Universal Services Contract - 10 (USC-10)

This Pre-Solicitation Notice serves as notification to industry of the upcoming Request for Proposal (RFP) solicitation for the Universal Services Contract – 10 (USC-10) requirement.

BACKGROUND:
As a component of the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) has a continued need for its requirement to provide ocean terminal, commercial ocean liner and distribution services to deploy, sustain and redeploy U.S. forces on a global basis.  The USC program enables SDDC to fulfill its worldwide mission by providing commercially available international ocean and intermodal distribution services in support of the Defense Transportation System (DTS).  DTS cargo consists of military equipment and related supplies, including but not limited to, supermarket-type commodities shipped by the Defense Commissary Agency (DECA); department store merchandise shipped by Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) and Navy Exchange Command (NEXCOM); supplies shipped by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and General Services Administration (GSA); and mail shipped by the Military Postal Service (MPSA).  DTS cargo is shipped in substantial, recurring, and consistent volumes on many trade routes.  USC is the primary contracting tool for moving DTS cargo when movement by ocean is required.

Currently, the USC program is in its ninth iteration (i.e., “USC-9”) and is set to expire on 31 August 2024.  The USC-10 contracts will provide continued support to SDDC’s global mission and will have a five-year period of performance (PoP) (one (1) one-year base period and four (4) one-year option periods) from 1 September 2024 through 31 August 2029, and a six-month extension in accordance with (IAW) Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services, for a possible end date of 28 February 2030.

PURPOSE/ANTICIPATED RFP:
The purpose of the USC-10 acquisition is to recompete and award new Fixed-Price with Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) contracts for the longstanding USC requirement.  The RFP will be solicited on an other than full and open competition basis, limiting competition to vessel owning or controlling companies (supported by the attached/redacted Justification & Approval).

The USC-10 RFP will contain FAR Part 12 commercial terms and conditions in conjunction with FAR Part 15 Contracting by Negotiation.  The Government contemplates awarding multiple, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts for international and domestic surface transportation using intermodal services of ocean carriers.  The Government intends to obtain best value by negotiating and awarding Fixed-Price with EPA, multiple IDIQ contracts to each and all qualifying offerors under a single solicitation.  Qualifying offerors are those whose proposals are compliant with the solicitation’s terms and conditions, are determined acceptable in every evaluation factor/subfactor, have proposed fair and reasonable prices, and have been determined responsible in accordance with FAR Part 9.104-1.

Pricing will be negotiated one performance period at a time.  Accordingly, for the initial establishment of USC-10 multiple awards, rates will be solicited and evaluated for the base period only.  Option period rates will be requested and evaluated prior to exercising each USC-10 carrier’s option period.

USTRANSCOM/TCAQ-I anticipates issuing the RFP package on or about 16 January 2024.  If your company is interested in this planned procurement, it is advised that you continuously monitor updates to this notice here on SAM.gov.  No hardcopies of this solicitation will be issued.  All responsible sources may submit a proposal, which shall be considered by the Agency.

Respectfully request that questions concerning this pre-solicitation notice be submitted via email only to the following:

Mr. Miguel A. Colunga-Huerta at miguel.a.colungahuerta.civ@mail.mil 
Ms. Emily J. Vosse at emily.j.vosse.civ@mail.mil 
Ms. Denise M. Dillon at denise.m.dillon9.civ@mail.mil
Mr. William R. Henderson at william.r.henderson12.civ@mail.mil