Products and services for providing shipboard chemical treatment of various shipboard systems

1.1 Background

The U.S Maritime Administration (MARAD) is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT). As outlined in the Merchant Marine Act of 1946, the Secretary of Transportation, acting through MARAD, is required to maintain a National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF), including any ship assigned by the Secretary to the Ready Reserve Force (RRF) component of the Fleet.

Consistent with that purpose, MARAD has developed strategic goals, including the following:

• Strategic Goal #1: Supporting U.S. Maritime Capabilities, meaning to strengthen and ensure the safety, security, and efficiency of maritime capabilities that are essential to U.S. economic and national security.
• This includes an accompanying long-term objective:
  • Continue to ensure ready availability of ships, training billets, crews, and strategic ports.

The RRF, and the surge sealift capacity that it provides, is the method that MARAD will support the Department of Defense warfighting capabilities. Accordingly, MARAD will maintain RRF ships in accordance with the readiness level promulgated by the DoD’s Functional Combatant Commander, the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), enabling activation to Full Operating Status (FOS) within the prescribed timeline and sustained operations at designated parameters for up to 180 days.

Presently, the RRF fleet consists of approximately 50 ships located at various ports throughout the United States on the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific Coasts.  Included in this number are training ships for the nation’s Maritime Academies, and two ships supporting the Missile Defense Agency (operated similarly to the RRF). We anticipate several additional ships to be added to the fleet in the near future.

The United States Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) requires products and services for providing shipboard chemical treatment of various shipboard systems as described herein.  The Government is contracting not only for specific products and services, but also for the delivery of these products and services, both within the continental United States and at ports worldwide, within specific time constraints defined by the contract.

The Contractor shall provide products and services, with the possibility of worldwide basis, for MARAD ships, and for other government owned assets, as directed by MARAD.  Service under the scope of this contract includes engineering support services (e.g. service calls, training, laboratory analysis), technical evaluation, and troubleshooting services.  The Contractor agrees to deliver the products and services set forth in this Contract when ordered by the Government or Ship Managers in accordance with the Contract terms and conditions.

1.2 RRF Program

MARAD's programmatic responsibilities for maintenance and operation are assigned to the Ship Operations and Maintenance Officers (SOMOs) in each MARAD Area Division. These Area Divisions are in the following locations:  Division of Atlantic Operations (DAO) - Norfolk, Virginia; Division of Gulf Operations (DGO) - New Orleans, Louisiana; and Division of Pacific Operations (DPO) - Oakland, California. The SOMOs execute the management and operation of RRF ships and other ships operated by Ship Managers and/or General Agents who are under contract to MARAD and are directly responsible for performing the program/phase technical requirements for their cognizant ships. A listing of individuals with their name, title, phone and cell number will be provided within five (5) business days from the NTP.

The RRF maintenance and repair program incorporates regularly scheduled maintenance activations to conduct dock and/or sea trials. The frequency with which these activations occur is based on the assigned Readiness Status (R-Status) for each ship. Some of these maintenance activations are done in conjunction with program "No-Notice" Turbo Activations. Others may be done as "Notice" Activations in support of a scheduled Military Exercise.

1.3 NDRF/RRF Ships

Ships in the NDRF/RRF are of various designs and classes and of both U.S. and foreign construction. Ships are acquired from various sources; i.e. transfer from the U.S. Navy, upgrades from the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF), or direct purchase from U.S. or foreign ship owners and operators.

In addition to the RRF, MARAD also maintains and operates school ships for the various Maritime Academies and special mission ships for the Missile Defense Agency.  Ships included are those that are assigned to the RRF/NDRF and any other ship in which the Maritime Administration maintains an interest (i.e. training ships and special mission ships).  See list of ships in Appendix A: Ship Characteristics.

1.3.1 Ship Types

The mix of ships (types and numbers) within the RRF is dictated by the Department of

Defense. As of early 2023, there are (47) ships in the RRF, of the following types:

1)         (33) Roll-On/Roll-Off Vehicle Carriers (RO/RO)

2)         (6) Mission-Specific Ships (T-ACS, T-AVB)

1.       (8) Fast Sealift Ships
2.       (9) Training Ships
3.       (2) Special Purpose Ships (MDA)

1.3.2 Ship Propulsion

The propulsion plants for the RRF and other ships are listed below:

• Gas Turbine – 1
• Diesel Propulsion (Medium and Low Speed) – 33
• Diesel Electric - 4
• Steam Turbine – 20

The tables provided in Appendix A contain specific information about the propulsion and auxiliary equipment, including capacities, installed onboard these ships.

1.3.3 Ship Locations

RRF/NDRF ships may be physically located at one (1) of three (3) MARAD - NDRF sites or berthed at one of several layberths locations throughout the East, Gulf, or West Coasts of the U.S.

In general, ships are placed in Reduced Operating Status (ROS) with partial crews. All others are in laid-up status at the NDRF fleet sites. It is possible that several RRF ships may be pre-positioned in the Far East, Middle East, Europe, or elsewhere.

See attached “Ship Characteristics” for a listing of current RRF ships, types of propulsion systems, etc.  This list of ships is not all-inclusive and is subject to change throughout the life of the contract.

1.4 General Requirements

The chemical products, dosing equipment, and analytical supplies shall comply with the requirements listed below:

• In accordance with the dosing instructions, all chemical products must comply with all applicable laws regarding pollution from ships and the Vessel General Permit.
• Electrical Equipment must be able to support 120 VAC or 240 VAC and 60 cycle service.
• Analytical supplies used to monitor chemical levels should minimize hazardous materials while maintaining simplicity of use for operators.