Andros island logistics support vessel time charter

The Department of the Navy Military Sealift Command is conducting market research to evaluate charter options for a U.S. flag, self-sustaining logistics support vessel to serve the Navy's Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center on Andros Island, Bahamas, and Port Canaveral, Florida. The vessel must be capable of transporting roll-on/roll-off cargo including vehicles, ammunition, explosives, hazardous materials, construction materials, and heavy equipment, with specific technical specifications including a maximum length of 220 feet, minimum 700-ton capacity, 5,000 square feet of deck space, and a deployable ramp with a 60-ton safe working load. Key vessel requirements include a minimum 8-knot speed when fully laden in sea-state 4 conditions, 1,400 shaft horsepower, 1,000-nautical mile endurance, and the ability to dock and undock unassisted in controlled depths of 20 feet. Interested parties must submit detailed responses by April 14, 2026, at 1400 hours Eastern Time, providing company information, vessel descriptions, charter rates for all contract periods, fuel consumption data, and acknowledgment of all specified requirements. The contract will be awarded on a firm fixed price basis with reimbursable elements, with evaluation focused on vessel capability, pricing competitiveness, and contractor qualifications.

This pre-solicitation notice represents market research with no set-aside designations and does not identify any current contractor incumbents. The charter period extends from June 3, 2026, through June 2, 2027 (365 days), with two option periods—one one-year extension and one 11-month extension—providing potential contract duration of up to three years and eight months. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in this sources sought notice, as the government is gathering market information to inform future procurement decisions. Respondents must meet the small business size standard under NAICS 483111 (Deep Sea Freight Transportation) with an employee threshold of 1,050. Delivery and redelivery of the chartered vessel will occur at Patrick Air Force Base, Port Canaveral, Florida, and respondents must demonstrate applicable USCG certifications and class society approvals along with relevant security clearance information.