Sources Sought: Landing Platform Dock (LPD) Flight II Detailed Design and Construction (DD&C)

Description and Background

This notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes to assist the Government in developing a potential procurement strategy. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a commitment to issue a future solicitation. Participation is strictly voluntary; responses do not constitute offers and cannot form a binding contract. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs associated with their submission, nor will it notify respondents of the results. To ensure protection from public disclosure, respondents must clearly mark and label any submitted information that is proprietary or competition sensitive. Information provided shall be treated as Business Sensitive or Confidential to the responder and will be exempt from public release under the Freedom of Information Act. Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) Maritime may request further information regarding the capabilities of respondents to meet the requirements set forth in this announcement. Future information, if any, will be posted at SAM.gov.
 

Background

PAE Maritime is conducting market research to identify shipyards interested in and capable of designing and building Landing Platform Docks (LPDs). PAE Maritime is assessing the industrial base’s capability and capacity to support this production, identifying necessary facility investments, and establishing realistic schedules for production readiness.

Purpose and Objectives

The contemplated requirement is to provide engineering, planning, management, labor, material, and facilities as required to accomplish LPD Flight II Detailed Design and Construction (DD&C). The DD&C will take place at the awarded contractor’s facility.

Prospective offerors shall possess facilities capable of supporting a ship with the following characteristics:

Length – 684 feet

Beam – 105 feet

Displacement – 25,300 tons

Draft – 23 feet – full load

Information Sought

Interested parties may submit any relevant information that may assist PAE Maritime in understanding candidate shipyards, the existing industrial base, and the schedule and cost impacts of required facility expansions. This notice is not a request for proposals and respondents should not submit detailed proposals.

A. Cover Page

Limit response to 1 page

All submissions must include a cover page with general demographic information as follows:

• Company name
• Contractor and Government Entity (CAGE) code
• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
• Mailing address and physical address (if different)
• Business size status (based on NAICS code 336611)
• Type of small business (if applicable)
• Point(s) of contact name, title, phone number, and email address
• Your company’s primary occupation (e.g., shipyard, design agent/engineering firm, or other—if other, please explain)
• For design agent/engineering firms, which shipyard(s) are you potentially teaming with to design?

B. Production Strategy & Sourcing Capabilities

Limit response to 20 pages

1. Milestones Schedule: How would your firm meet the timeline requirements to support LPD Flight II detailed design and construction? Provide a milestone schedule beginning with start of fabrication and ending with delivery.
2. Perceived Risk: Identify any concerns or areas of risk you foresee (e.g., supply chain, long-lead materials, design transition, workforce constraints).
3. Pricing Methodology: Outline your proposed high-level pricing approach for LPD Flight II  DD&C.
4. Past Performance: How many ships of a similar design, complexity, or scale (e.g., amphibious combatants, large auxiliaries, or major surface combatants) has your firm constructed or currently has under contract?
5. Past Performance: When the most recent similar vessel was constructed, what was the total material and construction cost at delivery?
6. Provide a point of contact who can arrange a shipyard visit to see an existing ship of a similar class or design, if available, and current facilities.

C. Shipyard Facilities

Limit response to 20 pages

If your firm is a shipyard, provide information on your facility’s capability and capacity:

1. Under the LPD program, shipyards must meet one of the following criteria. Please explicitly state which option your firm intends to pursue and provide a detailed feasibility explanation:
   1. Option A: Possess appropriate, fully functional facilities already in place by the end of FY 2028.
   2. Option B: Ability to provide a validated, comprehensive facilities plan  by end of FY 2028 demonstrating how the necessary infrastructure and facilities will be built, certified, and fully ready for construction/fabrication start NLT start of FY 2032.
2. What capital investments, infrastructure upgrades, or other funding support, if any, would your firm require or expect from the Government to bring your facilities to a capable level to support LPD production? Detail the estimated cost, nature, and timeline of any requested Government investments.
3. Describe all current construction facilities and provide a yard plan which includes available build position(s) capable of handling LPDs, transition, and launch processes. Describe launch systems and docking capability (size constraints and water depth).
4. Explain or describe your planned facility capital investments or improvements prior to FY 2029.
   1. What specific new facilities (e.g., dry docks, assembly halls, outfitting piers) would be required to support LPD production and delivery?
   2. What additional resources (e.g., land acquisition, capital, heavy-lift cranes) would be required to build these new facilities?
   3. How much time would be required to complete these facility expansions?
   4. Provide a milestone schedule showing how new facility construction, dredging, or upgrades will align with the end of FY2028  and achieve full operational readiness by the beginning of FY 2032 fabrication start date.
5. What type of launchway, facility, and dry dock certifications do you have, and are they current? What upgrades or new certifications would be required prior to beginning of FY32?
6. What is the maximum depth of water, channel width, and air height (fixed bridges / overhead cableways) to open water?
   1. Discuss any necessary channel, waterway dredging, or improvements required to support LPD production, launch, and delivery.
7. How much warehousing and lay down area (square footage) is currently available on-site?
8. What is your warehousing capacity for secure (access-controlled) and climate-controlled items? Are expansions required to support the LPD program, and if so, by how much?
9. What is the largest vessel (draft, beam, length, and tonnage) ever built at this facility? Provide the maximum draft, beam, length, and tonnage for ship construction at your facility. If unable to accommodate LPD-sized vessels, please provide potential mitigations/facilities improvements required to alleviate those constraints.
10. Is the pier capable of safely tying up and securing LPD-sized vessels during a major storm or hurricane?
11. Describe the shore service capabilities of your facility, including:
    1. Electrical services (shore power)
    2. Potable water connections and capacity
    3. Sewer connections and capacity
    4. Oily waste removal

D. Shipyard Workforce

Limit Response to 20 pages

If your firm is a shipyard, provide the following information regarding your facility’s workforce:

1. Which typical labor trades and services do you contract out (example: Welder, Shipfitter, Electrician, HVAC, Joiner, Communications, , Insulation) and how are they integrated into your master schedule?
2. What is your typical ratio of contract labor to in-house company labor at your facility?
3. How do you utilize an Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) in your day-to-day operation?
4. What is your current and projected orderbook for the next 3-8 years, and how would LPD construction affect your current production capacity and existing program commitments
5. What is your typical annual turnover rate for production employees?
6. What is your current labor trade skill breakdown and average years of experience per labor trade skill? What is your ratio of journeyman to apprentice for your labor trades?
7. What is your capability and capacity to increase skilled production labor levels to support expanded LPD production and delivery? Would they typically be contract labor or in-house company employees?
   1. Is there enough existing yard infrastructure (e.g., parking, locker rooms, training facilities, etc.) to support the required workforce increase? If not, what must be added?
   2. Is the local/regional labor pool suitable for ship production?
   3. What timeline is required to recruit, hire, and train the necessary workforce to support production readiness?
8. Current Manning Levels: What are your current manning levels (in Full-Time Equivalents) for:
   1. Production, skilled
   2. Production, unskilled
   3. Engineering
   4. Design
   5. Program Management
   6. Testing and Quality Assurance

Response Submission

Please submit all response files in PDF format with filenames that reference the ID number for this notice (N00024-26-R-2435) and your company name. Email all submissions to the points of contact identified in this notice by the response date indicated.