ISRO Ranger IV Vessel Construction

The Department of the Interior's National Park Service is seeking a Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) to oversee the construction and delivery of the Ranger IV, a new 182.5' x 36' x 18' passenger and cargo vessel for Isle Royale National Park operations. The project requires a contractor with extensive experience in vessel procurement who can manage the construction of a vessel meeting United States Coast Guard and American Bureau of Shipping certification standards. Responses to the Sources Sought Notice are due by February 7, 2025, at 3:00 PM CT, with the agency evaluating potential bidders based on company details, business size classification, bonding capacity, and relevant experience. The National Park Service will use the market research responses to determine potential small business set-aside status and develop the acquisition strategy for the full Request for Proposal (RFP), which is anticipated to be released in Spring 2025. Key evaluation criteria will include pricing, timeline, materials sourcing, and warranty terms, with a firm fixed price contract anticipated.

The contract is currently not set aside for any specific business category, with the National Park Service open to various contractor sizes and configurations. The Ranger IV is designed to replace the current M/V Ranger III and will operate between Isle Royale and park headquarters in Houghton, Michigan, completing 45-50 round trips annually from mid-April through October. The vessel will be an all-steel, double-hulled, diesel-powered ship with an energy storage system allowing zero-emission transit, featuring 3,500 square feet of cargo space, seating for 150 passengers, and integrated tanks for multiple fuel types. While specific budget ranges were not disclosed, the project includes performance and payment bond requirements and targets a 24-month delivery timeline, with Phase I preliminary design already completed in October 2024. Buy American Act compliance will be mandatory, and the vessel must support multiple operational functions including passenger ferry service, staff transport, cargo delivery, and support for park concessions.