19 -- Tender/Lifeboat and Davit System

The Military Sealift Command (MSC) is improving the capabilities of the T-AH 19 Class hospital ships to provide humanitarian support. A significant component of this will be the addition of two tender boats (one each port and starboard). The tender boats will provide passenger and patient transfer between the hospital ship and locations inaccessible to large vessels. To conserve weather deck space, two existing open-topped lifeboats and their associated davits will be removed to provide deck space for the tender boats and their davits. To compensate for the resulting reduction in overall lifeboat capacity, the tender boats will be required to serve in the dual role of tender and lifeboat. MSC plans to issue a requirement for one (1) ship set, with an option for one (1) additional ship set, of combination cruise tender/lifeboats. A ship set is defined as two (2) combination cruise tender/lifeboats, two (2) SOLAS lifeboat davits, and two (2) SOLAS lifeboat winches. The updated issue date for the solicitation is 7-9 March 2007. The solicitation will be posted to the MSC website (http://www.procurement.msc.navy.mil/procurement/contract/RFPSearchEntry.jsp).