26R6060 RFP.pdf
PDF 569 KB Posted
- Attached to
- TUGCON; Jones Act Federal contract opportunity
- Solicitation number
- N3220526R6060
About this file
This is a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by Military Sealift Command (MSC) Norfolk for a spot charter tug service. The solicitation number is N3220526R6060, issued on 04 March 2026, with proposals due Friday, 13 March 2026 at 1100 Eastern Time. This is a Total Small Business Set-Aside (NAICS Code 483111) conducted under FAR Part 12 simplified procedures, with anticipated award of a firm-fixed-price contract. The Government seeks one U.S. Flag, Jones Act-certified, ocean-going tug capable of towing a T-EPF vessel (2,500 LT displacement, 337'11" length, 93'6" beam, 12'7" maximum draft) from Rhoads Industries Pier 2 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to the Maritime Administration Beaumont Reserve Fleet in Beaumont, Texas. The vessel must be built in 1970 or later and provide a minimum tow speed of six knots for five knot Speed of Advance in Beaufort 5 conditions. The layday window runs from 16 April 2026 to 20 April 2026, with four days allocated for the entire mission. Payment will be made through ERP DFAS-CL (Pay DoDAAC N50082) via electronic invoices submitted through Wide Area Work Flow (WAWF).
The contractor must provide a comprehensive towing package including calculations, route planning, vessel specifications, and certifications prior to commencing the tow. An Independent Marine Surveyor (IMS) must be retained by the contractor at lump-sum price to oversee preparations and issue a towing certificate. The contractor shall provide tow bridles, emergency tow lines, flooding alarms, navigation lights, and day shapes in compliance with COLREGS. At least one trail tug is required in restricted/inland/channel waters (outbound Philadelphia, Chesapeake and Delaware Canal transit, and inbound Beaumont), with shallow-draft tugs needed for transfer to the reserve fleet basin. Vessel delivery must occur during daylight hours Monday through Thursday, with assist tugs remaining on station approximately eight hours. Position reports are required twice daily in port and four times daily at sea, sent to designated email addresses. The solicitation incorporates MSC TUGCON 2026 (02-26) proforma as the charter form, with all terms and conditions incorporated by reference. Submissions must include minimum requirements of ship name, price, and signature to be considered for evaluation and award.
View the file
Other files for this federal contract opportunity
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Liquid Penetrant Inspection Report.pdf | ||
| WD 20150213 Rev38.pdf | ||
| Towing General Arrangement.pdf | ||
| Towing Fitting Installation.pdf | ||
| Towing Checklist and Certificate of Seaworthiness.pdf | ||
| Shipyard Data Template.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet |
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Text version
04 March 2026
This is the Military Sealift Command Norfolk, Strategic Sealift Program Support Office
SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICES, RFP’S, AMENDMENTS AND CONTRACT AWARDS
WILL BE POSTED TO THE SAM.GOV WEBSITE (ONLY) UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
HTTPS://SAM.GOV
PROFORMA DOCUMENTS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
Subj: RFP N3220526R6060
Ref: (a) SF 1449
(b) MSC TUGCON 2026 (02-26)
This acquisition is a FAR part 12 acquisition being conducted under FAR 12.201-1 Simplified procedures. Only FAR Part 12 procedures will be used to solicit and evaluate offerors. Per FAR 52.216-1, the Government contemplates award of a firm-fixed-price contract resulting from this solicitation.
MSC Strategic Sealift Program Support Office, N103A, requests proposals for vessel(s) capable of meeting the transportation requirements described below. The paragraph numbers below apply to the box layout of references (a) and (b), which are incorporated herein by reference (available on the MSC web site at https://www.msc.usff.navy.mil, under “Business “Opportunities”, select “Contracts”, then “Proforma”, or upon request), and shall be the charter form of any contract resulting from this solicitation. By submission of a proposal, the owner/offeror confirms agreement with all terms and conditions of this solicitation and the charter form, unless otherwise identified therein.
