SS-26-047.pdf

27 JANUARY 2026

MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND NORFOLK, STRATEGIC SEALIFT PROGRAM

SUPPORT OFFICE, N103A

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE NO: N32205-PM4-26-047

SUBJECT: SPECIALTIME SPOT CHARTER; CABLE LAYING VESSEL

1. THIS IS MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY THE STRATEGIC SEALIFT

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 SOURCES SOUGHT

NOTICE OR TO CONTRACT FOR SERVICES.

2. MSC REQUESTS INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRICE AND AVAILABILITY OF

JONES ACT CAPABLE CABLE LAYING VESSEL USED TO LAND AND LAY

TELECOM CABLE AND PERFORM COMPLEX OVER-BOARDING OPERATIONS

WITH ACCURATE SEAFLOOR PLACEMENTS. THE VESSEL SHALL HAVE THE

FOLLOWING CAPABILITIES: CABLE LAYING CAPABILITY (LAND AND LAY

TELECOM CABLE), UMBILICAL SYSTEM DEPLOYMENT CAPABILITY, ARRAY

DEPLOYMENT CAPABILITY, AND TUC SYSTEM DEPLOYMENT CAPABILITY.

THE VESSEL SHALL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT BERTHING AND VICTUALS (THREE

MEALS A DAY) FOR EIGHT (8) PERSONNEL IN ADDITION TO THE SHIP’S CREW

AND SHALL OPERATE FOR FORTY-TWO (42) DAYS TO INCLUDE

MOBILIZATION, OPERATIONS, AND DEMOBILIZATION.

3. MSC REQUESTS REQUEST PRICING AND AVAILABILITY FOR A CAPABLE

VESSEL TO MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS IN PARAGRAPH 9 LISTED BELOW. THIS

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE INCLUDES A PORTION OF THE DRAFT PWS IN

RELATION TO VESSEL SPECIFICAIONS. RESPONDENTS FEEDBACK TO THESE

SPECIFICATIONS WILL BE APPRICIATED.

4. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS THE VESSEL WILL SUPPORT LOAD-OUT AND

OPERATIONS FOR THE ENTIRE 6-WEEK CABLE INSTALLMENTS WITHOUT

INTERRUPTIONS. THE VESSEL WILL LOAD TRUNK CABLE AND CATHODE

CABLE AT SUBCOM MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN NEWINGTON, NH. AFTER

COMPLETION OF THE LOAD-OUT, TRANSIT TO PORT CANAVERAL, FL FOR ON-

LOAD OF REMAINING GEAR. TRANSIT TO ANDROS ISLAND BAHAMAS TO

LAND CATHODE CABLE AND TRUNK CABLE, AND CONDUCT DEPLOYMENT OF

TRUNK CABLE DOWN TO THE SOUTHERN TONGUE OF THE OCEAN AND THE

JBOX DEPLOYMENT SITE. JOIN THE TRUNK CABLE TO TRUNK BREAKOUT

NODE (TBN). DEPLOY THE TBN TO +/- 10M ACCURACY AT 1,400M WATER

DEPTH. CONDUCT DEPLOYMENT OF TWO 4KM UMBILICAL SYSTEMS TO

INCLUDE THE UMBILICAL TERMINATION (UTMS), UMBILICAL CABLE,

ANCHORS AND BUOYS. UTMS AND ANCHORS SHALL BE DEPLOYED TO +/- 10M

ACCURACY AT 1,400M WATER DEPTH. DEPLOYMENT OF TWO TEMPORARY

ARRAYS USING SYNTHETIC LINE, ANCHORS, MOORING BUOYS AND TEMP

ARRAY BUOYS. ANCHORS DEPLOYED TO +/- 10M ACCURACY, FINAL

POSITIONAL ACCURACY WILL BE DURING THE PHASE THREE DEPLOYMENT.

DEPLOYMENT OF TWO DEPLOYMENT FRAMES STRINGS WITH 7 INLINE

DEPLOYMENT PACKAGES EACH USING A MAKAI SURVEY SYSTEM WITH A +/-

10M ACCURACY. ONE STRING IS 23.4KM LONG, THE OTHER IS 33.8KM. EACH

STRING WILL REQUIRE AN SL17 UNIVERSAL JOINT IN THE CENTER OF THE

LENGTH.

5. AREA OF OPERATIONS: THE VESSEL WILL BE PRIMARILY BASED IN PORT

CANAVERAL, FL THE VESSEL WILL NORMALLY OPERATE IN, BUT NOT BE

RESTRICTED TO, U.S. EAST COAST AND ANDROS ISLAND, BAHAMAS.

