N00024-24-R-2218_MERC Diesel RFI_Attchament - 01.pdf

Request for information from potential sources for an Explosive

Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Multi-Use Expeditionary Response Craft

(MERC)

Solicitation Number: N00024-24-R-2218 Agency: Department of the Navy

Office: Naval Sea Systems Command

Location: NAVSEA HQ

Notice Type: Sources Sought

Posted Date:

Response Date:

Archiving Policy: Automatic, on specified date

Archive Date: TBD

Original Set Aside: N/A

Set Aside: N/A

Classification Code: 19 -- Ships, small craft, pontoons & floating docks

NAICS Code: 336612 -- Boat Building

DISCLOSURE:

This is a Request for Information (RFI) notice only, issued by the Naval Sea Systems Command

(NAVSEA), on behalf of the U.S. Navy and Foreign Military Sales, Boats, and Craft Program Office

(PMS 300) for information and planning purposes only. This is not a request for proposal (RFP) and a formal solicitation is not available at this time.

This notice does not constitute a commitment by the Government to issue an RFP, contract, or order. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this RFI or any follow up information requests. Responses to this notice are not offers and will not be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract or agreement. Specific responses to the approaches will not disqualify or have an impact on participation and evaluation on future solicitations. Not responding to this

RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if one is issued. The Government will not be obligated to pursue any particular acquisition alternative because of this RFI.

Respondents are solely responsible for properly marking and clearly identifying any proprietary information or trade secrets contained within their response. To aid the Government in its review, please segregate any proprietary information from non-proprietary information. The Government will not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any proprietary information that has not been both properly marked and clearly identified. Information marked proprietary received in response to this RFI will be safeguarded and handled in accordance with applicable Government regulations.

PURPOSE:

NAVSEA hereby issues an RFI on behalf of PMS 300 to assess the availability of qualified small businesses interested submitting proposals for the procurement of the below requirements describing an

EOD MERC. A prospective solicitation would seek to acquire as many as 25 boats for the Navy

Expeditionary Combatant Command (NECC) Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) and Mobile Diving and Salvage Units (MDSU). This RFI will assist the Navy in finding qualified small business sources to build the required EOD MERCs. Please note that only U.S.-built and U.S.-flagged vessels will be considered.

The Navy intends to recapitalize its aging fleet and procure EOD MERC boats beginning in Fiscal Year

2025.

The overall objective of this Sources Sought Notice is to conduct and update market research to support preliminary planning for the acquisition of the EOD MERC. The planned phasing for this acquisition is as follows and is subject to change:

Craft Type Base Quantity Option Quantity Total Quantity

EOD MERC 15 10 25

This EOD MERC contract is intended to be awarded separately from the planned FY25 Composite Boat

Multiple Award Contract (MAC). Follow-on EOD MERC procurements are intended to be awarded on the Composite Boat MAC via delivery orders in fiscal year 2026 and follow.

The Navy plans to award a contract to one or more builders in FY25 for up to an estimated 25 boats for delivery to locations including, but not limited to the following:

• Navy stock point in Williamsburg, VA

DESCRIPTION & MISSION PROFILE:

The MERC will be used in the Navy EOD forces, including Mobile Diving and Salvage Units (MDSU), provide diving/demolition services in the marine environment in depths of up to 330 feet of seawater

(FSW). Joint and Naval commanders require EOD platoons and MDSU companies to conduct underwater operations to locate, render safe and/or recover submerged objects and ordnance; harbor clearance/search;

and expeditionary salvage operations. These operations have unique small-craft requirements and the missions will be conducted worldwide in permissive and non-permissive environments.

