365-day Dry Cargo Time Charter

The contract is a 365-day dry cargo time charter solicitation issued by the Military Sealift Command Norfolk under solicitation number N3220526R6098, with a total small business set-aside classification under NAICS code 483111. The solicitation was reopened and requires offers to be submitted by July 9, 2026, with performance beginning no later than September 30, 2026, and redelivery also expected at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The vessel must meet stringent operational and regulatory standards, including compliance with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, SOLAS, and U.S. Coast Guard requirements, while providing a secure space that meets Open Storage Secret (OSS) physical security standards and supporting DoD communication equipment. The contractor is responsible for maintaining full operational readiness, providing all necessary onboard cargo handling equipment capable of operating simultaneously, and delivering daily reports on fuel consumption, speed, vessel draft, and environmental conditions through a computerized monitoring system. Vessels must be U.S.-flagged, with preference given to those that have undergone maintenance in a U.S. shipyard, and must carry valid certifications including the Company Document of Compliance, Vessel Safety Management Certificate, International Ship Security Certificate, and Certificate of Documentation. Contractor obligations encompass strict adherence to government property management standards, including Alternate I of FAR 52.245-1 and supporting clauses such as 252.245-7003 and 252.245-7005, while also complying with whistleblower protections, ethics codes, and prohibitions against interrogation of detainees. Payment must be processed through the Wide Area WorkFlow system using specific DoDAACs, with invoices required to be submitted no later than six months after service completion and must include foreign currency conversion rates. Monthly accounting reports are due by the fifth of each month, detailing all costs and pending CLIN amounts. The evaluation process prioritizes technical acceptability and VISA priority, awarding contracts first to Category 1 offerors—those whose vessels have met U.S. shipyard maintenance thresholds—with the lowest price chosen among qualifying submissions; if no Category 1 offers exist, the lowest-priced technically acceptable Category 2 offer with the highest VISA priority will be selected. All proposals must be submitted as signed PDF documents no larger than 20 MB, include the UEI, a price, and a verifiable electronic or scanned signature,