Request for Information (RFI) regarding the potential to lease new RO/ROs vessels.

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is conducting market research through a Request for Information (RFI) to evaluate the feasibility of acquiring up to ten new Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO) vessels to recapitalize the National Defense Reserve Fleet, with these vessels serving as national assets for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The agency is exploring the adaptation of the proven Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) acquisition model to enable a combined purchase or lease structure under a single contract, targeting newly constructed vessels built in U.S. shipyards and eligible for coastwise endorsement. Respondents are expected to provide detailed input on operational specifications including vessel dimensions of 211 meters in length and 32.3 meters in beam, a 12,500 kW slow-speed diesel main engine enabling 19-knot full speed and 12,000-mile range, MGO-only fuel compatibility, and accommodation for 48 personnel with specialized cabin configurations. The vessels must meet strict maintenance and classification standards throughout a 20-year charter period, with redelivery conditions requiring compliance in dry-docking status, class standing, and remediation of deferred maintenance. Responses must address organizational conflict of interest mitigation strategies to ensure equitable treatment of government-owned and privately financed hulls during concurrent construction, particularly regarding labor allocation, material quality, and design change priorities. MARAD is seeking insight into financing mechanisms such as Title XI loan guarantees and its dual role as both charterer and guarantor. The submission guidelines require responses be electronic, formatted in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Project, or Adobe format with 12-point font, single spacing, and 1-inch margins, limited to 20 pages with evaluation restricted to the first ten pages. All information must be unclassified, and any proprietary content requires explicit labeling at the bottom of each page. Respondents must provide their company name, address, CAGE code, UEI number, and point of contact information. This RFI, issued under NAICS code 532411 with a secondary code of 336611, does not constitute a solicitation, and the government will not pay for responses or incur any obligation to award a contract. Submissions are due by 5:00 PM PDT on July 6, 2026, to the designated points of contact at the Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C.