RFI: US Navy Light Amphibious Warship (LAW)

THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI), AS DEFINED IN FAR 15.201(e),_IS SOLELY FOR INFORMATIONAL AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, REQUEST FOR QUOTE, OR AS AN OBLIGATION OR COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT TO CONTRACT FOR ANY SUPPLY OR SERVICE. THERE WILL NOT BE A SOLICITATION, SPECIFICATIONS, OR DRAWINGS AVAILABLE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MAY OR MAY NOT TRANSLATE INTO AN ACTUAL PROCUREMENT(S) IN FUTURE YEARS. THERE IS NO FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 15.201(E) RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE ARE NOT OFFERS AND CANNOT BE ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO FORM A BINDING CONTRACT. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT AT THIS TIME SEEKING PROPOSALS AND WILL NOT ACCEPT UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS. RESPONDENTS ARE ADVISED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY INFORMATION OR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS INCURRED IN RESPONSE TO THIS RFI; ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH RESPONSDING TO THIS RFI WILL BE SOLELY AT THE RESPONDENTS EXPENSE. Background: The Navy is issuing this RFI as a means of conducting market research to identify the interest and resources to support the next evolution of Light Amphibious Warship (LAW) in FY22/23. Any potential future competition for LAW is envisioned to consider adapting or altering an existing commercial ship design or build to print from a historic design. Strategic and service level guidance is driving Naval Forces to adjust their CONOPs to meet the new challenges associated with maintaining persistent Naval forward presence to enable sea control and denial operations. The LAW is intended to provide Naval Forces the maneuver and sustainment vessels to confront the changing character of warfare. The Navy will be developing Top Level Requirements (TLRs), and ultimately a Capability Development Document (CDD), to support the LAW Program of Record (POR). The primary functions of the LAW are force maneuver and force closure, including operating into small, undeveloped ports and beaches. Secondary functions may include force sustainment and reconnaissance. When these functions are incorporated into a single unit of action, the fleet will benefit from at sea and ashore maneuver and logistics support to contact/blunt layer forces in a contested Area of Responsibility (AOR), quick dispersion and re-aggregation of expeditionary forces, and rapid reconnaissance of Sea Line of Communications (SLOCs)/ports to determine accessibility and operational usefulness in a conflict. LAWs will endure weeks-long deployments and trans-oceanic transits. These vessels may operate within fleet groups or deploy independently. LAWs will accelerate delivery of new capabilities to the Naval Force and reduce technical risk and cost by utilizing, and/or adapting commercial vessels/ship design, or build to print from a historic design/existing detailed designs. This RFI is requesting Information, as well as providing notification of two separately planned Industry Days. The first Industry Day will be approximately two weeks after the release of this RFI and the other approximately four weeks after the release of this RFI. INFORMATION SOUGHT The Navy would like Industry perspectives on potential benefits and challenges to implementing such a concept that take into account technology and manufacturing limitations. Specifically, the Navy requests white papers containing information on the company's capabilities to build a ship with the characteristics noted below, along with any previous experiences in designing and building similar type/size ships appropriate to meet mission/concepts noted above. List any known concept designs and existing potential parent hull designs along with vessel characteristics (e.g. length, beam, width, draft, cargo arrangements, shore/pier interfaces, performance capabilities, design standard classification society, hull lines and cost information - both procurement and operation/sustainment). Provide acquisition and technical approaches and identify associated challenges. Provide approach for trading off the capabilities of built-in versus modular or flexible facilities to accomplish the above stated intended use. Other ideas or suggestions for using commonality or reconfigurable systems to reduce ship construction costs/time may be submitted. CHARACTERISTICS: Minimum 5,000 ft2 (1,860 m2) vehicle and cargo stowage space (8,000+ ft2 preferred) on weather deck or with access to weather deck capable of handling static deck loads up to 450 psf, and with at least 13.5 ft (4.1 m) clear overhead or open overhead and a 5-10 MT crane to facilitate cargo and small boat handling. Habitability for US Navy crew of approximately 30 + surge capacity for additional 43 Marines or Sailors supporting 11 day missions without replenishment Minimum 14 knots Sustained Speed with full cargo load Minimum 3,500 nm operating range Single point off/on load to beach (e.g. beachable) 90,000 gal. cargo fuel storage The Government is receptive to alternative platforms or ships that achieve the missions stated above. The Company may propose modified characteristics. The Government may modify the above characteristics if a ship concept or parent design presents significant cost/time savings, improves performance characteristics, or reduces design risk. It is desirable that data be received with unlimited rights to the Government. Nevertheless, we recognize that proprietary data may be included with the information provided. If so, clearly mark such proprietary information and clearly separate it from the unrestricted information as an addendum. All information received that includes proprietary markings will be handled in accordance with applicable statutes and regulations. Responses to this notice will not be returned to the submitter. It is intended that this feedback could be directly incorporated into the design/characteristics of the vessel and CONOPS in support of any potential future RFP release. White paper responses are requested via email to Mr. Dan Maher at daniel.maher@navy.mil and Mrs. Katie Sanders at katie.sanders@navy.mil by 3 p.m. 27 March 2020. INDUSTRY DAY Program Executive Office, Ships (PEO SHIPS) is hosting two separate Industry Days. The first Industry Day will be held in the Gulf Coast region, exact location TBD, approximately two weeks after the release of this RFI. It is intended to provide additional information on the LAW platform concept, its capabilities and additional design methodology. This Industry Day will provide opportunities to answer questions and clarify any of the notional ship characteristics and/or intended use. The Second Industry Day will be held by teleconference on 9 April 2020 from 0800-0900. Attendees may sign up for 30 minute individual Q&As available via teleconference after 0900. Instructions on attending the teleconferences will be provided via the registration process described below. This second Industry Day will provide a more comprehensive discussion based on information exchange during the first Industry Day. Industry Day briefing/discussions will be UNCLASSIFIED. After the main briefing/discussion session, each company will be provided up to 30 minutes each to meet with the government individually (by teleconference for Industry Day #2). Attendance to one or both Industry Days is voluntary and not required to respond to the RFI; however, registration is required to attend the Industry Day(s). Although registration is free, space is limited. Each organization is requested to limit attendance to three (3) people who must be U.S. Citizens. Organizations should register no later than 28 Feb 2020 (no later than 06 April 2020 for Industry Day #2). To register, submit the following information via email to Mr. Dan Maher at daniel.maher@navy.mil and Mrs. Katie Sanders at katie.sanders@navy.mil for each attendee: a. Name b. Position c. Primary Business (Shipbuilder/Design Agent/Equipment Vendor/other) d. Company e. Mailing Address f. Telephone Number g. E-mail Address h. Citizenship i. Request for individual meeting with government (yes/no) A confirmation email will be sent providing additional details and acceptance of registration in the order they are received.