American Samoa Class II Research Vessel

The Department of Commerce, through NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, is seeking industry input for the procurement of a single new and unused Class II research vessel to be operated in American Samoa. The vessel must be 31 to 35 feet in length, fully outfitted as a turn-key platform, and capable of safely transporting up to nine personnel for a range of scientific missions including coral restoration, reef and fish surveys, water sampling, mooring buoy maintenance, education and outreach, and emergency response. Construction must be completed within fifteen months of contract award, with final delivery to Pago Pago, American Samoa, required upon successful completion of sea trials and government acceptance. The vessel must comply with ABYC and USCG standards, be equipped with MilSpec aluminum anodes for cathodic protection, anti-fouling paint, thermal insulation suited for tropical conditions, and nonskid deck surfaces. All systems must be clearly labeled for operation and maintenance, and the contractor is responsible for delivering comprehensive documentation including stability reports, as-built drawings, OEM manuals, warranty information, and sea-trials documentation. The procurement is structured with a base contract for the vessel itself and several optional items: a trailer rated for 120% of the vessel’s weight with dual or triple axles and disc brakes, a furling sunshade made of UV-protected Sunbrella fabric covering the aft deck, and two suspension seats with three inches of travel rated for 300-pound capacity. Shipping to American Samoa is optional but if selected, the contractor must provide bonded and insured transport and remain liable for damage until physical delivery and government re-acceptance after repeat sea trials on-site. The solicitation is limited to small business concerns with verified SAM registration and requires disclosure of socioeconomic certifications such as 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, or SDVOSB status; no large businesses are eligible. Responses are restricted to five pages and must include company information, unique entity ID, size status, and demonstrated capability to meet technical specifications. No pricing data is included in the current documentation, and this is a pre-solicitation sources sought notice, not a binding contract or formal RFQ. The contracting office is located in Norfolk, Virginia, with Sarah Appleman designated as the primary point of contact. Final selection will be based on technical merit, compliance with operational and safety requirements, warranty provisions, and capability to deliver within timeline—all without reference to a formal evaluation factor weighting or lowest price technically acceptable methodology.