TUGCON; Jones Act

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a Request for Proposals (RFP) from the Military Sealift Command (MSC) Strategic Sealift Program Support Office for a FAR Part 12 acquisition. The government is seeking proposals for a vessel capable of meeting specific transportation requirements, with the anticipated award of a firm-fixed-price contract.

• Vessel Type: One U.S. Flag, Jones Act, ocean-going certified tug capable of towing a T-EPF vessel.

• Tow Description: T-EPF Vessel with specific dimensions (Displacement – 2,500 LT, Length – 337′ 11″, Beam - 93' 6", Max Draft – 12' 7").

• Voyage: One voyage from Rhoads Industries, Philadelphia, PA (Pier 2) to MARAD Beaumont Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, TX.

• Laytime: Four (4) days for the entire mission.

• Laydays: Commencing 16 April 2026, Cancelling 20 April 2026.

• Tug Requirements:

  • Built in 1970 or later.
  • Bollard pull sufficient for a minimum tow speed of six (6) knots.
  • Fully bunkered for the voyage.
  • Internet and satellite phone capability.
  • Must provide tow bridle and hardware, emergency tow lines, flooding alarms, navigation lights, and day shapes per COLREGS.
  • Shall use an Independent Marine Surveyor (IMS) for technical evaluation and oversight.
  • Must prepare and submit a comprehensive towing package.
  • At least one (1) trail tug required in restricted, inland, and channel waters.
  • Vessel delivery to Beaumont Reserve Fleet during daylight hours.

• Attachments/References: U.S. Navy Tow Manual (SL740-AA-MAN-010), MSC Proforma TUGCON 2026 (02-26), SF 1449.

• Contract Type: Firm-fixed-price.

• Period of Performance: Not explicitly stated, but related to the voyage and laydays.

• Estimated Value: Not stated.

• Offer Due Date: Friday, 13 March 2026, at 1100 Eastern Time.

• Submission Instructions: Submit proposals electronically. No JPEG files. A valid submission requires a ship name, price, and signature.

• Evaluation Criteria: Award will be made to the responsible offeror whose technically acceptable proposal represents the lowest price. Factors include Technical and Price, considering domestic shipyard usage. Proposal compliance with submission requirements is critical for eligibility.

• Set-Aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside.

• NAICS Code: 483111.

• Other: Jones Act requirement for the tug.

• Proforma documents are available upon request.

• Sources Sought Notices, RFPs, Amendments, and Contract Awards will be posted to SAM.gov.

• Offerors are encouraged to submit offers as soon as possible due to potential email delays.

• Expired offers will be excluded from competition.

• This is a spot charter; sections addressing extended term charters are not applicable.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides detailed guidance drawings for the installation of forward towing and mooring fittings. It serves as a visual reference for contractors to understand the required configurations, dimensions, and materials for these installations.

• Installation Plans: Detailed layouts showing the placement and orientation of fittings on various vessel structures (e.g., decks, bulkheads).
• Details: Specific views and callouts for components such as bollards, deck pads, deck inserts, and brackets.
• Material Specifications: References to plate thicknesses, pipe sizes, and structural shapes (e.g., "15 MM PLATE", "218" OD PIPE", "FLAT BAR 60X47").
• Dimensions and Tolerances: Measurements provided in both metric and imperial units, with notes on typical placements and necessary deviations.
• Welding and Safety Notes: General requirements for welding procedures, safety precautions for hot work, and material compatibility.
• List of Material: Indicates quantities and types of fittings to be installed, with notes that these are estimates and the contractor must provide exact quantities for a fully functioning system.

This drawing is crucial for bidders to accurately estimate the scope of work, material requirements, and labor involved in installing towing and mooring fittings. It provides the technical specifications necessary for preparing a compliant and competitive proposal. Bidders must carefully review these drawings to understand the exact locations, sizes, and types of fittings required, as well as any associated structural modifications or reinforcements.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This Excel file, titled 'Shipyard Data Template.xlsx', appears to be a template for bidders to provide information about their fleet and performed work. It is intended to capture details of qualifying U.S. and foreign shipyard work.

• The template includes columns for: Vessel, Description of Qualifying U.S. Shipyard Work Performed, Cost of Work Performed (U.S.), Description of Qualifying Foreign Shipyard Work Performed, Cost of Work Performed (Foreign), Shipyard Name and Address, and Inclusive Dates of Work Performed.
• It provides example entries for 'Tug ABC' and 'Barge ABC'.
• The template includes fields for 'Approximate Total' costs for both U.S. and foreign work, with initial values set to 0.0.

Bidders are likely required to complete and submit this template as part of their proposal or response to the opportunity. It serves to document their experience and capabilities related to shipyard work, potentially for evaluation purposes.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Condition Report, a Towing Inspection Checklist, and a Sample Certificate of Seaworthiness/Delivery Letter. It is used to document the condition of a vessel prior to towing and to certify its seaworthiness.

