MARITIME COURSES OF INSTRUCTION

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding the Maritime Course of Instruction solicitation.

• Celestial Navigation Course: The government has corrected PWS 4.2.3 to remove the USCG approval requirement for the Celestial Navigation course. The original PWS specified a 10-day USCG-approved course, while a revised PWS asked for a 5-day "Celestial Navigation as a backup to loss of GPS" course. The vendor can support either, but the 5-day version would not carry USCG approval.
• Certificates of Completion: Certificates of completion are required for USCG-approved courses, as stated in Para 4.3.2.
• Credentialing: The contractor is not responsible for credentialing operators after course completion.
• Place of Performance (STCW Training): The government's requirements for STCW training locations remain unchanged, despite vendor concerns about finding facilities within a 50-mile radius of all three required locations (San Diego, CA; Virginia Beach, VA; Stennis Space Center, MS).
• Radar Observer (Unlimited) Course: At this time, only in-person, classroom-based instruction is acceptable for the Radar Observer (Unlimited) course. Hybrid or online components are not currently accepted.
• Training Provider Utilization: The use of subcontractors is permitted, but contractors must adhere to small business subcontracting limitations. Individual courses (COIs) cannot be split by location, but multiple locations can be used for different courses over time.
• Course Schedules: The government is requesting commercial courses as described in Addenda 01 - Performance Work Statement. Contractors may not propose additional course dates outside of these specified commercial offerings.
• USCG-Approved Schools: The government is NOT requiring the prime contractor to hold USCG approval for schools. The objective is to secure training that satisfies learning objectives and complies with USCG Standards of Training, which can be met by third-party partners under the prime's management.

These clarifications refine requirements related to course content, delivery, and provider approvals, but do not appear to alter key deadlines or submission rules.

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To provide contractor support for delivering professional maritime education and training courses to Naval Special Warfare (NSW) personnel, enabling them to obtain higher-level education and training to become professional mariners. The courses aim to prepare personnel for advanced navigational responsibilities and ensure compliance with Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) requirements.

• Provide attendance/seats in USCG-approved professional maritime education and training courses.

• Courses include 100T MASTERS, RADAR Observer Unlimited, Celestial Navigation, and STCW certification.

• Contractor is responsible for all expenses related to attending courses; Government will not provide training locations.

• Government personnel will join prior established commercial courses; dedicated instructors and course dates are not mandatory.

• Customized courses may be negotiated at the task order level.

• Minimum of two and maximum of twenty-four attendees per course, with deviations negotiable.

• Contractor must ensure training is conducted in accordance with applicable guidelines and meets stated requirements for endorsements and certifications.

• Contractor must provide requisite course documentation, materials, and resources.

• Deliverables must be submitted within stated timelines.

• Performance will be monitored by a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) through observation, validated customer complaints, and surveillance.

• Period of Performance: Five-year period with five individual ordering periods, with potential for a six-month extension.

• Place of Performance: Contractor training locations within a 50-mile radius of Virginia Beach, VA; San Diego, CA; Stennis Space Center, MS; and other locations negotiated at the order level.

• Contractor shall provide all student handouts, navigation tools, graduation certificates, homework assignments, and workbooks.

• Contractor shall provide monthly After-Action Reports and respond to Contract Discrepancy Reports (CDRs) for unsatisfactory performance.

• Contractor must establish appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards for government data.

• Contractor is responsible for the safety of its personnel and property, as well as government personnel and property, and must comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

• Contractor shall implement and maintain a Quality Control Plan (QCP).

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Excel spreadsheet containing pricing sheets for Maritime Courses of Instruction (COIs) across multiple locations. It is intended for contractors to provide per-student pricing for various courses over five ordering periods (OPs) and an optional period.

• Locations: Virginia Beach, VA; San Diego, CA; Stennis Space Center, MS.
• Ordering Periods (OPs): OP 1 (Award - Day 365) through OP 5 (Day 1,464 - Day 1,829), plus an optional period.
• Courses of Instruction: Includes specific courses like "100 Ton Masters," "RADAR Observer Unlimited," "Celestial as a Backup to Loss of GPS," and "USCG Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for seafarers." An "Other related COIs" category is also listed, to be negotiated at the order level.
• Annual Estimate of Students: A non-binding estimate is provided for each course.
• Pricing Columns: Separate columns for OP1 through OP5 and an optional period for per-student pricing.
• Total Evaluated Price: A summary sheet aggregates the total evaluated price by location and overall.

