CUTLER – The U.S. Navy has selected a contractor to establish the Navy’s new civilian employee benefits call center in Cutler, U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe announced Thursday.

Superlative Technologies Inc. of McLean, Va., received the $1.45 million Navy contract, which will cover the initial establishment of the call center and the hiring of about 12 employees.

The Navy facility, expected to be operational by Oct. 1, will serve about 40,000 Navy civilian workers, assisting them with advice and general information about their federal benefits.

Snowe, a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, secured the call center’s establishment through her conversations with Navy Secretary Richard Danzig.