Requested Information NASA Barge Pegasus.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Notice ID:

80MSFC-Pegasus-2026

Notice Title:

Tugboat Services and Support, Vessel Technical Assessment, and Shipyard Maintenance Operations, and Support

3.0 REQUESTED INFORMATION:

3.1 Tug Services and Support Labor:

Request information about capabilities, pricing structures, timelines, and potential risks associated with towing a vessel of the below characteristics between NASA facilities and to/from shipyard locations:

Length Overall (LOA) 310 feet Beam 50 feet Draft 15’9” Displacement/Tonnage 1457 Condition

Origin Ports New Orleans, LA; Huntsville, AL; Stennis, MS; Cape Canaveral, FL

Estimated Tow’s/Year 4-5

Specifically, the contractor will be required to provide tugboat services and support labor to transport NASA Barge Pegasus and its cargo along inland United States waterway routes to/from Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF), Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and Stennis Space Center (SSC) located in southeastern US and along ocean routes to/from SSC/MAF and Kennedy Space Flight Center (KSC), or other destinations as needed.

Movement to SSC or area proximity could be a contingency movement in case of hurricane threat. Support labor includes technical support for vessel preparation, loading, transportation and offloading. Note that the NASA Barge Pegasus will require on-board support of 4-5 crew as well as a NASA representative during transport, which could last as little as 12 hours and as long as several weeks.

3.2 Technical Support for Day-to-Day Maintenance of the Vessel: Assess, perform and track required maintenance of the vessel to assure readiness to support NASA shipments.

- Conduct routine inspections of propulsion systems, steering mechanisms, electrical distribution panels, hydraulic systems, ballast systems, navigation electronics, and auxiliary machinery to ensure operational readiness.

- Perform preventive maintenance in accordance with OEM manuals, ABS requirements, and NASA mission support schedules, including lubrication, filter replacement, corrosion control, mechanical adjustments, and system diagnostics.

- Maintain and update a maintenance log tracking all actions performed, deficiencies identified, corrective measures taken, and parts installed, with digital records made available to NASA on request.

- Provide rapid-response troubleshooting and repair capability to address emergent issues that may affect the vessel’s readiness for upcoming tows or mission operations.

- Support NASA personnel by providing technical expertise during cargo preparation, loading, stowage, and transit-related system checks.

- Ensure all maintenance actions comply with relevant maritime regulations, environmental standards, and safety protocols (ABS, USCG, MARPOL, SOLAS).

3.3 Technical Assessment: Identify, assess and report to NASA personnel potential hardware and software upgrades and changes.

- Evaluate the current condition, performance, and lifecycle status of all major vessel systems, including propulsion, steering, electrical generation/distribution, hydraulic systems, ballast management, structural components, and navigation systems.

- Conduct a gap analysis comparing existing vessel capabilities against mission requirements for upcoming NASA cargo movements, identifying any deficiencies, obsolescence risks, or operational constraints.

- Assess software-based systems such as navigation suites, communication platforms, engine monitoring systems, and safety-critical electronic controls to determine required updates, patches, replacements, or cybersecurity protections.

- Review the vessel’s regulatory compliance status relative to ABS, USCG, MARPOL, SOLAS, and NASA-specific standards, identifying any mandatory corrective actions or upcoming certification deadlines.

- Perform material condition inspections focusing on hull integrity, corrosion levels, deck equipment, watertight boundaries, and structural fatigue indicators, supported by recommended NDT (non-destructive testing) methods.

- Provide recommendations for modernization opportunities, including energy efficiency improvements, power system upgrades, tug interface enhancements, cargo-handling capability improvements, and crew habitability upgrades.

- Document findings in a Technical Assessment Report that includes prioritized upgrade recommendations, cost ranges, schedule considerations, technical risks, and long-term sustainment impacts.

- Coordinate with NASA engineering personnel to validate findings, refine upgrade requirements, and incorporate NASA mission planning constraints into recommended actions.

3.4 Shipyard Maintenance: Provide shipyard maintenance/upgrades based on technical assessment and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) standards.

- Perform scheduled dry-docking, inspection, and repair activities in accordance with ABS rules, USCG standards, and NASA-identified mission requirements, including hull cleaning, coating, structural repair, and anode replacement.

- Provide replacement, overhaul, or upgrade for mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems as identified through technical assessments, including engines, generators, pumps, control systems, and navigational electronics.

- Conduct hull thickness gauging, NDT testing, tank and void inspections, and structural reinforcement where necessary to maintain vessel class and ensure long-term seaworthiness.

- Implement required shipyard projects such as deck modifications, cargo-handling upgrades, safety equipment replacement, and habitability improvements for crew and NASA personnel during transit.

- Deliver post-shipyard documentation including repair summaries, ABS compliance certifications, test results, and updated technical drawings.

- Coordinate all shipyard actions with NASA schedulers to minimize downtime and support mission-critical tow timelines; propose optimized maintenance intervals based on vessel usage profile.

3.5 Crew: Provide information on support labor, including past experience.

3.6 Interested parties are invited to provide the following:

a. Company Overview o Company name, address, website o Years of experience in marine towing, engineering, vessel repair/maintenance o Relevant certifications (e.g., USCG approvals, insurance, etc.)

b. Technical Capabilities o Tug specifications (bollard pull, range, crew) o Towing equipment details o Previous experience towing vessels of similar size/type o Previous experience providing vessel maintenance scope of work and technical assessments to support maintenance/upgrades

c. Operational Plan o Estimated duration of tow o Required permits or port clearances o Contingency planning for adverse weather or emergencies o Location where technical assessment/scoping will be performed o Capacity and capability to perform vessel maintenance/repair activities

d. Towing and shipyard use Cost Estimate (Rough Order of Magnitude) o Estimated pricing structure (flat fee, per mile/day, etc.)

o Additional cost factors (e.g., fuel, pilotage, escort)

e. Risk Management & Safety o Risk mitigation strategies o Safety protocols and compliance with MARPOL, SOLAS, or local maritime laws

4.0 RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS

o Response Due Date: October 30, 2026, 4:00 PM. Central Daylight Time (CDT) o Submission Method: Electronically via email to Steven Shaw at steven.s.shaw@nasa.gov and Arlan Cochran at arlan.cochran@nasa.gov.

o File Format: PDF preferred o Page Limit: 15 pages o The subject line for responses must read: “NASA Barge Pegasus - [Company Name] –

RFI Response” mailto:steven.s.shaw@nasa.gov mailto:arlan.cochran@nasa.gov

5.0 ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE

Submission of proprietary, confidential, or business-sensitive information is not requested.

If such content is submitted voluntarily:

o The information shall be clearly and appropriately marked.

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

NASA will not return submissions but will safeguard any proprietary information included in a response to this RFI.

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

o Responses submitted as marketing brochures or general capability presentations.

o Responses submitted via telephone or voicemail.

6.0 DISCLAIMER:

This RFI is issued solely for market research and planning purposes. It does not constitute a solicitation and shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue any solicitation, contract, or award. Participation in this RFI does not provide any advantages in future procurements, nor does non-participation preclude an entity from consideration.

This RFI does not alter or impact existing contracts, agreements, or vendor relationships.

The Government retains full discretion over acquisition strategies and procurement actions, and responses do not guarantee changes to current programs. The Government is under no obligation to review or respond to submissions, and responses will not be considered binding proposals. This RFI is subject to modification or cancellation at any time without notice. Submission of proprietary information is not requested.