NOTES:
1. IN ACCORDANCE WITH MSC SPECIALTIME PROFORMA, PART X (A)(11), A VALID
SUBMISSION CONSISTS OF AT LEAST A SHIP NAME, A PRICE, AND A SIGNATURE;
WITHOUT THESE AT A MINIMUM, YOUR SUBMISSION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR
EVALUATION AND AWARD.
2. DUE TO INCREASED E-MAIL SECURITY, IT MAY TAKE LONGER FOR E-MAILS TO BE
RECEIVED IN THE APPROPRIATE IN-BOX, ESPECIALLY WHEN AN E-MAIL IS HOSTED IN
A FOREIGN COUNTRY; SOME E-MAILS ARE DELAYED IN EXCESS OF HOURS. OFFERORS
ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT OFFERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. NO JPEG FILES.
3. OFFERORS ARE REMINDED THAT EXPIRED OFFERS WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM THE
COMPETITION UPON EXPIRATION AND WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR SUBSEQUENT
REVIVAL OR RENEWAL UNLESS THE EXPIRATION OCCURS DURING A PERIOD WHERE
FINAL PROPOSAL REVISIONS ARE BEING ACTIVELY SOUGHT.
4. THIS IS A SPOT CHARTER; AS SUCH, ALL PROFORMA SECTIONS THAT ADDRESS
EXTENDED TERM CHARTERS ARE NOT APPLICABLE.
A. STANDARD FORM 1449 BOXES
I. Standard Form 1449 Boxes
2. Contract No.: Will be provided upon award
5. Solicitation No.: N3220526R6060
6. Solicitation Issue Date: 04 March 2026
7. For Solicitation Information: Email Matthew Price at matthew.r.price40.civ@us.navy.mil or 564-230-3782
8. Offer Due Date: Friday, 13 March 2026, at 1100 Eastern Time
9. Issued By: Military Sealift Command Norfolk, 471 East C Street, Bldg. SP-64, Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk, VA 23511-2419 (Code: N32205)
10. This Acquisition is: Total Small Business Set-Aside; NAICS Code: 483111
14. Method of Solicitation: RFP 18a. Payment will be made by: ERP DFAS-CL (Pay DoDAAC N50082). Submit electronic invoices IAW Part VI(6) DFARS 252.232-7006 Wide Area Work Flow Payment Instructions 18b. Submit invoices to: See Part VI(C)(7) MSC Wide Area Work Flow (WAWF) Instructions 27a. Solicitation incorporates by full text FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4 and tailored as indicated and appropriate.
PART I - TUGCON BOXES:
1. Tug Required:
One, U.S. Flag, Jones Act, ocean-going certified tug capable of towing T-EPF EX- SPEARHEAD “IAW the U.S. Navy Tow Manual (SL740-AA-MAN-010)”. The requirement is for one voyage.
2. Description of the Tow:
A. One T-EPF Vessel B. Displacement –2,500 LT C. Length – 337’ 11” D. Beam – 93’ 6” E. Max Draft – 12’ 7”
3. Port/Place of Departure: Rhoads Industries, 1750 Kitty Hawk AVE, Philadelphia, PA Pier 2
4. Laytime: Four (4) days for the entire mission.
5. Port/Place of Destination: Maritime Administration (MARAD) Beaumont Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, TX.
6. Layday(s):
Commencing: 16 April 2026 Cancelling: 20 April 2026
7. Terms/Conditions/Attachments added, deleted or modified:
Add: special requirements:
A. Vessel/tug shall be built in 1970 or later.
B. Bollard pull: sufficient to tow T-EPF vessel at a minimum tow speed of six (6) knots for five (5) knot Speed of Advance (SOA) in Beaufort 5 conditions. Maximum tow speed to be calculated IAW the U.S. Navy Tow Manual.
