Military Sealift Command, Ship Introduction, Washington Navy Yard, Bldg. 210, Code PM41P, Washington, DC 20398- 5541

V -- STATEGIC SEALIFT NATIONAL DEFENSE FEATURES (NDF) SOL N62387-96-R-3027 DUE 100396 POC Point of Contact: Al Skudlarek (202) 685-5378 The National Defense Features (NDF) Program will provide for the installation and maintenance of critical defense features on privately owned and operated, U.S. built, U.S.- flagged merchant vessels. NDF are features built into or added to co mmercial vessels to make them more capable of supporting the military in a contingency, such as enhancing the vessel's ability to carry military equipment or ammunition, or enhancing the vessel's characteristics such as speed or range. The NDF Pr ogram is not a shipbulding or operating subsidy program. A current requirement is for surge sealift assets to move rolling stock, available at load berth within ten days of call up. Roll- On\Roll-Off (RO\RO) vessels incorporating the COM-20 vessel characteristics, prepared with industry, can be used as g uidance for surge sealift need, but smaller RO\RO vessels, with at least 100,000 square feet of military utility will also be considered. Another sustainment requirement is to transport containerized ammunition to the theater of operations. Self sustaining container vessels in the 1500 TEU range, capable of loading at ports like Concord, CA, and discharging at shallow draft ports in theater will fill this ammunition transport need. Although proposals need not be limited to these ship t ypes, these are the principal requirements for an NDF Program identified by the U.S. Transportation Command. Other proposed features that enhance the military utility of a commercial ship may be considered, as long as they meet a military requir ement. Vessels in the NDF program would be availabe for immediate recall, through a binding agreement between the owner/operator and the U.S. Navy, in time to support a national contingency. The current plan is for a ''best value'' two-phased acquisition. The initial phase (Phase I) will consist of initial, short, written technical and price proposals. Those offerors selected by MSC for further competition will then be requested to sub mit detailed cost and technical proposals in Phase II. The performance period will be for the proposed commercial life of the vessel. Requests for the solicitation must be submitted in writing via mail or facsimile at (202) 685-5033/5567. The RFP is due to be released no sooner than 3 September 1996 with offers due no sooner than 3 October 1996. Those offerors who replied to the Pre-Solicitation Notice Published in the CBD on 23 April 1996 do not need to resubmit a request for the RF P. (0226)

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