MTS Tow Support Vessel (Submarine-Fendered Tug)

The Department of the Navy Military Sealift Command is seeking information regarding the cost and availability of two U.S. flag submarine-fendered tugs to support the movement of the Moored Training Ship (MTS) 626, an ex-USS Daniel Webster submarine training vessel, from the Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) in Goose Creek, South Carolina, to Charleston "C" Buoy. The operation requires tugs to undock the vessel from NPTU Pier X-Ray South and transit approximately 32 nautical miles down the Cooper River through Charleston Harbor, with an estimated service duration of four to eight hours. Vessel requirements include U.S. flag status, IACS classification, maximum 18-foot draft, minimum 100,000 pounds bollard pull, low-profile configuration with specialized submarine-fendering to prevent metal-to-hull contact, fire-fighting capability at 3,000 gallons per minute, and crews composed entirely of U.S. citizens holding valid Coast Guard certifications. Respondents must provide firm fixed-price proposals with reimbursable fuel, daily charter rates, completed vessel characteristic worksheets with documentation, delivery itineraries, and demonstrate financial capability. The submission deadline is April 28, 2026, at 1300 local time (Norfolk, Virginia), with responses to be directed to the Contracting Officer, Ms. Stephanie Ricker, or the designated points of contact via email.

This Pre-Solicitation Notice does not utilize a set-aside designation and applies to NAICS code 488330 (Navigational Services to Shipping) with a $47.0 million small business size standard. No incumbent contractors or current award values are identified in this sources sought notice, which represents an information-gathering phase prior to formal solicitation. The contract is anticipated for execution during an August 18, 2026, charter period, with tugs required to be available 24 hours per day. The scope involves a single operation event rather than an ongoing service requirement, and the contract will include the cost of harbor pilots as needed. As this is a pre-solicitation notice, the actual contract value has not been disclosed, though the four to eight-hour service window and dual-vessel requirement provide basis for cost estimation by interested parties.