NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown: Mid-Life Refit

This pre-solicitation notice seeks proposals for a firm fixed price contract to complete a mid-life refit of the NOAA Ship RONALD H. BROWN. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will procure all labor, materials, and equipment necessary to upgrade or overhaul major ship systems including repowering, bow thruster, Z-drive, potable water, chilled water, sewage, science refrigeration, HVAC, navigational equipment, and piping replacements. Proposals will be evaluated based on both price and non-price factors, with award planned for May 2022. Questions regarding the solicitation must be submitted by May 2021, with responses provided shortly thereafter.

There is no set-aside designated for this procurement. The primary NAICS code is 336611 and PSC code is J019. The refit is estimated at 24 months starting from award at the contractor's facility, with a budget likely in the tens of millions given the scope of upgrades and overhauls for a NOAA research vessel. Current incumbent or potential offerors were not named, but as the sole operator and maintainer of the NOAA research fleet, ship repair contractors such as VT Halter Marine are likely candidates.