6. DELIVERY PORT: NEWINGTON, NH

7. REDELIVERY PORT(S): PORT CARNAVERAL, FL

8. CHARTER PERIOD: 42 DAYS – 15 FEBRUARY 2027 TO 29 MARCH 2027

9. LAYDAY(S): COMMENCING 0800 ON 15 FEBRUARY 2027; CANCELLING 1600 15

FEBRUARY 2027 RESPONDENTS MUST PROVIDE THE DATE AVAILABLE TO

LOAD SPONSOR MISSION EQUIPMENT AT NEWINGTON, NH.

10. VESSEL REQUIREMENTS:

10.1. FLAG. THE VESSEL SHALL BE A JONES ACT QUALIFIED U.S.-

FLAGGED VESSEL.

10.2. CLASSIFICATION: THE VESSEL SHALL BE INSPECTED OR CERTIFIED

BY THE USCG UNDER 46 CFR CHAPTER 1, SUB CHAPTER I. AT A MINIMUM,

THE VESSELS CRANES, WEIGHT HANDLING EQUIPMENT, AND CARGO

HANDLING EQUIPMENT AND MOORING CLASSIFICATION SHALL BE

MAINTAINED AND SHALL BE CERTIFIED BY EITHER THE AMERICAN

BUREAU OF SHIPPING (ABS) (A1 AMS) OR AN INTERNATIONAL

ASSOCIATION OF CLASSIFICATION SOCIETIES (IACS) MEMBER SOCIETY.

10.3. CREW REQUIREMENTS ALL CREW MUST BE U.S. CITIZENS AND

PROPERLY DOCUMENTED FOR MARINE EMPLOYMENT. PROVIDE CREW

RATING AND COUNT.

10.4. TRANSIT SPEED: MINIMUM 10 KNOTS

10.5. ENDURANCE. VESSEL SHALL HAVE SUSTAINED UNDERWAY

CAPABILITY TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS UP TO 42 DAYS TO SUPPORT THE

FOLLOWING OPTEMPO:

10.5.1. UNDERWAY TRANSIT – 15%

10.5.2. UNDERWAY CABLE OPS – 70%

10.5.3. UNDERWAY LOITERING – 5%

10.5.4. INPORT / ANCHORAGE – 10%

10.6. THE VESSEL SHOULD BE ABLE LAND AND LAY TELECOM CABLE

AND PERFORM COMPLETE OVER BOARDING OPERATIONS WITH

ACCURATE SEAFLOOR PLACEMENT WITHIN 10 METERS OF LATITUDE AND

LONGITUDE AT A DEPTH OF 1400 METERS AS PROVIDE BY APL CHIEF

ENGINEER

10.7. PROPULSION: FULLY OPERATIONAL DP1 REQUIRED, DP2 SYSTEM

PREFERRED. ABILITY TO MAINTAIN POSITION WITHIN +/-150FT IN

WEATHER CONDITIONS UP TO SEA STATE 4 FOR UP TO 48 DAYS

10.8. DECK STORAGE: MINIMUM 11,000 SQ. FT.; CONTIGUOUS DECK SPACE

PREFERRED, HOWEVER CAN ACCOMMODATE SEPARATE ACCESSIBLE

DECK SPACES.

10.9. CONTACTOR WILL PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING MISSION EQUIPMENT

10.9.1. 2KM OF CATHODE CABLE (DA17)

10.9.2. 181KM OF SL17(COMBINATION OF DA17, LWA17 AND SPA17) TRUNK

CABLE (NO REPEATERS)

10.9.3. 3KM OF SPARE CABLE (SPA17)

10.9.4. 57KM OF STRING CABLE(SPA17) WITH 14 REPEATER SIZED

PACKAGES INTERSPERSED ACROSS THE LENGTH OF THE CABLE

10.9.5. QTY 1 - 2 TON TRUNK BREAKOUT NODE(TBN)

10.9.6. QTY 2 - 4KM SPOOLS OF UMBILICAL CABLE

10.9.7. QTY 4 - 8’X8’ SQUARE ANCHORS (TWO 2.5 TON, TWO 5 TON)

10.9.8. QTY 2 - 8’ DIAMETER UMBILICAL BUOYS (5 TON EACH) ON STEEL

STANDS (1 TON EACH)

