Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) High-Capacity

The Navy is preparing to solicit prototype proposals for the Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) High-Capacity family of systems, with a Request for Prototype Proposal set to be released on August 1, 2026. This initiative seeks innovative maritime solutions focused on logistics support through the transport of containerized payloads, leveraging modular design to ensure adaptability and resilience against emerging threats. The program emphasizes vessels with advanced autonomy, perception systems, and proven capabilities in complex maritime operations, targeting rapid development, demonstration, and fielding of operational prototypes. Proposals will be evaluated on relevance, maturity, feasibility, performance, and affordability, with the Navy utilizing Other Transaction Authority under Title 10 U.S.C. 4022 to streamline acquisition and accelerate innovation outside traditional contracting methods. Interested parties with expertise in vessel construction and autonomous systems are invited to respond to the upcoming solicitation, which will be posted on SAM.gov under solicitation number N0003926RR001. The contracting office is part of the Naval Information Warfare Systems, based in San Diego, California, and the primary point of contact for inquiries is Christopher Murr. While no set-aside classification has been specified, the effort is open to qualified entities capable of delivering high-capacity unmanned surface vessels that meet rigorous operational standards. The goal is to identify and rapidly scale viable prototypes that enhance Navy logistics capabilities across contested maritime environments.