RFP 693JF726R00002 November 202025.pdf

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14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

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NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY

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SMALL BUSINESS

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INFORMATION CALL:

FOR SOLICITATION 8. OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL TIMEb. TELEPHONE NUMBERa. NAME

4. ORDER NUMBER3. AWARD/ 6. SOLICITATION 5. SOLICITATION NUMBER

693JF726R000002

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PAGE OF

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1. REQUISITION NUMBER

OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

TELEPHONE NO.

17a. CONTRACTOR/

KINGS POINT NY 11024-1699

300 STEAMBOAT ROAD

US DOTMARITIME ADMINISTRATION

USMERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY PROCURE

15. DELIVER TO

9. ISSUED BY

7.

2. CONTRACT NO.

EFFECTIVE DATE

18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK BELOW

ISSUE DATE

DELIVERY FOR FREE ON BOARD

(FOB) DESTINATION UNLESS

BLOCK IS MARKED

11.

SEE SCHEDULE

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ORDER UNDER THE DEFENSE

PRIORITIES AND ALLOCATIONS

SYSTEM - DPAS (15 CFR 700)

13a.

SERVICE-DISABLED

VETERAN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS

(SDVOSB)

HUBZONE SMALL

BUSINESS

8(A)

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL

BUSINESS (WOSB)

ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL

BUSINESS (EDWOSB)

24.

AMOUNT

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UNIT PRICE

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UNIT

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SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

19.

ITEM NO.

00001

PoP 09/29/2025 -9/28/2026 base year plus four one year options.

Base Year (Career Support Services USMMA) Maritime Administration is issuing this Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify industry knowledge and capabilities to provide career services for USMMA graduates. The students and graduates, obligated to the Federal government, will benefit from a dedicated maritime employment support program that provides career related counseling:

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

DATED . YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION (BLOCK 5),

INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE SET FORTH

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ARE

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31a. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER)

30c. DATE SIGNED 31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY ADDITIONAL

SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED.

27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE (FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION) FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3

AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA

26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Government Use Only)

OFFER

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 11/2021)

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

ARE NOT ATTACHED.

ARE NOT ATTACHED.

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE

30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

30a. SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

29. AWARD OF CONTRACT: REFERENCE

X

32e. MAILING ADDRESS OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32c. DATE 32b. SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

ACCEPTED, AND CONFORMS TO THE CONTRACT, EXCEPT AS NOTED:

32a. QUANTITY IN COLUMN 21 HAS BEEN

RECEIVED INSPECTED

40. PAID BY39. S/R VOUCHER NUMBER38. S/R ACCOUNT NUMBER

37. CHECK NUMBER

FINALPARTIAL

36. PAYMENT

FINALPARTIAL

35. AMOUNT VERIFIED

CORRECT FOR

34. VOUCHER NUMBER33. SHIP NUMBER

COMPLETE

32g. E-MAIL OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

42d. TOTAL CONTAINERS42c. DATE REC'D (YY/MM/DD)

42b. RECEIVED AT (Location)

42a. RECEIVED BY (Print)

41c. DATE41b. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF CERTIFYING OFFICER

41a. I CERTIFY THIS ACCOUNT IS CORRECT AND PROPER FOR PAYMENT

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 11/2021) BACK

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AMOUNT

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UNIT

21.

QUANTITY

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SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

19.

ITEM NO.

-Provide individualized support to undergraduates prior to their senior year, including internship guidance, resume assistance, and career counseling.

-Provide personalized support to undergraduates during their senior year to help with interview prep, employment advice, and discussions about hiring trends in the maritime career network.

-Bi-annual written assessment of afloat job availability across the maritime industry, including specific factors that are or will impact afloat employment, as well as forecasting future employment opportunities for graduates¿covering shortages, growth areas, emerging trends, and declines in employment opportunities.

-Annual reports to USMMA/MARAD on the number and names of graduates who have contacted the contractor for career services, as well as the number, names, positions, and employers of graduates who obtained employment through these services. The report must be submitted by January

1st.

-Coordination of a pre-determined number of PDCS

Potential Presentations/Workshops and/or SMA career fair visits.

-Information dissemination services to graduates that include materials and reports on maritime employment, trends, and potential opportunities

Continued ...

32f. TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32d. PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

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NAME OF OFFEROR OR CONTRACTOR

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00002 to help graduates secure afloat jobs.

