UxV Range Support Craft RFI.docx

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Solicitation Number: N00024-26-R-2201 Agency: Department of the Navy Office: Naval Sea Systems Command Location: NAVSEA HQ

Synopsis:

DISCLOSURE:

This is a Request for Information (RFI) notice only. This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP) and a formal solicitation is not available at this time. This RFI is for informational planning purposes and it is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue an RFP, contract, or order for any actual procurement of materials, machinery, supply or service. The Government will not pay for any effort expended or any material provided in response to this announcement. All costs associated with responding to this RFI are solely at the responding parties' expense.

This RFI is open to all interested parties both foreign and domestic. Should an RFP for production be issued, boat designs which originate outside the U.S. are permitted as long as the prime contractor can meet all domestic United States manufacturing and solicitation requirements.

Responses to this notice are not offers and will not be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract or agreement. The Government will not be obligated to pursue any particular acquisition alternative because of this RFI. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if one is issued. Specific responses to the approaches will not disqualify or have an impact on participation and evaluation on future solicitations. No specific information is required in response to this RFI; however, interested parties may respond and indicate interest as desired.

PURPOSE:

The Naval Sea System Command (NAVSEA) is hereby issuing an RFI on behalf of the Support Ships, Boats, and Craft Program Office (PMS 300), to get industries’ input if the Navy were to award a contract for a new or used UxV Range Support Craft able to carry out the below defined mission set.

The Navy plans to award a single solicitation in for an estimated one (1) UxV Range Support Craft in FY26 that will be delivered to NUWC Keyport.

The notional schedule listed below is provided for planning purposes only. The Government is not obligated to pursue this schedule or a future solicitation because of this RFI.

1. Release final RFP 2nd QTR FY26.

2. Anticipated award 2nd QTR FY26.

DESCRIPTION:

The principal use of this craft is to conduct basic and applied research in unmanned surface and subsurface vehicles and to support in-water range test and evaluation projects supporting national security.

Notional UxV Range Support Craft Characteristics:

1. Mission and Functions:

a. Serve UxV range support functions:

i. Range support for UxV testing, including towing, lift support for UxV deployment and retrieval in water, and support for testing groups.

ii. Range environmental support of UxV testing. (Examples: Conductivity, Temperature and Density (CTD) probes, Target and Sound Equipment (T&E Sticks), Countermeasure Test Emulator (CMTE), and other range support equipment to enable UxV range events.)

iii. Perform Range Security and Monitoring for UxV range events.

iv. Perform Environmental Support and Monitoring for UxV range events.

b. Support multi day missions/operations without fueling. Craft would return to the pier at night and provide on call/scheduled support, in the operating environment defined below.

2. Operating Environment:

a. Operate in the waters of Keyport Range, Dabob Bay Range Complex, Hood Canal, Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Nanoose, Canada.

b. Sea State Capability for fully loaded transit: 5 or less

c. Sea State Capability for testing: Range Support – 3 or less; UxV Ops/Testing – 2 or less

d. Handle wind-driven waves exceeding 8 feet and strong currents in saltwater conditions.

e. Capable of night operations.

f. Range craft availability: 225+ days/year

3. General Characteristics:

a. A-frame/U-frame or similar structure for stern lifting: 6,000 lbs. threshold with in-haul winch and hydraulic positioning.

b. Hydraulic deck crane with 300° to 360° of rotation and 2500-3000 lbs of lift capacity at 4’6” boom extension and 1000 lbs at 9’5” boom extension (values negotiable based on what is available commercially)

c. Desired Side Lifting Rating: minimum 5,000 lbs. (J-davit or similar fitting)

d. Lifting Range: minimum 8 foot outboard.

e. Vessel mounted weight handling equipment must be compliant with NSTM standards.

f. Stern Towing Capability: Minimum tow force 5,000 lbs. (25,000 lbs. item @ 4 knots) with tow bar or hard point. Desired tow force 7,500 lbs. (35,000 lbs. @ 4 knots) with tow bar or hard point.

g. Bow and stern tow posts.

h. Ship equipped with anchor(s) in accordance with USCG/ABS requirements.

i. Electrical Power: Two 480Vac, 3-phase, 60-Hz generators in the engine room that supply electricity through the ac distribution system. Ability to supply power to the craft with one generator. (Standard kW rating for representative commercial vehicle, objective 83kW available).

j. Distribution for five voltage systems, 480Vac, 240Vac, 120Vac, 24Vdc, and 12Vdc to provide power to permanent and temporary equipment installed onboard.

