Solicitation
Esd 26R0018 Solicitation
Department of Defense · Department of the Navy
AI summaryThe Department of the Navy (MSCHQ Norfolk), for the Military Sealift Command, is buying operation and maintenance of Expeditionary Transfer Dock (ESD) vessels in a solicitation set aside for small business. The contractor must have a SECRET facility clearance and SECRET-cleared staff, and the Government expects one fixed-price contract with pass-through elements (costs passed on to the Government). Offers are due October 30, 2026, 5:00 PM Eastern (an amendment moved it to Nov 2, 2026, 5:00 PM UTC-4 · 4:00 PM Eastern). More in the summary
A newer version of this notice was posted Oct 27, 2026. It moves the due date from Oct 30, 2026 to Nov 2, 2026, which is the date shown on this page. See the latest version.
AI summary Beta
Summary of the version posted Oct 14, 2026. The notice was amended Oct 27, 2026. The due date moved from Oct 30, 2026 to Nov 2, 2026. Check what else changed on SAM.gov. Some details are in the notice's attachments, which this summary didn't read. Check the attachments on SAM.gov.
The Department of the Navy (MSCHQ Norfolk), for the Military Sealift Command, is buying operation and maintenance of Expeditionary Transfer Dock (ESD) vessels in a solicitation set aside for small business. The contractor must have a SECRET facility clearance and SECRET-cleared staff, and the Government expects one fixed-price contract with pass-through elements (costs passed on to the Government). Offers are due October 30, 2026, 5:00 PM Eastern.
Who can bid
- Small business: the solicitation is a total small business set-aside
- SECRET facility clearance, possessed and maintained
- Personnel with SECRET security clearances
How to submit: due October 30, 2026, 5:00 PM Eastern. What to include is under Full summary below. Check the solicitation's instructions on SAM.gov.
Things to watch (4)
- Serious: Small business set-aside. Only small businesses can bid, as set on SAM.gov.
- Serious: SECRET clearances required. A facility clearance takes time and sponsorship to obtain, and staff must hold SECRET clearances, which can shut out firms without them.
- Worth checking: Vessel certifications at all times. The contractor must keep a valid U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Certificate of Inspection and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) classifications at all times.
Show all 4Show fewer
- Minor: Pass-through elements in a fixed-price contract. Parts of the price are passed through, so it is unclear how much risk the contractor takes.
Read from the notice text only.
Full summary
What they want
- Operate and maintain the Expeditionary Transfer Dock (ESD) vessels to support assigned missions
- Keep the vessels mission ready at all times, except scheduled maintenance, repair and overhaul periods
- Operate under U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) rules as if the vessels were privately owned
- Keep a valid USCG Certificate of Inspection and ABS classifications, including statutory certificates, at all times
- Hold a SECRET facility clearance and employ personnel with SECRET clearances
- Contract type
- Single fixed-price contract with pass-through elements
- Estimated value
- Not stated
- How they'll choose
- Tradeoff source selection (best value): the Government may pay more for a stronger offer
- Offers due
- October 30, 2026, 5:00 PM Eastern (from the version posted Oct 14, 2026; amended since)
What they'll judge offers on
- Technical acceptability, as defined in the solicitation, to be considered further
What to include when you submit
- Demonstrate technical acceptability as defined in the solicitation
Not in the notice text
- The notice text gives no period of performance, place of performance, submission method or full evaluation factors; the solicitation documents on SAM.gov were not read
- Which pass-through elements apply
Eligibility and how to respond
- Set aside for small businesses: only a business that counts as small under this notice's NAICS code can bid as the prime contractor. The notice also names requirements: More open small business set-asides under NAICS 483111
- The notice mentions a security clearance. Check who needs one, and whether you must hold it by the time offers are due.
- How and where to submit is in the notice text and its attachments on SAM.gov.
- Service contracts usually set minimum pay rates (the Service Contract Act). Price the labor with the SCA price calculator.
Notice details
- Posted
- Oct 26, 2026
- Notice type
- Solicitation
- Office
- MSCHQ Norfolk, VA
- Product/service code
- V124 · Transportation/Travel/Relocation – Transportation: Marine Charter
- Business type
- Transportation, logistics & vehicles (FedReady's grouping, from NAICS 483111)
- Versions
4 versions have been posted, newest first.
- Oct 27, 2026 · Amendment 0003Due Nov 2, 2026 (changed)
- Oct 26, 2026 · Amendment 0002 (this version)Due Oct 30, 2026
- Oct 14, 2026 · Amendment 0001Due Oct 30, 2026 (changed)
- Sep 22, 2026 · SolicitationDue Oct 23, 2026
- Attachments
Past awards and competition
Who has won work like this before, the likely incumbent, and what similar contracts paid, from USAspending.gov.
Before you respond
- How to respond to a solicitation (8 steps)
- How to read a government solicitation
- How to price a government contract
- Set-aside contracts explained
Terms on this notice: Solicitation, Set-aside
Full notice text from SAM.gov
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