TUGCON; Jones Act

Contract N3220526P5147, awarded under solicitation N3220526R6086, is a firm-fixed-price, lowest price, technically acceptable (LPTA) acquisition by the Military Sealift Command Norfolk for Jones Act-compliant ocean-going tug services to tow two 110' x 34' YC barges from INACTSHIPS Philadelphia, PA to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME in a single voyage. The contract mandates a U.S.-flagged vessel with sufficient bollard pull to maintain 6 knots in Beaufort 5 conditions, and requires the contractor to deliver a comprehensive towing package as defined by the U.S. Navy Towing Manual (SL740-AA-MAN-10), including completed Appendix H, steady-state tow line tension calculations, weather-dependent speeds of advance, a detailed tow configuration sketch, NDT documentation for barge deck fittings, tug certifications, route planning with ports of refuge, and compliance with COLREGS navigation rules. Performance is limited to a 4-day laytime beginning June 15, 2026, with an optional extension of up to six months, exercisable at the government’s discretion. The contractor must engage an Independent Marine Surveyor to certify safe rigging and issue a towing certificate prior to departure, and provide twice-daily position reports while in port and four times daily at sea. All invoicing must be submitted electronically via WAWF using DoDAAC N50082, and no physical packaging, preservation, or marking requirements are specified. The contract is a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 483111, requiring offerors to self-certify as small businesses with fewer than 1,500 employees. Key clauses incorporated include Paid Sick Leave under EO 13706, DEI Discrimination Prohibition, Restrictions on Foreign Purchases, Tax on Foreign Procurements, Security Prohibitions, Subcontracting Commercial Services, Code of Business Ethics, Whistleblower Rights, Service Contract Reporting, and DFARS provisions on U.S. expenditures and foreign procurement compliance. The contractor must also comply with DFARS 252.225-7059 prohibiting the use of goods or services linked to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and must submit valid vessel documentation including Certificate of Inspection, Certificate of Documentation, ABS Class certification