LHD 1

The LHD 1 program is a Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) under the Major Capability Acquisition (MCA) pathway, designated as Acquisition Category IC. This program encompasses the development, acquisition, and sustainment of amphibious assault ships, including the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) and related amphibious warfare vessels. The program involves significant naval engineering, maintenance, and modernization efforts to support the U.S. Navy's amphibious warfare capabilities.

Contract awards under this program range from small equipment purchases of a few thousand dollars to major engineering and maintenance contracts exceeding $100 million. The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) is the primary contracting authority, with significant work performed by prime contractors including Huntington Ingalls Industries, Northrop Grumman Defense, and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). Common contracted services include engineering technical support, ship maintenance, weapons handling systems, and environmental systems management, typically structured as cost-plus-fixed-fee or cost-plus-award-fee arrangements. Contract periods generally span 1-5 years, with primary places of performance in naval facilities in Virginia, Mississippi, and California. While most contracts are unrestricted, some utilize 8(a) and small business set-asides, particularly for smaller equipment and technical support requirements.