Military Sealift Command Unlicensed Engine Mariner Training Program- Updated

The Military Sealift Command (MSC), a component of the Department of the Navy, is seeking qualified contractors to design and deliver a comprehensive training program that converts Unlicensed Engine Mariners to Licensed 3rd Assistant Engineers over a five-year period. The program requires development of a United States Coast Guard-approved resident training curriculum covering advanced fire fighting, engine resource management, auxiliary machinery, diesel engineering, electrical machinery, instrumentation, medical first aid, survival craft, and license preparation. Key contract requirements include providing on-campus lodging, three daily meals, full-mission simulation experiences, instructor-led exam preparation, tutoring, and assistance with USCG license applications and examinations at regional exam centers. The government will evaluate responses based on capability statements demonstrating the contractor's ability to perform the draft Performance Work Statement requirements, with particular focus on small business certifications and capacity to train Civil Service Mariners (CIVMARs) in cohorts of five or more students. Interested offerors must submit their capability statements by 1700 local time on November 26, 2025, which serves as the deadline for this sources sought notice.

This pre-solicitation contains no small business set-aside designation, though the Sources Sought Notice specifically targets small businesses certified as service-disabled veteran-owned, women-owned, HUBZone, or 8(a) entities under NAICS Code 611519 (Other Technical and Trade Schools) with a size standard of $21.0 million. No incumbent contractor or award value is identified in the pre-solicitation materials. The program will operate annually with a minimum of 6 and maximum of 48 course seats per year, accommodating cohorts of five or more students per session throughout the five-year contract period. The government indicates it will use responses to determine procurement strategy, including evaluation of whether multiple small businesses can perform at least 50% of the contract effort and whether to structure the final solicitation as a small business set-aside.