AUGUSTA – B&B Precise Products Inc. of Benton has been awarded a $10 million Department of Defense contract to supply machined parts for the Army’s M1 and Abrams tank with help in part from the Maine District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Owned by Wellman Rood, who also is company president, the firm employs 22 people, but is now expected to hire additional machinists.

The SBA played a pivotal role in helping B&B obtain its second major contract with the Army. B&B Precise Products was the low bidder for the tank parts, but was initially denied the contract because officials believed the company was too small to handle another multimillion-dollar order. In an appeal, the SBA successfully assisted in proving the company’s production and financial capacity to handle the award.

“One of the major goals at the SBA is to help businesses like B&B access federal government contracts and create jobs,” said Mary McAleney, district director of the Maine SBA. For more information on Maine SBA, call 622-8390 or visit www.sba.gov/me/.