-Manage graduate database that tracks interactions, information dissemination, and other activities under the overall contract, including monthly reports and data file submissions to USMMA/MARAD.FFP

Base Year (Career Support Services SMA)

Maritime Administration is issuing this

Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify industry knowledge and capabilities to provide career services for USMMA and SMA SIP participants and graduates. The students and graduates, obligated to the Federal government, will benefit from a dedicated maritime employment support program that provides career related counseling, referral, and employment preparation services.FFP

00003

00004

00005

Base Year, Data Reporting, Analyses, as per PWS and Proposal. FFP

Base Year Travel - travel associated in delivering Base Year Services. FFP NTE$65,000

Base Workforce Development Support

Bi-annual workforce assessments of the maritime industry to analyze employment trends, gaps, and future workforce needs.

-Developing and maintaining a workforce model that identifies such items as industry trends, employment projections, and potential skills gaps.

-Detailed performance reports and strategic recommendations that address workforce sustainability, recruitment challenges, and industry best practices to ensure a resilient maritime workforce.

-Monthly workforce activity reports summarizing hiring trends, employment outcomes, and key factors influencing workforce retention and attrition.

-Engagement with educators, students, and industry professionals to disseminate information

Continued ...

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Sponsored by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.110

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00006

00007 about maritime career pathways. FFP

Base Year - Optional outreach - Include topics related to promoting maritime education and training, as well as outreach tasks. These include participating in educational institution outreach events that promote Federal programs, such as SIP, and providing career services support to identified educational institutions within the academies' catchment areas. These events ultimately encourage enrollment in maritime educational institutions and programs such as the SSMP at the academies, SIP, and the careers services support program. Various promotional tools, such as videos, displays, electronic and hard copy brochures or related promotional material in support of the career services component, can attract K-12 students to the maritime institutions enrollment pipeline for potential participation in the Student Incentive

Program (SIP) and Career Services Support, promoting the Strategic Sealift Midshipmen

Program and SIP at the academies. Refer PWS for more detailed description.FFP

Option Year 1 - Career Support Services USMMA)

Maritime Administration is issuing this Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify industry knowledge and capabilities to provide career services for

USMMA graduates. The students and graduates, obligated to the Federal government, will benefit from a dedicated maritime employment support program that provides career related counseling:

-Provide individualized support to undergraduates prior to their senior year, including internship guidance, resume assistance, and career counseling.

-Provide personalized support to undergraduates during their senior year to help with interview prep, employment advice, and discussions about hiring trends in the maritime career network.

-Bi-annual written assessment of afloat job availability across the maritime industry, including specific factors that are or will

Continued ...

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impact afloat employment, as well as forecasting future employment opportunities for graduates¿covering shortages, growth areas, emerging trends, and declines in employment opportunities.

-Annual reports to USMMA/MARAD on the number and names of graduates who have contacted the contractor for career services, as well as the number, names, positions, and employers of graduates who obtained employment through these services. The report must be submitted by January

1st.

-Coordination of a pre-determined number of PDCS

Potential Presentations/Workshops and/or SMA career fair visits.

-Information dissemination services to graduates that include materials and reports on maritime employment, trends, and potential opportunities to help graduates secure afloat jobs.

-Manage graduate database that tracks interactions, information dissemination, and other activities under the overall contract, including monthly reports and data file submissions to USMMA/MARAD.FFP (Option Line Item)

00008 Option Year 1 (Career Support Services SMA)

Maritime Administration is issuing this

Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify industry knowledge and capabilities to provide career services for USMMA and SMA SIP participants and graduates. The students and graduates, obligated to the Federal government, will benefit from a dedicated maritime employment support program that provides career related counseling, referral, and employment preparation services.FFP (Option Line Item)

00009 Option Year 1 Data Reporting, Analyses, as per

PWS and Proposal. FFP (Option Line Item)

Continued ...

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00010 Option Year 1 Travel - travel associated in delivering Base Year Services NTE $66,950 (Option Line Item)

00011 Option Year 1 Workforce Development Support

Bi-annual workforce assessments of the maritime industry to analyze employment trends, gaps, and future workforce needs.

-Developing and maintaining a workforce model that identifies such items as industry trends, employment projections, and potential skills gaps.

-Detailed performance reports and strategic recommendations that address workforce sustainability, recruitment challenges, and industry best practices to ensure a resilient maritime workforce.

-Monthly workforce activity reports summarizing hiring trends, employment outcomes, and key factors influencing workforce retention and attrition.

-Engagement with educators, students, and industry professionals to disseminate information about maritime career pathways. FFP (Option Line Item)

00012 Option Year 1 Optional outreach - Include topics related to promoting maritime education and training, as well as outreach tasks. These include participating in educational institution outreach events that promote Federal programs, such as SIP, and providing career services support to identified educational institutions within the academies' catchment areas. These events ultimately encourage enrollment in maritime educational institutions and programs such as the SSMP at the academies, SIP, and the careers services support program. Various promotional tools, such as videos, displays, electronic and hard copy brochures or related promotional material in support of the career services component, can attract K-12 students to

Continued ...

