33-Day Dry Cargo Time Charter

The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command Norfolk is soliciting offers for a 33-day dry cargo time charter under solicitation number N3220526R6112, with proposals due by July 16, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The contract calls for the provision of a commercially owned vessel to transport cargo from Souda Bay, Greece, to Beaumont, Texas, with the charter period commencing no earlier than August 3, 2026, and canceling if not executed by August 23, 2026. The vessel must maintain full operational status throughout the charter and is subject to a government option to extend performance for up to six months total, exercisable by written notice prior to redelivery. Award will be made to the lowest price, technically acceptable offeror, evaluated under a tiered preference system prioritizing offerors with significant U.S. shipyard investment over the prior five years, followed by VISA priority, with only U.S.-flag vessels considered for evaluation unless otherwise elected by the Contracting Officer. Technical compliance is assessed against specific Drytime Boxes detailing fuel consumption, equipment requirements, and operational performance standards, including mandatory installation of a computerized monitoring system for fuel usage, speed, and environmental conditions. The vessel must also provide a secure, Open Storage Secret (OSS)-compliant space for government personnel and maintain a SECRET facilities clearance prior to delivery. All offerors must hold an active Unique Entity Identifier and current registration in the System for Award Management, and are required to submit completed certifications and representations, including those related to small business utilization, service reporting, equal opportunity for veterans and persons with disabilities, contractor code of ethics, and compliance with the Combating Trafficking in Persons rule. Proposals must include at minimum the vessel name, price, and signature, and must be submitted as a PDF file not exceeding 20 megabytes with a verifiable electronic or scanned handwritten signature, referencing the solicitation number. The contract includes reimbursable items subject to a $3,500 threshold requiring three competitive quotes, and the contractor must use the Wide Area Work Flow system with an Invoice 2-in-1 format for payment. A detailed monthly accounting report is due by the fifth of each month, containing all incurred costs, pending CLIN amounts, and supporting documentation. Fuel pricing is fixed at $1,188.60 per metric ton for all