Todd Pacific Shipyards has submitted the only bid on a contract to construct up to three new 64-car ferries, Washington State Ferries announced today.

Officials from the state ferry system opened the bid package today.

Washington State Ferries expects to award the contract within 10 days, after reviewing the proposal to make sure it complies with the requirements of the agreement.

The state had earlier sought bids for the construction and delivery of two 64-car ferries with an optional third vessel.

The proposed bid price for the first two vessels from Todd Pacific Shipyards in the contract was $114 million. The state’s estimate for the work was $109.9 million.

“I appreciate Todd Pacific Shipyards bidding on our work,” said David Moseley, assistant secretary for Washington State Ferries. “I think the improved bid is due in part to the positive working relationship the ferry system has established with Todd during the current construction process.”

The first two ferries are expected to take 20 months each to build. Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in Freeland is expected to get some of the work on the new ferries as a subcontractor to Todd Pacific Shipyards.

Nichols Brothers and Todd are already building a similar 64-car ferry under a $65 million contract awarded this past December for delivery next summer. The new vessel will be assigned to the Keystone-Port Townsend route.

The decision to build the third ferry under the new contract is expected to be made by May 31, 2011.