C. Tug shall be fully bunkered for the voyage.
D. Stops for fuel or supplies are authorized.
E. Internet and satellite phone capability.
F. Contractor shall obtain the services of an Independent Marine Surveyor (IMS). This service should be included in the offer’s lump-sum price. The IMS is an independent third party to act as a mediator between the Navy and the contractor to provide independent analysis of the operations and to assist in settling disagreements. The IMS selected should be proposed by the towing contractor and agreed to by the MSC technical representative.
IMS duties shall include the following, but are not limited to:
O Perform detailed technical evaluation and oversight as necessary, to ensure the tug and
T-EPF are prepared and rigged for tow IAW the U.S. Navy Towing Manual, as applicable.
Technical evaluations shall include a review of the following, but not limited to:
Contractor prepared tow package.
Pre-tow checklist to include items such as verifying the condition of the T-EPF as being seaworthy of the tow.
Material condition of the tug and T-EPF.
Preparations of the tug and T-EPF.
Inspection of all material, equipment, hardware, lines, and required certificates.
Completed U.S. Navy Towing Manual appendix h.
Issue a towing certificate when the tug and T-EPF are safely rigged for tow.
G. Contractor must provide tow bridle and hardware, emergency tow lines, flooding alarms, navigation lights and day shapes IAW the COLREGS Rules Of The Road.
H. The Navy will provide evidence of non-destructive testing (NDT) of T-EPF deck tow fittings for submission in a comprehensive tow package.
I. U.S. Navy Towing Manual (SL740-AA-MAN-10) will be used and complied with for this requirement. The link for download is: http://www.navsea.navy.mil/home/supsalv/00c2-salvage-publications/.
J. Contractor must prepare and submit a comprehensive towing package for review and approval prior to commencement of tow. This package includes, but is not limited to:
o A completed appendix H from the U.S. Navy Towing Manual with associated detail o Steady state tow line tension calculations over the spectrum of anticipated weather conditions along the tow route o Speeds of advance (SOA) o Weather conditions and limits o A sketch of the tow configuration which identifies all components in the tow rig from the tow machine on the tug to the pad eyes on tow (this includes tow wire, connecting shackles, chain inspections, and pad eye NDT (non-destructive testing) inspection paperwork.
o Documentation of pedigree, testing, or stamping for the individual jewelry components to assist in identifying the weakest link and to facilitate forensic analysis in the event of a failure and tracking of failure trends.
o Tug specifications to include hull and tow machinery certifications, bollard pull, tow wire certifications, and the Master’s towing endorsement.
o Route planning and identification of ports of refuge including associated restrictions for entry as stated by the Captain of the Port.
o The completed tow package must be sent to NAVSEA and MSC representatives for approval prior to tow.
K. Inspection and acceptance of all work shall be by the chief engineer, on-site management team representative, and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) as required.
L. Contractor is responsible for coordinating all onsite visits required for ABS representative to witness testing and inspections as required.
M. There will be a pre-tow conference pier side at Philadelphia, PA prior to towing the vessel.
The time of this meeting will be mutually agreed upon by MSC and contractor but should occur not later than 24 hours before tow. Required attendees include tug captain/contractor representative, MSC representative(s), a representative from the T-EPF vessel and the
IMS.
N. At least one (1) trail tug shall be used in restricted, inland and channel waters, and in any other circumstances where close quarters situations exist, to control the vessel in tow. The cost of the trail tugs shall be included in the lump sum price. The areas are as follows:
o Outbound Philadelphia, PA o Through the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal transit o Inbound Beaumont, TX
Shallow draft tugs will be required to transfer the vessel to the reserve fleet basin in Beaumont, TX.
o Any additional fuel stops required by the primary tow tug
O. Vessel delivery shall be coordinated with the Beaumont Reserve Fleet and must occur during daylight hours, Monday – Thursday. Assist tugs shall remain on station for approximately 8 hours to support vessel anchoring.
P. Lump sum amount shall include up to four (4) days of laytime
Q. Position reports. Position reports shall be issued by electronic mail: vessel shall provide position/status reports in port twice daily at 0000z and 1200z and at-sea four times daily at 0000z, 0600z, 1200z, and 1800z. Additionally, position/status reports shall be sent upon departure and arrival, and at other times requested by the applicable MSC area command for force protection reasons. Reports shall be sent to the email addresses that will be provided after the contract award.