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the maritime institutions enrollment pipeline for potential participation in the Student Incentive

Program (SIP) and Career Services Support, promoting the Strategic Sealift Midshipmen

Program and SIP at the academies. Refer PWS for more detailed description. FFP (Option Line Item)

00013 Option Year 2 - Career Support Services USMMA)

Maritime Administration is issuing this Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify industry knowledge and capabilities to provide career services for

USMMA graduates. The students and graduates, obligated to the Federal government, will benefit from a dedicated maritime employment support program that provides career related counseling:

-Provide individualized support to undergraduates prior to their senior year, including internship guidance, resume assistance, and career counseling.

-Provide personalized support to undergraduates during their senior year to help with interview prep, employment advice, and discussions about hiring trends in the maritime career network.

-Bi-annual written assessment of afloat job availability across the maritime industry, including specific factors that are or will impact afloat employment, as well as forecasting future employment opportunities for graduates¿covering shortages, growth areas, emerging trends, and declines in employment opportunities.

-Annual reports to USMMA/MARAD on the number and names of graduates who have contacted the contractor for career services, as well as the number, names, positions, and employers of graduates who obtained employment through these services. The report must be submitted by January

1st.

-Coordination of a pre-determined number of PDCS

Potential Presentations/Workshops and/or SMA career fair visits.

-Information dissemination services to graduates that include materials and reports on maritime

Continued ...

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employment, trends, and potential opportunities to help graduates secure afloat jobs.

-Manage graduate database that tracks interactions, information dissemination, and other activities under the overall contract, including monthly reports and data file submissions to USMMA/MARAD. FFP (Option Line Item)

00014 Option Year 2 (Career Support Services SMA)

Maritime Administration is issuing this

Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify industry knowledge and capabilities to provide career services for USMMA and SMA SIP participants and graduates. The students and graduates, obligated to the Federal government, will benefit from a dedicated maritime employment support program that provides career related counseling, referral, and employment preparation services.FFP (Option Line Item)

00015 Option Year 2 Data Reporting, Analyses, as per

PWS and Proposal (FFP) (Option Line Item)

00016 Option Year 2 Travel - travel associated in delivering Base Year Services. FFP NTE $68,958.50(Option Line Item)

00017 Option Year 2 Workforce Development Support

Bi-annual workforce assessments of the maritime industry to analyze employment trends, gaps, and future workforce needs.

-Developing and maintaining a workforce model that identifies such items as industry trends, employment projections, and potential skills gaps.

-Detailed performance reports and strategic recommendations that address workforce

Continued ...

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sustainability, recruitment challenges, and industry best practices to ensure a resilient maritime workforce.

-Monthly workforce activity reports summarizing hiring trends, employment outcomes, and key factors influencing workforce retention and attrition.

-Engagement with educators, students, and industry professionals to disseminate information about maritime career pathways.FFP.

(Option Line Item)

00018 Option Year 2 Optional outreach - Include topics related to promoting maritime education and training, as well as outreach tasks. These include participating in educational institution outreach events that promote Federal programs, such as SIP, and providing career services support to identified educational institutions within the academies' catchment areas. These events ultimately encourage enrollment in maritime educational institutions and programs such as the SSMP at the academies, SIP, and the careers services support program. Various promotional tools, such as videos, displays, electronic and hard copy brochures or related promotional material in support of the career services component, can attract K-12 students to the maritime institutions enrollment pipeline for potential participation in the Student Incentive

Program (SIP) and Career Services Support, promoting the Strategic Sealift Midshipmen

Program and SIP at the academies. Refer PWS for more detailed description.FFP (Option Line Item)

00019 Option Year 3 - Career Support Services USMMA)

Maritime Administration is issuing this Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify industry knowledge and capabilities to provide career services for

USMMA graduates. The students and graduates, obligated to the Federal government, will benefit from a dedicated maritime employment support

Continued ...

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program that provides career related counseling:

-Provide individualized support to undergraduates prior to their senior year, including internship guidance, resume assistance, and career counseling.

-Provide personalized support to undergraduates during their senior year to help with interview prep, employment advice, and discussions about hiring trends in the maritime career network.

-Bi-annual written assessment of afloat job availability across the maritime industry, including specific factors that are or will impact afloat employment, as well as forecasting future employment opportunities for graduates¿covering shortages, growth areas, emerging trends, and declines in employment opportunities.

-Annual reports to USMMA/MARAD on the number and names of graduates who have contacted the contractor for career services, as well as the number, names, positions, and employers of graduates who obtained employment through these services. The report must be submitted by January

1st.