Though this RFI, the Navy aims to identify potential, qualified, small business sources to build and deliver EOD MERCs based on the following characteristics. Potential sources should have the personnel, facilities, technical capability and production capacity to produce up to 25 EOD MERCs over the life of a two-year contract. Key MERC attributes and requirements:

• Variant: Open Center Console

• Boat type: Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB)

• Nominal length: 9 meters (30 feet)

• Nominal Full Load displacement: 12,000 lbs

• Max Beam: 10 feet

• Mission duration: up to 12 hours

• Hull material: Infused Fiberglass reinforced Plastic (FRP)

• Propulsion type: Twin Diesel Outboard 300 hp (Government Furnished Equipment)

• Cruise speed: 30 knots

• Sprint speed: 35 knots

• Range (with 10% reserve): 110 nautical miles or 4 hrs cruise + 8 hrs @ 5 knots

• Payload: 5,000 lbs (including personnel)

• Sea State: Full operation in SS2, Reduced operation SS3, Survive SS4

• Transportability: Air = C-130, Road = wide load without escort vehicle (10 ft beam), Marine = launch and recovery from Navy Ships

• Stability: Meets ISO 6185-4:2014 requirements for Type X with a design category of B

• 4 KW diesel generator for mission equipment

• 200 lbs davit

• Tactical communication suite

• Hoisting fittings

• Deck cargo tiedowns

• Diver provisions (ladder, dive bottle stowage)

• Forward gun foundation

Responses & Submission of Information

Interested parties are free to submit any information which may assist the Navy in its market research and respond to RFI N00024-24-R-2218. Responses to this RFI are limited to 10 pages and should include any relevant drawings, specifications, and/or sketches. The Government is not requesting a formal proposal at this time; however, please include as much of the technical data listed below as practical under the time constraints of this inquiry. As a reminder: please properly mark, clearly identify, and segregate any proprietary information included in your response.

The following information is requested:

1. Data and/or information on any vessel or vessel design in a similar size and capability range. Data may be submitted on existing vessels, vessels that are conceptual or in design. If vessel is conceptual or in design, please provide level of maturity.

2. A description of the company’s relevant experience. Past experience performing construction of boats of similar dimensions and characteristics highlighting: construction techniques; portions of work which intended to be performed by the prime contractor and portions of work to be subcontracted, including identification of likely design agent; any intended teaming arrangements; and familiarity with Government contract requirements and drawing development.

Examples of successful Government contracts of similar scope of work on boats of seven meters or greater length. A description of the boat design identified by the Contractor that meets or comes close to meeting the above listed design requirements.

3. If applicable, identify the number of vessels and the years they were delivered.

4. Provide approximate pricing for:

a. Candidate vessel

b. Delivery to stated location

c. Mold/Engineering Cost

5. Provide location of company production facilities.

6. Describe facility production capacity (e.g., estimate on total construction time for one EOD

MERC; how many EOD MERC boats can be built per year), based on current and projected yard-wide workload. The Navy recommends contractors to provide information demonstrating their capability/capacity for production throughput. When describing throughput, please address capability/capacity of facilities and how they are suitable to handle the physical components of the boat, stowage of Government Furnished Equipment (GFE), and the current and projected utilization of workforce and trades required to complete the EOD MERC. The Navy further requests information regarding the estimated maximum production throughput of the boats per year, including constraints from other contracted and projected workload for other project/programs. Additionally, the Navy requests for contractors to state the minimum EOD

MERC quantity that would need to be guaranteed to respond to the requirements of the potential solicitation.

Interested parties may also submit additional information on the following areas of interest:

• Vessel principal characteristics and capabilities

• General arrangement drawings and renderings

• Design, construction, regulatory and classification standards employed

• Company production capabilities and recent, relevant, production history

• Contact information

Note: Interested parties do not have to meet all requirements listed in this RFI to submit a response. All responses received will be reviewed by the Government.

This RFI constitutes market research being performed under Part 10 of the Federal Acquisition

Regulation (FAR), and is not an RFP. The responses shall contain unclassified information only.

Responses are requested by 1700 Eastern Time on August 16, 2024.

Responses should be submitted via e-mailed to Peter Herrman, PMS300, at peter.c.herrman.civ@us.navy.mil, Joseph Saponaro at joseph.f.saponaro.civ@us.navy.mil AND Spencer

Rice at Spencer.e.rice5.civ@us.navy.mil. Questions shall be submitted via e-mail to Mr. Peter Herrman

(peter.c.herrman.civ@us.navy.mil), Mr. Joe Saponaro (joseph.f.saponaro.civ@us.navy.mil) AND Mr.

Spencer Rice (Spencer.e.rice5.civ@us.navy.mil).