R. Please see attached technical documents for more information on general arrangement, vessel tow fittings, and tow certification.
S. Contractor shall include a transit plan in the offer that will detail the transit from
Philadelphia, PA to Beaumont, TX. Details shall include route planning and identification of ports of refuge including associated restrictions for entry as stated by the captain of the port.
T. Contractor shall provide name and complete description/characteristics of the tow vessel including Certificate of Inspection (COI), Certificate of Documentation (COD) or classification society equivalent, photos, and all deliverables as per MSC PROFORMA
TUGCON 2026 (02-26).
U. Acknowledgement: Owner/ Offeror shall submit a warranty that the Owner/ Offeror acknowledges and will meet all requirements of the solicitation.
1. Owner/ Offeror submit item: 7S and 7T.
2. Owner. Offeror warranty validates acknowledgment of items: 1-6 and 7A-7R http://www.acquisition.gov/far/index.html http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/dfarspgi/current/index.html
REPLACE PART IV WITH THE FOLLOWING:
PART IV. ADDITIONAL FAR AND DFARS CLAUSES; add/amend the following:
Amend: (b) FAR 52.203-13, Contract Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (Nov 2021) –
CHECKED
Amend: (b) FAR 52.204-14, Service Contract Reporting Requirements (Oct 2016) – CHECKED
Add: (b) FAR 52.203-17, Contract Employee Whistleblower Rights (Nov 2023) – CHECKED
Amend; (b) FAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services (Nov 1999) to read as follows:
The Government may require continued performance of any services within the limits and at the rates specified in the contract. These rates may be adjusted only as a result of revisions to prevailing labor rates provided by the Secretary of Labor. The option provision may be exercised more than once, but the total extension of performance hereunder shall not exceed 6 months. The Contracting Officer may exercise the option by written notice to the Contractor any time prior to redelivery of the Vessel.
Amend: (b) FAR 52.219-6 Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (Nov 2020) - CHECKED
Amend: (b) FAR 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (Jan 2025) - CHECKED
Amend: (b) FAR 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting (Oct 2022) – CHECKED
Amend: (b) FAR 52.219-28, Postaward Small Business Program Rerepresentation (Jan 2025) -
CHECKED
Amend: (b) FAR 52.222-3, Convict Labor (Jun 2003) - CHECKED
Add: (b) FAR 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Apr 2015) – CHECKED
Amend: (b) FAR 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (Jun 2020) - CHECKED
Amend: (b) FAR 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (Jun 2020) -
CHECKED
Amend: (b) FAR 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (Jun 2020) - CHECKED
Amend: (b) FAR 52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (Dec 2010) – CHECKED
Amend: (b) FAR 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards (Aug 2018) - CHECKED
Amend: (b) FAR 52.222-42, Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires (May 2014) to read as follows:
In compliance with the Service Contract Labor Standards statute and the regulations of the Secretary of Labor ( 29 CFR Part 4), this clause identifies the classes of service employees expected to be employed under the contract and states the wages and fringe benefits payable to each if they were employed by the contracting agency subject to the provisions of 5 U.S.C.5341 or 5 332.