k. Cabin Workspace: Minimum requirement test team space is to have 3 people seated and surface space for their laptops and a workbench minimum of 3 feet long with lighting. People need to be able to sit at theses surfaces. Lighting and at least 8 120 VAC outlets (with USB) need to be near these work spaces.

l. Desired Cabin Workspace: Two flat surfaces at least 54 inch length for the test team to set up computers and work on small items. Seating for 6 people.

m. Electrical Power in Cabin workspace: 110 VAC 20 Amp with 8 outlets in the pilot house, 4 on the working deck. Hotel Power direct from alternator to small house battery bank + >5kW inverter.

n. 5kW Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) needs to provide power to test team work area during Signal Zero.

o. Onboard head with sink.

p. Onboard galley area with sink, microwave, refrigerator and food storage to support a two day mission.

q. Standardization: Standard HM&E equipment with other training/T&E range assets for commonality across the Navy as applicable.

r. Fresh and waste water holding tanks to support two day missions with 10 people. Minimum tank capacities: Fresh water 120 gallons / waste water 120 gallons.

s. Standard shore side connection fittings for hoses to the fresh and waste water holding tanks, shall be compatible with connections at expected pier (most likely KB Docks).

4. Communication / Navigation:

a. GPS

b. Fathometer

c. Magnetic Compass

d. Navigation Radar with Automated Identification System (AIS) capability

e. Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS)

f. Marine Radio (UHF/VHF Communications)

g. Maritime Distress Systems: Electronic Visual Distress Signals(EVDS)/EPIRB/E-Flare/Flare locker

h. General ship’s announcing system.

i. Topside speakers for general announcements between helm and working stations (tied in with h).

j. Two electrical equipment racks and associated network to support C4ISR mission support systems.

k. Waterproof plugs on cabin workspace, working deck, pilot house, and other test/work benches.

l. Cable run from work space to deck that can be sealed or plugged.

m. Need two sets of antenna mount hardware installed. (will add antennae later)

n. Cellular telephone/SATCOM/Iridium connections

o. (Optional) Ethernet on-board wireless

p. (Optional) Starlink / Starshield receiver/transmitter

q. (Optional) Interface for a portable underwater telephone/data modem.

r. (Optional) Station keeping capability

5. Boat Type and Size:

a. Hull Material: Must function in saltwater per the operating environments. Aluminum craft recommended, steel hull not desired.

b. Type: Non-RHIB with consideration for safety via foam-tubed RIB or pliable rub rail. Catamaran would be desirable.

c. Length: 65 ft maximum, dictated by working deck, storage area, and lifting capacity. Nominal length of 50 ft. Minimum length of 45 ft.

d. No greater than 400 tons to remain under inland water MARPOL oily waste requirements.

e. Breadth: Minimum 16 ft, driven by the need for a stable working deck. 18 ft wide desired.

f. Swim Deck: Low/zero freeboard access to water on ship stern, minimum 5 feet continuous. Desire for a swim deck that can raise and lower for loading and can accommodate two people safely to tend UUVs

g. Ability to be dry-docked for overhaul and maintenance.

6. Crew and Passengers:

a. Number of Crew: 2, to maximize space for testing team and equipment.

b. Number of Passengers: Minimum 8 passengers, to accommodate varying project sizes and expertise requirements. Seating for at least 10 people in the covered space.

7. Cargo Capacity and Deck Space:

a. Continuous Deck Space: Uncluttered 20ft x 7ft uncluttered deck space minimum.

b. Required Cargo Capacity: Covered storage space of 32ft2 for UxV and associated equipment or for other range support equipment

c. Deck Capacity: Minimum 8,000 lbs., desired at least 10,000 lbs.

d. Lighting on deck for night operations.

e. Multiple cargo tie off points on deck, maximum spacing 4 foot grid pattern. Desired multiple cargo tie off points on deck, maximum spacing 3 foot grid pattern.

f. Excess Fresh water capacity for deck wash down of systems under test.

g. Two capstans (one fore and one aft) with a pull capacity of 3,500 lbs for retrieving anchors and UUVs and for placing the ship in a two point moor for UUV recovery operations. Rollers with chocks/bitts to assist with line handling over the side.

h. Hydraulic Power pack to position A-frame/U-frame.

i. (Optional) Foundation to add a portable 5/10 gallon capacity low pressure air compressor.