10.9.9. QTY 2 - 8’ DIAMETER MOORING BUOYS (4.5 TON EACH)

10.9.10. QTY 2 - 8’ DIAMETER TEMP ARRAY BUOYS (2.5 TON EACH)

10.9.11. QTY 4 – 500LBS MUSHROOM ANCHORS

10.9.12. 4KM OF SYNTHETIC LINE

10.9.13. QTY 1 - 4’ X 4’ CATHODE PLATE

10.9.14. QTY 14 – 3’ X 4’ X 6’ STRING DEPLOYMENT FRAMES (1 TON

EACH)

10.9.15. QTY 2 – 3’ X 4’ X 6’ UMBILICAL TERMINATION (UTM)

10.10. VESSEL GEAR

10.10.1. SHIP’S CRANE WITH AT LEAST 10 TON LOAD LIMIT COVERING

THE OVER BOARDING DECK AREA ON THE LINEAR CABLE ENGINE

END OF THE SHIP.

10.10.2. AT LEAST 2 TUGGER WINCHES WITH A 20 TON CAPABILITY.

10.10.3. LINEAR CABLE ENGINE WITH AT LEAST 20 TON LIFTING

CAPABILITY ON A 17MM CABLE AND THE ABILITY TO PASS AN IN-LINE

REPEATER TYPE PACKAGE.

10.10.4. LARGE CABLE DRUM .

11. MESSING AND BERTHING -

11.1. MESSING - THE VESSEL SHALL PROVIDE FOUR (4) GALLEY-

PREPARED CAFETERIA STYLE MEALS PER DAY AND HOTEL SERVICES FOR

EIGHT GOVERNMENT AND NON-CREW PERSONNEL. FOOD PROVIDED TO

THE GOVERNMENT SHALL HAVE THE MOST REASONABLY ATTAINABLE

DEGREE OF VARIETY, QUALITY, QUANTITY, AND NUTRITIONAL VALUE.

THE COST OF MEALS AND HOTEL SERVICES FOR THE FIRST EIGHT (8)

GOVERNMENT AND NON-CREW PERSONNEL ABOARD THE VESSEL SHALL

BE INCLUDED IN THE CONTRACTOR’S FIXED PRICE.

11.2. DECK COOLER FOR HYDRATION

11.3. BERTHING TO SUPPORT UP TO 8 PERSONNEL (OUTSIDE OF VESSEL

CREW)

11.3.1. MALES AND FEMALES TO BE BERTHED

11.3.2. BERTHING CAN POSSIBLY BE COED (PREFERRED NOT)

11.3.3. SEPARATE OR INDEPENDENT SHOWERS FOR MALES AND FEMALES.

12. COMMUNICATIONS

12.1. SATELLITE PHONE SERVICE

12.2. POSITION REPORTING CAPABILITY

12.3. INTERNET BASED MARITIME NETWORK. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL

PROVIDE AND/OR MAKE AVAILABLE AN INTERNET-BASED MARITIME

COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK. SPEED MUST BE AT LEAST 40-220+ MBPS

DOWNLOAD AND 8-25+ MBPS UPLOAD.

13. INTERESTED PARTIES ARE REQUESTED TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING

INFORMATION:

A. NAME AND COMPLETE DESCRIPTION / CHARACTERISTICS OF VESSEL(S)

INCLUDING COI (OR SIMILAR), COD (OR SIMILAR), PHOTOS, VESSEL

SPECIFICATION SHEET.

B. DAILY CHARTER RATE AND DELIVERY/REDELIVERY BONUS, IF

APPLICABLE.

C. EARLIEST AVAILABILITY FOR LAYDAY.

D. FUEL CONSUMPTION RATE IN METRIC TONS (UNDERWAY AND INPORT

WORKING).

E. COMPANY INFORMATION:

1. NAME OF COMPANY; TELEPHONE NUMBER, E-MAIL ADDRESS, AND

CAGE CODE.

2. SMALL BUSINESS STANDING (E.G. SMALL OR LARGE BUSINESS; HUB-

ZONE STATUS).

3. REQUEST LARGE BUSINESSES PROVIDE DETAILS REGARDING POSSIBLE

SUB-CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES.

4. PROVIDE COMPANY’S UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER.

F. ANY OTHER PERTINENT QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

11. THE FEDERAL ACQUISTION 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.

12. RESPONSES ARE REQUESTED VIA EMAIL NOT LATER THAN 10 FEBRUARY 2026

AT 1300 EASTERN TIME. THE POINT OF CONTACT IS : CHRISTORPHER TOMLIN,

CHRISTOPHER.A.TOMLIN5.CIV@US.NAVY.MIL TEL 757-443-5879

SIGNED: CHRISTORPHER TOMLIN, CONTRACTING OFFICER, MSC, N103

mailto:christopher.a.tomlin5.civ@us.navy.mil