• Condition Report: Details the vessel, work order, location, date, and item description for towing preparations. It includes sections for "As Found," "Inspection Request," "Spec Discrepancy," "Description," "Recommendation," "Clarifications," and whether the work scope or schedule is affected.
• Towing Inspection Checklist: A comprehensive checklist from the U.S. Navy Towing Manual covering various aspects of a vessel's readiness for towing. This includes ship information, vessel characteristics, riding crew requirements, seaworthiness, flooding, dewatering, fire fighting, navigation, cargo, main towing gear, secondary towing gear, special considerations, and anchoring.
• Sample Certificate of Seaworthiness/Delivery Letter: A multi-endorsement form to formally certify the seaworthiness of the tow and document its delivery.

This document outlines the rigorous inspection and certification process required for towing operations, particularly within the U.S. Navy context. Bidders involved in towing services or requiring such services would need to understand these requirements to ensure compliance and successful execution of contracts. It highlights the detailed checks and documentation necessary to confirm a vessel's suitability and safety for towing.

Other / Unclassified

This document is a Wage Determination from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division, related to the Service Contract Act. It specifies minimum wage rates and fringe benefits for various occupations. It includes details on Executive Orders 14026 and 13658, which set minimum wage requirements for federal contractors, and outlines paid sick leave provisions under Executive Order 13706.

This document is crucial for any bidder responding to a federal contract that is subject to the Service Contract Act. It establishes the minimum wage and fringe benefit rates that must be paid to employees performing work under such contracts. Bidders must ensure their proposed labor costs align with these requirements to be compliant. Key details include:

• Minimum Wage Rates: Specifies daily rates for occupations like General Vessel Assistant, Captain, Deckhand, and Engineer on tugboats and other coastal vessels.
• Executive Order Minimums: Outlines minimum hourly rates under Executive Order 14026 ($17.75/hour) and Executive Order 13658 ($13.30/hour), noting these may be adjusted annually and have specific applicability exceptions.
• Fringe Benefits: Details Health & Welfare benefits ($5.55/hour or $222.00/week) and specific rates under EO 13706.
• Paid Sick Leave: Mandates 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to 56 hours annually, for contracts awarded on or after January 1, 2017.
• Vacation and Holidays: Outlines requirements for paid vacation (2-4 weeks based on service years) and a minimum of eleven paid holidays.
• Uniform Allowance: Specifies requirements for furnishing and maintaining uniforms, including reimbursement for cleaning costs ($3.35/week) unless "wash and wear" materials are used.
• Conformance Process: Details the procedure for establishing wage rates and classifications for occupations not listed in the Service Contract Act Directory of Occupations.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides the general arrangement for the mooring and towing systems of the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) team, specifically for hull applicability 630-652 and 630AF. It details the layout and specifications for mooring and towing equipment.

• Mooring Arrangements: Includes forward and aft mooring arrangements, specifying conditions for mooring cases (e.g., wind speed, current, water depth).
• Towing Arrangements: Details general towing arrangements for Suez and Panama Canals, including maximum towing speed and references to specific sheets for deck fittings. It also outlines requirements for towlines, including minimum length and breaking load.
• Anchor Arrangement: Provides sections and elevations for the anchor arrangement.
• Rescue Boat Sea Painter Line Arrangement: Details the arrangement for the sea painter line for the rescue boat.
• 11m RHIB Painter Line Arrangement: Details the arrangement for the painter line for the 11m Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB).
• Specifications: Mentions specific requirements such as bitts & chocks designed for 445KN, steel towlines, and bow shackles with a minimum Safe Working Load (SWL) of 40 tonnes.

This document is crucial for bidders involved in the construction, modification, or maintenance of JHSV vessels. It provides essential technical details regarding the vessel's mooring and towing capabilities, which may be relevant for understanding operational requirements, equipment specifications, and compliance standards. Bidders should review these arrangements to ensure their proposals or services align with the vessel's design and operational needs.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Liquid Penetrant Inspection Report detailing the results of an inspection performed on deck and tow rig components. It serves as a record of the inspection process and findings.

• Report Number: 107749-001-022-001-RQ
• Customer: USNS
• Project: SPEARHEAD
• Area of Examination: Check-Plate On Deck And Tow Rigs, specifically Filet Welds.
• Material Inspected: Aluminum
• Inspection Method: GC-PT-WETSPRAY, using solvent removable penetrant and solvent-based developer.
• Acceptance Criteria: AWS D1.1
• Findings: No rejectable indications were found at the time of inspection.
• Visuals: Includes photographic evidence of the inspected areas.

This report may be relevant to bidders if the opportunity involves maintenance, repair, or inspection services where the integrity of welds on deck and tow rig components is critical. It provides an example of the type of inspection documentation and standards that may be required.