22-day Dry Cargo Time Charter

The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command is soliciting bids for a 22-day dry cargo time charter to transport classified and sensitive cargo from Gdansk, Poland, to Jacksonville, Florida, with full compliance with Department of Defense security, logistical, and operational standards. The solicitation, issued under number N3220526R6089 and posted on May 12, 2026, requires offerors to provide a vessel meeting strict technical criteria including IMO number, flag status, year built, and INMARSAT identification, with priority awarded to vessels from U.S. shipyards and those enrolled in the VISA program. The contract is structured as a commercial services acquisition under FAR 52.212-4 and follows a Lowest Price, Technically Acceptable evaluation methodology, where technical acceptability is a mandatory threshold and price is the sole differentiator among compliant offers. Vessel characteristics must align with defined categories, and failure to meet technical requirements including vessel readiness, stowage planning, secure communication protocols, and OPSEC compliance will result in disqualification. All offers must be submitted by May 19, 2026, via email or physical delivery, with file size limited to 20 MB and only PDFs or signed PDFs accepted. Special contractual requirements center on security and personnel protocols: the Master, Chief Mate, and one additional officer must possess SECRET clearance, and the contractor must either hold a SECRET facility clearance prior to proposal submission or upon vessel delivery. Contract Security personnel must hold ISO 28007 certification, a valid TWIC card, and be qualified in specified firearms with completed DD Form 2760 documentation; they must also undergo threat briefings covering VBSS, piracy, and UAS attacks. The government may deploy an Embarked Security Team that supersedes the contractor’s security team in command authority, potentially including disarmament. Foreign-flagged vessels must guarantee compliance with flag state laws regarding armed personnel and indemnify the U.S. government against legal violations. The charterer is responsible for proper packaging, labeling, and manifesting of cargo, with implied compliance to MIL-STD-129 for barcoding via integration with ICODES and WAWF systems. Invoicing must be conducted electronically through WAWF, and payment is routed via Defense Administrative Accounting Activity Codes N50082 and N32205. The government has the right to cancel the charter without