8. Propulsion System:

a. Inboard diesel with jet propulsion or propeller tunnels for precise, slow towing.

b. Deck hatch to access motors, for ease of maintenance.

c. Manual steering controls.

d. Fuel Capacity: Minimum 450 nautical miles fully loaded at transiting speed, plus 20 hours of loitering. Desired at least 550 nautical miles fully loaded at transiting speed, plus 48 hours loitering.

e. Back-up Power: Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) 120 VAC 50 Amps to support critical systems (life support, radio, emergency lights) when the engines are off for up to 4 hours. This system will also provide DC power as required for other systems.

f. Fire suppression capability per regulations.

g. Auto pilot with auto lock capability.

h. (Optional) dynamic position capability (DP1 or DP2). (Bow thruster/L-Drives/Jet Drives)

9. Speed Requirements:

a. Minimum Towing Speed: 1 knot, without needing to clutch in and out, so it can maintain consistent speed and steerage at low speed.

b. Minimum Required Transiting Speed: 20 knots fully loaded. Desired Transit Speed: 25+ knots fully loaded.

c. Use of a Trolling Valve transmission.

10. Other Requirements:

a. Training of crew prior to delivery.

b. Provide all engineering drawings, user manuals, support documents, and a suggested maintenance plan if not included in the user manuals.

c. Vessel must comply with the applicable laws of the United States of America and the requirements of the regulatory bodies, America Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and United States Coast Guard (USCG)

d. Craft shall be capable of providing man overboard rescue capability.

e. Availability of greater than 90% and a refit/overhaul every 6 years are the requirements for maintenance cost estimation.

f. Expected design life of 25-30 years. Minimum 20 years.

RESPONSES & SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION:

Interested parties are free to submit any information which may assist the Navy in its market research on new or used crafts that can meet the above requirements.

Interested sources are encouraged to submit a capability summary that does not exceed (5) pages in length. Submission in PDF format is desired. Drawings sized to 8.5”x11” or 11”x17”. All other documentation sized to 8.5”x11”.

The following information is requested (Please use as a checklist):

1. Provide company contact information.

a) Name

b) Position/Title

c) Email Address

d) Telephone Number

2. General description of the company

a) Small Business (Y/N)

b) HUB Zone small business (Y/N)

c) Service-Disabled Veteran Owned (Y/N)

d) Economically disadvantaged women-owned small business (EDWOSB) (Y/N)

e) Women-owned small business (WOSB) concerns eligible (Y/N)

3. Provide location of company production facilities, if applicable.

4. Please state the capability to build the UxV Range Support Craft.

5. Identify alternative contracting approaches, if any, which would benefit industry. If none, please state “none”.

6. Provide any technical concerns of the configuration of the UxV Range Support Craft. If none, please state “none”.

7. Provide a description of the company’s relevant experience. If applicable, identify the number of delivered vessels, dates delivered, and customer.

a) Describe facility production capacity (e.g. estimate on total construction time for the UxV Range Support Craft).

8. If available, please provide the following information for the candidate vessel:

a) Vessel principal characteristics and capabilities

b) Photos, drawings, and/or renderings

c) Design, construction, regulatory and classification standards employed

9. Provide the approximate price for:

a) Candidate vessel.

b) Technical Manuals & Other Data.

c) Annual maintenance costs.

Respondents are responsible for properly marking and clearly identifying proprietary information or trade secrets contained within their response. The Government will not be liable for, or suffer any consequential damages for any proprietary information not properly marked and clearly identified. Information provided shall be treated as Business Sensitive and will not be shared outside of Government activities and agencies without the permission of the provider. Please do NOT provide classified information or use the marking “CONFIDENTIAL” as this marking is considered classified by the Government which would require special handling of the information.

Defense and commercial contractors, including small businesses, veteran-owned businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, HUBZone small businesses, and woman-owned small businesses are encouraged to monitor Sam.gov for updates and to participate in any future solicitation, if one is issued.

This RFI is the continuation of market research under Part 10 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and is not a RFP. Questions or comments and submissions regarding the intended procurement plan or the draft requirements may be directed to: Joe Sapanaro, Contracting Officer – NAVSEA 02 (joseph.f.saponaro.civ@us.navy.mil), Jason Pratt, Contracting Specialist – NAVSEA 02 (jason.t.pratt2.civ@us.navy.mil) or Andy Litwin, Assistant Program Manager – PEO Ships/PMS 300G (andrew.m.litwin.civ@us.navy.mil).

Responses are requested by 2:00 PM (EST) on October 28, 2025.