Navy Cable Ship Replacement T-ARC(X) and T-AGS(X) Industry Day Notification

THIS IS AN INDUSTRY DAY ANNOUNCEMENT; ISSUED BY THE NAVAL SEA SYSTEMS COMMAND (NAVSEA), ON BEHALF OF THE SUPPORT SHIPS, BOATS, AND CRAFT PROGRAM OFFICE (PMS325) FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. 

ATTENTION: PLEASE NOTE CHANGES TO DATE AND VENUE. EVENT WILL BE TELECONFERENCE ONLY. DETAILS WILL BE PROVIDED TO REGISTED PARTICIPANTS. THERE WILL NOT BE AN IN-PERSON BRIEF DUE TO CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS.

I. SUMMARY

On behalf of the Support Ships, Boats, and Craft Program Office (PMS325), the Naval Sea Systems Command announces an Industry Day for the T-AGS(X), a new class of Oceanographic Survey Vessels and the T-ARC(X), a Cable Ship to replace the aging USNS Zeus.

The Industry Day will be held on 8 April 2020, via teleconference. The Industry Day will be divided into two (2) sessions. Session I will include a T-AGS(X) panel discussion and Session II will include a T-ARC(X) Program Brief.  Industry is encouraged to participate in both sessions; however, it is not required.

(Session I) T-AGS(X) Panel Discussion:  PMS325 has identified four specific areas in which it aims to engage Industry during this panel discussion: Hull Forms, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (AUV/UUV) Manufacture, Launch and Retrieval, and Sensors/Underwater Surveillance. The mission of T-AGS(X) states the ship must be capable of general-purpose oceanographic survey operations in coastal and deep ocean areas, including the following typical missions: Physical, chemical and biological oceanography, multi-discipline environmental investigations, ocean engineering and marine acoustics, coastal hydrographic survey, marine geology and geophysics, and bathymetric surveys.

(Session II) T-ARC(X) Program Brief:  The T-ARC(X) Program brief is to inform industry of the program’s schedule, contract and technical requirements.  The Navy Cable Ship T-ARC(X) Program is a replacement program for the Navy’s only undersea cable installation and repair ship, USNS ZEUS (T-ARC 7). USNS ZEUS was commissioned and delivered to Military Sealift Command (MSC) in 1984 and has been the only active cable repairing ship in US Navy inventory since 1994. The ship’s mission is to transport, install, retrieve, and repair undersea cables and equipment, with a secondary mission of conducting acoustic, hydrographic, and bathymetric surveys.

The new T-ARC(X) ship will be outfitted with modern cable handling equipment, including plows and ROVs. The ship will be equipped with a variety of hull mounted sonar systems to support both its primary and secondary missions. T-ARC(X) will also incorporate a moonpool.  The new ship will be operated by MSC in a variety of operational environments.

II. DATE, LOCATION, AGENDA, REGISTRATION, LOGISTICS

WHEN:

8 April 2020

Session I  - T-AGS(X) Panel Discussion – 0930 - 1130

Session II - T-ARC(X) Program Brief – 1230 - 1530

WHERE:

The events will be via teleconference only (details will be provided to registered participants). There will not be an in-person brief due to current public health concerns.

WHAT: The primary objectives of the T-AGS(X) panel is for PMS325 to inform industry of the anticipated acquisition schedule for its new class of Oceanographic Survey Vessels and for Industry to inform the NAVY of potential alternatives and technological advancements while requirements are being developed and shaped. The overall objective of the T-ARC(X) Program Brief is to provide industry and interested parties with information that will assist in the understanding of current technical requirements and projected near term schedule for a potential T-ARC(X) solicitation, and to gain feedback from industry. The Government will use this event as part of the market research process.

SCHEDULE:

Draft agenda for (Session I) T-AGS(X) Panel Discussion (0930 – 1130)

1. T-AGS(X) Introduction
2. Open Topic Discussion: Hull Form Discussion, AUV/UUV Manufacturer Discussion, Launch and Retrieval Discussion, Sensors/Underwater Surveillance Discussion
3. Question Submittal by Panel Attendees

Break  (1130-1230)

Draft agenda for (Session II) T-ARC(X) Program Brief (1230 – 1430): 

1. Roles and Responsibilities of Government Team
2. History, Mission, Concepts of Operation (CONOPS)
3. Acquisition Approach and Schedule Overview
4. Overview of Industry Studies Solicitation
5. Single Source Vendors Overview
6. Ship Design Development Overview
7. Detailed Requirements Overview
8. Question Submittal by Attendees

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Shipyard representatives and other potential industry sources capable and interested in potentially building or participating in the build process for the T-AGS(X) and/or T-ARC(X) to meet the mission requirements stated in the above SUMMARY section.

HOW: All parties interested in attending the T-AGS(X) Panel Discussion and/or T-ARC(X) Program Brief should register a masimum of three (3) attendees  via email to Anna Smith at Anna.Smith@caci.com by 23 March 2020.   When emailing your registration, copy the following Contracting personnel:

Roxie Thomas, at roxie.thomas@navy.mil  AND Aban Iqbal at aban.iqbal@navy.mil.

The Subject line of e-mail response shall be as follows: Company Name, Response to Industry Day Announcement for T-ARC(X) Navy Cable Ship and T-AGS(X) Industry Panel Discussion. The attendee confirmation response attachment (Attachment 1) shall be used and emailed with your registration.

III. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This announcement is not a contract, a request for proposal, a promise to contract, or a commitment of any kind on the part of the Government. The Navy will not assume liability for costs incurred by an attendee for travel expenses or marketing efforts; therefore, attendee cost in response to this notice is not considered an allowable direct charge to the Government.