Electric 5k–6k Draw Bar Pull (DBP) Burden Carrier Tractor

This is a Request for Information (RFI) synopsis only, not a solicitation announcement and is issued solely for informational and planning purposes. This posting is not a Request for Proposals (RFP) or a Request for Quotes (RFQ) and it is not considered to be a commitment by the Government to award a contract nor is the Government responsible for any costs incurred in furnishing information provided under this RFI synopsis. No basis for claim against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this RFI synopsis or Government use of any information provided.

Further, the Government is not at this time seeking proposals or quotes and will not accept unsolicited proposals or quotes. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response to this RFI synopsis. The Government reserves the right to use any information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate, including using technical information provided by respondents in any resultant solicitation. Responses will assist the Government in determining the availability of potential solutions and commercial products in the market. At this time, no solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement.

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) Aviation Logistics Center (ALC) is conducting market research to seek sources that can provide or manufacture an Electric 5k–6k draw bar pull (DBP) Burden Carrier Tractor that meets the requirements as outlined in the below specifications:

Specifications

Electric 5k - 6k DBP Burden Carrier Tractor

Section 1- Scope:
Conventional Burden Carrier Tractor of 5K - 6K draw bar pull (DBP) OR 50,000 pounds force minimum, to 70,000 pounds force maximum.

Section 2 – Delivery Requirements:
First Article Unit, Quantity one (1) to be delivered 120-160 days after receipt of order (ARO).  

Estimated quantity of production units is one hundred and sixteen (116).

Section 3 – Requirements:

• Length without hitches not longer than 120 inches maximum.
• Length with hitches not longer than 150 inches maximum.
• Overall height is not taller than 90 inches maximum, with cab and beacon.
• Overall width is 80 inches maximum without mirrors.
• Tow Tractor gross weight: minimum 7,000 lbs. to 10,000lbs. maximum.
• Draw Bar Pull Force (DBF): minimum 5,000 lbs. to 6,000 lbs. maximum
• Rated capacity both front and rear.

Performance:

• Minimum continuous increase forward speed. Minimum one speed reverse.
• Reverse (R), Neutral (N), Forward (F), or Reverse (R), Neutral (N), D1 (low range), D2 (high range).
• Travel speed - The tractor, without load, shall be capable of attaining and maintaining a travel speed on level, paved roads of not less than 15 mph forward.
• Two- or four-wheel drive.
• Hydrostatic steering.
• Power steering, with emergency steering in the event of power failure, shall be furnished.

Suspension:

• Front: leaf spring or coil spring.
• Rear: leaf springs.

Hydraulic service braking circuit:

• The service braking system shall be the commercially available system provided by the manufacturer.
• The service brakes shall be capable of bringing the tractor to a complete safe stop in accordance ASME B30.5.
• Not more than 80 pounds of force on the brake pedal shall be required to meet the requirements of ASME B30.5.

Parking brake:

• Parking brake(s) shall hold, but not necessarily stop the tractor, without rated load when the tractor is stopped on a 15 percent grade in both the ascending and descending position.
• The parking brakes shall be operated by hand or foot controls and is located within reach of the seated operator. The brake shall have a locking device.
• The force required to pull the hand lever when setting the brake shall not exceed 35 pounds.
• The parking brake shall be independent from the service brakes.

Front and rear inching controls:

• Inching movement: 3 inches minimum when activated within 5 seconds.

Power source:

• Powered by an electric Lithium-Ion battery.
• Minimum capacity of 10kW or higher.
• On board charging system, 208-240V and/or 440-480V input voltage, three phase, 60Hz.
• Optional external charging system, 208-240V and/or 440-480V input voltage, three phase, 60Hz.
• First article will be 208-240VAC.
• An alternate 440-480VAC version will be required.
• If first article passes testing, an alternate 440-480VAC is required for other locations, unless the charger configuration is capable to accept 208-480VAC.

