"The new taxiway will benefit both military and civilian aviation by allowing for the simultaneous movement of multiple aircraft," said Nicholson. "This is another great example of communities working together toward mutually beneficial objectives for a free and open Indo-Pacific."

According to the Department of Defense, the contract was awarded through a competitive bidding process, with only one proposal received through the SAM.gov website. The contract also contains three unexercised options, which if exercised, would increase the cumulative contract value to $225.67 million.

Black Micro is already working on a $162 million project to construction a divert airfield just north of the international airport. The first of two planned phases, the work involves development of the airfield and constructing a new parking apron, according to the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command. The project is scheduled for completion in 2025.

Established on a U.S. World War II-era airfield, Tinian International Airport is located on the Island of Tinian, part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) located approximately 1,500 miles southeast of Japan. 

According to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, in 2022, the single-runway airport averaged 80 flights per day, with less than 1% of that figure being military. With a population of 2,044, according to the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau, the island’s public airport serves as a hub for air travel in the region and is a key asset for the U.S. military.

"As part of our Pacific Homeland, the CNMI is vital to the defense and economic prosperity of our region," said Joint Region Marianas Commander Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson, Indo-Pacific Command’s senior regional military official. The Indo-Pacific Command is one the U.S. military’s six geographic command regions and includes U.S. island territories like CNMI, Guam, and American Samoa as well as other countries along the Pacific Rim.

The improvements on Tinian Island are part of a broader effort to improve the U.S. military's infrastructure throughout the Pacific. The U.S. Navy has $2.5 billion in projects projected to be granted throughout region over the next five years. 

Last month, seven contractors were approved to compete on the projects through indefinite quantity/indefinite delivery contracts, the bulk of which are slated for Guam. The design-build and design-bid-build task orders may include construction of barracks, administrative offices, medical facilities, warehouses, ranges, roads, bridges and other infrastructure, according to the U.S. Navy.