-Coordination of a pre-determined number of PDCS

Potential Presentations/Workshops and/or SMA career fair visits.

-Information dissemination services to graduates that include materials and reports on maritime employment, trends, and potential opportunities to help graduates secure afloat jobs.

-Manage graduate database that tracks interactions, information dissemination, and other activities under the overall contract, including monthly reports and data file submissions to USMMA/MARAD.FFP.

(Option Line Item)

00020 Option Year 3 (Career Support Services SMA)

Maritime Administration is issuing this

Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify industry knowledge and capabilities to provide career services for USMMA and SMA SIP participants and graduates. The students and graduates, obligated

Continued ...

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to the Federal government, will benefit from a dedicated maritime employment support program that provides career related counseling, referral, and employment preparation services.

(Option Line Item)

00021 Option Year 3 Data Reporting, Analyses, as per

PWS and Proposal(FFP) (Option Line Item)

00022 Option Year 3 Travel - travel associated in delivering Base Year Services (FFP) NTE $71,027.26 (Option Line Item)

00023 Option Year 3 Workforce Development Support

Bi-annual workforce assessments of the maritime industry to analyze employment trends, gaps, and future workforce needs.

-Developing and maintaining a workforce model that identifies such items as industry trends, employment projections, and potential skills gaps.

-Detailed performance reports and strategic recommendations that address workforce sustainability, recruitment challenges, and industry best practices to ensure a resilient maritime workforce.

-Monthly workforce activity reports summarizing hiring trends, employment outcomes, and key factors influencing workforce retention and attrition.

-Engagement with educators, students, and industry professionals to disseminate information about maritime career pathways. (FFP) (Option Line Item)

00024 Option Year 3 Optional outreach - Include topics related to promoting maritime education and training, as well as outreach tasks. These

Continued ...

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Sponsored by GSA

FFP

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include participating in educational institution outreach events that promote Federal programs, such as SIP, and providing career services support to identified educational institutions within the academies' catchment areas. These events ultimately encourage enrollment in maritime educational institutions and programs such as the SSMP at the academies, SIP, and the careers services support program. Various promotional tools, such as videos, displays, electronic and hard copy brochures or related promotional material in support of the career services component, can attract K-12 students to the maritime institutions enrollment pipeline for potential participation in the Student Incentive

Program (SIP) and Career Services Support, promoting the Strategic Sealift Midshipmen

Program and SIP at the academies. Refer PWS for more detailed description.(FFP) (Option Line Item)

00025 Option Year 4 - Career Support Services USMMA)

Maritime Administration is issuing this Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify industry knowledge and capabilities to provide career services for

USMMA graduates. The students and graduates, obligated to the Federal government, will benefit from a dedicated maritime employment support program that provides career related counseling:

-Provide individualized support to undergraduates prior to their senior year, including internship guidance, resume assistance, and career counseling. (FFP) -Provide personalized support to undergraduates during their senior year to help with interview prep, employment advice, and discussions about hiring trends in the maritime career network.

-Bi-annual written assessment of afloat job availability across the maritime industry, including specific factors that are or will impact afloat employment, as well as forecasting future employment opportunities for graduates¿covering shortages, growth areas, emerging trends, and declines in employment

Continued ...

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opportunities.

-Annual reports to USMMA/MARAD on the number and names of graduates who have contacted the contractor for career services, as well as the number, names, positions, and employers of graduates who obtained employment through these services. The report must be submitted by January

1st.

-Coordination of a pre-determined number of PDCS

Potential Presentations/Workshops and/or SMA career fair visits.

-Information dissemination services to graduates that include materials and reports on maritime employment, trends, and potential opportunities to help graduates secure afloat jobs.

-Manage graduate database that tracks interactions, information dissemination, and other activities under the overall contract, including monthly reports and data file submissions to USMMA/MARAD.(FFP) (Option Line Item)

00026 Option Year 4 (Career Support Services SMA)

Maritime Administration is issuing this

Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify industry knowledge and capabilities to provide career services for USMMA and SMA SIP participants and graduates. The students and graduates, obligated to the Federal government, will benefit from a dedicated maritime employment support program that provides career related counseling, referral, and employment preparation services.(FFP)

(Option Line Item)

00027 Option Year 4 Data Reporting, Analyses, as per

PWS and Proposal(FFP) (Option Line Item)

00028 Option Year 4 Travel - travel associated in delivering Base Year Services (FFP (Option Line Item) NTE $73,158.07 Continued ...

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00029 Option Year 4 Workforce Development Support

Bi-annual workforce assessments of the maritime industry to analyze employment trends, gaps, and future workforce needs.

