Independent Financial Advisors Vendor Pool

The U.S. Maritime Administration's Office of Marine Financing is establishing a pre-qualified pool of Independent Financial Advisors (IFAs) to provide third-party financial and economic analyses for the Federal Ship Financing Program (Title XI) under 46 U.S.C. Chapter 537. The primary objective is to evaluate the economic soundness, creditworthiness, and financial viability of projects proposed for government-guaranteed loans. The IFA pool is intended for an initial five-year period, with the government awarding contracts on a best-value basis, prioritizing non-price evaluation factors such as past performance and the qualifications of key personnel. Key personnel are generally expected to hold a master's degree and possess 5 to 20 years of experience with Federal Government Lending Programs. The solicitation identifies two award types: At Cost and No Cost. For No Cost awards, the government has no payment obligation, and the IFA is invoiced directly by the project applicant. To enter the pool, interested parties must submit an initial proposal detailing their approach, experience, and key personnel resumes, though this initial submission must not include pricing. Once in the pool, IFAs will compete for specific work by submitting technical and price quotations. Strict guidelines are in place regarding organizational conflicts of interest, with prohibitions on using non-public information for private purposes or competing for related MARAD work for six months following contract completion. All deliverables and working papers produced under these contracts remain the property of the U.S. Government.