U.S.-funded construction projects are to be conducted at two Latvian military bases by local companies under contracts issued by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency.

At Adazi Military Base, work will involve improvement of firing ranges, training areas, and storage and maintenance facilities. At Lielvarde Air Base, new storage facilities will be built, living quarters will be refurbished and access roads improved.

All work is expected to be completed by the summer of 2017. The combined value of the contracts is about $8.3 million but could nearly double once additional funding is provided.

The NATO agency says the awards were made under the U.S.-funded European Reassurance Initiative, for which NSPA (Engineering) has been tasked with delivery of infrastructure components.

"Key staff within the engineering section of the programme were required to work closely with U.S. European Commands and the Host Nation Ministry of Defense to successfully reach the contract award stage," said Project Officer Mark Charles, responsible for the Latvia Project.

Later this month, NSPA is expected to award contracts for program work in Lithuania, the agency said.