Voluntary Tanker Agreement (VTA)

VTA Synopsis

USTRANSCOM/TCAQ-I anticipates issuing an open solicitation on or about 18 December 2023. This contingency contract will implement the Voluntary Tanker Agreement (VTA) as defined in the Federal Register dated 7 November 2022 and provides for sealift services that may arise in any part of the world. The general scope of services under this contract will include the provision of ocean transportation charter of clean bulk fuel product for worldwide ocean movements and as the Secretary of Defense may determine to be necessary, seeking to minimize disruption of the program participants service to commercial customers.

For the purposes of this contract, Contingency includes, but is not limited to a “contingency operation” as defined at 10 U.S.C. section 101(a)(13), and a Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed, National Command Authority-approved action undertaken with military forces in response to: (i) natural disasters; (ii) terrorists or subversive activities; or (iii) required military operations, whether or not there is a declaration of war or national emergency.”  This contract will also provide such services on a bilateral basis prior to a contingency for the purpose of testing and exercising VTA.

Contractors are offered an opportunity to enroll specific tanker capacity, for activation as the USTRANSCOM may determine to be necessary, into the VTA program. Contractors receiving certain subsidies from the Government must enroll subsidized capacity into an Emergency Preparedness Program, VTA. According to the Maritime Administrator, such obligation shall satisfy TSP requirements for contractor enrollment in an Emergency Preparedness Program. Enrollment in VTA involves two sequential steps: execution of the application with the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and bilateral execution of this contingency contract with USTRANSCOM.

No hardcopies of this solicitation will be issued. All comments should be addressed in writing to Ms. Shanda Lyman and Ms. Sarah Albers via email shanda.l.lyman.civ@mail.mil and sarah.l.albers2.civ@mail.mil.