All Star Metals Receives Contract to Dismantle Aircraft Carrier

The U.S. Navy has announced a 1 cent delivery order for the dismantling and recycling of the aircraft carrier formerly known as the USS Forrestal to All Star Metals, Brownsville, Texas.

The delivery order was made under an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract to All Star Metals for the towing, dismantling and recycling of conventionally powered aircraft carriers stricken from the Naval Vessel Register.

The price of the delivery order reflects the net price proposed by All Star Metals, which took into consideration the estimated proceeds from the sale of the scrap metal to be generated from dismantling.

In May 2012, the Navy solicited proposals for the award of up to three contracts for the dismantling and recycling of inactive conventionally powered aircraft carriers. All Star Metals is the first of three successful bidders to receive its facility security clearance, which is required prior to contract award.

After the initial award of one carrier to each successful bidder, the Navy has the capability of scrapping additional conventionally powered aircraft carriers over a five-year period under delivery orders competed between the three contractors.

All Star Metals will develop its final plan for the Navy's approval for the towing of the Forrestal from its current berth at the Navy's inactive ship facility in Philadelphia to All Star Metals' facility in Brownsville. The ship is expected to depart Philadelphia before the end of 2013.

Forrestal was decommissioned Sept. 11, 1993, after more than 38 years of service. On June 16, 1999, the Navy announced the ship would be available for donation to an eligible organization for use as a museum or memorial. However, no viable applications were received, and the vessel was removed from donation hold in December 2003 and redesignated for disposal.

The award of contracts for two additional conventional carriers – formerly known as the Saratoga and the Constellation – are pending, as they are contingent upon the two other successful bidders receiving their facility security clearances.