Solicitation
N3220525R6003 - SURTASS-E RFP
Dept of Defense · Dept of the Navy · Sol. N3220525R6003
Due in 15 days
AI summary Beta
Some details are in the notice's attachments, which this summary didn't read. Check the attachments on SAM.gov.
Military Sealift Command (Norfolk) wants to time-charter one ice-capable vessel to tow a passive acoustic array for the U.S. Navy (SURTASS-E). The contract is a fixed-price time charter with reimbursable elements: 1 base year plus three 1-year options and one 11-month option. Offers are due October 22, 2026 after seven amendments.
Watch out for
- Need to supply a specialized ocean vessel. Chartering or owning an ice-classed ship that can tow at slow speed with tight heading control is a major capital and operational burden for a small business.
the ability of the vessel to maintain heading stability is critical.
- Worldwide operations in polar waters. The vessel must work in all ocean basins from the Arctic to the Antarctic, which raises cost and risk.
The vessel must be capable of worldwide operations, including support in all ocean basins of the world
- Many amendments and shifting due dates. Seven amendments have changed the due date and attachments, so it is easy to miss updates; check each attachment.
- Wage determination applies. An updated wage determination is attached, suggesting labor rate requirements for crew.
Read from the notice text only.
Full brief
What they want
- Time charter of one US-flagged vessel (or foreign-flagged and reflagged US before delivery)
- Tow a passive acoustic monitoring system at 4-6 knots, 24 hours a day, for events of up to 60 days
- Hold a directed heading within 5 degrees for long periods at slow speed
- Operate worldwide, including near the Marginal Ice Zone, with ABS Ice Class D0 capability
- Contract type
- Fixed-price time charter with reimbursable elements
- Period of performance
- 1 base year + three 1-year options + one 11-month option
- Place of performance
- Norfolk, VA listed in SAM.gov; the vessel must be capable of worldwide operations
- Offers due
- 2026-10-22 at 1:00 PM Eastern (local time), per Amendment 0007
- How to submit
- Not stated in the text; see the updated SF1449 and attachments
What to include when you submit
- See the updated SF1449 per Amendment 0007 and the SF-30 for details
- Amendment 0006 updated Attachment 2 (Wage Determination)
You must have
- Vessel must be US-flagged, or foreign-flagged and reflagged US before delivery
The solicitation will require a time charter of one US flagged or foreign flagged vessel (to be reflagged US prior to delivery of vessel)
- Vessel must handle ice conditions at ABS Ice Class D0
must be capable of surviving encounter with young open ice, as specified by ABS, Ice Class D0.
Not in the notice text
- How the award will be decided and the evaluation factors
- Submission method and format
- Estimated value
- Whether the Navy supplies the acoustic array and operating crew details
- Full requirements in the SF1449, proforma and attachments
Is this a fit for your business?
Create a free accountFedReady checks notices like this against your business profile, tracks deadlines, and alerts you to new matches. Creating an account is free.
Key facts
- Response due
- Oct 22, 2026, 5:00 PM UTC
- Posted
- Oct 5, 2026
- Notice type
- Solicitation
- Solicitation
- N3220525R6003
- Agency
- Dept of Defense · Dept of the Navy
- Office
- MSCHQ Norfolk
- Set-aside
- No Set aside used
- NAICS
- 483111
- Product/service code
- V124
- Business type
- Transportation, logistics & vehicles
- Place of performance
- Norfolk, VA
- Contracting contact
- Ashley M. Smith-Sallingerashley.m.smith357.civ@us.navy.mil15642267556
- Versions
- 12 (amended since first posted)
Full notice text from SAM.gov
***05 October 2026*** AMENDMENT 0007 IS HEREBY ISSUED UPDATING THE DUE DATE FROM 08 OCT 2026, 1:00pm LOCAL TIME (EDT) TO 22 OCT 2026, 1:00pm LOCAL TIME (EDT). SEE UPDATED SF1449 PER AMENDMENT 0007 ALONG WITH THE SF-30 FOR THIS AMENDMENT ADDED ON 05 OCT 2026. ***22 September 2026*** Amendment 0006 is hereby issued updating Attachment 2 (Wage Determination) and extending the due date from 24 September 2026 1:00pm Local Time (EDT) to 08 October 2026 1:00pm Local Time (EDT). ***08 September 2026*** AMENDMENT 0005 IS HEREBY ISSUED UPDATING THE DUE DATE FROM 10 SEPT 2026, 1:00pm LOCAL TIME (EDT) TO 24 SEPT 2026, 1:00pm LOCAL TIME (EDT). SEE UPDATED SF1449 PER AMENDMENT 0005 ALONG WITH THE SF-30 FOR THIS AMENDMENT ADDED ON 08 SEPT 2026. ***26 August 2026*** AMENDMENT 0004 IS HEREBY ISSUED UPDATING THE DUE DATE TO 10 SEPT 2026. ADDITIONALLY, SEE UPDATED PROFORMA ATTACHMENT AND SF1449_0004 POSTED ON 26 AUGUST 2026. ***05 August 2026*** Amendment A0003 is hereby issued updating and re-opening the solicitation. See attachments for details. ***02 OCT 2025. RFP Amendment A0002 is hereby issued. (Attachment 16 has been added to address questions submitted by potential offerors). Updated versions of Attachment 3, Attachment 6, Attachment 7, Attachment 8, Attachment 9, Attachment 12, Attachment 13, and Attachment 14 have been uploaded. See attached [SF-30] and [SF1449] for full details. Nothing from the SF1449 Changed from A0001 to A0002 and the only change from the orginial posting is the issue date and due date (Box 6 and 8) as outlined in A0001. All other things remain unchanged. ***29 SEP 2025. RFP Amendment A0001 is hereby issued to update the RFP Issue Date and Response Date. See attached [SF-30] for full details. See SF1449 and Related Attachments for details The solicitation will be a fixed-priced time charter with reimbursable elements, with a performance period of one (1) year base period and will be followed by three (3) 1-year option periods and one 11-month option period. The solicitation will require a time charter of one US flagged or foreign flagged vessel (to be reflagged US prior to delivery of vessel) required to tow an acoustic array in support of U.S. Navy Operations. The vessel will tow a passive acoustic monitoring system, between 4-6 knots, 24hrs/day for up to a 60-day event. The ship will need to be able to tow on a directed heading within 5 degrees for extended periods at slow speed. Because of the type of acoustic system employed, the ability of the vessel to maintain heading stability is critical. The vessel must be capable of worldwide operations, including support in all ocean basins of the world from the Artic to the Antarctic during all periods of time. The vessel is expected to operate in open water in the vicinity of the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) and must be capable of surviving encounter with young open ice, as specified by ABS, Ice Class D0.
Similar open opportunities
- Submarine Rescue Vessel Extended Time CharterMilitary Sealift Command (Navy, Norfolk) wants to charter one U.S.-flag, Jones Act offshore supply vessel to support submarine rescue and sea trials around Hampton Roads, Virginia.
- ESD 26R0018 SOLICITATIONThe Navy's Military Sealift Command wants a contractor to operate and maintain its Expeditionary Transfer Dock (ESD) ships and keep them mission ready.
- Voluntary Tanker Agreement (VTA)U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) is seeking ocean tanker companies to join the Voluntary Tanker Agreement (VTA), a contingency contract for chartering ships that carry…
- Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) - 2024 RenewalU.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) is renewing the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA), a contingency contract in which ocean carriers commit ship capacity for…
- 50-Day U.S. Jones Act Tanker Time Charter