Towing hitch:

• Minimum 2-level front and rear hitches.
• 1.18inch minimum to 2.75inch pin diameter maximum.

Operators cab with doors, windows, and mirrors:

• Operator and passenger cab.
• The tractor shall be equipped with an enclosed cab and shall have doors with at least one window in each, which can be opened for ventilation.
• The doors shall be provided with hinges that can be serviced without door removal. In addition to the door windows, the cab shall be furnished with a front windshield and rear window.
• The windshield and all windows shall be safety glass.
• The cab interior shall be furnished with water-resistant non-absorbent thermal insulation to meet the heating requirements.

Visibility:

• The tractor cab shall allow for a 360-degree sight line around the tractor for a 95th percentile male and a 5th percentile female. The visibility shall conform to the standard visibility available in the industry.
• Mirrors to view front and rear hitch.
• Rearview and side mirrors; standard vehicle configuration.

Cab heating system:

• The heater shall be of sufficient capacity to maintain a temperature of +40° F at cab floor level, in an ambient temperature of -25° F.
• Defrosting windscreens (front and rear).
• Optional Air Conditioning.
• Windshield wipers (front and rear).
• Fan in cab.
• Driver seat suspended with passenger seat.
• Driver’s seat safety switch.
• An operator’s and passenger’s seatbelt conforming to SAE J 386 restraint devices.
• Seatbelts shall be designed to ensure the operator and passenger remain seated and entirely within the protection of the cab in the event of tip over.

Operational lighting:

• Rotating amber beacon on top of cab (not to exceed 90 inches overall height).
• Parking brake light.
• Lighting systems comply with road traffic regulations.
• Head, tail, and side operation lights. Turn & hazard signals. Reverse lights.
• Front and rear hitch work lights.

General requirements:

• Instruments and controls.
• In addition to the instruments supplied on the standard commercial tractor, an hour meter shall be installed in the instrument panel. Except the hour meter, all instruments shall illuminate.
• All vehicle controls shall be located within easy reach of the operator in the operator’s cab.
• All controls shall be clearly marked as to their use and function.

Reverse alarm:

• An audible backup alarm shall be furnished. The alarm shall automatically activate when the tractor selector is placed in reverse.

Horn:       

•  An electric horn shall be provided. The horn may be hand or foot actuated.

Weatherproof:

• Weatherproof dash cam.
• Optional back-up camera (CCTV System):

Fire Extinguisher:

• A commercial fire extinguisher shall be mounted on the exterior of the tractor in an easily accessible location.

• The fire extinguisher shall be a minimum 20-pound capacity ABC type, or equivalent.
• The fire extinguisher shall be UL listed.

Dissimilar metals:

• Unless suitably protected against galvanic corrosion, dissimilar metals shall not be in intimate contact with each other.

Coating:

• The tractor shall be primed and painted using standard commercial practices using commercially available coatings and shall conform to coating manufacturer’s guidelines.
• The finish shall show no evidence of uneven application, curtains, runs, snags, orange peel, lack of adhesion, or other defects.

Primer:

• The primer shall consist of a base coat of zinc-rich primer and an intermediate primer coat.

Tropical Rustproofing Package:
This should be considered a premium rust proofing package usually consisting of an additional coating. The tractor shall be treated with a corrosion preventative compound complying with AA-59295. Some of these tractors may be used in tropical/coastal environments and experience high humidity and salt spray. These environments usually cause high levels of corrosion in the areas listed below. At a minimum, these areas shall be coated in the following:

• • Cab, interior
  • Cab, exterior
  • Seams
  • Welds
  • Hidden recessed areas
  • Locations where dissimilar metals come in contact
  • Battery box

Topcoat:

• The final top-coat shall be the manufacturer’s standard commercially available polyurethane.
• Exterior / Interior Color: Semi-gloss White.
• Chassis / Frame / Suspension Color: Flat Black.

