Request for Information (RFI) - Arctic Security Cutter (ASC).pdf

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REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Arctic Security Cutter (ASC): Icebreaking Capable Vessels or Vessel Designs that are Ready for Construction

1.0 DESCRIPTION

This notice is a Request for Information (RFI) only. This RFI is issued by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for information and planning purposes, pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10, Market Research. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. All participants are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs that result from responding to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued.

2.0 PURPOSE

The purpose of this RFI is to increase the USCG’s understanding of the current status and capability of both the U.S. and broader international maritime industrial base as it pertains to existing icebreaking capable vessels or vessel designs that are ready for construction or already in production.

Specifically, the USCG seeks to understand what existing vessels or production ready vessel designs satisfy or closely satisfy the below preliminary capability parameters. Additionally, the USCG would like to gain insight on recently proven execution and build strategies as well as the current capability and availability of global shipyards that could support the construction and subsequent launch of an existing icebreaking capable vessel design within THIRTY-SIX (36) months of a contract award date.

VESSEL PRELIMINARY CAPABILITY PARAMETERS

Length 360ft or less Beam 78ft or less Draft 23ft or less

Icebreaking Vessel shall be capable of independently breaking through ice with a thickness of 3ft at a continuous speed of 3 knots.

Range 6,500 nautical miles at 12 knots Endurance 60 days

Aircraft Flight deck and hangar to accommodate ONE (1) HH-60

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3.0 REQUESTED INFORMATION / DELIVERABLES

In response to this RFI, the USCG requests that the following information and deliverables be provided:

1) Vendor type – interested parties to confirm their role within the maritime industrial base (e.g., Design / Engineering firm, Vessel Owner / Operator, Maritime Services Company, Vessel Construction Manager, Shipyard, etc.).

2) Placemat or one-pager detailing the general design characteristics and capabilities of an existing vessel or a production ready or mature vessel design(s) that satisfies or closely satisfies the parameters outlined in Section 2.0. See attached placemat template in Appendix A as an example.

3) Identify when the vessel design was last produced at a shipyard.

4) For interested parties other than U.S. based shipyards, do you have an established partnership or previous production experience with a U.S. based shipyard(s)? If so, which shipyard(s) and when?

5) For interested shipyards, please confirm and demonstrate (with supporting documentation) how your facility or facilities have the availability, capacity, and capability to build and launch a vessel designed per the parameters outlined in Section

2.0 within THIRTY-SIX (36) months of a contract award date.

a. Please complete the Shipyard Assessment Form provided in Appendix B.

6) White paper or informational brief detailing a holistic execution strategy that would enable the start of construction within TWELVE (12) months and the launching of the vessel within THIRTY-SIX (36) months of a contract award date.

a. Please highlight any risks or concerns associated with the procurement of long lead equipment and/or materials that could challenge the ability to execute within the requested timeline.

7) Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost to purchase the following:

a. Production ready or mature vessel design that satisfies or closely satisfies the parameters outlined in Section 2.0.

b. The engineering, procurement, and construction of up to THREE (3) of these vessels.

c. The purchase or lease of an existing vessel that satisfies or closely satisfies the parameters outlined in Section 2.0.

4.0 RESPONSES

Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI no later than 5:00 PM, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), on April 25, 2025. All RFI responses shall address the requested deliverables and information detailed in Section 3.0. Responses shall be submitted electronically via email to:

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Christopher A. Wellons – christopher.a.wellons@uscg.mil (primary) Kayode A. Adewole – kayode.a.adewole@uscg.mil (alternate)

The subject line must read: “ASC RFI RESPONSE - [Company Name] - RFI #

70Z02325RFIASC001.

4.1 Response Format:

All responses shall include the following components, submitted as searchable PDFs:

1. Collective responses to items (1), (3), and (4) from Section 3.0 shall be limited to 1 page.

2. Appendix A – Vessel Placement (1 page)

3. Response to item (6) shall include completion of Appendix B – Shipyard Assessment Form (8 pages maximum)

4. Informational Brief or White Paper (8 slides or pages maximum)

5. Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) Estimate (2-3 pages, Excel format only)

a. Include assumptions and limitations (e.g., inflation year, labor-rates, quantity basis)

b. Note: This ROM is non-binding and for planning purposes only

4.2 Additional Guidance:

Submission of proprietary information is not requested. If proprietary content is submitted voluntarily:

The information shall be clearly and appropriately marked as proprietary.

The information shall be provided separately from unrestricted materials as an appendix.

All submissions become the property of the USCG and will not be returned.

The following type of responses will not be accepted as part of this RFI:

1) Submitted as marketing brochures or general capability presentations,

2) Submitted via telephone or voicemail,

3) Received after the listed due date.

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LT

LT

LT

LT/%

kts ft ft ft hp hp Dry ft2

NM Chill ft days Freeze ft2

General Stores ft2

Engineering Stores ft

[Class Society], [Ruleset] X [Davit Type] Hull Structure [Material]

[Polar Class] X [ Boat Type] Superstructure [Material]

*Refers to design & construction margins. List actual margins or typical practices

**Refers to ahead and astern icebreaking capability in level ice

DAMAGE STABILITY

[List damage stability standard]

MATERIAL

Ridged Ice X

AVIATION FACILITIES

Range @ X knots

Endurance

Total Accommodations

WEAPONS SYSTEMS

Margins*

[List relevant aux systems]

AUXILIARY SYSTEMS

[List weapon systems, if any]

Full Load EOSL

ACCOMMODATIONS

PROVISIONS & STORES

X

X

DISPLACEMENT

Length

Beam

Draft

ELECTRIC PLANT

[Main Engine Type/Qty]

[Propulsor Type/Qty]

[Other Propulson Sytem(s)/Qty]

PERFORMANCE

[Bow Thruster/Qty]

[List relevant electric systems]

Lightship

Full Load

X

X

X

X

X

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release: distribution unlimited.

X

X

X

X

SHIP'S BOATSCLASSIFICATION

Astern IB @ 3 kts**

Installed Power

Propulsion Power [list aviation capabilities]

[SHIP/DESIGN NAME HERE]

[insert picture here]

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

XAhead IB @ 3 kts**

Speed X

PROPULSION PLANTDIMENSIONS

APPENDIX A – EXAMPLE VESSEL PLACEMAT TEMPLATE

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APPENDIX B – SHIPYARD ASSESSMENT FORM

Design and Production Engineering:

How many designers does the yard currently employ? What programs and file formats do they use?

How does the yard manage the start of construction relative to design maturity? What is the yard’s standard practice?

Please describe the yard’s workflow from design to construction.

Please describe the yard’s existing capability to automate design to production workflows.

Does the yard have planned investments to further automate? If so, when?

Is an Earned Value Management System employed or something equivalent?

Planning and Production Planning:

Please review the yard’s build strategy, production drawing output, and work package structure.

Purchasing and Warehousing:

Please review the yard’s current purchasing, warehousing, and material delivery processes and procedures.

Resource Management:

Please comment on and provide supporting visuals to demonstrate the yard’s current utilization plan / workload and associated allocation of resources (e.g., sand chart) over the next TEN (10) years.

Production Capability:

How does the yard define efficiency in ship fabrication?

What percent of production can the yard perform in-house versus what you will need to subcontract?

How does the yard integrate and manage subcontractors?

How many tradespeople does the yard employ?

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What standards are used for welding? What certifications do welders hold?

Facilities Layout and Flow:

Please review the yard’s current facilities and workflow, utilization rates, plans for expansion, and suitability for sustainment initiatives.

Please provide the yard’s shop plans, lay down area utilizations, crane/lift capacities, method of transporting large components (assemblies/engines) and any associated limits that exist.

Please highlight the shops’ performance (throughput) and any shop weight restrictions (ground).

Ability to Perform Secure Work:

Please describe your secure facilities and ability to perform secure work.

Part Fabrication and Kitting:

Please review what technologies are used and their effectiveness at the piece part fabrication level.

Please review processes and effectiveness of current kitting and temporary storage procedures.

Panel and Subassembly Fabrication:

Please review the facilities, tooling, equipment, and processes used for small panel and subassembly fabrication and construction.

Unit construction and Pre-outfitting:

Please review the facilities, tooling, equipment, and processes used for unit construction and pre-outfitting.

Please review the facilities, tooling, and methods used for blast and coat at the unit level.

Unit Erection:

Please review the facilities, tooling, equipment, and processes used for unit erection and post erection outfitting.

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On Blocks/Ways Outfitting:

Please review the yard’s outfit planning process, work sequencing to mitigate need for late hot work, methods and processes for kitting and loading outfit parts at the unit.

Vessel Launch and Quayside / Pier-side Work:

Please review the facilities, equipment, and processes used to support launch and any subsequent quayside or pier-side work.

Testing and Trials:

Please review the yard’s processes for the planning and execution of system/equipment commissioning and operational ship testing and trials.

Please describe your data capture methods during testing and trials. How does the yard validate testing against requirements?

How does the yard correct discrepancies discovered during testing and trials?

How does the yard manage testing? E.g., does the yard integrate testing throughout the production process to the maximum extent possible to identify issues early? Or, is testing primarily executed as a post-production activity? How is testing captured within the Integrated Master Schedule?

Quality:

Please review the yard’s Quality Engagement Plan (QA/QC) for both suppliers and production.

Materials:

How is steel handled within the shipyard?

What is the yard’s experience using thick

(>1”) and high strength steels?

Production and Design Software and Interoperability/Sharing:

What 3D-Model software does the yard use?

Please describe how it is integrated with design and production.

How is the 3D model software leveraged in managing weight control and cable routing?

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Completion Percentage Milestones:

How does the yard manage / track requirements to justify a completion milestone?