USMC National Museum Sherman Tank Transportation & Salvage UPDATED 21 MAY 2026

The Marine Corps Installations, National Capital Region - Regional Contracting Office (MCINCR-RCO), Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA is seeking information on behalf of the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

This Request for Information (RFI) is to seek market information for planning purposes and provide industry with an opportunity to ask questions and provide recommendations regarding the required services outlined in the Capabilities Statement, listed below. The United States Marine Corps (USMC), on behalf of the National Museum of the Marine Corps (NMMC), has a requirement for the following:

• Services for the salvage, recovery, and transportation of one M4A3 Sherman tank (s/n 50296).
• Salvage of usable parts from the hull of a second M4A3 Sherman tank (s/n 62179).
• Both tanks are located at Marine Corps Base Twentynine Palms, California.
• The recovered tank and salvaged parts are to be transported to the NMMC's Museum Support Facility in Dumfries, Virginia.

Please see attached "Draft" PWS and INDUSTRY FEEDBACK QUESTIONNAIRE which include ALL RELEVANT DETAILS at this time (10 pages, including pictures and descriptions).

Please DO NOT only send a Capability Statement; this is a formal request for information to develop the Goverment's acquisition strategy. Capability statements submitted without industry feedback to our requirement may not be reviewed at the Government's discretion.

REQUIREMENT DESCRIPTION:

Please see the above “DRAFT” Performance Work Statement for details of this requirement.

INDUSTRY FEEDBACK:

This is a REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY to obtain industry’s feedback on the anticipated technical specifications, potential cost and performance risks, as well as any other related considerations for the required services (see above “DRAFT” Performance Work Statement). In addition, please provide company capabilities statement along with feedback on the questions cited below.

Please provide feedback on the following:

1. Are you able to provide all of the services listed on the “Draft” Performance Work Statement? If so, are you able to provide it within the Required Timeline?
2. What are the key discriminators that the Government should consider as evaluation criteria?
3. Are there any barriers to competition?
4. Are you likely to quote on this effort? Why or Why not?
5. Are there any areas within the Performance Work Statement that appear vague? If so, please identify them and recommend a remedy.
6. Is this a service readily provided in the commercial environment?
7. Can this service be priced under a Firm Fixed Contract?
8. Identify any condition or action that may influence or restrict the ability to have a fair and open competition with respect to this acquisition.
9. Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) pricing given the draft requirements. If unable to do so, please specify what additional data is needed. Please include shipping in estimates. This ROM is non-binding and does not constitute an official request for pricing.
10. What other NAICS code(s) and PSC would be accurate for this requirement? The Government is currently considering NAICS 488510, Freight Transportation Arrangement, and PSC V119 TRANSPORTATION/TRAVEL/RELOCATION- TRANSPORTATION: OTHER. Please indicate whether or not this is an appropriate NAICS/PSC combination, and if not, what is more appropriate.
11. Are there any applicable socioeconomic set-asides that your company qualifies for? Please indicate your active status in SAM.gov and socioeconomic category as registered via SBA.gov.
12. Please provide any required certifications applicable, recommended, or known that may apply to “hot work”, e.g., any operation that involves open flames or produces heat, sparks, or slag capable of igniting flammable materials or explosive atmospheres, on site at Marine Corps Base Twentynine Palms and in general.

SUBMISSION DETAILS:

Submissions shall reference RFI No. “M00264-26-RFI-024 NMMC Sherman Tank Transportation & Salvage” in the subject line.

Interested vendors who wish to respond to this RFI should send responses no later than 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 21 May 2026, via email to the following email address:

david.laster@usmc.mil (Contract Specialist)

Interested vendors should respond to the Capabilities Statement cited under the “INDUSTRY FEEDBACK” section of this document. Request responses shall be provided in no more than 2 pages.

Questions and comments regarding this requirement will be accepted, reviewed and answered if the Government determines responses are warranted.

The Government will not consider any vendor email that is incomplete or is not addressing this RFI questions. The Government reserves the right to determine if a response addresses this RFI, is not complete, and/or to not review a response without any further communication with the vendor supplying the information.

