Beluga Barge

The contract pertains to an urgent, sole-source modification under N4523A26C1004P00002 for emergency repairs on the Beluga barge to meet American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) 5-year certification requirements, with a current performance period from April 1, 2026, to May 21, 2026, and an anticipated extension through June 10, 2026. The work, conducted by Motive Power Marine, a HUBZone-certified small business, includes seven base metal repairs, tank inspections, load line corrections, bolt replacements, and topcoat renewal of the underwater hull at their facility in Tacoma, Washington, before the barge returns to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, for final acceptance. This modification is justified under FAR 12.102(b) and statutory authority 41 U.S.C. 1901 due to unusual and compelling urgency, with Motive Power Marine being the only entity with the physical capability, historical knowledge, and facility access to repair the 240-foot-long vessel with its specific dimensions and operational constraints. The acquisition is funded by FY2026 Operation and Maintenance funds, and acceptance hinges entirely on successful ABS certification, which is the only deliverable—no physical goods are exchanged, only compliance. There is no defined contract value, no listed contract clauses from FAR Part 52, no packaging or marking requirements, no inspection criteria beyond ABS standards, and no competitive evaluation factors, as the award was issued without competition based on the contractor’s unique qualifications. The contracting office is the PSNS & IMF Contracting Department (Code 400); primary point of contact is Jeff Jaeckel, with Nathan DeGuzman as secondary, but no contracting officer, contracting officer’s representative, or invoicing instructions are provided. The sole source determination and socioeconomic status of the vendor trigger compliance obligations under FAR Part 19, and failure to meet ABS requirements results in termination of the barge’s participation in the transfer program.