OMAO Contract Mariner Support Services

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To provide contract professional licensed and unlicensed mariners to support NOAA's fleet of research and survey ships, filling gaps in the existing workforce and supporting vessel operations.

• Provide a variety of positions including Licensed Marine Engineers (Chief, First, Second, Third Assistant Engineers) and Unlicensed Mariners (QMED, Junior Engineer, Oiler, Wiper/General Vessel Assistant-Engine, Chief Boatswain, Able Bodied Seaman, Ordinary Seaman/General Vessel Assistant-Deck, Chief Steward, Chief Cook, Second Cook, Steward Assistant).

• Positions may be assigned to any class of NOAA ship for underway and pier-side operations.

• Support will be used to backfill absent employees, assist in port with routine work, and fulfill critical staffing requirements at sea.

• Assignments may vary in length, generally from one week to 90 days.

• Daily rates are based on a 10-hour workday for licensed engineers and an 8-hour workday for unlicensed mariners, with overtime authorized only by the Executive Officer (XO).

• Vessel homeports include Norfolk, VA; Charleston, SC; Gulfport, MS; Pascagoula, MS; Newport, OR; Newport, RI; Kodiak, AK; Ketchikan, AK; San Diego, CA; Honolulu, HI; New Castle, NH.

• Assignments can be at sea or in port.

• Mariners must hold current, valid, appropriate USCG licenses and STCW endorsements.

• US passport and US citizenship are required.

• Mariners must procure their own licenses and credentials and conform to all applicable laws and regulations.

• Contractor is responsible for payroll, travel, workers compensation, and training.

• Mariners must meet minimum qualifications, with the Contractor providing a list of requirements.

• Specific health and ability documentation is required (NOAA Form 57-10-01, NOAA Form 57-10-02, tetanus shot proof).

• All mariners must follow COVID protocols.

• NOAA will provide berthing, meals (or allowance), tools, and safety gear.

• Contractor is responsible for insurance.

• Services are requested via an emailed Task Order Request for Quote (TORFQ).

• Quotes must include names, estimated prices, breakdown of costs, and medical documentation.

• Invoices are submitted upon departure or every 30 days, including time/attendance, travel receipts, and meal allowance summaries.

Sources Sought Notice

This notice is for planning purposes only to conduct market research for providing mariner support to fulfill staffing requirements onboard NOAA vessels. The Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is performing this research. The acquisition, if issued, will be a Request for Quote (RFQ).

• The nature of the work is to provide contract professional licensed and unlicensed mariners for shipboard assignments as described in the DRAFT Statement of Work.

• The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code is 541330, Engineering Services (Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture).

• The size standard for this NAICS code is $25.5 million.

• Interested parties should submit a brief (no more than three pages), typed Capability Statement.

• The Capability Statement must include:

  • Company Profile (name, address, UEI, business type, point of contact, capabilities related to DRAFT SOW).
  • Capability Demonstration (narrative on staffing capabilities, evidence of recruiting/vetting/retention for mariners, corporate experience within the last three years with verifiable details).

• Submission deadline: June 24, 2026, no later than 3:00 PM ET.

• Submission to: tamara.horton@noaa.gov

• All types of business concerns (large, small, nonprofit, educational institutions) are encouraged to submit.

• Responses will help determine potential socio-economic set-asides.

• This is NOT a solicitation. Issuance does not obligate the Government to procure or issue a solicitation.

• The Government is not obligated to pay for submitted information and responses cannot be accepted as offers.

• Proprietary information should be clearly marked.

• A DRAFT Statement of Work is provided for informational purposes.

• This is not a request for quotation. The Government does not intend to award a contract based on this notice or reimburse for costs incurred.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To provide and maintain current CargoMax™ Stability and Loading Software data files and HECSALV/HECSTAB ship models for all ships in NOAA's fleet. CargoMax™ is the standard on-board stability software used by the NOAA fleet.

• Update CargoMax™ data files and Vessel Information Books (VIBs) to reflect changes in ship configuration and mission.

• Prepare VIBs for user instruction.

• Provide the latest version of CargoMax™ with each ship update, along with the user manual.

• Develop CargoMax™ data files for new NOAA fleet ships.

• Provide HECSALV/HECSTAB software and licenses for NOAA to view, edit, and create ship models.

• Provide two perpetual licenses for shore-side use with yearly update options.

• Maintain a secure website for CargoMax™ distribution with unique shore-side and ship logins.

• Provide technical services to update stability software due to changes in ship weight, centers of gravity, trim and stability booklets, tank configurations, hull form, and superstructure.

• Provide at least 8 hours of training per shipboard software installation, including a user manual and demonstration of critical software components.

• Provide 3 days of onsite training for approximately 10 shoreside support personnel, covering stability and hull modeling software.

• Conduct up to five ship or shore visits per year for training, with each day including 8 hours of software training.

Not explicitly detailed, but implies ongoing support and updates throughout the lifecycle of the ships and software.

• Software licensing and maintenance.
• Technical assistance and training.
• Secure website for software distribution.
• Potential for NOAA to cover costs for ABS review and approval of CargoMax™.