KBR and CH2M Hill Short-Listed For $2-Billion Antarctic Award

The National Science Foundation has short-listed three teams led by KBR Inc., CH2M Hill Cos. and Lockheed Martin Corp. for a 12.5-year contract, worth at least $2 billion, to manage site logistics and science support for its Antarctic polar-research program, say company sources. Proposals were submitted in February 2009. Bidders that did not make the cut included teams led by Fluor Corp. and AECOM. A National Science Foundation (NSF) spokesman would not confirm the short-listed firms but said the contract will be let in September 2011. Company sources had anticipated the award by November but say the agency has met challenges evaluating proposal cost data. Moreover, on Sept. 20, NSF said it would extend by one year, through March 2012, the existing management contract held by Raytheon Corp. since 1999.