TUGCON; JONES ACT

The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command Norfolk has awarded Contract N3220526P5164 under Solicitation N3220526R6092 for ocean towing services pursuant to the Jones Act, requiring a U.S.-flagged vessel to transport two decommissioned Navy ships—EX-MOBILE BAY (CG-53) from Bremerton, WA, and EX-PELELIU (LHA-5) from Pearl Harbor, HI—to the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, in support of RIMPAC-26. The contract is a firm-fixed-price arrangement awarded on a Lowest Price, Technically Acceptable basis, where technical compliance is a mandatory threshold and price is the sole differentiator among qualified offerors. The tug must meet stringent specifications, including a minimum bollard pull of 68 tons, be built in 1970 or later, and be certified under the U.S. Navy Tow Manual (SL740-AA-MAN-010), with valid Certificate of Inspection, Certificate of Documentation or equivalent, and ABS classification. The contractor must submit a comprehensive tow package including a transit plan, ports of refuge, vessel photos, pedigree and testing records for all tow components, and full adherence to the MSC PROFORMA TUGCON 2026 (02-26). Performance is scheduled for two separate tows with arrival deadlines of July 11 and July 17, 2026, each requiring eight days of laytime, twice-daily in-port and four-times-daily at-sea position reporting, and mandatory standby capability for emergency reconnection during sinkex operations. A pre-tow conference involving the tug captain, MSC representatives, vessel personnel, and a government-approved Independent Marine Surveyor is required at both departure ports. The contractor must also provide internet and satellite phone capability, sufficient fuel capacity or a refueling plan, and ensure compliance with labor standards, whistleblower protections, cybersecurity restrictions, and foreign procurement prohibitions as outlined in numerous FAR and DFARS clauses, including Service Contract Labor Standards, Paid Sick Leave, and prohibitions on Xinjiang-sourced materials. Invoicing must occur through the Wide Area Work Flow system using specified DoDAACs, and no physical packaging or marking requirements apply as this is a service-based contract. All submissions must be made via email by May 27, 2026, adher