PMS 300 Naval Surface Warfare Center - Carderock (NSWCCD) Acoustic Research Detachment (ARD) Research Vessel (R/V)

PURPOSE:  

This combined Request for Information (RFI)/ Sources Sought Notice (SSN) is being issued by the U.S. Navy, Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) Maritime code PMS 300, as market research to assess industry interest and identify capable sources through collecting capability statements for the acquisition of one (1) Research Vessel (R/V) for NSWC Carderock Acoustic Research Detachment (NSWCCD ARD).

The Navy is providing notional planning schedules and technical requirements to assist industry in developing responses and to solicit feedback of the requirement. Submission of any information in response to this announcement is purely voluntary.

This RFI/SSN does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future

SCOPE:

Research Vessel (R/V):

The anticipated plan for future procurement against this requirement is the PAE Maritime, Deputy PAE Expeditionary & Mine Warfare, PMS 300 Service Craft & Boats Multi-Award Contract (SCB MAC). Interested parties may respond following the guidance below in “RESPONSES & SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION” section.   

The notional schedule listed below is provided for planning purposes only. The descriptions and key characteristics of the potential service craft and boats are provided herein.  The Government is not obligated to pursue this schedule or a future solicitation because of this RFI/SSN.   

1. Issue Industry RFI                   4rd QTR FY26
2. Conduct Industry Day             1st QTR FY27
3. Issue Draft RFP                       2nd QTR FY27
4. Release Final RFP                  2nd QTR FY27
5. Anticipated Award                  3rd QTR FY27

DESCRIPTIONS  

Acoustic self-noise data collection for the U.S. Navy is performed at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division’s (NSWCCD) Acoustic Research Detachment (ARD) in Bayview, ID on Lake Pend Oreille (LPO). Such testing requires a vessel with a combination of size, speed, acoustic signature, and towing capability to accurately assess the performance of the towed arrays without interference from the host vessel. Primary mission of this R/V is to support testing on towed Sonar arrays and replace the aging R/V Chinook. 

Workboat Key Characteristics:  

Boat Type - Research /Vessel (R/V)

Notional Dimensions - 

80 ft maximum length

22’ beam maximum

~ 8’ molded depth; 6’ side height (actual)

~16’-5” bottom width

Propulsion - Marine Diesel propulsion plant (must meet requirements as specified in “Notional Speed”). Bow Thrusters for maneuverability on Lake Pend Oreille.

Notional Speed - 

Minimum speed: 2 kts

Cruising Speed: 12-15 kts

Max tow speed: 30 kts

Max transit speed: 35 kts

Crew - Crew Size: Four (4) personnel; 200ft allotment/room for staffed computer lab (12 personnel) vice passenger compartment. Galley and heat required, including hands-free Collection, Holding and Transfer (CHT) system for offboarding waste if possible.

Other Notional Characteristics - Required vertical deck payload 30,000 lbs. and 20,000 lbs. tow load for various towed arrays and on-deck cable reels of varying sizes and weights. Requires specialized acoustic treatments including items specified immediately below this table for NSWCCD ARD to complete test events and analysis.

• General
  • Must be delivered direct to ARD’s facility in Bayview, ID.
  • Vessel must have a four-point mooring system for movement/transportation via overhead crane.
  • Computer Lab must have crane port via deckhead to enable placement and removal of systems within the Lab space.
• Acoustic Treatments:
  • Single isolation mounts for all normally operating rotating or reciprocating machinery in the engine room, propulsion motor room, and auxiliary machinery spaces.
  • Local damping on foundations of the propulsion motors and several other key auxiliaries in the engine room and propulsion motor room.
  • Acoustic damping for power generators.
  • Masker (new or retrofit).
• Electronics
  • LiDAR, RADAR, ADCP, USCG-compliant Marine Radio, Intercom and Depth Sounder.
  • Weather Station.
• Generator
  • One (1) 40 KW, 120/208 volt 3-phase 60 hertz generator
  • One (1) 60 KW, 120/208 volt 3-phase 60 hertz generator
  • Backup redundancy in case of generator casualties
  • Electrical power filtering for Computer Lab electronics

RESPONSES & SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION:

Interested parties are invited to submit any information that may support the Navy’s market research efforts. If interested and capable to perform the above described efforts, please provide the following information on company letterhead: 1) Organization name, address, e-mail address, web site address, telephone number, and size and type of ownership for the organization; and 2) Tailored capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming (>20%) is anticipated to deliver technical and industrial capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements.

Respondents are responsible for properly marking and clearly identifying proprietary information or trade secrets contained within their response.  The Government will not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any proprietary information not properly marked and clearly identified.  Information provided shall be treated as Business Sensitive and will not be shared outside of Government activities and agencies without the permission of the provider.  Do NOT provide classified information or use the marking “CONFIDENTIAL”.  

BASED ON THE RESPONSES TO THIS RFI/SSN THIS REQUIREMENT MAY BE SET-ASIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES OR PROCURED THROUGH FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION. In accordance with FAR 52.219-14, should the prospective contract be competed as a small business set aside, the prospective offeror would be required to perform 50% of the cost of manufacturing, to include industrial work, planning, engineering, and program management.  If you are a small business, include a description of your plan to meet the requirements within the capability statement portion of your submission. Defense and commercial contractors, including small businesses, veteran-owned businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, HUB Zone small businesses, and woman-owned small businesses are encouraged to monitor sam.gov for updates and to participate in any future solicitation, if one is issued.  

This RFI is the continuation of market research under Part 10 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and is not an RFP. 

Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted in writing via e-mail to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer’s email addresses: jennifer.a.ede.civ@us.navy.mil and kirby.e.tucker.civ@navy.mil. Verbal questions will not be accepted. Questions shall not contain classified information. 

Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the efforts described herein are invited to submit a response to this RFI/SSN by 1500 EDT on 02 October 2026.

Please follow the method below to submit your response:

1.         Upload and submit your response to the Safe Access File Exchange (SAFE) application (https://safe.apps.mil/my.policy).  Please follow the steps below:

A.        Proceed as a Guest user by clicking on "I do not have a CAC or this machine is not configured to read my CAC and I would like to access SAFE as a Guest User"

B.        Fill in all required fields

C.        Upload your response and grant file access to the following email addresses: jennifer.a.ede.civ@us.navy.mil, kirby.e.tucker.civ@navy.mil and thomas.s.anderson2.civ@us.navy.mil.

D.        Click the "Submit" button

E.         If you are having issues with the SAFE application, please request a drop off link from the following email addresses: jennifer.a.ede.civ@us.navy.mil and kirby.e.tucker.civ@navy.mil

DISCLOSURE:  

This is a RFI/SSN notice only. This is not a RFP, nor is a formal solicitation available at this time. This RFI is for voluntary feedback and informational planning purposes and not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue an RFP, contract, or order for any actual procurement of materials, machinery, supply or service. Unsolicited proposals submitted in response to this RFI will not be evaluated. The Government will not pay for any effort expended or any material provided in response to this announcement. All costs associated with responding to this RFI are solely at the responding parties' expense.  

This RFI/SSN is open to all interested parties both foreign and domestic.  Should an RFP for production be issued, boat designs which originate outside the U.S. can be permitted if the prime contractor can meet all domestic United States manufacturing and solicitation requirements.    

 Responses to this notice are not offers and will not be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract or agreement. The Government will not be obligated to pursue any particular acquisition alternative because of this RFI. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if one is issued. Specific responses to the approaches will not disqualify or have an impact on participation and evaluation on future solicitations.