TUGCON; OPEN-OCEAN TOW MISSION

The U.S. Navy, through the Military Sealift Command’s Norfolk office, is seeking industry input for a dual ocean towing mission under solicitation N32205-26-PM4-102, titled TUGCON; OPEN-OCEAN TOW MISSION. The requirement involves transporting two decommissioned vessels—the ex-USS Mobile Bay (CG-53) from Bremerton, Washington, and the ex-USS Peleliu (LHA-5) from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii—to the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, with arrival dates set for 11 July 2026 and 17 July 2026 respectively. Each tow must comply with the U.S. Navy Towing Manual (SL740-AA-MAN-010), requiring a minimum bollard pull of 68 tons, sustained speed of 6 knots in Beaufort 5 conditions, and adherence to 46 CFR Subchapter M and COLREGs. Contractors must submit a comprehensive towing package including a completed Appendix H, steady-state tow line tension calculations, a detailed rigging sketch, non-destructive testing records for critical fittings, vessel certifications, and proof of crew qualifications, along with an approved Independent Marine Surveyor proposal. All submissions must be delivered via email by 1000 Eastern Time on 12 May 2026 to the designated point of contact. The tug must be U.S.-flagged, Jones Act compliant, and equipped with a valid Certificate of Inspection, Certificate of Documentation, towing endorsement, emergency tow lines, flooding alarms, and compliant navigation lights. The performance period allows up to four days total for both tows, including laytime at the destination, and contractors are required to remain on standby during sinkex events in case reconnection is ordered. The solicitation is a sources-sought notice, not a formal request for proposal, and no contract value, CLINs, or pricing data are provided. Small businesses must self-certify under NAICS code 483111, with a size standard of 1,050 employees, and large businesses must disclose subcontracting opportunities. All proposals must include a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) for SAM.gov verification. The Independent Marine Surveyor plays a critical oversight role, conducting technical evaluations and issuing the final towing certificate after rigging approval. Position reports must be submitted twice daily in port and four times daily at sea