Request for information from potential sources for an Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Multi-Use Expeditionary Response Craft (MERC)

DISCLOSURE: This is a Request for Information (RFI) notice only, issued by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), on behalf of the U.S. Navy and Foreign Military Sales, Boats, and Craft Program Office (PMS 300) for information and planning purposes only. This is not a request for proposal (RFP) and a formal solicitation is not available at this time. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the Government to issue an RFP, contract, or order. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this RFI or any follow up information requests. Responses to this notice are not offers and will not be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract or agreement. Specific responses to the approaches will not disqualify or have an impact on participation and evaluation on future solicitations. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if one is issued. The Government will not be obligated to pursue any particular acquisition alternative because of this RFI. Respondents are solely responsible for properly marking and clearly identifying any proprietary information or trade secrets contained within their response. To aid the Government in its review, please segregate any proprietary information from non-proprietary information. The Government will not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any proprietary information that has not been both properly marked and clearly identified. Information marked proprietary received in response to this RFI will be safeguarded and handled in accordance with applicable Government regulations. PURPOSE: NAVSEA hereby issues an RFI on behalf of PMS 300 to assess the availability of qualified small businesses interested submitting proposals for the procurement of the attached requirements describing an EOD MERC. A prospective solicitation would seek to acquire these boats to replace approximately 50 boats currently in use with the Navy Expeditionary Combatant Command (NECC) Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) and Mobile Diving and Salvage Units (MDSU). Additionally, Foreign Military Sales and other Navy commands may procure up to 20 additional MERCs on the future contract. This RFI will assist the Navy in finding qualified small business sources to build the required EOD MERCs. Please note that only U.S.-built and U.S.-flagged vessels will be considered. The Navy intends to continue recapitalizing its aging fleet and procure EOD MERC boats beginning in Fiscal Year 2024. The overall objective of this Sources Sought Notice is to conduct and update market research to support preliminary planning for the acquisition of the EOD MERC. This procurement is intended to be a follow-on solicitation to Contract No. N00024-16-D-2215 which awarded to United States Marine Inc. on 29 September 2016. The planned phasing for this acquisition is demonstrated in a table within the PDF document entitled " EOD MERC RFI_N00024-23-R-2250", which can be found under the Attachment/Links section of this sources sought. The Navy plans to award a contract to one or more builders in FY24 for up to an estimated 70 boats for delivery to locations including, but not limited to the following: Navy stock point in Williamsburg, VA Description & MISSION PROFILE: The MERC will be used in the Navy EOD forces, including Mobile Diving and Salvage Units (MDSU), provide diving/demolition services in the marine environment in depths of up to 330 feet of seawater (FSW). Joint and Naval commanders require EOD platoons and MDSU companies to conduct underwater operations to locate, render safe and/or recover submerged objects and ordnance; harbor clearance/search; and expeditionary salvage operations. These operations have unique small-craft requirements and the missions will be conducted worldwide in permissive and non-permissive environments. Through this RFI, the Navy aims to identify potential, qualified, small business sources to build and deliver EOD MERCs based on the following characteristics. Potential sources should have the personnel, facilities, technical capability and production capacity to produce up to 70 EOD MERCs over the life of a five-year contract. Key MERC attributes and requirements: Variants: Open Center Console and Cabin Boat type: Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) Nominal length: 9 meters (30 feet) Nominal Full Load displacement: 12,000 lbs Max Beam: 10 feet Mission duration: up to 12 hours Hull material: Infused Fiberglass reinforced Plastic (FRP) Propulsion type: Twin Outboard 250 hp's Cruise speed: 30 knots Sprint speed: 35 knots Range (with 10% reserve): 110 nautical miles or 4 hrs cruise + 8 hrs @ 5 knots Payload: 5,000 lbs (including personnel) Sea State: Full operation in SS2, Reduced operation SS3, Survive SS4 Transportability: Air = C-130, Road = wide load without escort vehicle (10 ft beam), Marine = launch and recovery from Navy Ships Stability: Meets ISO 6185-4:2014 requirements for Type X with a design category of B Joystick piloting with Dynamic Positioning System 7.5 KW gasoline