MARAD Response to questions for USWC Cape I solicitation.docx

Memorandum

U.S. Department of Transportation

MARITIME

ADMINISTRATION

Attn. of:

To:

Cc:

Karen Gill, MAR-380, Contracting Officer

Ricky Coles, Marine Transportation Specialist, Division of Ship Operations and Emergency Preparedness.

This document provides the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) response to questions concerning the Layberth Solicitation 693JF722B000003 for 2 – Cape I Class RRF vessels on the USWC.

Question 1: Deployment/Use of the Sideport on the Cape I.

Response: Section C.4(A) 9.(C) (V) states: “The area on the dock where the ramp or sideport will be landed shall be clear of any obstruction (e.g., bollards, piping, bull rail…). The dock shall accommodate the lowered stern ramp or sideport ramp at all times. The dock area supporting the ramp shall permit access of an HS 20-44 truck onto the vessel.”

There is no sideport ramp or platform access, this section is changed to read: “ The area on the dock where the ramp will be landed shall be clear of any obstruction (e.g., bollards, piping, bull rail…). The dock shall accommodate the lowered stern ramp at all times. The dock area supporting the ramp shall permit access of an HS 20-44 truck onto the vessel.”

The side port access identified in Section J is a doorway only.

Question 2: The Port of Vancouver requests the use of a wind speed and exposure classification that is less than the 85 miles per hour Exposure D requirement included in Attachment 5, Section J.6 of the MARAD Request for Proposals (RFP) for the “Layberth services for two large Ro/Ro vessels on the US West Coast”.

Response: MARAD has reviewed the submitted analysis, meteorological data, and other submitted information. MARAD agrees with the following:

1. Use of “Exposure C” non-hurricane zone is agreeable to determine the 50-year wind as “Exposure D” is for Hurricane zones.

2. MARAD agrees that the required wind speed for Vancouver/Portland areas can be reduced because of the distance inland.

3. MARAD will require 74 MPH for 30 sec gusts as the minimum wind speed when preparing mooring calculations for all points of the compass where the combination of wind direction, wind speed, tides and currents shall be analyzed to determine the worst-case scenario for the heavy weather mooring type III calculations.

Question 3: The question is on the pneumatic fenders between the vessels. Will the vessels be equipped with their own fenders for nesting?

Response: If the vessels are nested, the fenders between the vessels are the layberth operator’s responsibility to provide. The Government at this time will not be providing any fendering.

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