09 FEBRUARY 2026

THIS IS THE MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND NORFOLK, STRATEGIC SEALIFT

PROGRAM SUPPORT OFFICE, N103A

SOURCE SOUGHT NOTIFICATION NO. N32205-26-PM4-050

SUBJECT: T-EPF OPEN-OCEAN TOW MISSION

1. THIS IS MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY THE PM4 PROGRAM OFFICE OF

MSC. IT IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY, AND YOUR RESPONSE WILL

NOT BE CONSIDERED AN OFFER. THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION DOES NOT

COMMIT THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY ANY COSTS INCURRED IN THE

PREPARATION OR SUBMISSION TO THIS MARKET SURVEY OR TO CONTRACT FOR

SERVICES.

2. MSC REQUESTS INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRICE AND AVAILABILITY OF A 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.

3. DESCRIPTION OF THE TOW:

• DISPLACEMENT – 2,500 LT

• LENGTH – 337’ 11”

• BEAM – 93’ 6”

• MAX DRAFT – 12’ 7”

4. PORT(S)/PLACE(S) OF DEPARTURE: INACTSHIPS PHILADELPHIA, RHOADS

INDUSTRIES, 1750 KITTY HAWK AVE, PHILADELPHIA, PA, PIER 2.

5. LAYTIME: FOUR (4) DAYS FOR THE ENTIRE MISSION.

6. PORT(S)/PLACE(S) OF DESTINATION: MARITIME ADMINISTRATION (MARAD)

BEAUMONT RESERVE FLEET, BEAUMONT, TX.

7. LAYDAYS: COMMENCING/CANCELLING: 09 – 13 APRIL 2026

8. TUG REQUIREMENTS:

• VESSEL/TUG SHALL BE BUILT IN 1970 OR LATER.

• BOLLARD PULL: SUFFICIENT TO TOW T-EPF VESSEL AT A MINIMUM TOW

SPEED OF SIX (6) KNOTS FOR FIVE (5) KNOT SOA IN BEAUFORT 5

CONDITIONS. MAXIMUM TOW SPEED TO BE CALCULATED IAW THE U.S.

NAVY TOW MANUAL.

• TUG SHALL BE FULLY BUNKERED FOR THE VOYAGE.

• STOPS FOR FUEL OR SUPPLIES ARE AUTHORIZED.

• INTERNET AND SATELLITE PHONE CAPABILITY.

• 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.

• CONTRACTOR MUST PROVIDE TOW BRIDLE AND HARDWARE, EMERGENCY

TOW LINES, FLOODING ALARMS, NAVIGATION LIGHTS AND DAY SHAPES

IAW THE COLREGS RULES OF THE ROAD.

• THE NAVY WILL PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING OF T-

EPF DECK TOW FITTINGS FOR SUBMISSION IN A COMPREHENSIVE TOW

PACKAGE.

• 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/.

• 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 US 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.

http://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/SUPSALV/00C2-Salvage-Publications/ http://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/SUPSALV/00C2-Salvage-Publications/ 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.

• 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.

• CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING ALL ONSITE VISITS

REQUIRED FOR ABS REPRESENTATIVE TO WITNESS TESTING AND

INSPECTIONS AS REQUIRED.

• THERE WILL BE A PRE-TOW CONFERENCE AT INACTSHIPS 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.

• 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

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

• 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.

• 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.

• LUMP SUM AMOUNT SHALL INCLUDE UP TO FOUR (4) DAYS OF LAYTIME

• POSITION REPORTS. POSITION REPORTS SHALL BE ISSUED BY ELECTRONIC

MAIL: VESSEL SHALL PROVIDE POSITION/STATUS REPORT 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.

• PLEASE SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS FOR MORE INFORMATION

ON GENERAL ARRANGEMENT, VESSEL TOW FITTINGS, AND TOW

CERTIFICATION.

9. INTERESTED PARTIES ARE REQUESTED TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING

INFORMATION:

A. 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 2024

(REV.1 (12-24)).

B. LUMPSUM (INCLUDE UP TO 4 DAYS AT DESTINATION SITE FOR

CUSTOMS/DELIVERY) AND DEMURRAGE RATE.

C. ITINERARY, NUMBER OF DAYS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE TOW

MISSION.

D. BUSINESS SIZE. IF OTHER THAN SMALL BUSINESS, PROVIDE A NARRATIVE

OF SUB-CONTRACTING POSSIBILITIES ENVISIONED, IF ANY. IF NONE,

PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION.

E. ANY OTHER PERTINENT QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS INCLUDING 46 CFR,

CHAPTER 1, SUBCHAPTER M - TOWING VESSELS.

10. THE FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION 19.102 ESTABLISHES THE SMALL

BUSINESS SIZE STANDARD FOR THIS TYPE OF WATER TRANSPORTATION

SERVICE AS NAICS “483111” WITH A SMALL BUSINESS SIZE LIMITATION OF 1,050

EMPLOYEES. PLEASE INDICATE IF BUSINESS IS A SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN.

11. RESPONSES ARE REQUESTED, VIA EMAIL, PRIOR TO 1100 HOURS, EASTERN

TIME, 13 FEBRUARY 2026. THE POINT OF CONTACT DAVID ANAYA, EMAIL

DAVID.C.ANAYA.CIV@US.NAVY.MIL, OR TEL (564) 226-8419.

SIGNED: CHRISTOPHER TOMLIN, CONTRACTING OFFICER, MSC, N103