By Richard Burnett, Orlando Sentinel

2:52 p.m. EST, December 22, 2011

The Air Force has selected a local defense health care contractor and two dozen other firms to compete for nearly $1 billion in contracts involving medical-services work at base hospitals nationwide, the company confirmed Thursday.

Orlando-based Loyal Source Government Services LLC joined RBG Group Inc. of Miami as the only Florida companies to land a spot on the roster of pre-qualified bidders, according to a Pentagon announcement earlier this week.

The health care outsourcing deal is one of a flurry of big military contracts awarded at year’s end, ahead of the potentially historic military budget cuts anticipated in 2012.

Loyal Source called it a significant milestone for the relatively new small-business contractor. It provides military hospitals with a wide range of medical personnel, from doctors and nurses to security and information-technology experts.

The latest award gives Loyal Source its first opportunity to be a prime contractor for the Air Force, the company said. It has worked as a subcontractor in the past, providing services to a number of bases, including MacDill and Eglin in Florida.

Established in 2009, Loyal Source is the brainchild of entrepreneur Seth Eubank, a veteran and former U.S. Army Ranger.

In addition to the Air Force, the company also has medical-services deals with the Army and Veteran’s Administration.

rburnett@tribune.com or 407-420-5256