-Developing and maintaining a workforce model that identifies such items as industry trends, employment projections, and potential skills gaps.

-Detailed performance reports and strategic recommendations that address workforce sustainability, recruitment challenges, and industry best practices to ensure a resilient maritime workforce.

-Monthly workforce activity reports summarizing hiring trends, employment outcomes, and key factors influencing workforce retention and attrition.

-Engagement with educators, students, and industry professionals to disseminate information about maritime career pathways.(FFP) (Option Line Item)

00030 Option Year 4 Optional outreach - Include topics related to promoting maritime education and training, as well as outreach tasks. These include participating in educational institution outreach events that promote Federal programs, such as SIP, and providing career services support to identified educational institutions within the academies' catchment areas. These events ultimately encourage enrollment in maritime educational institutions and programs such as the SSMP at the academies, SIP, and the careers services support program. Various promotional tools, such as videos, displays, electronic and hard copy brochures or related promotional material in support of the career services component, can attract K-12 students to the maritime institutions enrollment pipeline for potential participation in the Student Incentive

Program (SIP) and Career Services Support, promoting the Strategic Sealift Midshipmen

Continued ...

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Program and SIP at the academies. Refer PWS for more detailed description. FFP (Option Line Item)

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Sponsored by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.110

Please provide a technical proposal (factor one) clearly explaining how your company would meet the requirement as per the Performance Work Statement, Government provided including management and staffing plan and factor two Past Performance -one example of past performance within 3 years from the date of this request describing the requirement, contract number, agency name, POC name, email, total dollar value, period of performance and send us your response by 8/22/2025 or earlier. Firm fixed price. It will be a Firm Fixed requirement. A contract will be awarded in accordance with FAR Part 12 based on best value.

Solicitation #: 693JF726R000002

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 693JF726R000002

ISSUED: 11/20/2025

QUESTIONS DUE: 12/05/2025

PROPOSALS DUE: 12/22/2025

PROPOSALS VALID THROUGH: 90 days

NAICS Code – 561311. Total Small business set aside

FOR: Training Career Services & Workforce Development Support at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA)

IMPORTANT

Read the ENTIRE solicitation and see Section L for proposal submission instructions.

1. Offerors offering less than 90 calendar days for proposal acceptance WILL NOT BE considered and WILL BE rejected.

2. Telegraphic, telephonic, or facsimile proposals will NOT be accepted.

3. All information pertaining to this RFP, including amendments, will be posted on-line at SAM.gov.

4. This solicitation is issued as a 100% Total Small Business Set-aside, pursuant to FAR Part 19.

5. Offerors shall include all APPLICABLE Federal, State, and Local taxes in their proposal. A tax-exempt number will not be provided.

6. All offerors are required to be registered with an active status at SAM.gov at the time of proposal submission. Accounts shall remain active for the entire performance period of the resulting contract.

7.Offerors shall email proposals to: usmmaproposals@dot.gov and cc durba.ray@dot.gov; Tia.belton@dot.gov

SECTION A

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(X)|SEC.| DESCRIPTION PAGE(S)

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES

X | I |CONTRACT CLAUSES 38

PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER

ATTACHMENTS

X | J |LIST OF ATTACHMENTS 48

PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

X

| K

|REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER

|STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

X | L |INST., CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS 48

X | M |EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD 54

X | A | SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM 1

X | B | SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS 18

X | C | DESCRIPTION/SPECS/WORK STATEMENT 18

| D | PACKAGING AND MARKING

| E | INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE 32

X | F | DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE 32

X | G | CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA 36

X | H | SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS 38

SECTION B

SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

GENERAL SCOPE OF WORK:

MARAD is issuing this Performance Work Statement as part of a Request for Proposal to identify and acquire industry knowledge and capabilities to support key areas within MARAD’s Education and Training portfolio: Career Services Support, Workforce Development and K-12, and Outreach. To maintain a qualified maritime workforce, MARAD and USMMA need a contractor to provide services and recommendations that enhance career development, workforce planning, and industry engagement.

SECTION C

DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATION/STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

1.0

General

1.1 Introduction

The Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Office of Maritime Labor and Training (MET) plays a critical role in fostering a strong and skilled maritime workforce. MET supports maritime workforce development initiatives, training, and education to maintain a robust U.S. maritime industry. These efforts include workforce analysis and industry collaboration that ensures the availability of qualified mariners to support national economic and security needs, specifically supporting the Strategic Sealift Officer (SSO) program.

