Final NBAF Contract Awarded

The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate has formally announced the award of an $834 million contract for construction of the research labs at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan. That’s the final piece of the $1.25 billion project, which will be under construction through 2020 and operating in 2022.

The work will be done by a partnership formed expressly to undertake the NBAF work, McCarthy Mortensen NBAF Joint Venture, which was selected in 2009. It’s made up of St. Louis-based McCarthy Building Companies and Mortenson of Minneapolis-St. Paul.

“The NBAF will be a key component in our joint effort with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to advance research critical to the security of our nation’s food supply and agricultural economy,” Undersecretary Reginald Brothers said in a news release. “This critical facility will further develop the strategic partnerships between the Department, the State of Kansas, and the City of Manhattan, along with private entities and better leverage the research capabilities of the NBAF once it is operational.” 

The state is providing $307 million, and the city of Manhattan is providing $5 million towards the project cost. The award marks the start of the  third and final phase of construction of the NBAF.  Site preparation was completed in 2012 with state funding, and the $80 million central utility plant is expected to be completed in October.