Commander, Military Sealift Command, Bldg 210, 914 Charles Morris Court SE, Code N10, Washington, DC 20398-5540

19 -- NATIONAL DEFENSE FEATURES PROGRAM SOL N00033-99-R-4010 DUE 062599 POC Al Skudlarek 202-685-5378 WEB: See Description in 17., www.msc.navy.mil. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the contracting specilist via, Alfons.Skudlarek@msc.navy.mil. The purpose of this market survey is to allow the Military Sealift Command (MSC) to gauge commercial industry interest in a National Defense Features (NDF) program prior to drafting a solicitation, N00033-99-R-4010. Funding for the NDF is provided in the FY 96 Defense Authorization Act and falls under the authority of the National Defense Sealift Fund, Section 2218 of title 10, United States Code. The NDF program would provide funding 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 commercial 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. Depending on the type of ship, NDF could include, but not necessarily are limited to, strengthened decks, hoistable decks, or cranes for self-sustainability. The feature must be readily available for use when the vessel is employed during a national contingency. NDF funding can pay for any increased costs incurred by a contractor for the installation of the NDF and during commercial operation that are attributable to the NDF. It may also be used to provide compensation to ensure the availability of the ship during a contingency. 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 guidance for surge sealift need, but smaller RO RO vessels, with at least 100,000 square feet of military utility will also be considered. An additional sustainment requirement is to transport containerized ammunition to the theater of operations. Self-sustaining container vessels in the 500 (minimum) TEU range, capable of loading at ports in theater will fill this ammunition transport need. Proposals need not be limited to these ships. For example proposals could involve tankers with replenishment at sea (RAS) gear or heavy lift ships capable of carrying military watercraft. Other proposed features that enhance the military utility of a commercial ship may be considered, as long as they meet a military requirement. Ships capable of high-speed transit are of special interest. In all cases, commercial interests who would contract directly with a U.S. shipyard would be contingent upon the operator and the shipyard first reaching an agreement in principle. NDF vessels would be operated in commercial trade under the U.S.-flag and would be crewed by U.S. merchant mariners. Vessels under long-term Government charter may also be eligible. The vessels would be available for immediate recall, through a binding agreement between the owner/operator and the Government, in time to support a national contingency. Further information on the proposed NDF Program can be found in the Department of Defense (DOD) study ofthe costs and benefits of NDF in an active Ready Reserve Force (RRF), forwarded to Congress 8 March 1995. The DOD Study, which includes COM-20 Requirements, can be provided upon request. The Government is requesting submission of concept papers and reporting the results to Congress prior to issuance of an RFP that will entail a request for cost and technical proposals from the offerors. NDF concept papers, submitted by teams representing a U.S.-flag operator(s) and a U.S. shipyard(s) or individual offerors, should identify team members and their qualifications and, provide a description of the ship's intended commercial employment, types of NDF suggested and estimated costs, ship characteristics, milestone schedule, and proposed partnership and financing plans. Major components of NDF must be U.S. manufactured, but offerors will be permitted to include in the team effort foreign firms involved in the international shipbuilding or equipage industries to facilitate technology transfer or if domestic sources are unavailable. If you are interested in submitting a concept paper please go to the MSC Homepage at http://www.msc.navy.mil, go to "Contract Summary Page" and then "Market Surveys". Review Section C -- Statement of Work, Concept Paper Requirements (both Word for Windows), Attachments J1Lot1, J1Lot2 and J1Lot3 (Excel documents). You may also send an e-mail to: Alfons.Skudlarek@msc.navy.mil. Send a short (15 pages or less is recommended) concept paper and/or any comments to Military Sealift Command (Code PM-4P) by 25 June 1999. The Government will review and provide general feedback to NDF concepts submitted by potential offeror's. MSC is interested in concepts and or comments on suggested NDF, defining full costs of the NDF, (i.e. procurement, installation, maintenance, operating expenses), and contingency use compensation. Information received as a result of this Presolicitation Announcement may be used in the further development of the NDF program. Material that is considered proprietary in nature, see definition in concept paper, should not be submitted at this time. Firm's Interested in being placed on the solicitation mailing list must submit a written request to Military Sealift Command, PM41P, Bldg. 210, Room 470, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. 20398-5541, Attention Al Skudlarek, via fax (202-685-5033) or e-mail (Alfons.Skudlarek@msc.navy.mil). Offerors are to include their e-mail address as the Government intends to maximize its use for this solicitation. Offerors interested in receiving the solicitation via Federal Express should include their Federal Express Account Number with their request. Posted 04/16/99 (W-SN321268). (0106)

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