USNS ARCTIC ROH/DD 2027 - Pre-solicitation

The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command is seeking industry input through a sources sought notice for the Regular Overhaul and Dry Docking of the USNS ARCTIC (TAOE-8), with an anticipated performance period from 8 February 2027 to 3 July 2027. The work will be conducted at the contractor’s facility located on the East or Gulf Coast of the United States due to operational and national security requirements. The solicitation number is N3220527R6002 under NAICS Code 336611 (Ship Building and Repair), which carries a size standard of 1,300 employees, and the government has determined the requirement will be set aside entirely for small businesses based on market research indicating sufficient capable small business participation. The notice is currently in the pre-solicitation phase, meaning no contract will be awarded from this notice; the goal is to gather capability data to inform the upcoming formal solicitation, expected to be released in mid-July 2026 via the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment. Interested firms must submit a capabilities package that includes company profile details such as UEI and CAGE codes, number of employees, facility description and location, business size status, and any socioeconomic designations like HUBZone, SDVOSB, or WOSB, along with disclosure of teaming or joint venture arrangements. Access to the detailed work item package and technical data requires execution of a binding Non-Disclosure Agreement by a corporate principal, with strict controls mandating that the data be used solely for proposal preparation or contract performance, safeguarded against unauthorized access, and destroyed or returned with written certification upon award to another contractor or upon completion of work. The vessel, a 230-meter-long auxiliary oiler, will require extensive maintenance including dry docking, hull cleaning and painting, tank renewal, steering gear overhaul, sea valve maintenance, and other structural and systems work as outlined in the notional work package. The government has not disclosed a contract value or pricing structure at this stage, and no formal evaluation factors, inspection criteria, or payment instructions are included, as this is a market research action to validate industry capabilities prior to issuing a full solicitation.