generator for mission equipment and HVAC (cabin variant) 500 lbs davit Tactical communication suite Hoisting fittings Deck cargo tiedowns Diver provisions (ladder, dive bottle stowage) Forward and aft gun foundations Responses & Submission of Information Interested parties are free to submit any information which may assist the Navy in its market research and respond to RFI N00024-23-R-2250. Responses to this RFI are limited to 10 pages and should include any relevant drawings, specifications, and/or sketches. The Government is not requesting a formal proposal at this time; however, please include as much of the technical data listed below as practical under the time constraints of this inquiry. As a reminder: please properly mark, clearly identify, and segregate any proprietary information included in your response. The following information is requested: Data and/or information on any vessel or vessel design in a similar size and capability range as that described in the draft specification. Data may be submitted on existing vessels, vessels that are conceptual or in design. If vessel is conceptual or in design, please provide level of maturity. A description of the company's relevant experience. Past experience performing construction of boats of similar dimensions and characteristics highlighting: construction techniques; portions of work which intended to be performed by the prime contractor and portions of work to be subcontracted, including identification of likely design agent; any intended teaming arrangements; and familiarity with Government contract requirements and drawing development. Examples of successful Government contracts of similar scope of work on boats of seven meters or greater length. A description of the boat design identified by the Contractor that meets or comes close to meeting the above listed design requirements. If applicable, identify the number of vessels and the years they were delivered. Provide approximate pricing for: Candidate vessel (Open Center Console and Cabin Variants) Delivery to stated location Provide location of company production facilities. Describe facility production capacity (e.g., estimate on total construction time for one EOD MERC; how many EOD MERC boats can be built per year), based on current and projected yard-wide workload. The Navy recommends contractors to provide information demonstrating their capability/capacity for production throughput. When describing throughput, please address capability/capacity of facilities and how they are suitable to handle the physical components of the boat, stowage of Government Furnished Equipment (GFE), and the current and projected utilization of workforce and trades required to complete the EOD MERC. The Navy further requests information regarding the estimated maximum production throughput of the boats per year, including constraints from other contracted and projected workload for other project/programs. Additionally, the Navy requests for contractors to state the minimum EOD MERC quantity that would need to be guaranteed to respond to the requirements of the potential solicitation. Provide comments (pros/cons) or your interest of the possibility of a Multiple Award Contract (MAC). A new multiple award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract may be established and awarded to multiple vendors to enable the Government to order boats under the same contract. When the need arises to place orders (e.g., procurement of eight boats) under the multiple award contract, all awardees holding a base contract would be requested to submit a proposal; this will provide a fair opportunity for each awardee to be considered for each order. Orders may then be awarded to one or more builders (Example 1: Builder A receives an order for four boats, and Builder B receives an order for four boats. Example 2: Builder A receives an order for six boats, and Builder B receives an order for two boats). Interested parties may also submit additional information on the following areas of interest: Vessel principal characteristics and capabilities General arrangement drawings and renderings Design, construction, regulatory and classification standards employed Company production capabilities and recent, relevant, production history Contact information Note: Interested parties do not have to meet all requirements listed in this RFI to submit a response. All responses received will be reviewed by the Government. This RFI constitutes market research being performed under Part 10 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and is not an RFP. The responses shall contain unclassified information only. Responses are requested by 1700 Eastern Time on May 31, 2023. Responses should be e-mailed to Peter Herrman, PMS300, at peter.c.herrman.civ@us.navy.mil, Edward Rogan at Edward.f.rogan.civ@us.navy.mil AND Nicholas Galles at nicholas.g.galles.civ@us.navy.mil. Questions can be submitted via e-mail to Mr. Peter Herrman (peter.c.herrman.civ@us.navy.mil), Mr. Edward Rogan (edward.f.rogan.civ@us.navy.mil) AND Mr. Nicholas Galles (nicholas.g.galles.civ@us.navy.mil). Please provide responses by email as telephonic questions will not be accepted at this time.