RFI regarding a potential Vessel Acquisition Manager (VAM) service for the U. S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration (MARAD)

The Maritime Administration seeks to identify contractors to provide vessel acquisition manager services to support the agency's recapitalization of strategic sealift ships. The RFI solicits information on a contractor's ability to identify suitable commercial vessels for purchase, conduct business case analyses, acquire selected ships, reflag and convert them to meet requirements, and potentially maintain acquired vessels. Responses were due by May 24, 2019 with the solicitation expected to be released in September 2019. Proposals would be due in October 2019 and contract award is planned for December 2019.

There is no set-aside designation. The potential award is for vessel acquisition manager services across six functional areas to facilitate the grouped acquisition of multiple commercial roll-on/roll-off vessels per year through at least fiscal year 2026. Vessels must provide a minimum of 150,000 square feet of cargo deck space, with 50,000 square feet at heavy deck load capacity. Reflagging and upgrade work will be conducted in U.S. shipyards with the earliest vessel procurement opportunity in fiscal year 2021. The contract may be awarded to multiple vessel acquisition managers through an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract.