NOME -- The Indian Health Service has awarded a $91 million contract for construction of the new Norton Sound Regional Hospital in Nome.

The service announced Friday the contract was awarded to Inuit-NCI, JV, an undertaking between Inuit Services Inc. and Neeser Construction Inc. of Anchorage.

The 150,000-square-foot building will replace a 61-year-old hospital. It will be owned and operated by Norton Sound Health Corp., a tribal-owned, nonprofit.

More than 100 construction workers will be employed on the hospital that should be completed in 2012.