Bechtel Bags the Big One.

The San Francisco, California-based construction company Bechtel National Inc. was awarded a $680-million contract to begin rebuilding key infrastructure in war-torn Iraq, a group of the firm's senior engineers were still in Kuwait awaiting government processing. Bechtel was one of a handful of engineering and construction firms invited to bid for the contract under special procurement rules that allow for expedited contract awards during emergencies. TheU.S. military and government officials were still assessing infrastructure damage April 22, 2003 and trying to prioritize construction plans and determine the exact scope of the work.