Inspection of the lifeboats, fast rescue boats, duplex release gears, winches and accommodation ladders on the T-AKE class vessels

1. Contracting Activity: Department of the Navy, Military Sealift Command (MSC), Norfolk, VA.

2. Nature of Action: Award of a contract on a sole source basis for the tech rep support for the Annual Inspections of the FASSMER Lifeboats, Rescue Boats and Accommodation Ladders onboard the T-AKE CLASS of ships.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The action is submitted for the USCG/ABS/SOLAS required annual inspections of the FASSMER Lifeboats, Rescue Boats, Associated Davits and Accommodation Ladders onboard the T-AKE CLASS of ships.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open: The statutory authority for this procurement is Section 4202 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 as implemented by FAR 13.501.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority: Fassmer Service America, LLC is the OEM of the T-AKE Class Lifeboats, Rescue Boats, Associated davits, and Accommodation Ladders. Restrictive rights include access to business sensitive technical manuals, drawings, and the ability to procure parts directly from the OEM. Fassmer Service America, LLC holds proprietary technical data for repairs and adjustments of individual systems, and proprietary technical data required to meet the Statement of Work. Lifeboats, Rescue Boats, associated davits, and accommodation ladders are unique commercial systems that were provided to the shipbuilder NASSCO via contract to Fassmer for design and equipment installed onboard the T-AKE Class. Only the OEM can provide services as requested under Statement of Work to maintain system safety and integrity as per regulatory requirements. Similar companies do not have the required technical data and OEM repair parts to review, test, and repair these systems. MSC does not have the manufacturing and technical information required to evaluate and determine whether non-OEM components and replacement parts offered are equivalent to the OEM components and replacement parts.

T-AKE lifeboats, rescue boats, with associated davits, and accommodation ladders, require technical expertise, and proprietary drawings unique to these boats; only the OEM is authorized to work on the lifesaving equipment. The OEM has access to provide parts and technical data / drawings as required by USCG and ABS certification for maintenance as noted under SOW. It is essential to provide OEM evaluation as it is required by ABS/SOLAS/USCG requirements. The ship would not be able to sail if these inspections are not done by the approved OEM provider. SMS Number 10.6-002-ALL lists all Lifeboats, Rescue Boats, Davits, and Accommodation Ladders as critical equipment. Failure of this equipment may force the ship to issue a CASREP, and may immediately reduce all underway replenishment operations and cargo handling due to reduced crew safety. The loss of two lifeboats or rescue boats put the ship in a C-4 status, thus becoming unable to perform the primary mission of providing underway replenishment services to the fleet, until repairs are completed. Proper repair and maintenance are critical to the safe operations of T-AKE vessel lifeboat & rescue boat systems and also for the safety of the crew.

MSC Norfolk intends to award a sole source firm fixed price contract to Fassmer Service America for the inspections, adjustments and servicing of the Lifeboats, Fast Rescue Boats, Duplex Release Gears, Winches, and Accommodation Laders on the T-AKE Class ships. A solicitaion will be issused on/or about 10 October 2013, refer for full details.