Sources Sought Notice - All Weather Navigational Buoy.docx

The United States Coast Guard is conducting market research to engage industry and determine the availability of a commercially available, All-Weather Navigational Buoy, for USCG Waterway Operations Product Line (WOPL) used by Aids to Navigation (ATON) units across the U. S. Coast Guard that may eliminate the need for seasonal buoy changes in the Great Lakes area and other locations within the continental United States, that are subject to extreme cold weather conditions.

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. This is a Sources Sought/Market Survey announcement targeting companies that manufacture and sell, commercially available, all weather, radar reflective, lighted navigational buoys that can meet the following criteria / desired results:

· Low maintenance designed and manufactured to serve an anticipated lifespan of 35 years or greater.

· Designed and manufactured with hull area of impact resistant plastic, resin or other impact resistant materials and corrosive resistant or coated internal steel mooring structure.

· Designed and manufactured with the inner-core areas, filled with a material or substance that makes the buoy unsinkable in the event of puncture.

· Designed and manufactured to be able to survive severe ice accumulation and the ability to withstand being submerged under ice.

· Shall incorporate the following general design characteristics:

· Buoy length not to exceed 15’

· Buoy weight not to exceed 3,000 lbs. (including batteries and all ATON hardware).

· Support a self-contained lantern that can be installed/uninstalled while deployed.

· Three mooring pad eyes; to allow the buoy to be moored from either the toe, or two different locations on the underbody side of the buoy.

· Opposing double lifting pad eyes located in the mid-section.

· Shall be capable to maintaining the following minimum operational requirements:

· Maintaining its signal in a 4+ knot current

· Visual range of 1.4 nautical miles

· Radar Cross Section (average): > 50m2

The intent of this Sources Sought Notice is to gain industry information in the development of the acquisition plan and in no way obligates the Government. Competition and set-aside decisions shall be based upon the results of this market research. No solicitation exists at this time; therefore, please do not request a copy of the solicitation. This notice is for market research purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for any information obtained or provided by responding parties.

If the USCG determines that sources exist, who manufacture and sell a technically and economically feasible, commercially available, All-Weather Navigational Buoy that may eliminate the need for seasonal buoy changes at various locations within the continental United States, the Government anticipates issuing a single solicitation resulting in the award of a single Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Type contract with fixed-price delivery orders. The anticipated period of performance is for a base year and four option years with an expected start date on/or about September 1, 2026. The anticipated North American Industrial Classification Code (NAICS) is 326199, All Other Plastic Products Manufacturing with a small business size standard of 750 employees.

Submission of Information: All responsible sources who manufacture navigational buoys that may meet or exceed the desired results as noted above, are encouraged to respond with their product literature, product specifications, any applicable product testing data and published price lists (if commercially available) and statement(s) of how their buoys can meet or exceed, each of the desired results as noted above. Along with the information requested above, please include in your response: Name of Company, Address, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), Point of Contact, Phone Number, and Business Size for the applicable NAICS, and evidence of experience in manufacturing and supplying navigational buoys.

Responses are due no later than, 3:00 p.m. on April 15, 2026 via email to Arvett.L.Blount@uscg.mil and a copy to Jeffrey.D.Haycox@uscg.mil. Please request reply email to confirm receipt of your email and submit, if any, comments and questions to Arvett Blount, Contract Specialist/CTR, via e-mail to Arvett.L.Blount@uscg.mil.

Contracting Office Address:

300 East Main Street Suite 965 Norfolk, Virginia 23510-9113 United States