Inland River Towboat - New or Used

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - St. Paul District is soliciting offers for the procurement of a new or used inland river towing vessel to support operations on the Upper Mississippi River. The vessel must be constructed between 2010 and present, with specific technical requirements including a length of 65-130 feet, horsepower between 1,200-3,000 BHP, maximum draft of 8.5 feet, fuel capacity of 9,000-40,000 gallons, and accommodations for at least four crew members. The vessel must hold ABS and U.S. Coast Guard certifications and include comprehensive navigation equipment, deck machinery with 40-ton winches, main diesel propulsion, redundant generators, and safety systems. Evaluation will consider technical factors including performance capability, functionality, operating reliability, maintainability, and warranty, along with past performance and price, with technical factors and past performance weighted more heavily than price. The original solicitation due date is August 28, 2025, at 11:00 AM, and Amendment 0001 has modified submission procedures to require offers be emailed directly to Contract Specialist John Riederer due to system problems. Questions must be submitted through the ProjNet Bidder Inquiry System.

This solicitation is unrestricted with no set-aside designation, allowing firms of any size to submit offers under NAICS code 336612 (Boat Building). No incumbent contractors or award values are specified in the solicitation documents. The procurement is for a single inland river towing vessel that will serve the primary mission of transporting heavy barges and floating plant to worksites within the St. Paul District. The vessel must be delivered to the USACE Mississippi River Project Office in Fountain City, Wisconsin, with a preferred delivery timeline of Spring 2026, though this delivery schedule is negotiable. The government will conduct a competitive range evaluation that includes on-site vessel inspections to assess mechanical condition and suitability for the intended operations. Offerors must provide extensive documentation including maintenance history, builder certifications, vessel photographs, and completed safety inspection checklists as part of their proposal submission.