T-AKE LEWIS and CLARK Class Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ship

The T-AKE LEWIS and CLARK Class Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ship program is a Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) managed under the Major Capability Acquisition pathway. Designated with Acquisition Category IC, this program encompasses the acquisition and maintenance of dry cargo/ammunition vessels that serve in the Military Sealift Command's fleet. The ships in this class, including vessels such as USNS Lewis & Clark, USNS Amelia Earhart, and USNS Wally Schirra, provide critical logistics support capabilities to the U.S. Navy.

Contract awards associated with this program primarily focus on ship maintenance, systems upgrades, and critical parts procurement. Major contract actions include Regular Overhaul/Dry-Docking (ROH/DD) work ranging from $7-15 million awarded to shipyards such as BAE Systems, along with numerous smaller purchase orders for specialized equipment and services typically ranging from $5,000 to $800,000. Common procurements include marine engineering components, navigation systems, and safety equipment from vendors like Wartsila Defense, Fassmer Service America, and Motor Services Hugo Stamp. The Department of the Navy's Military Sealift Command is the primary contracting agency, with a mix of unrestricted and small business set-aside contracts. Most contracts are structured as firm-fixed-price purchase orders or definitive contracts, with performance periods typically ranging from 1-6 months for parts procurement and up to 6-8 months for major overhauls. Many of the maintenance activities appear to be performed at U.S. naval and commercial shipyards.