The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) recently awarded the Mission Technology Solutions business of Houston-based KBR, a science, technology and engineering solutions company, a $8 billion maximum Antarctic science and engineering support contract.
The task order hybrid contract will have a 20-year period of performance beginning this month.
“Antarctica is more than ice — it’s a living laboratory where the past, present and future of our planet converge. Renowned for its isolation, Antarctica serves as a hub for innovative scientific discovery,” Doug Hill, KBR Readiness and Sustainment president, said. “KBR is proud to support the National Science Foundation’s U.S. Antarctic Program, maintaining a robust U.S. presence on the continent while advancing research that unlocks fundamental insights into life on Earth and beyond.”
Under the terms of the contract, KBR will provide full-scale operations, maintenance, logistics and science support in Antarctica and aboard ships in the Southern Ocean for scientific missions and experiments. Support will be provided year round and includes information technology, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity support; and logistical operations including cold chain handling of scientific samples from Antarctica to U.S. laboratories. Support covers three U.S. stations and all U.S. field sites.
The NSF-led U.S. Antarctic Program funds technological research and protects the U.S. research ecosystem from foreign interference.