Palmer Station: Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT WILL NOT RESULT IN A DIRECT GOVERNMENT SOLICITATION. PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY. The National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Polar Programs (PLR) is the agency responsible for managing the United States Antarctic Program (USAP). Through a competitive procurement, Lockheed Martin (LM) won the Antarctic Support Contract (ASC) which provides logistical support to the USAP. The ASC operates three year-round stations, which include South Pole and McMurdo on the Antarctic continent, and Palmer on Anvers Island in the Antarctic Peninsula. Palmer Station is primarily a marine research facility where a majority of science is accomplished through the use of small watercraft. Through the ASC, NSF is seeking vendors to conduct engineering, fabrication, outfitting, certification/testing and commissioning for two rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB) with aluminum hulls for year-round use at Palmer Station. These craft should have matching hull designs, with the ability to be outfitted in a complementary manner, designed to safely and efficiently handle light oceanographic-sampling gear as well as a matched configuration that combines both search-and-rescue (SAR)/tow capability and passenger movement capacity. The goal is a compact and functional oceanographic platform that is easily maintained in a remote field setting and performs well while in a seaway or while in mixed brash-ice conditions. The minimum recorded temperature as of 2006 at Palmer Station is -31 degrees Celsius and the maximum 9 degrees Celsius. Storms and precipitation are frequent with approximately 35-50 cm of water equivalent of precipitation received annually in the form of snow and rain. Winds are persistent but generally light to moderate in strength, prevailing from the northeast. LM intends to solicit firm-fixed-price proposals for the building of these two RHIBs from interested contractors. The solicitation is under North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code 336612, Boat Building. The small business size standard for this NAICS is 500 employees. The anticipated solicitation release date is November 14, 2014 with a planned award date by December 19, 2014. To receive a copy of the solicitation or to submit questions regarding this opportunity, please contact LM's Sonya Reeser at [email protected].