Submissions must include:

1. Capabilities Statement in response to the “Industry Feedback” section of this RFI;
2. Business name and address;
3. Name of company representative and their business title;
4. Type of Business;
5. Cage Code and UEI; and
6. Proof of active SAM.gov registration status and applicable socioeconomic set-asides via SBA.gov; and
7. Contract vehicles that would be available to the Government for the procurement of the service, to include General Service Administration (GSA), Federal Supply Schedules (FSS), NASA SEWP or any other Government Agency contract vehicle. (This information is for market research only and does not preclude your company from responding to this notice.)

11 May 2026 - Updated RFI end date to 21 May 2026.

21 May 2026 - Updated RFI end date to 28 May 2026 to allow additional time for industry response. PLEASE SEE ABOVE for requested information. Additional information has been provided below by the requirement owner: 

1. Definition of 'usable parts' from tank s/n 62179 — who determines salvageability and what disposition instructions apply to non-selected parts?  NMMC TPOC does and will be on site for the parts removal.  
   1. Tank hull will remain on 29 Palms as a target/navigation point.
2. Blocking, bracing, and securement specifications — Government-furnished or contractor-responsibility?
   1. Contractor furnished.  
3. Interim storage requirements if same-day delivery at NMMC is not possible upon transit completion. (4) Security escort requirements, if any, for transport through civilian public roads in California and Virginia.
   1. Arrangements will need to be made for arrival during regular business hours at 17001 Interstate Drive, Dumfries, VA.  Monday-Friday 0730-1600
   2. There are no security requirements, but the tank does need to be tarped and all hatches covered.  
4. Structural Integrity of Tank #1. The PWS states all lifting points are functional. However, the provided images indicate extensive corrosion exposure. Recommend: Structural engineering inspection; Verification of lift points; Confirmation hull integrity remains intact
   1. The tank is structurally intact.  Corrosion is surface only and the armor and welds remain structurally sound.  
5. Buried Components. Track components appear partially buried. Clarification needed: Excavation depth; Soil conditions; Required restoration of excavation area
   1. Tracks are buried under a few inches of loose sand.  They should come up with relative ease.  
6. UXO Risk. Since both tanks are located on training ranges: Has EOD cleared the area and the route? Is there any unexploded ordnance risk?
   1. UXO risk has been mitigated for both locations.  Will get confirmation for the parts tank, but neither is on a live-fire range.  
7. Environmental Hazards. Clarify potential issues involving: Lead paint; Fuel residue; Oils; Asbestos; Hazardous material handling requirements
   1. Paint is lead based.  There is no engine in it, so POLs will be minimal and located in the transmission and final drive housing, if any.  Asbestos would be restricted to the engine compartment, but with the engine gone, there shouldn't be any.  
8. Delivery Site Requirements. The current PWS does not clarify: Whether the Government provides unloading equipment; Whether a crane is needed at final destination; Final placement requirements at the museum facility
   1. A crane is required from the vendor at the delivery location. 
9. Please confirm if a crane is needed at destination to unload the tanks.
   1. Yes. To be furnished by contractor
10. Level of preservation required during salvage operations
    1. Remove the four complete bogey trucks, preserving all components for future use
    2. Remove the bulldozer mount preserving mount attachment points for future use and duplication.
    3. Secure tracks without any cutting.  
11. Specific packaging/crating standards for museum acceptance
    1. Palletizing with steel strapping is acceptable.  These will not deteriorate further traveling across the country.  
12. Site access logistics and staging constraints at Twentynine Palms
    1. Will coordinate with 29 Palms Range Control once we set a date for the site visit.  
13. Tank mobility
    1. The tank is not mobile.  It has some functional road wheels and MAY roll, but overall it is not mobile.  
14. Lifting point condition
    1. Lifting lugs are in better condition than Lucky's and Lucky lifted just fine.  
15. Salvage dimensions/weight
    1. No idea, but each bogey truck weighs roughly 800lbs.