SS-26-153_Notice.pdf
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- Attached to
- 85-DAY DRY CARGO TIME CHARTER/5-YEAR IDIQ
- Solicitation number
- N32205-SS-N321-26-153
About this file
This is a Sources Sought Notice (market research document) issued by Military Sealift Command (MSC) Norfolk for an 85-day dry cargo time charter with a 5-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract option.
MSC seeks information regarding the price and availability of U.S. or foreign flag, self-sustaining lift-on/lift-off (LO/LO) breakbulk vessels to support resupply operations for Operation Deep Freeze 2027 and subsequent years through 2032. The vessel must have a minimum capacity of 750 TEUs with at least 50 reefer plugs (230V/60HZ/3 phase), or alternatively, reduced TEU capacity for a minimum of 125,000 cubic feet of below-deck breakbulk capacity. Additional vessel specifications include: minimum two cranes with 100 metric ton lifting capacity per crane; ISO container spreader bars (20-foot and 40-foot); maximum length overall of 550 feet; maximum laden draft of 28 feet; minimum speed of 15 knots when laden; minimum range of 10,000 nautical miles unrefueled; minimum ice class GL-E2, ABS-B0, F-S-1B, or equivalent meeting IMO Polar Code Classification "C"; cargo holds with minimum 9-foot tween deck height and 12-foot tank top deck height; MARPOL compliance; full bunkering capability; and ability to utilize marine gas oil (MGO) for operations north or south of 60 degrees latitude. The vessel must arrive with all required certifications current and accommodate supercargo, refrigeration technician, crane technician, and ice pilot berthing.
Charter Period 1 is scheduled for 85 days commencing January 2–5, 2027, with delivery and redelivery at Port Hueneme, California. Charter Period 2 is a 5-year IDIQ contract (2028–2032) with anticipated annual task orders: a 40-day charter with laydays July 12–13 and delivery/redelivery at Norfolk, Virginia; and an 85-day charter with laydays December 21 and delivery/redelivery at Port Hueneme, California. Interested parties must submit responses by 1100 Eastern Time, Thursday, August 20, 2026, providing vessel name and description, daily charter hire rates for both charter periods with any delivery/redelivery bonuses, fuel consumption rates, confirmation of compliance with vessel requirements and laydays, company name and unique entity identifier, business size designation, and small business concern status. The small business size standard for water transportation services (NAICS 483111) is 1,050 employees. Points of contact are Tiffany Gallon (Tiffany.N.Gallon.CIV@us.navy.mil, 564-226-8986) and Christopher Tomlin (Christopher.A.Tomlin5.CIV@us.navy.mil, 757-443-5879).
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Text version
06 AUGUST 2026
THIS IS THE MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND NORFOLK, STRATEGIC SEALIFT PROGRAM
SUPPORT OFFICE, N103A
SOURCES SOUGHT NO: N32205-SS-N321-26-153
SUBJECT: 85-DAY DRY CARGO TIME CHARTER / 5-YEAR IDIQ
1. THIS IS MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY THE 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 U.S. OR
FOREIGN FLAG, SELF-SUSTAINING, LIFT-ON/LIFT-OFF (LO/LO), BREAKBULK VESSELS TO
SUPPORT RESUPPLY OPERATIONS FOR OPERATION DEEP FREEZE 2027.
3. VESSEL SHALL HAVE:
A. MINIMUM CAPACITY OF 750 TEU’S WITH A MINIMUM OF 50 REEFER PLUGS
(230V/60HZ/3 PHASE). TEU CAPACITY MAY BE REDUCED TO ACCOMMODATE
SPECIFIC CARGO REQUIREMENTS IN EXCHANGE FOR A MINIMUM OF 125,000
CUBIC FEET OF BELOW-DECK BREAKBULK CAPACITY.
B. MINIMUM OF TWO CRANES WITH 100 MT (PER CRANE) LIFTING CAPACITY.
C. ONE 20-FOOT ISO CONTAINER SPREADER BAR WEIGHT TESTED TO 65,000 POUNDS
AND ONE 40-FOOT ISO CONTAINER SPREADER BAR, WEIGHT TESTED TO 70,000
POUNDS.
