Maritime Administration

The Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD), a sub-agency of the civilian Department of Transportation, funds strategic sealift, domestic maritime industry development, merchant marine training, and reserve fleet operations through a mix of contracts and grants.

MARAD awarded 25,286 federal contracts since 1982, with recent activity declining: 309 awards in 2022, 346 in 2023, 315 in 2024, 290 in 2025, and 201 year-to-date in 2026. The combined potential value across the portfolio stands at $6.47 billion, though combined dollars obligated total $10.18 billion, indicating heavy modification and task-order activity. Competitive concentration is fragmented; the top five primes by award count hold 16 percent of recent awards. Crowley Government Services, Inc. leads by award volume with 117 awards and $565.7 million combined potential value, while Tote Services, LLC dominates by dollar value with 33 awards and $910 million combined potential value. The remaining vendor base spans 3,044 distinct primes. The set-aside mix is dominated by open competition at 85 percent of awards; small-business set-asides account for 8 percent, emerging small business 4 percent, and 8(a) designations (sole-source and competitive combined) total 2 percent.

MARAD awarded 674 federal grants since 2009, with recent activity at 66 awards in 2023, 81 in 2024, 75 in 2025, 52 in 2026, and 1 year-to-date in 2027. Combined federal dollars obligated total $4.01 billion. Grant recipient concentration is highly fragmented; the top five recipients by award count hold 9 percent of recent awards, while by federal dollars the top five hold 19 percent. City of Long Beach dominates by dollars with 5 awards and $433 million in federal funding obligated, followed by Puerto Rico Ports Authority with 6 awards and $122.8 million and Miami-Dade County with 6 awards and $82.6 million. The 372 distinct recipients indicate a dispersed funding base. Assistance-type distribution skews heavily to Project Grants at 81 percent of awards, with Cooperative Agreements at 15 percent and Block Grants at 4 percent.

Recent contract opportunities span USMMA capital projects, fleet maintenance, and maritime research. A Vessel Design Challenge RFP (693JF726R000016) with $1.25 million total available funding through the Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance program seeks design teams to improve fuel efficiency and reduce underwater radiated noise, with individual awards from $150 thousand to $450 thousand and a January 10, 2027 deadline. The USMMA is actively soliciting small-business set-asides for facility work—track resurfacing (due September 25, 2026), virtual reality welding system procurement (due September 25), generator removal and installation (extended to September 23), library circulation desk replacement (due September 23), Patten Hall renovations inclusive of lead and asbestos abatement and medical clinic work (due September 22), and coaching support services for one year base plus four one-year options (due October 9). MARAD is also conducting an RFI on vessel leasing capabilities from the U.S. maritime industry due October 31, 2026, and seeking sources for Vessel Acquisition Manager services (pre-solicitation, due September 1). The Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet is procuring a Load Moment Indicator system replacement on crane barge MARY ANN as a small-business set-aside (due September 9, 2026).

Part of the Department of Transportation, the Maritime Commission works to ensure the health of the U.S. merchant marine. The Maritime Administration also works to improve port efficiency, and to maintain an adequate ship building and repair infrastructure.