This Statement is for Information Only: It is not a Wage Determination Employee Class Non-Mech Daily Mech Daily Daily
Master $440.74 $497.88 Chief Engineer $395.30
Chief Mate $267.24 $294.00 2nd Mate $238.01 $261.86 3rd Mate $208.82 $229.71
1st Asnt Engineer $272.16 2nd Asnt Engineer $241.27 3rd Asnt Engineer $206.23
Able Seaman $161.98 Ordinary Seaman $122.86
(End of clause)
Amend: (b) FAR 52.222-62, Paid Sick Leave Under Executive Order 13706 (Jan 2022) –
CHECKED
Amend: (b) FAR 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (Feb 2021) - CHECKED
Amend: (b) FAR 52.229-12, Tax on Certain Foreign Procurements (Feb 2021) - CHECKED
Amend: (b) FAR 52.240-1, Prohibition on Unmanned Aircraft Systems Manufactured or Assembled by American Security Drone Act-Covered Foreign Entities (Nov 2024) – CHECKED
Add: (c) DFARS 252.225-7005 Identification of Expenditures in the United States – CHECKED
Amend: (c) DFARS 252.232-7008 Assignment of Claims (Overseas) (JUN 1997) – CHECKED
PART VI(c) DFARS 252.232-7006 Wide Area Work Flow Payment Instructions
VI(c) DFARS 252.232-7006 Wide Area Work Flow Payment Instructions
VI(c)(f)(1)(ii)(A) Not Applicable
VI(c)(f)(1)(ii)(B) Invoice 2-in-1
VI(c)(f)(3): Document routing: The Contractor shall use the information in the Routing Data Table below only to fill in applicable fields in WAWF when creating payment requests and receiving reports in the system.
A. Routing Data Table:
Field Name in WAWF Data to be entered in WAWF Pay Official DoDAAC N50082 Issue By DoDAAC N32205 Admin DoDAAC N32205 Inspect By DoDAAC N62387 Ship To Code N62387 Ship From Code Leave Blank Mark For Code Leave Blank Service Approver (DoDAAC) N62387 Service Acceptor (DoDAAC) N62387 Accept at Other DoDAAC Leave Blank LPO DoDAAC N62387 DCAA Auditor DoDAAC Leave Blank Other DoDAAC(s) Leave Blank
PART V. ADDITIONAL FAR AND DFARS PROVISIONS; add/amend the following:
Add: (c) DFARS 252.225-7059 Prohibition on Certain Procurements from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region-Representation (JUN 2023) – CHECKED
Amend: (b) DFARS 252.247-7026, Evaluation Preference for Use of Domestic Shipyards — Applicable to Acquisition of Carriage by Vessel for DoD Cargo in the Coastwise or Noncontiguous Trade (Oct 2024) - CHECKED
PART VII. ATTACHMENTS – TUG CONTRACT; add the following:
(b) U.S. Department of Labor Wage Determination, 2015-0213, Rev. 38
(c) Shipyard Data Information Spreadsheet; As outlined in relevant Parts V, VIII, and IX below, submission of an offer requires the submission of relevant shipyard data information for all Jones Act vessels owned or controlled by the offeror.
(d) Liquid Penetrant Inspection Report
(e) Towing Checklist and Certificate of Seaworthiness
(f) Towing Fitting Installation
(g) Towing General Arrangement
PART VIII. INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS; add/amend the following:
AMEND PART VIII(m) to read: Evidence of USCG Certificate of Inspection (COI), Certificate of Documentation (COD), and ABS Class, as applicable.
AMEND PART VIII(n) to read: Vessel specification sheet to include pictures of the vessel.
PART IX. FAR 52.212-2 EVALUATION; AMEND THE FOLLOWING:
AMEND PART IX(a) first paragraph to read as follows:
Award will be made, if at all, resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror (See Note
(1) below) whose technically acceptable proposal represents the lowest price to the Government.
If this RFP includes DFARS 252.247-7026, then this evaluation scheme is subject to the next paragraph.
AMEND PART IX(a)(3) to read as follows:
In selecting the lowest price, technically acceptable offer, the following factors will be considered, taking into account domestic shipyard usage:
1. Technical
2. Price
Add PART IX(d) to read as follows:
Solicitation Compliance. The offeror’s proposal will be reviewed for compliance with the submission requirements outlined in Part X(a)(18). Failure to provide any of those submission requirements may result in a proposal being not eligible for award.
THIS CONCLUDES THE CHANGES TO PART I, TUGCON BOX 6
(TERMS/CONDITIONS/ATTACHMENTS ADDED, DELETED OR MODIFIED).
Signed: CHRISTOPHER TOMLIN, Contracting Officer, MSC, N103A
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