Bidders must use this document to input their proposed per-student pricing for the specified courses and ordering periods. The "Total Evaluated Price" section indicates the structure for overall pricing evaluation. The "Other related COIs" section highlights potential for future negotiation. All pricing is to be provided in the highlighted cells, and dates are to be finalized upon award.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Excel spreadsheet titled "Att 01 - Question Submission Sheet.xlsx". It is intended for vendors to submit questions related to the "MARITIME COURSE OF INSTRUCTION" opportunity.

The spreadsheet contains columns for:

• Document Name
• Document Reference (Paragraph/Page Location)
• Question

This attachment serves as the designated method for bidders to formally submit any questions they may have regarding the solicitation. Vendors should use this sheet to ensure their questions are properly recorded and directed for response.

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

To provide comprehensive classroom maritime courses of instruction for Naval Special Warfare (NSW) personnel, enabling them to obtain higher-level education and training to become professional mariners and meet USCG and STCW requirements.

• Provide attendance/seats in USCG-approved schools for comprehensive courses of instruction.

• Specific required courses include: 100T MASTERS, RADAR Observer Unlimited, Celestial Navigation (as backup to GPS), and USCG Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) for seafarers.

• Customized or related courses may be negotiated at the task order level.

• Minimum of two (2) and maximum of twenty-four (24) attendees per course, with deviations negotiable.

• Contractor is responsible for providing all student handouts, navigation tools, graduation certificates, homework assignments, and workbooks.

• Government will not provide building locations or materials.

• Contractor performance will be monitored by a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).

• Performance standards include ensuring training is conducted in accordance with applicable guidelines, meeting stated requirements for endorsements and certifications, providing requisite course documentation and materials, and submitting deliverables within stated timelines.

• Non-compliance may result in Contract Discrepancy Reports (CDRs) and affect CPARS ratings.

• Five-year period of performance with five individual ordering periods.

• Contract terms may be extended for an additional six months.

• Performance will occur at contractor training locations within a 50-mile radius of Virginia Beach, VA; San Diego, CA; and Stennis Space Center, MS. Other locations to be negotiated.

• Contractor must ensure personnel meet maritime standards for basic safety and proficiency.

• Training must comply with USCG Standards of Training, and Maritime Watchkeeping (STCW) requirements.

• Contractor must implement and maintain a Quality Control Plan (QCP).

• Contractor is responsible for the safety of their personnel and property, and compliance with applicable Federal, State, and Local laws.

• Contractor must establish administrative, technical, and physical safeguards for nonpublic Government data.

• Contractor must report all contractor employee labor hours via a secure data collection site (https://sam.gov/).

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for Maritime Courses of Instruction (COI). The government is procuring these services to provide training.

• The core requirement is for Maritime Courses of Instruction (COI).

• Detailed requirements are outlined in Addenda 01 - Performance Work Statement (PWS).

• Pricing details are to be provided in Addenda 02 - Pricing Sheet.

• The contract type is not explicitly stated, but it is structured as a solicitation for future orders.

• The total value of all orders issued under this solicitation and any resulting award shall not exceed $2,000,000.

• The guaranteed minimum contract value is the dollar value of the first order issued.

• The period of performance will be defined upon award, with a total contract length of five years, potentially extending to five years and six months if an option at FAR 52.217-8 is exercised.

• Offerors must submit a quote that includes:

  • Representations and Certifications (FAR 52.209-7, FAR 52.212-3 Alt I, SOFARS 5652.204-9004).
  • Technical Capability Statement (12-page limit).
  • Past Performance information (6-page limit, or based on contracting officer's knowledge/SAM record).
  • Pricing as detailed in Addenda 02.

• The solicitation is set aside for Small Business.

• The award will be made on a Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable (LPTA) basis with acceptable past performance.

• Key deadlines:

  • Solicitation Issue Date: 17 Dec 2025
  • Offer Due Date: 22 Jan 2025, 05:00 PM
  • Questions Due: 05 January 2026, close of business (5 PM Pacific Time)

• This acquisition is set aside for Small Business.

• Addenda 01 (Performance Work Statement), Addenda 02 (Pricing Sheet), and Attachment 01 (Question Sheet) are referenced.

• Offerors are reminded to review the entire solicitation and all addenda.

• Failure to comply with instructions may result in disqualification.