MARITIME ADMINISTRATION

1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20590

Office of Acquisition

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE (SSN) 693JF7-26-SS-0002

Lay Berthing Services for Long-Term Safe Lay Berth for WATSON Class LMSR Vessels Solicitation Number: [693JF726DxxTBAxx]

U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration (MARAD) Date: January 21, 2025

Point of Contact: Henry Puppe, Contracting Officer, MARAD Email: henry.puppe@dot.gov

PURPOSE

The Maritime Administration (MARAD), U.S. Department of Transportation, is conducting market research to identify capable sources for the provision of long‑term, exclusive‑use lay berthing services to provide safe, secure, and continuously available lay berths for up to two WATSON Class LMSR vessels — TRAVIS E WATKINS and MITCHELL RED CLOUD — on the U.S. West Coast. The appropriate NAICS code for this procurement is 488390, and the PSC will be R425.

BACKGROUND

MARAD maintains Ready Reserve Force (RRF) vessels to support rapid activation for Department of Defense (DoD) sealift missions. MARAD seeks facilities and operators able to provide exclusive-use layberthing consistent with the full requirement provided (facility, mooring, fendering, utilities, security, environmental compliance, and associated services).

This Sources Sought targets berthing on the U.S. West Coast (San Diego north through Washington including Puget Sound and the Columbia River) suitable for the WATSON class characteristics and operational needs.

REQUIREMENT OVERVIEW (high-level)

1. Exclusive-use long-term layberthing for up to two WATSON Class LMSR vessels (TRAVIS E WATKINS and MITCHELL RED CLOUD), with possible nesting (one vessel nested outboard of another) per contract terms.

2. Facility located on the U.S. West Coast within the geographic bounds in the full requirement.

3. Mooring arrangements and Heavy Weather Mooring Plan certifiable to Mooring Service Type III (sustained wind speeds per solicitation), with professional engineer mailto:henry.puppe@dot.gov certification.

4. Adequate water depth, turning room, and approach to meet the vessel draft and maneuvering requirements.

5. Resilient fendering and/or UHMW fendering to prevent hull contact; fendering between nested vessels to maintain required spacing.

6. Pier apron and staging area sized and rated for RO/RO stern ramp operations

(WATSON class stern ramp dimensions and loads).

7. Pier services: metered shore power (3-phase/60Hz per vessel requirements), potable water (metered), sewage connections or handling, telephone/data connections, and connect/disconnect support.

8. Security: continuous access control, perimeter fencing, guard presence, CCTV, lighting, and a Physical Security Plan meeting requirements.

9. Environmental compliance: NEPA coordination, oil spill response plan, permits and consultations (e.g., Corps, NHPA Section 106, ESA Section 7) as required.

10. Access to a full‑service port complex: ship repair, tugs and pilot services, bunkering, oily waste disposal and oil spill response within the distances specified in the full requirement.

11. Insurance and indemnity consistent with MARAD requirements.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Specific period of performance and option years will be determined by MARAD during future acquisition planning; respondents should identify their facility availability for multi‑year layberthing (long‑term) and note any constraints to long‑term exclusive use.

SOCIO‑ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS

Socio‑economic status of capable sources is currently unknown. Offerors should indicate their socio‑economic category (Small Business, HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, SDB, Large Business, etc.) in their response. MARAD will use responses to inform acquisition strategy, including any potential small business set‑aside determinations.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR RESPONSE

Interested parties are requested to submit a capability statement (no more than 10 pages, plus attachments as needed) that addresses the following minimum items:

1. Company / facility identification: legal name, address, POC, telephone, email.

2. Confirmation that the response targets layberthing services for WATSON Class LMSR vessels (TRAVIS E WATKINS and MITCHELL RED CLOUD) on the U.S. West Coast.

3. Facility location and description (include harbor/port name, berth name or coordinates, length of berth available, pier apron dimensions, and distance to main ship channel).

4. Water depth data (most recent soundings) and ability to meet the draft and maneuvering requirements identified in MARAD’s layberth requirement. State whether multi‑beam echo soundings are available or can be provided.

5. Description of mooring fittings and rated Safe Working Loads (SWL) of bollards/fittings;

availability to support Heavy Weather Mooring Plan and to provide pull‑test results.

6. Description of fendering (resilient or UHMW), stern ramp landing area, support for RO/RO operations, and pier apron load capacities (uniform and point loads).

7. Utilities available: shore power (voltage, amperage, number of outlets), potable water (capacity and pressure), sewage connection capacity, telephone/data capability. State whether separate metering is available for each vessel.

8. Security capabilities: perimeter fencing, guard services, CCTV, lighting levels, access control procedures, and ability to provide required security staffing and TWIC‑credentialed guards.

9. Access to full‑service port complex resources within required distances: ship repair companies, pilotage, tugs (with response times and bollard pull if available), bunkering, oily waste disposal and Oil Spill Response Organization (OSRO). Provide supporting letters or references where available.

10. Environmental and permitting: status of NEPA, permits, and ability to complete required environmental coordination (list known permits and status). Provide Oil Spill Response Plan availability.

11. Insurance: evidence or summary of ability to meet MARAD insurance requirements (types and minimum coverages).

12. Past performance: examples of similar layberthing or long‑term berthing contracts (MARAD, DoD, commercial) including point of contact, contract period, and brief description of services provided.

13. Socio‑economic status of respondent (Small Business HUBZone, SDB, etc.).

14. Any limitations, constraints, or unique conditions (e.g., seasonal restrictions, dredging needs, lease/land issues).

15. Statement confirming this is a capability/market research response only and no pricing or formal proposal is being submitted.

OPTIONAL: Attach the most relevant supporting documents (facility drawings, recent soundings, letters of tug/pilot support, photos of berth, sample Heavy Weather Mooring Plan executive summary, proof of lease/title to facility).

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Responses are requested by: February 06, 2026 (responses received after this date may not be considered for MARAD market research).

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Submit electronic responses to: henry.puppe@dot.gov

Subject line: “Sources Sought for WATSON Class LMSR Lay Berthing Services – [Your Company Name]”

DISCLAIMER

This Sources Sought Notice is for market research purposes only and is NOT a solicitation, request for proposals, or invitation for bids. No contract will be awarded based solely on responses to this notice. This notice does not commit MARAD to any procurement action or to pay for any information submitted. The full requirement (detailed layberth Statement of Work and attachments) will be provided to interested parties upon request or as part of a future solicitation.

Respectfully, Henry Puppe Contracting Officer, RRF Sealift Support Maritime Administration (MARAD) U.S. Department of Transportation

— End of Notice — mailto:henry.puppe@dot.gov