TUGCON; Jones Act; Open-Ocean Tow

Contract N3220526P5051, awarded under solicitation N3220526R6031, is a firm-fixed-price contract issued by the Military Sealift Command Norfolk for the ocean towing of a decommissioned Guided Missile Cruiser from Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, to the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The contract is a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 483111 and requires the use of a U.S.-flag, Jones Act-compliant tugboat certified for open-ocean operations. Proposals were evaluated using a lowest price, technically acceptable (LPTA) approach, with technical acceptability determined by compliance with the U.S. Navy Towing Manual SL740-AA-MAN-10, submission of a comprehensive towing package, valid USCG Certificate of Inspection, and coordination of all port operations including line handling and assisting tugs. The contract mandates the engagement of an Independent Marine Surveyor to conduct a full technical evaluation and issue a towing certificate prior to departure, and requires adherence to all applicable federal regulations including wage standards under the Service Contract Act, Executive Orders 14026, 13706, and 13658 governing minimum wages and paid sick leave, and environmental compliance standards for ozone-depleting substances and refrigeration equipment. Payment is processed exclusively through Wide Area Workflow (WAWF), with invoicing routed via DoDAAC N50082 and administered by the Service Acceptor DoDAAC N62387. The contractor is responsible for all pre-tow preparations, including vessel rigging and system checks, and must include up to two days of laytime in the lump sum price. All submissions must be made electronically via email by the deadline of 18 December 2025, with non-JPEG image formats required for vessel documentation and no physical submissions accepted. The contract includes a full suite of FAR clauses addressing ethics, whistleblower protections, labor standards, combating human trafficking, cybersecurity, supply chain security, and payment compliance, and requires affirmation of small business status, though no offeror certifications were included in the provided documentation. Acceptance of the vessel occurs exclusively at the destination facility in Philadelphia, with the government retaining sole authority over final approval.