(KRON) — Following the announcement of Mare Island Dry Dock (MIDD) closing its facility in Vallejo and eliminating the jobs of 84 workers, Bay Area leaders are questioning why the U.S. Coast Guard awarded a recent contract to a bidder who reportedly wanted $1.5 million more than MIDD.
Losing the multi-million dollar bid to repair the USCGC Healy, the Coast Guard fleet’s largest and most technologically advanced polar icebreaker ship, was cited by Mare Island Dry Dock last week as causing an immediate impact on the financial stability of the company. MIDD had previously completed two contracts since 2020 to repair the Healy.
In a letter led by Congressman John Garamendi and addressed Tuesday to USCG Admiral Kevin Lunday, the Fairfield representative requested answers as to why MIDD’s contract was passed in favor of a reportedly more expensive drydock.
“Despite reportedly bidding a million dollars less than the eventual winner of the USCG Healy bid, Mare Island Dry Dock did not receive the $10 million contract,” said Congressman John Garamendi in a statement Wednesday. “This raises serious questions about how taxpayer dollars are being spent.”…