CVN 68 Nimitz Class Carrier

The CVN 68 Nimitz Class Carrier program is a Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) managed by the Department of Defense under Acquisition Category IC. This program supports the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, which form the backbone of the U.S. Navy's carrier fleet. Operating under the Major Capability Acquisition pathway, the program encompasses maintenance, modernization, and lifecycle support activities for these vessels.

Contract awards under this program range from small purchase orders of a few thousand dollars for basic supplies to major contracts exceeding $800 million for complex engineering services. The largest single award was an $832 million contract to Huntington Ingalls Inc. for Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) planning and defueling operations. Most contracts are firm-fixed-price purchase orders for equipment, parts, and consumables such as electronic components, safety equipment, maintenance supplies, and computer hardware. Total Small Business set-asides are frequently utilized, particularly for smaller purchase orders under $100,000. The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) appears as the primary contracting authority, with contract performance periods typically ranging from 30 days to 3 years. Notable technical services include propulsion plant engineering activities and fleet maintenance support, often structured as cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery orders.