Description
The Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS or Corporation) is a wholly-owned U.S. Government corporation within the U.S. Department of Transportation which owns and operates that portion of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway in U.S. territorial waters between Lake Ontario and Montreal, Canada. The Corporation’s mission is to facilitate the safe and efficient passage of commercial vessels through the Seaway. The GLS and its Canadian partner, the Saint Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation(SLSMC), both own, maintain, and operate crane barges specifically designed to lift and move the miter gates organic to all locks on the Saint Lawrence River. The SLSMC owned Crane Barge Hercules has been in drydock for repairs since 2017, and due to the unique partnership between GLS and SLSMC, the GLS owned Crane Barge Grasse River had to be strategically placed in the Port of Montreal, QC. The need for the Grasse River in Montreal no longer exists, and it needs to return to its home port in Massena, NY. As a result, this requires an additional tug and crew to tow the vessel on the two-day trip. The licensing requirements and vessel requirements for that portion of the St. Lawrence River can only be met by McKeil Marine or Ocean Group. McKeil Marine is the only one that can meet the needs of GLS for the dates of the trip. The GLS intends to award a purchase order to McKeil Marine on a sole source basis in accordance with the authority of FAR 13.106-1 (b)(1)(i). This work will include towing the Grasse River from Montreal, QC to Massena, NY, with the GLS owned Tug Robinson Bay in assist on or about August 21, 2021. This will require the following approximate schedule: 1) Depart Montreal with the Crane Barge Grasse River on August 21, 2021, at 08:00 am (est). 2) Two days to tow the barge, stopping for rest the evening of August 21, 2021. 3) Arrive in Massena, NY, on the afternoon of August 22, 2021. The GLS shall acquire the services using the provisions, clauses, and procedures prescribed in FAR. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform equivalent or better services in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 11:30 pm EST on August 20th, 2021. The subject line of any correspondence shall contain TUG AND TOW - GRASSE RIVER. Such capabilities and qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by GLS not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of GLS. Oral communications are not an acceptable response.