Common Hull Auxiliary Multi-Mission Platform (CHAMP)

This special notice is issued by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), on behalf of the Program Manager for the Strategic & Theater Sealift Program Office (PMS385) and is provided for informational purpose only. PMS385, in conjunction with the Military Sealift Command (MSC), will be hosting a ship tour of T-AKR 303 (USNS Mendonca), a Bob Hope-class Roll-on Roll-off vehicle cargo ship of the US Navy, in preparation for upcoming Industry involvement in the Common Hull Auxiliary Multi-Mission Platform (CHAMP) program.

The Navy will hold ship tours 16-17 January 2019 at Lambert's Point Cargo Terminal in Norfolk, VA. The first tour of the day will begin at 0900 and end approximately 1100, and the second tour of the day will begin at 1300 and end approximately 1500. Additional tours will be added if required based on interest. Interested parties shall contact Holly Vitoritt (holly.vitoritt@navy.mil) and Major Eduardo Pumarejo (eduardo.pumarejo@navy.mil) for information, and to reserve a morning or afternoon ship tour on one of the available days. The ship tour will be at Lambert's Point Cargo Terminal, 500 Orapax Street, Norfolk, VA 23507. Parking will be available for the tour. Each organization will only be offered one tour, and is requested to limit attendance to five (5) people who must be U.S. Citizens. Organizations should register no later than 18 December 2018. To register, submit the following information via email to Holly Vitoritt (holly.vitoritt@navy.mil) and Major Eduardo Pumarejo (eduardo.pumarejo@navy.mil) for each attendee:
a. Name
b. Position
c. Primary Business (Shipbuilder/Design Agent/Equipment Vendor/other)
d. Company
e. Mailing Address
f. Requested ship tour date and time (AM/PM)

A confirmation email will be sent providing additional details and acceptance of registration in the order they are received. Attendance is voluntary and not required to respond to any CHAMP solicitation posting in the future.

Ship tours will consist of viewing and reviewing the vessel's cargo carrying and cargo handling capabilities, including stern ramp, internal ramps, cranes, hatches, watertight doors, safe working loads, damage control arrangements, cargo securing gear, etc.

PMS385 and MSC will not be hosting a question and answer period during the ship tour. Only questions about the ship being toured will be answered.

This is not a solicitation for proposals and no contract shall be awarded from this announcement. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with attending the ship tour.
Questions concerning this announcement may be submitted via Email to Christina Zimmer at christina.zimmer@navy.mil and Samantha Rye at Samantha.rye@navy.mil. NO TELEPHONIC QUESTIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

******************************************************************
DESCRIPTION:
THIS SPECIAL NOTICE IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) USING MARKET RESEARCH AND WILL BE USED FOR INFORMATIONAL AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP). THERE IS NO FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

BACKGROUND:
The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) is issuing this Special Notice on behalf of the Program Manager for the Strategic & Theater Sealift Program Office (PMS385) to support the development of a potential future solicitation for the Common Hull Auxiliary Multi-Mission Platform (CHAMP) Industry Studies, with options for Concept Design and Preliminary Design efforts. The CHAMP identified missions include strategic sealift, aviation intermediate maintenance support, medical services, command & control, and submarine tending. PMS385 is conducting further market research to gather comments and questions from Shipbuilders on an excerpt from the DRAFT CHAMP Industry Studies statement of work, as attached to this Special Notice. The result of this market research will contribute to the continued development of the solicitation. This is not a solicitation for proposals and no contract shall be awarded from this announcement/RFI.

In an earlier RFI, Industry provided the Government white papers that addressed potential sources that can build ships and the current state of the industry for force packages and portable facilities. While the Government remains interested in development of a common-hull solution that can leverage multi-mission functionality, based on initial feedback from Industry, the Government is in the process of revising the base ship characteristics by mission area to permit purpose built, non-reconfigurable single mission concepts.

REQUESTED INFORMATION:
This Special Notice seeks questions and/or comments from interested Shipyards. Attachment 1 to this Special Notice contains an excerpt from the DRAFT CHAMP Industry Studies with options for Concept Design and Preliminary Design statement of work. The planned RFP will also contain an option for selected shipbuilders to conduct Preliminary Designs to further develop their proposed concepts. Attachment 2 to this Special Notice contains a blank comment/question form to be used by Industry to submit any questions or comments to the Government.

RESPONSE CRITERIA:
Interested parties are encouraged to respond to this Special Notice, addressing comments and questions related to the information contained in Attachment 1 of this Special Notice. Questions or comments from interested shipyards should be submitted using the form provided as Attachment 2. All responses should be sent as a Microsoft Word attachment to an e-mail. Responses shall be sent to the NAVSEA point of contact, Ms. Samantha Rye (Samantha.rye@navy.mil) and the PMS385 point of contact, Ms. Christina Zimmer (Christina.zimmer@navy.mil). Each comment or question should be submitted using a separate form. Submission of multiple forms are encouraged. The Government will not respond to any questions or comments marked "Proprietary", as the Government will attempt to answer questions and address comments publicly in future postings to this Special Announcement.

WHEN TO SUBMIT:
Questions and/or comments are requested to be provided by email no later than 4:00 PM (EDT), October 31, 2018.

NOTICES REGARDING SOLICITATION:
This notice does NOT constitute a solicitation and is not to be construed as a commitment, implied or otherwise, by the Government that a procurement action will be issued. No telephone inquiries will be accepted and requests for solicitation packages will not be honored, as no solicitation is intended at this
time. Response to this notice is not a request to be added to a bidders list or to receive a copy of a solicitation. THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO AWARD A CONTRACT SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF THIS SPECIAL NOTICE. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of the submission of the requested information. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement and any follow-up information requests. The Government will review all responses. The Government does not commit to provide a response to any comment or question resulting from this Special Notice. Any information submitted by respondents as a result of this notice is strictly voluntary. Responses to this RFI may be considered in the future finalization of a Solicitation for CHAMP Industry Studies, with options for Concept Design and Preliminary Design efforts.

NOTICE REGARDING PROPRIETARY INFORMATION:
All submitted materials will be designated for Government Use Only. Third party support contractors who have executed non-disclosure agreements may have access to the information provided. Any information submitted which is to be provided and reviewed by Government personnel only shall be clearly marked as such. Otherwise, the Government shall construe consent has been given to allow access to the information by any relevant third party support contractor. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for proprietary information not properly identified. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations.

.