This is a Sources Sought announcement in accordance with FAR 15.201 and in anticipation of a potential future procurement program under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT). Information provided shall be treated as Business Sensitive or Confidential to the responder, exempt from public release under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
This Sources Sought announcement is not a request for proposal (RFP) or a request for quote (RFQ). The purpose of this announcement is to gather information from the marketplace to determine industry capability and interest. Information provided in response to this notice will not be considered an offer by the responding contractor and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.
Southeast Regional Maintenance Center (SERMC) is conducting market research to determine industry capability and interest in performing the upcoming Docking Selected Restricted Availability (DSRA) onboard USS THE WICHITA (LCS 13). The type of work to be performed involves providing required paint, coatings, preservation products, and OEM engineering/technical services while the vessel is dry-docked.
Scope of Requirements
The Government seeks sources that can provide support as follows:
- Product Provision: Provide paint, coatings, and preservation products per the Government's Work Statement.
- Navy Paint Warranty: Paint, coatings, and preservation products must meet the required standards per the attached Navy Paint Warranty (Attachment 3).
- No Waivers/Subcontracts: The responding vendor must provide the required warranty directly, without waiver or subcontracting.
- OEM Certification: Offerors must provide proof of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) certification for the paint and coating systems.
- Qualified Personnel: Provide Field Service Technical Representatives (FSTR) that meet or exceed the minimum qualifications within the Work Statement in order to perform, inspect, and certify the work stated. Personnel may not be substituted without express written approval by the Government.
- Hull Coating System: Provide a twelve (12) year antifouling, underwater hull, and boot top coating system that complies with epoxy anticorrosive MIL-PRF-24647, Type I or II, and that complies with antifouling paint MIL-PRF-24647, Type II.
- Marking Compatibility: Provide preservation products that are suitable for use as hull and boot top markings on the ablative antifoulant paints.
- Substrate Compatibility: All preservation products must be compatible and have the ability to be applied over any existing coating on like surfaces.
Statutory and Licensing Requirements
- Homeport Statute (10 U.S.C. 7299A): In accordance with the "Homeport Statute", this procurement will solicit offers only from offerors capable of performing the work in the Mayport homeport area.
- Agreement for Boat Repair (ABR): Offerors must have, or be able to obtain, an Agreement for Boat Repair (ABR) or Government-approved equivalency by the time of contract award.
- Anticipated Contract Type: Firm-Fixed Price (FFP).
- Evaluation Method: Price-Only (Among conforming, responsible, and technically acceptable offerors—not a structured Part 15 LPTA).
II. Summary of Navy Paint Warranty (Attachment 3)
The successful contractor will be required to provide an express Marine Coatings Warranty (incorporated into FAR 52.212-4(o) Addendum) that includes:
- Two-Year Application Durability: Warranting that the paint is applied correctly so that it lasts a minimum of two (2) years after the date of application, and that the paint is usable up to its expiration date.
- Premature Failure Remedies: In the event of premature failure (e.g., delaminating, blistering, rust-through, softening, peeling), the Contractor shall furnish, at no cost to the Government, all materials and technical representative services necessary to recoat the failed area at any domestic or foreign location designated by the Government.
- Hull Scamping: Providing scamping of the underwater hull at no cost to the Government if more than twenty (20) percent of the underwater hull is heavily fouled due to poor performance of the antifouling within two (2) years of application.
- Misapplication Notice: The warranty is not voided by shipyard misapplication unless the Contractor's technical representative provides timely notice (written within 24 hours of verbal notice, and no later than 8 hours after the event) specifying the affected areas and required remedial actions.
III. Questions for Industry
The notice of interest should include a brief description of your company, its capabilities as they relate to the requirements, and answers to the following specific questions. Please limit your response to no more than five (5) pages (excluding certifications or licenses).
- Is your company a small or large business as defined by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under NAICS code 325510 (Paint and Coating Manufacturing)? If a small business, please specify your socioeconomic status (e.g., Small Business, 8(a), Women-Owned (WOSB), HUBZone, Veteran-Owned (VOSB), or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVOSB)).
- How many employees does your company have?
- Does your company have an active website? If so, what is your company's website address?
- Does your company have a satisfactory performance record for this type of marine preservation work? Please provide examples of relevant and recent (within the last three years) past performance.
- Is your company able to provide both the desired paint product AND the manufacturer's guarantee/warranty without waiver or subcontracting, as detailed in the "Scope of Requirements" and "Navy Paint Warranty"?
- Given the complexity of the work described in this announcement, please describe your company's historical experience completing services on similar ship classes (e.g., Littoral Combat Ships or similar naval vessels) or briefly describe how your company is capable of meeting these requirements by the time of contract award.
- Given the complexity and size of the work described, does your company plan to submit a proposal/quote in response to the anticipated solicitation for the paint coatings and technical services of USS THE WICHITA (LCS 13)?
IV. Submission Instructions
What to Submit
Interested companies should submit their response on company letterhead. Submissions must include:
- A completed response to the seven (7) questions in Section III.
- Identification of a single Point of Contact (Name, title, phone number, mailing address, and email address).
- Evidence of OEM certification (or capability to provide it).
- Proof of an active Agreement for Boat Repair (ABR) or equivalent certification for the Mayport homeport area.
Where and When to Submit
All responses must be submitted electronically via email with the subject line: "USS WICHITA (LCS 13) Docked Selected Restricted Availability (DSRA) - Paint OEM Sources Sought".
- Submission Deadline: July 29, 2026, at 10:00 AM (1000 hours) SERMC Local Time.
- Submit to the following Points of Contact (POCs):
- sermc_c423.4_lcs_gold@us.navy.mil
- andres.m.walsh.civ@us.navy.mil
- anthony.r.turner14.civ@us.navy.mil
- jonathan.lebron.civ@us.navy.mil
Notices Regarding Sources Sought
- No Telephone Inquiries: No telephone or fax inquiries will be accepted or acknowledged. Requests for solicitation packages will not be granted, as the solicitation is still in development.
- No Government Obligation: The Government will not pay for any effort expended or materials provided in response to this announcement, nor will the Government return any data provided.
- Information Postings: All future updates, amendments, and the eventual solicitation package (RFQ) will be published publicly on the SAM.gov website (https://www.sam.gov).
Contracting Office Address:
USS WICHITA (LCS 13) DSRA
Southeast Regional Maintenance Center
Building 1488, Naval Station Mayport
Jacksonville, Florida 32228
