Operation, Maintenance, and Repair of Motor Vessel Independence (M/V Independence Support)

The Department of Defense, through the Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (NAVFAC EXWC) located at Port Hueneme, California, plans to award a single indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract for the operation, maintenance, and repair of the Motor Vessel Independence (M/V Independence). This vessel is integral to supporting a range of mission-critical functions, including research, development, testing, and evaluation of undersea surveillance and various related systems, as well as assisting other government agencies with ocean vessel support, surveys, data collection, naval exercises, and remotely operated vehicle operations. Services will primarily occur along the coastal waters of California, Oregon, and Washington, though deployment to other domestic and foreign ports is possible. The contract will replace an existing agreement set to expire in September 2026 and carries an estimated value of $65 million. The solicitation, identified as N3943026R4001, will be a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 488390, following a market research survey confirming sufficient capable small businesses. The contract term includes a five-year base period with an optional six-month extension, where only the base period guarantees a minimum. The government will award to one contractor based on criteria including technical and management approach, safety, past performance, and cost. Interested offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management and access the full solicitation electronically, with communication directed to designated Navy contacts. The process emphasizes fairness and transparency, with all solicitation updates available through official government procurement websites.