Ship Management Services for WATSON Class vessels

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) is seeking Ship Manager services for six WATSON Class vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet/Ready Reserve Force. The required services encompass comprehensive vessel management, including maintenance, repair, logistics support, activation/operation/deactivation, crewing, and overall management for vessels located on U.S. East, West, or Gulf Coasts. Mandatory qualifications include U.S. Citizenship, documented Vessel Owner/Operator Experience, and a Dedicated Line of Credit of $1,000,000. The NAICS code for this opportunity is 483111, with a size standard of 1,050 employees. Responses to this Sources Sought Notice (SS-25-WATSON) are due by January 29, 2025, at 1430 and must be submitted via email to specific DOT contacts, with no telephone inquiries permitted.

MARAD plans to award three two-ship contracts and has not yet determined whether the procurement will be set aside for small businesses or conducted through full and open competition. The specific vessels included in this contract are USNS Soderman, Charlton, Red Cloud, Watkins, Pomeroy, and Watson. While exact award values are not specified, interested parties are required to submit detailed company information, including point of contact, business size, capability statement, and additional relevant feedback. The procurement falls under the Deep Sea Freight Transportation category and will involve operation of non-building facilities. Potential contractors should carefully review the full sources sought notice and prepare comprehensive submissions that demonstrate their capabilities in maritime vessel management and support services.