The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) Department of Career Services aligns with MARAD’s mission by assisting Midshipmen with career development. Acknowledging the need for enhanced career services, MARAD offers extra assistance to connect USMMA graduates with afloat jobs during their service obligation. These career services are also available to State Maritime Academy (SMA) graduates who participated in the Student Incentive Payment (SIP) Program and maintain a service obligation.

1.2 Background

Under 46 U.S.C. § 51306 and 46 CFR § 310.58, graduates from USMMA have a five-year employment service obligation after graduation. Similarly, under 46 U.S.C. § 51509 and 46 CFR § 310.7, SIP graduates from the SMAs have a three-year employment service obligation. These graduates from USMMA (about 175-225 each year) and SIP (around 50-70 each year) are expected to fulfill this obligation independently. MARAD does not assist in finding employment before or after graduation. Of the total number of midshipmen/cadets graduating, approximately 35% will enter active duty and will not require any support provided through the services covered in this contract.

Unlike other federal service academies (where the DOD guarantees graduate employment through active duty), MARAD does not guarantee employment. The success or failure of the USMMA and SIP programs is assessed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) based on whether the USMMA and SIP graduates fulfill their service obligations. MARAD monitors the performance of USMMA and SIP graduates regarding their service commitments.

Under the current program structure, graduates must submit an Employment Determination Request (EDR) to MARAD for employment other than US Flag Afloat, NOAA Corps, the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS), or the U.S. Armed Forces.

Other types of employment require MARAD approval to fulfill a graduate’s service obligation. For MARAD to approve service in a shoreside position or as an officer on a foreign-flag vessel not operated through a U.S. labor union, a determination must be made by MARAD that a graduate actively pursued an afloat position as an officer aboard a U.S. flag vessel and that such afloat employment is unavailable to them.

Currently, determining whether afloat employment is available to graduates involves discussions between MARAD and various shipping companies, labor unions, and government agencies that traditionally hire maritime academy graduates.

These discussions usually take place during the SMAs’ annual briefings, meetings with labor unions and maritime companies, and other maritime industry gatherings. Additionally, through the EDR process, we communicate with these groups to verify the graduate’s claims that they sought employment afloat. This is an individual process that results in a decision about whether employment was available to that graduate at that time.

Beyond the support provided by an academy's career services department, obligated graduates would benefit from engaging with a dedicated afloat, maritime support program available to all midshipmen and cadets who become service obligated, helping them in their pursuit of maritime employment after graduation.

In further support of maritime education and training, MARAD conducts assessments of the maritime industry workforce, including employment trends, workforce gaps, and future workforce needs. To provide strategic recommendations that address workforce sustainability, recruitment challenges, and industry best practices to ensure a resilient maritime workforce, this work statement includes requested support for workforce development through various data analysis, reporting, and engagement activities.

Additionally, engaging potential maritime students from the K-12 school system is considered a priority and requires nationwide outreach efforts. Part C describes potential services that may be added as the program develops. This work is not an extension of outreach already associated with Part A and is specifically focused on K-12 students interested in maritime education.

1.3 Objective

This Performance Work Statement is to identify and acquire industry knowledge and capabilities to support key areas within MARAD’s Education and Training portfolio: Career Services Support, Workforce Development and K-12, and Outreach.

To maintain a qualified maritime workforce, MARAD and USMMA need a contractor to provide services and recommendations that enhance career development, workforce planning, and industry engagement.

Part A: Career Support Services

Provide individualized support to undergraduates prior to their senior year, including internship guidance, resume assistance, and career counseling.

Provide personalized support to undergraduates during their senior year to help with interview prep, employment advice, and discussions about hiring trends in the maritime career network.

Bi-annual written assessment of afloat job availability across the maritime industry, including specific factors that are or will impact afloat employment, as well as forecasting future employment opportunities for graduates— covering shortages, growth areas, emerging trends, and declines in employment opportunities.

Annual reports to USMMA/MARAD on the number and names of graduates who have contacted the contractor for career services, as well as the number, names, positions, and employers of graduates who obtained employment through these services. The report must be submitted by January 1st.

Coordination of a pre-determined number of PDCS Potential Presentations/Workshops and/or SMA career fair visits.

Information dissemination services to graduates that include materials and reports on maritime employment, trends, and potential opportunities to help graduates secure afloat jobs.

Manage graduate database that tracks interactions, information dissemination, and other activities under the overall contract, including monthly reports and data file submissions to USMMA/MARAD.

Part B: Workforce Development Support

Biannual workforce assessments of the maritime industry to analyze employment trends, gaps, and future workforce needs.

Developing and maintaining a workforce model or equivalent that identifies items such as industry trends, employment projections, and potential skills gaps.

Detailed performance reports and strategic recommendations that address workforce sustainability, recruitment challenges, and industry best practices to sustain a resilient maritime workforce.

Monthly workforce activity reports summarize hiring trends, employment outcomes, and key factors that influence workforce retention and attrition.

Engaging with educators, students, and industry professionals to share information about maritime career paths.

Part C: Optional Work and Scope

As the program progresses, MARAD anticipates the possibility of adding further requirements. However, we are currently unsure if funding will be available. Because of this, we plan to have this optional work priced separately, understanding that it might never be funded. This could include topics related to promoting maritime education and training, as well as outreach activities such as:

Participate in outreach events at educational institutions to promote Federal programs like SIP and career services support for identified schools within academies' catchment areas. These events aim to increase enrollment in maritime educational programs, such as the SSMP at the academies, SIP, and the careers services support program.

Various promotional tools such as videos, displays, electronic and hard copy brochures, or related promotional materials supporting the career services component can attract K-12 students to the maritime institutions' enrollment pipeline for potential participation in the Student Incentive Program (SIP) and Career Services Support, while promoting the Strategic Sealift Midshipmen Program and SIP at the academies.

1.4 Period of Performance

This is a one-year contract with an option to extend, contingent upon the availability of funds for the option year and MARAD's review of the contractor's performance.

Contact type Period Start Period End

Year 1 – Base Year Nov 29, 2025 Nov 28, 2026

Option Year 1 (subject to funding) Nov 29, 2026 Nov 28, 2027

Option Year 2 (subject to funding) Nov 29, 2027 Nov 28, 2028

Option Year 3 (subject to funding) Nov 29, 2028 Nov 28, 2029

Option Year 4 (subject to funding) Nov 29, 2029 Nov 28, 2030

1.5 Place of Performance

USMMA and State Maritime Academies as follows:

Academy/Institution Location

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Kings Point, NY 11024-1699

California Maritime Academy 200 Maritime Academy Drive, Vallejo, CA 94590

Great Lakes Maritime Academy 1701 East Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49686-3061

Massachusetts Maritime Academy 101 Academy Drive, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532

State University of New York Maritime College

6 Pennyfield Avenue, Fort Schuyler, NY 10465-4198

Maine Maritime Academy Castine, ME 04420

Texas A&M Maritime Academy 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston, P.O. Box 1675, TX 77553-1675

K-12 identified institutions (Part C) Various Locations Nationwide

1.6 Applicable Documents

None

2.0 Specific Requirements/Tasks

2.1 Task One (Part A)

Develop a Project Management Plan (PMP) that includes approach, resources, timeline, and milestones.

Create a database to track potential users of the service. (The database and contents thereof remain the property of MARAD)

Provide personalized assistance to undergraduates before their senior year, including internship guidance, resume writing support, and career counseling.

Offer tailored support to undergraduates during their senior year to help with interview preparation, job search advice, and discussions on hiring trends within the maritime career network.

Submit a bi-annual written assessment of afloat job availability across the maritime industry, highlighting factors impacting employment, as well as forecasts of future opportunities for graduates, including shortages, growth areas, emerging trends, and declining sectors.

Deliver annual reports to USMMA/MARAD detailing the number and names of graduates who have contacted the contractor for career services, along with the details of graduates who have secured employment through these services, including their names, positions, and employers. These reports are due by January 1st.

Organize a set number of presentations, workshops, or visits to SMA career fairs.

Include graduates from both USMMA and SMAs who are under service obligations for their respective durations. Provide them with information on maritime employment, industry trends, and potential opportunities to support their efforts in securing afloat positions.

Maintain a database of graduates and monitor interactions, information dissemination, and other activities performed under the contract, including monthly reports and sharing the data files with USMMA/MARAD.

2.2 Task Two (Part B)

Conduct semi-annual assessments of the maritime workforce to analyze employment trends, workforce gaps, and future needs. These assessments should include both quantitative and qualitative methods, such as surveys, industry reports, and stakeholder interviews.

Develop and maintain a workforce model or equivalent that considers industry trends, employment forecasts, and potential skills shortages. This model should incorporate data analytics and forecasting techniques to support MARAD’s decision-making.

Provide detailed performance reports and strategic guidance that address workforce sustainability, recruitment issues, and industry best practices to ensure a resilient maritime workforce. These reports should also analyze workforce demographics, labor market changes, retention patterns, and training or credentialing needs to meet industry demands.

Submit monthly workforce activity reports summarizing hiring patterns, employment outcomes, and key factors affecting workforce retention and attrition. These reports should evaluate workforce participation, hiring challenges, and industry-specific employment shifts impacting long-term sustainability.

Work with educators, students, and industry professionals to raise awareness about maritime career options. The contractor should establish metrics to assess the success of these efforts. Furthermore, the contractor should develop educational materials, including brochures, multimedia presentations, and digital learning tools designed for students and educators.

