Grunley Construction Awarded $117.8 Million MQ-25 Facilities Contract with NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic
Anna Davis07/19/2026
Contract Award Defense
HigherGov
The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Mid-Atlantic (NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic) has awarded a $117.8 million firm-fixed-price contract to Grunley Construction of Rockville, Maryland for the construction of MQ-25 Aircraft Laydown Facilities at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. The contract, which is incrementally funded and expected to be completed by April 2029, was competitively procured with four offers received. Work will be performed at Naval Station Norfolk, with no set-aside restrictions.
Work to be Completed Under MQ-25 Aircraft Laydown Facilities Contract
According to the solicitation, the contract encompasses a comprehensive design-bid-build project aimed at supporting the U.S. Navy’s MQ-25 aircraft operations. The scope includes constructing a two-story annex to the existing high bay hangar facility (Building LP48), featuring reinforced concrete masonry unit (CMU) walls and a combination of masonry and metal panel veneer. The annex will house maintenance shops, secured storage spaces, Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System (UMCS) spaces, Weapons Training Unit (WTU) operational trainer space, Aerial Refueling Storage (ARS) Workcenter with an overhead bridge crane, mission equipment support areas, and personnel support areas.
Additional work involves the construction of a Ground Based Detection and Avoidance (GBDAA) System radar tower with electrical and fiber optic tie-ins to existing infrastructure. The project also calls for significant renovations to Building LP48, including new tool rooms and battery charging/storage spaces on the ground floor, as well as expansions for Radar Cross Section (RCS) Shelter and Command functions on the second floor. Upgrades will include plumbing, electrical systems, fire protection, and HVAC repairs.
Site preparation is a critical component of the project. This includes utility demolition and relocation, excavation, grading, and addressing contamination from historical operations. Special foundation features such as deep foundation systems using piles are required due to subsurface conditions identified in the geotechnical report. Paving and site improvements will encompass stormwater management facilities, security fence relocation and expansion, vehicular circulation areas, parking restriping, site cleanup, and landscaping.
Environmental mitigation efforts are also specified in the sources sought notice. These include sampling and disposal of contaminated soil as well as groundwater treatment during dewatering activities. Mechanical utilities installation will cover sanitary sewer lines, natural gas service, potable water supply lines, and fire protection systems. Electrical utilities will involve underground distribution systems, transformers, exterior lighting, and security infrastructure.
The project requires specialized RF shielding systems for certain secure spaces within the annex. As detailed in a special notice, only Shielding Resources Group’s ULTRA-RF/A system with Enhanced Performance Package and Xalon RF X25-RF/EMI Panels meet project requirements for RF shield boundary integration. The delegated design responsibility includes coordination with SRG for these installations (sources sought document, panel specification).
To ensure interoperability with existing building control systems at Naval Station Norfolk, programmable building controllers from Automated Logic’s WebCTRL product line and Johnson Controls’ Metasys system family are required under a class justification (Class J&A). This standardization is intended to minimize costs and potential cyber vulnerabilities while maintaining compatibility with current facility networks.
Awardee Details: Grunley Construction
Grunley Construction, based in Rockville, Maryland (HigherGov profile), is an established federal contractor with extensive experience in large-scale government construction projects. Notable recent contracts include:
- Design-build construction for a secured federal building on the National Mall, Washington D.C., valued at over $133 million.
- USDA South Building Wings 6 & 7 Design-Build Modernization, addressing life-safety issues and historic preservation ($119 million).
- National Foreign Affairs Training Center Building B construction, Arlington VA ($114 million).
- Renovation of Nolan Building Phase 4 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia ($106 million).
- Revitalization of Hirshhorn Museum Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution ($74 million).
Grunley’s portfolio demonstrates expertise in complex federal projects involving secure facilities, historic preservation zones, environmental mitigation, advanced mechanical/electrical systems integration, and compliance with stringent government standards. Their experience aligns closely with the technical requirements outlined for the MQ-25 Aircraft Laydown Facilities contract at Naval Station Norfolk.
This award was disclosed by the DoW in its daily press release. Additional contract details will be available on HigherGov once disclosed by the government in approximately 90 days under N4008526C0017 after the contract is formally disclosed by the government.
