Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has continued its project to expand a
base in Qatar.

The Defense Department has been awarding contracts for construction work at the Al Udeid air base in Qatar. On Jan. 17, the Pentagon awarded a $27.8 million contract to Contrack International for the expansion and upgrade of Al Udeid, which contains the Air Force operations command for the Gulf region.

“The award will provide for the construction services at Al Udeid Base, Qatar,” the Pentagon said.

Contrack, based in McLean, Va., bested four other contractors for the project, under the auspices of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Officials said the construction contract was expected to be completed by April 13, 2013.

“Nine bids were solicited, with five bids received,” the Pentagon said.

Under the project, the U.S. military has extended the runway at Al Udeid, now the longest in the world to accommodate such U.S. aircraft as the B-2 bomber and the C-17 strategic air transport.

Contrack has maintained several major construction projects in the Gulf. They included the Science and Technology Park in Qatar and buildings for the U.S. Navy in Bahrain.

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