Special Service Vessel for Pituffik Space Base, Greenland

Request for Information

Contracting Unit: 21 CONS/Detachment 1

NAICS 336612 – Boat Building

PSC – 1925 – Special Service Vessels

Description: 

This Request for Information (RFI) seeks available makes, models, designs and specifications from the maritime industrial base within the Kingdom of Denmark.  Due to an International Agreement between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Denmark, this RFI and any future solicitation is intended for firms within the Kingdom of Denmark only.

This RFI requests information regarding industry capability to produce and deliver an ocean-going vessel to accomplish a maritime mission at Pituffik Space Base, Greenland.  This base is approximately 750 miles north of the Arctic circle on the Northwest coast of Greenland.  Note: This is NOT a request for quotations, invitation for bids, or request for proposals. 

The vessel must be new and unused.  The vessel’s purpose is to enable safe harbor operations across 33 miles of Arctic coastline.  The purpose of the vessel is to:

1. Support crew transport to and from vessels (i.e. cargo ships, military vessels, fuel tankers, etc.);
2. Conduct mooring operations;
3. Conduct security surveillance patrols (i.e. surveying bay identifying icebergs that may jeopardize port operations, and;
4. Conduct emergency environmental spill response capability within Pituffik’s bay. 

Pituffik Space Base currently utilizes a 36-foot Boston Whaler for this purpose, but the United States Space Force (USSF) is pursuing a replacement to maintain and extend operational capability. 

The USSF desires that the vessel has the following characteristics:

1. Propulsion system must operate on JP-8 (jet fuel) and be configured to operate reliably at a latitude of 76 degrees North
2. Maximum payload of not less than 5500 pounds
3. Forward cockpit with self-draining decks
4. Overhead spotter windows
5. Equipped with marine-grade upholstery
6. Minimum seating of 4 positions with shock mitigation and seatbelts
7. Equipped with LED Flood Lights of not less than 600 lumens
8. Equipped with 110 VAC 60 Hz Shore Power Kit/Charger including 30-amp shore power inlet
9. Equipped with emergency lighting, communication and navigation equipment as required by USCG Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook (https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/navRules/Handbook/NavRules_Handbook_Corrected_08_08_2024.pdf) and 33 CFR 164.01(b) and 33 CFR 164.072
10. Equipped with lifting and attaching points
11. Equipped with rubberization and non-skid treatments to surfaces, railings, dash, etc.
12. Equipped with a trailer capable of moving the vessel between storage and launch site

Interested firms are requested to provide make and model recommendations with accompanying literature, specifications, production lead time, standard warranties and rough order-of-magnitude pricing.  Firms are welcome to suggest modifications, accessories, and/or enhancements, to meet the operational intent and environmental considerations of the Arctic.  The U.S. government’s intent is to understand market capabilities to produce and deliver a desired vessel, refine salient characteristics for solicitation and secure necessary funding for a potential acquisition in Fiscal Year 2026 or 2027.  Note that funding is not yet available for this requirement and any future solicitation will be conditioned upon the availability of funds.

This notice is a RFI only. This RFI is issued by the USSF for information and planning purposes, pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10, Market Research. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. Participants are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs that result from responding to this RFI; costs associated with responding to this RFI will be at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in a future RFP.