D. VESSEL MUST ARRIVE WITH ALL REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS CURRENT FOR
DURATION OF CHARTER PERIOD TO INCLUDE CRANES AND SPREADER BARS.
E. MAXIMUM LOA OF 550 FEET.
F. MAXIMUM LADEN DRAFT OF 28 FEET.
G. MINIMUM OF 15 KNOTS WHEN LADEN.
H. MINIMUM RANGE OF 10,000 NAUTICAL MILES UNREFUELED.
I. MINIMUM ICE CLASS: GL-E2, ABS-B0, F-S-1B, OR EQUIVALENT, AND MUST MEET
ALL IMO POLAR CODE CLASSIFICATION “C” REGULATIONS.
J. CARGO HOLDS WITH A MINIMUM TWEEN DECK HEIGHT OF 9 FEET AND A
MINIMUM TANK TOP DECK HEIGHT OF 12 FEET.
K. MUST MEET ALL MARPOL REGULATIONS.
L. VESSEL MUST ARRIVE FULLY BUNKERED FOR MISSION AND MUST BE CAPABLE
OF UTILIZING MGO FOR ALL OPERATIONS CONDUCTED NORTH OR SOUTH OF 60
DEGREES LATITUDE.
M. FOR OPERATION DEEP FREEZE, BERTHING FOR SUPERCARGO, NZ NATIONAL
REFRIGERATION TECHNICAN, EMBARKING AND DISEMBARKING AT PORT
HUNEME, CA. CRANE TECHNICAN AND ICE PILOT EMBARKATION/DEBARKATION
WILL BE ARRANGED BY THE SHIP AND REQUIRE BERTHING SPACE.
N. FOR PACER GOOSE, ICE PILOT IS REQUIRED FOR VESSEL OPERATIONS NORTH OF
66 DEGREES LATITUDE. EMBARKATION/DEBARKATION AND REQUIRED
BERTHING SPACE WILL BE ARRANGED BY THE SHIP.
4. CARGO SPECIFICS:
A. USAP CARGO EMBARKING PORT HUENEME, CA, DISCHARGE MCMURDO STATION.
1. ~460 TEU’S: 6x 20’ REEFER UNITS, 405x 20’ DRY UNITS, 46x 20’ FLAT RACKS, 3x 20’ ISO TANKS
2. ~102 FEU’S: 38x 40’ REEFER UNITS, 1x 40’ DRY UNITS, , 3x 40’ HELIUM HALF
RACKS, 60x 40’ FLAT RACKS
3. 19 PIECES ROLLING STOCK, 82,800 lbs. HEAVIEST UNIT
B. USAP CARGO EMBARKING MCMURDO STATION, DISCHARGE PORT HUENEME, CA.
1. ~329 TEU’S: 6x 20’ REEFER UNITS, 286x 20’ DRY UNITS, 20X 20’ FLAT RACKS, 7x ROLL TOP, 63x OPEN TOP
2. ~92 FEU’S: 28x 40’ REEFER UNITS, 51x 40’ DRY UNITS, 11x 40’ FLAT RACKS, 2x
40’ OPEN TOPS
5. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
A. VESSEL MUST BE CAPABLE OF CARRYING ALL CLASSES OF DANGEROUS GOODS,
TO INCLUDE LITHIUM BATTERIES (NEW AND USED IN EQUIPMENT AND LOOSE)
B. ICE PILOTS ARE REQUIRED TO BE ONBOARD VESSEL, EMBARKING AND
DISEMBARKING IN PORT LYTTELTON NZ, AT A MINIMUM; PART OF FIXED PRICE.
C. CRANE TECHNICIAN IS REQUIRED TO BE ONBOARD VESSEL DURING MCMURDO
STATION PORT CALL
D. INSPECTION OF ALL CARGO BY A NATIONAL CARGO BUREAU REPRESENTATIVE
AT PORT HUENEME PRIOR TO LOADING CARGO ONTO THE VESSEL; PART OF
FIXED PRICE.
E. VESSEL SHALL CARRY ANTIFREEZE FOR ON-DECK CONTAINER LOCKS TO
MINIMIZE FREEZING WHILE CROSSING SOUTHERN OCEAN
6. DELIVERY PORT: PORT HUENEME, CA (USA)
7. REDELIVERY PORT: PORT HUENEME, CA (USA)
8. CHARTER PERIOD 1: 85 DAYS (02-05 JANUARY 2027)
CHARTER PERIOD 2: 5-YEAR IDIQ CONTRACT (INTENTION: 40-DAY CHARTER AND 85-
DAY CHARTER EACH YEAR FOR A MINIMUM OF TWO TASK ORDERS PER YEAR)
YEAR 40-DAY
CHARTER
LAYDAYS
DELIVERY/
REDELIVERY
85-DAY
CHARTER
LAYDAY
DELIVERY/
REDELIVERY
2028 12-13 JULY NORFOLK, VA
(USA)
21 DECEMBER PORT HUENEME, CA
(USA)
2029 12-13 JULY NORFOLK, VA
(USA)
21 DECEMBER PORT HUENEME, CA
(USA)
2030 12-13 JULY NORFOLK, VA
(USA)
21 DECEMBER PORT HUENEME, CA
(USA)
2031 12-13 JULY NORFOLK, VA
21 DECEMBER PORT HUENEME, CA
(USA)
2032 12-13 JULY NORFOLK, VA
(USA)
21 DECEMBER PORT HUENEME, CA
9. LAYDAY(S):
CHARTER PERIOD 1: COMMENCING: 02 JANUARY 2027
CANCELLING: 05 JANUARY 2027
CHARTER PERIOD 2:
TASK ORDER 2 ESTIMATED COMMENCING/CANCELLING ANNUALLY: 12-13 JULY – 40
DAY CHARTER (PLEASE PROVIDE PRICING FOR FIVE TASK ORDERS PERFORMING
ANNUALLY ON A 5-YEAR IDIQ CONTRACT)
YEAR 40-DAY
LAYDAY
DAILY RATE DELIVERY
BONUS
REDELIVERY
BONUS
2028 12-13 JULY
2029 12-13 JULY
2030 12-13 JULY
2031 12-13 JULY
2032 12-13 JULY
TASK ORDER 1 ESTIMATED COMMENCING ANNUALLY: 21 DECEMBER – 85 DAY
CHARTER (PLEASE PROVIDE PRICING FOR FIVE TASK ORDERS PERFORMING
ANNUALLY ON A 5-YEAR IDIQ CONTRACT)
YEAR 85-DAY
LAYDAY
DAILY RATE DELIVERY
BONUS
REDELIVERY
BONUS
2028 21 DECEMBER
2029 21 DECEMBER
2030 21 DECEMBER
2031 21 DECEMBER
2032 21 DECEMBER
10. INTERESTED PARTIES ARE REQUESTED TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
AT MINIMUM:
A. NAME AND COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE VESSEL(S).
B. DAILY CHARTER HIRE RATE FOR BOTH CHARTER PERIODS AND ANY
DELIVERY/REDELIVERY BONUS, IF APPLICABLE.
C. FUEL CONSUMPTION RATE IN METRIC TONS (UNDERWAY AND IN PORT
WORKING).
D. CONFIRMATION THAT VESSEL MEETS OR EXCEEDS VESSEL REQUIREMENTS IN
PARAGRAPH 3, AND LAYDAYS IN PARAGRAPH 9 OF THIS REQUEST.
E. COMPANY’S NAME AND UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER.
F. BUSINESS SIZE. REQUEST LARGE BUSINESSES PROVIDE DETAILS REGARDING
POSSIBLE SUB-CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES.
G. 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. INDICATE IF
BUSINESS IS A SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN.
12. RESPONSES ARE REQUESTED PRIOR TO 1100 EASTERN TIME, THURSDAY, 20
AUGUST 2026. THE POINT OF CONTACT IS TIFFANY GALLON,
TIFFANY.N.GALLON.CIV@US.NAVY.MIL OR (564) 226-8986 AND CHRISTOPHER TOMLIN,
CHRISTOPHER.A.TOMLIN5.CIV@US.NAVY.MIL OR (757) 443-5879.
SIGNED: CHRISTOPHER TOMLIN, CONTRACTING OFFICER, MSC, N103A
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