These resources should focus on increasing awareness and understanding of the maritime industry and encouraging participation in MARAD-supported programs.

2.3 Task Three (Part C) – Optional services

Develop program materials to support the outreach efforts of career services that can attract K-12 students to the academy enrollment pipeline for potential participation in the Student Incentive Program (SIP) and Career Services Support. Include videos, displays, and electronic and print brochures promoting the Strategic Sealift Midshipmen Program and SIP at the academies.

Develop and execute a plan to boost participation in outreach events that promote Federal programs like SIP and career services support to targeted educational institutions within the catchment areas of academies, using program materials. These events are designed to ultimately increase enrollment in the SSMP at the academies, SIP, and the career services support program.

Collaborate with other entities on outreach efforts to K-12 maritime-focused educational institutions or not-for-profit associations, including pass-through payments for activities delivered by these institutions or associations (MARAD must approve partners).

3.0 Contractor Quality Assurance

The contractor shall provide information on how they manage the quality of both work and deliverables under this PWS. The Government may use the contractor’s quality management approach as input to monitor performance and ensure compliance with contractual obligations and expected deliverables.

4.0 Delivery or Deliverables

4.1 Part A

A Project Management Plan must be submitted within 4 weeks of award, including a midshipmen/cadet outreach component, timelines, and other relevant details.

Monthly reports should detail student engagement levels.

An annual report must be submitted by October 1 each year following the Contract Award, listing the names and number of students who contacted the contractor for career services, along with the names, positions, and employers of graduates who have secured employment through these services.

Biannual assessments should evaluate the availability of afloat jobs in the maritime industry, highlighting factors that impact employment now and in the future. These assessments should include forecasts of employment opportunities, potential shortages, emerging trends, and areas of growth or decline.

Develop and manage a tracking system for potential service users (Database file). Provide a database framework within 90 days, and maintain a database of graduates to track interactions, information dissemination, and other activities related to the overall contract, with monthly reports and data file submissions to USMMA/MARAD.

Monthly reports should record the number of presentations, workshops, and SMA career fair visits.

4.2 Part B

The contractor shall submit biannual workforce assessment reports detailing employment trends, workforce gaps, and future workforce needs. Monthly engagement reports and an annual executive placement report summarizing career services efforts and their effectiveness toward long-term retention in the industry shall be delivered to MARAD.

A workforce model within six months that identifies elements such as industry trends, employment projections, and potential skills gaps. This model should incorporate data analytics and forecasting methods to support MARAD’s decision-making.

Detailed quarterly performance reports and strategic recommendations addressing workforce sustainability, recruitment challenges, and industry best practices to ensure a resilient maritime workforce. These reports shall also include analysis of workforce demographics, labor market shifts, retention trends, and training or credentialing requirements necessary to meet industry demands.

Deliver monthly workforce activity reports summarizing hiring trends, employment outcomes, and key factors influencing workforce retention and attrition. These reports shall assess workforce participation rates, hiring challenges, and industry-specific employment shifts impacting long-term sustainability.

A quarterly summary of approved engagement efforts with educators, students, and industry professionals, including metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of these efforts.

Educational materials, including brochures, multimedia presentations, and digital learning tools tailored for students and educators, developed under this award.

4.3 Part C (Only required if funded)

Promotional materials supporting maritime academies, the merchant marine, and SIP program outreach. These materials aim to enhance career services efforts to attract K-12 students into the academy enrollment pipeline and to highlight the Student Incentive Program (SIP) and Career Services Support. Includes displays, electronic resources, and both digital and hard copy brochures promoting SIP and the Strategic Sealift Midshipmen Program at the academies.

Develop an approved implementation plan within four weeks to carry out outreach events promoting Federal programs like SIP and career services, and to boost awareness of maritime schools at the high school level. The number of events will depend on available funding, with monthly progress reports submitted for the outreach activities.

Deliver monthly, half-yearly, and annual reports of outreach activities performed and those planned,

4.4 Notice to contractors:

All information and data related to this project that the contractor gathers or obtains shall be both protected from unauthorized release and considered the property of the government. The contracting officer will be the sole authorized official to release verbally or in writing any data, the draft deliverables, the final deliverables, or any other written or printed materials pertaining to this contract. Press releases, marketing material, or any other printed or electronic documentation related to this project, must not be publicized without the written approval of the contracting officer.]

5.0 Staffing Qualifications and Experience Requirement (Key and Non-key personnel) To ensure that the tasks in this scope of work are delivered efficiently and effectively, the following minimum levels of experience are required:

Role Specific Experience…