COMMANDING OFFICER, ATTN NAVFAC CONTRACTS OFFICE CODE 27, NCBC 1000 23RD AVE, PORT HUENEME CA 93043-4301

A -- DOCKING NAVIGATION AND DYNAMIC POSITIONING FOR NEW BARGE LIGHTERAGE SYSTEM SOL N4740896-DR-S001 DUE 032296 POC Contract Specialist, DARLENE R. SMITH, Code 27225, 805-982-2513 Technical POC Peter Tabor, Code ESC31, (805) 982-1308. The Navy is seeking sources to solve the problem of approaching and mooring (docking navigation and dynamic positioning) for a new barge lighterage system which is being developed to replace the existing Navy Lighter (NL). Assembled lighters are linked together into ''barge trains'' (24 by 360 feet) and are used to transport cargo from ship to shore. These barge trains must operate in sea state three (SS3) conditions and must be capable of safely approaching and mooring along-side a ship at anchor to receive cargo. Also, the loaded barge trains must be capable of safely approaching and mooring along-side a pier just outside the surf zone in SS3 to off-load. The barge train propulsion is provided by multiple waterjet units with 18,000 pounds total thrust. The new lighterage being developed may have bow thrust capability. Topics of interest are: dynamic positioning; shipboard controls; station keeping; joystick vessel control; marine electronics; GPS; navigation; command, control and communication systems; and integrated shipboard controls. The solution to this problem must be simple to operate, durable (no maintenance in a marine environment), and cost effective. Interested parties must provide sufficient technical literature for in-house evaluation of the contractor's capabilities. Closing date is 22 March 1996. All material shall be provided at no cost to the Government. This notice is not a request for proposals, and no contract will be awarded solely on the basis of the responses hereto, or any follow-up information subsequently solicited. Persons interested in submitting a response should send it to Commanding Officer, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Contracts Office, Code 2722, Building 41, 1000 23rd Avenue, Port Hueneme, CA 93043-4301.(0051)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0017 19960221\A-0017.SOL)