Drain holes:

• Structures shall be designed to eliminate pockets where debris and water might accumulate. All structural configurations shall allow water run-off or shall have adequately sized and placed drain holes.

Walkway / Step coating:

• Floor plates and step surfaces shall be coated with a nonslip coating compound or be furnished with a nonslip metal or tread plate surface.

Markings, data plates, and instruction plates:

• Corrosion resistant identification plate and all warning and instruction plates shall be provided and permanently mounted on the tractor. The identification plate shall contain the following information:
  • Tractor, Aircraft Towing
  • Capacity: (___) DBP
  • Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW):
  • National / Local Stock Number (NSN): (Provided by CG)
  • Contract Number:
  • Serial Number:
  • Model Number:
  • Manufactured by:
  • Manufacturer Name:
  • Manufacturer Address:
  • Manufacturer Service Phone Number:
  • US Property
  • ATA airport markings for Ground Support Equipment.
  • Markings must be reflective.

Slinging and tie down provisions:

• Slinging and tie-down devices that enable the tractor to be tied down to the floor of a transportation medium shall be provided. All devices should be easily accessible and minimize the need to crawl under the vehicle when securing it.
• All devices shall be capable of accepting a chain and hook with an outside diameter of 3.00 inches through its opening and shall have a structural safety factor of 2.3 to 1, based on static load.
• The notation “LIFT HERE” or “TIE-DOWN” shall be stenciled in paint near each lifting and tiedown device.

Transportability:

• The tractor shall withstand, without damage, highway, rail and marine transport.

Manuals:

• One (1) complete hardcopy of printed operation manual per delivery.
• One (1) complete electronic (PDF) copy of (operation, maintenance, and parts) manuals.
• Permission to upload electronic copy of manuals to USCG intranet for internal use.

Responses & Capability Information:

Responses to this notice should include company name, address, telephone number, point of contact (POC), the model number of the Electric Burden Carrier Tractor that meets the specifications of this RFI, any documentation to provide specifications and capabilities, certifications, etc., which will allow the USCG to understand your full capabilities.

Please ensure your response addresses the business and capability questions outlined below:

Business & Capability Questions:

1. Is your company a large or small business?

2. If small, does your company qualify as a small, emergent business, or a small, disadvantaged business?

3. If disadvantaged, specify under which disadvantaged group and is your company certified under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act?

4. Is your company a certified HUBZone firm?

5. Is your company a woman-owned or operated business?

6. Is your company a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned business?

7. Are your company's services listed on a GSA schedule?

8. Do you have other government agencies using this product/service? If so, which agencies, POCs, and contract numbers?

9. Do you offer a warranty with your product? If so, what are the warranty details and how long is the term?

10. What is the project delivery schedule for the first unit, and what is your expected production rate/timeline (per month and year) for multiple units?

11. How long have you been producing this product?

12. Do you offer training?

13. Can you provide the Technical Information Package (Owner, operation, and maintenance manuals, and electrical circuit diagrams) Permission to upload electronic copy of the manuals to USCG intranet for internal use.

14. Can you provide estimated pricing for shipping the units to Elizabeth City, NC?

Submission & Future Action:

After review of the responses to this RFI, and if the USCG plans to proceed with the acquisition, a Request for Quotes (RFQ) will be published on the Contract Opportunities website (www.sam.gov).

Responses to this RFI are not adequate responses to any future RFQ. All interested offerors must respond to the RFQ in addition to responding to this RFI notice. Responses to this RFI are NOT a request to be added to a list of prospective offerors or to receive a copy of the solicitation.

Reimbursement will not be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this notice and any follow-up information requests.

Closing date and time for receipt of response is 07/07/2026 at 11:00 P.M. Eastern Time. Telephone responses will not be accepted. Email responses may be submitted to William Swinosn II at William.T.Swinson3@uscg.mil. Please indicate 70Z03826IE0000008 in the subject line.