design a new class of fast shallow-water warships. Industry executives said on Tuesday they received the final request for proposals for the Littoral Combat Ship program and will study the document before finalizing bids for a contract valued at more than $5 billion through 2014. The Navy set a March 29 deadline for bids, said one source familiar with the document who was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. The Navy, which expects to buy 55 of the new ships overall, said only that the document was released to industry on Tuesday and that proposals were due in March. Top Navy officials are pressing for a quick contract award, possibly by June or July. The competition will decide whether the Navy proceeds with a steel monohull design built by Lockheed and Wisconsin-based shipyard Marinette Marine, or an aluminum three-hulled design built by General Dynamics and its Australian partner, Austal Ltd.