American Bureau of Shipping Inspection Service

The U.S. Navy’s NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk is awarding a firm fixed-price contract to the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for engineering inspection and certification services in support of Carrier Strike Group Four’s four Training Support Vessels—TSV-1 PREVAIL, TSV-3 HUNTER, TSV-4 NARRAGANSETT, and TSV-5 VINDICATOR. This sole-source procurement, authorized under FAR 6.302-1, is based on ABS’s unique authorization by the U.S. Coast Guard to perform certification under the Alternate Compliance Program, making it the only entity capable of maintaining the vessels’ ABS Class, Loadline, Tonnage, and Stability certifications. All inspections must adhere strictly to current ABS rules and regulations, along with U.S. Coast Guard requirements including MARPOL 73/78 Annex II and 46 CFR 8.130, and are conducted onboard the vessels at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach, during dry docks, and at scheduled maintenance events. The contractor is required to perform eight two-hour quarterly visits per vessel, weekly Condition Assessment and Verification visits, and provide continuous oversight during CASREP events and dry dock periods, with immediate reporting of any deficiencies to the vessel’s Master, Chief Engineer, CSG-4 Port Engineer, and TSV Squadron Program Manager. The contract runs for twelve months from a designated start date and includes mandatory attendance at all critical maintenance and inspection events, with full access to military facilities and compliance with DoD security protocols required for all personnel. The contractor must submit monthly certification status reports, maintain a comprehensive inspection database, and provide a monthly invoice log with ceiling tracking to ensure funds are not exceeded without prior written approval. While the contract is firm fixed-price and does not disclose a specific dollar value, it is bound by a defined funding ceiling. All work must be performed exclusively by fully qualified ABS-certified surveyors, with no substitutions permitted due to the operational, safety, and regulatory risks associated with transitioning to another classification society. The government retains final acceptance authority for all inspection outcomes and certifications, with deliverables submitted through administrative channels in Norfolk, Virginia. The solicitation does not include formal evaluation factors, pricing line items, packaging requirements, or detailed contract clauses, and the award is based entirely on the uniqueness and necessity of ABS services for ensuring regulatory compliance and vessel operational readiness.