Notice of intent to award sole source
Closed Special Notice Posted
This opportunity was awarded. See the award notice from .
- Solicitation number
- N3220526R6038
- Agency
-
Military Sealift Command
Department of the Navy, Department of Defense
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 483111 Deep Sea Freight Transportation
- Place of performance
- United States
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of the Navy's Military Sealift Command has issued a Notice of Intent to Award Sole Source for a firm fixed-price time charter contract. This special notice, posted on January 28, 2026, announces the agency's intent to award a contract to the incumbent contractor, Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC, for the charter of a U.S. flag vessel supporting Expeditionary Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS-E) operations. The sole-source procurement is authorized under 41 U.S.C. § 3304(a)(1) and FAR 6.302-1, which permit other than full and open competition under specific circumstances. The contract encompasses a 180-day base period and one 150-day option period, totaling 330 days of performance with operations commencing February 28, 2026. The primary justification for sole-source award is the avoidance of unacceptable operational delays and substantial cost duplication that would result from transitioning to an alternative vessel.
The contract requires a specialized U.S. flag vessel capable of towing a passive acoustic monitoring system at 4-6 knots for extended 60-day operational events while maintaining directional heading within 5 degrees and operating continuously. Market research determined that no other commercially available vessel could support SURTASS-E operations without significant modification, and no alternative U.S. flag vessels in the vicinity could provide the required service within the necessary timeframe. The government estimates a 6-8 month transition period would be required for demobilization, engineering, design, regulation, welding, mobilization, testing, and crew training—a duration that would exceed the current contract's expiration date and result in mission failure. The fair and reasonable cost determination is based on historical pricing comparisons and parametric estimating methods. The comment period for this sole-source justification closes on February 2, 2026. This procurement falls under the Deep Sea Freight Transportation (NAICS 483111) and Transportation Marine Charter (PSC V124) categories.
Notice text
SEE ATTACHED SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL N3220526R6038
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| 26R6038 JA_Redacted.pdf |
Notice history
| Notice | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| 180-day special time charter | Award Notice | |
| This notice | Special Notice |
Similar open opportunities
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| OEM acoustic modem | Office of Naval Research | No set-aside | |
| 120-day special time charter with one 50-day option jones act | Military Sealift Command | No set-aside | |
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