Vessels and Vessel Support

The Coast Guard is issuing this request for information (RFI) for market research purposes to identify vendors that can provide vessels and vessel support to the Aviation Training Program in Jacksonville, FL.  The Vendor would be responsible for providing and operating a vessel in support of the Coast Guard's aviation training program and specifically providing all necessary management, supervision, personnel, labor, materials, fuel, and equipment necessary for the vessel(s) to support helicopter tactical training with Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON).       

Vessel Description/Requirement:

• Shall be at least 25’ in length and no longer than 50’ in length.
• Shall have at least two (2) outboard motors.
• Shall be configured to allow operations in a minimum of four (4) feet of water where the contract vessel will be required to operate.
• Shall be able to maneuver and simulate an evasive non-compliant vessel;
• Shall have a minimum speed of 0 knots or “dead in the water”;
• Shall be capable of maintaining a minimum 45 knots transit speed for at least 30 minutes.
• Shall be capable of being underway for at least six (6) hours without requiring additional fuel.
• Shall be capable of making rapid turns at high rates of speed, including 90 degree turns while maintaining 30 knots of speed.
• Shall have a deck area able to accommodate equipment or personnel delivered from aircraft; equipment or personnel may be up to three (3) feet wide and weigh up to 200 pounds.
• Shall have deck space to accommodate two (2) crewmembers (one crewmember to act as a Coxswain and another to act as a Safety Observer). The safety Observer will also be required to role play (e.g. armed unman, disgruntled mariner, pleasure craft operator, drug runner, etc.);
• Shall have the deck space to accommodate up to four (2) USCG members when they are required to support training

The vessel(s) must also meet the following characteristics regardless of training evolution:

• Must be capable of easily recovering personnel or floating equipment from the water.

Must be capable of maintaining at least 10 knots transit speed for minimum of 3 hours; 15 knots for 3 hours is preferred.

The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this procurement may be 48899 All Other Support Activities for Transportation OR 488390 Other Support Activities for Water Transportation.

There is no solicitation at this time. This RFI does not constitute a request for proposals; submission of any information in response to this request is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred nor is obligated to respond. 

If your organization has capability to be able to support the USCG with providing and operating the above vessels, please provide the following information:

1. Organization name
2. Address
3. Email address
4. Website
5. Telephone number
6. Size and type of ownership for the organization
7. Vessel shall be within a one-hour transit from the geographical area of operation near Jacksonville, Fl.

Submission Instructions: Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the requirements are invited to submit a response to this RFI by April 28, 2025, 4 pm EST.  All responses and questions regarding this RFI must be emailed to Tina Ford tina.m.ford@uscg.mil or Tyrone Minnifield tyrone.minnifield2@uscg.mil.