Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) Family of Systems (FoS) program- Request for Prototype Proposal

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation seeks proposals for technically mature solutions to design, develop, and demonstrate Medium Unmanned Surface Vessels (MUSVs). The primary goal is to award a prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreement to perform an MUSV autonomy and vessel performance test by the end of fiscal year 2026. The government will use Other Transaction Authority (OTA) under 10 U.S.C. §4022.

• Phase 1: Proposal submission and evaluation.

• Phase 2: Potential selection for prototype OT award and negotiation.

• Prototype OT Work: Post-Award Conference (CLIN 0001) and an on-water MUSV Test Event (CLIN 0002) by September 30, 2026.

• MUSV Threshold Requirements:

  • Range: 2500 nm at 25 knots with a 25 MT payload in Sea State 4.
  • Payload Capacity: Two (2) Forty-foot Equivalent Units (FEU).
  • Autonomous Performance: Day/night autonomous operations in varying weather, complying with COLREGs, with defined zones and behaviors.
  • Emissions Control: Capable of restricting RF emissions when commanded, with a passive perception system.
  • Refueling: 2,000 gallons per minute via deck connections.
  • ABS standard compliance and initial class.
  • Seakeeping: Open ocean operation in Sea State 5, survivable in Sea State 7.

• MUSV Desired Attributes: Include ability to field 5-10 MUSVs in FY27, open architecture interfaces, autonomous reporting, multi-vessel control, 5-day pre-planned maneuvers without communication, 250 kW payload power, nesting capability, and emergency stop functionality.

• Contract Type: Prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreement.

• Period of Performance: Test Event completion by September 30, 2026.

• CLIN Structure:

  • CLIN 0001: Post Award Conference ($10,000)
  • CLIN 0002: Test complete and MUSV Test Report ($15,000,000)

• Total Estimated Value: $15,010,000

• Questions Period: April 1, 2026 to April 4, 2026.

• Proposal Submission Deadline: April 17, 2026, 12:00 p.m. Local Time.

• Proposal Submission Method: Electronic submission to specified points of contact. Hard copies will not be accepted.

• Proposal Validity: Until September 30, 2026.

• Evaluation Factors: Proposals will be evaluated based on four criteria: Proposed Business Model, Vessel Solution Design, Manufacturing Readiness, and Plan for Test Execution.

• At least one of the following conditions must be met:

  • A nontraditional defense contractor or nonprofit research institution participates significantly.
  • All significant participants are small businesses or nontraditional defense contractors.
  • At least one-third of the total cost is paid by non-Federal Government sources.

• Partnership and teaming agreements are encouraged.

• Proposals must be unclassified.

• Companies must have a CAGE code and be registered in SAM.

• Non-Government advisors may be used in proposal evaluation.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a template for offerors to submit questions and comments regarding Solicitation N00024-26-R-6326 for the Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV). It is designed to facilitate clear communication between potential bidders and the government.

• Item No.: For tracking questions.
• Date: To be completed by the offeror.
• Company Name: Offerors must complete this for tracking, but it will be withheld in public postings.
• Source Document: Specify the document (e.g., RFP, Attachment) the question pertains to.
• Page Number: The specific page number in the source document.
• Section/Paragraph: The relevant section or paragraph number.
• Question/Comment: The bidder's clarifying question or comment on the cited language/data.
• Proposed Action/Change: A suggestion or recommendation for the government's consideration.

This form is essential for bidders who have questions or require clarification on the solicitation documents. It provides a structured method for submitting inquiries and suggestions, ensuring that all questions are properly documented and addressed. Completing this form accurately will help bidders gain a clearer understanding of the requirements and potentially influence the final solicitation details.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation seeks technically mature solutions for the design, development, and demonstration of Medium Unmanned Surface Vessels (MUSVs). The primary goal is to award a prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreement to perform an MUSV autonomy and vessel performance test by the end of fiscal year 2026. The government is leveraging Other Transaction Authority (OTA) under 10 U.S.C. §4022.

• MUSV Design: Must be capable of autonomous operation, carrying containerized payloads, and meeting specific threshold requirements including a range of 2500 nm, payload capacity of two (2) Forty-foot Equivalent Units (FEU), autonomous operations in various weather conditions, and meeting American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) standards.

• Business Models: Offerors must propose pricing for two business models: 1) Contractor-owned and operated vessels, and 2) Government-owned and operated vessels.

• Manufacturing Readiness: Demonstrate readiness to produce MUSV vessels, including workload, workforce, facilities, production strategy, quality control, and supply chain management.

• Test Plan: A plan for an on-water MUSV Test Event, to be completed by September 30, 2026.

• Agreement Type: Prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreement.

• Period of Performance: The prototype OT work includes a Post-Award Conference and an on-water MUSV Test Event by September 30, 2026. The base award for the OT agreement is three years with one-year options for two additional years.

• Estimated Value: CLIN 0001 (Post Award Conference) is $10,000. CLIN 0002 (Test complete and MUSV Test Report Submitted) is $15,000,000, for a total of $15,010,000.

• Submission Deadline: Proposals are due by 12:00 p.m. Local Time (Washington, D.C.) on April 17, 2026.

• Submission Method: Electronic submission via email to specified points of contact. Hard copies will not be accepted.

• Evaluation Criteria: Proposals will be evaluated on four criteria: 1) Proposed Business Model, 2) Vessel Solution Design, 3) Manufacturing readiness, and 4) A plan for test execution. Proposals must meet or exceed threshold requirements for each criterion to be considered acceptable.

• Proposal Limit: A company may submit only one proposal as the prime company.

• Teaming: Partnership and teaming agreements are encouraged.

• Eligibility Conditions (10 U.S.C. §4022(d)): At least one of the following must be satisfied: a) a nontraditional defense contractor or nonprofit research institution participates significantly, b) all significant participants are small businesses or nontraditional defense contractors, or c) at least one-third of the total project cost is paid by non-Federal Government sources.

• The government will not pay for costs associated with Phase 1 (proposal submission and evaluation) and Phase 2 (negotiations).

• Companies must have a CAGE code and be registered in SAM.gov.

• No questions and answers period is provided under this solicitation.

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

This Statement of Work (SOW) aims to award a prototype Other Transaction (OT) Agreement to conduct and successfully complete a Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) autonomy and vessel performance test.

• The primary task is to perform an MUSV autonomy and vessel performance test.

• The Contractor will be responsible for providing all labor, travel, vessel(s), test range, materials, facilities, tooling, supplies, and equipment necessary for the MUSV Test Event.

• The Contractor is responsible for the test USV and associated support vessel operations, launch and recovery, certifications, insurances, relocations, storage, repair, and maintenance throughout the agreement.

• The MUSV Test Events must begin and end out of a port in the Continental United States.

• The Contractor shall successfully complete the MUSV Test Event and meet or exceed all test criteria provided in Attachment J-5.

• The Contractor shall develop, provide, and make available copies of all final test plans, test procedures, and test schedules to the Government fourteen (14) days prior to the start of the test.

• A Test Report (CDRL E001) must be prepared and delivered to the Government.

• The MUSV Test Event must be completed and the test report submitted no later than September 30, 2026.

• Test events will commence and conclude from a port within the Continental United States.

• A Post Award Conference (PAC) must be attended by the Contractor within 30 days of award, in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area.

• The Contractor shall designate a Program Manager accountable for all work.

• Data management requirements include furnishing deliverables and maintaining technical and product data for the prototype system.

• Government-approved applications and file formats (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Native for Engineering/Test Data) must be used for document delivery.

• Cybersecurity requirements include implementing CUI Security Requirements and delivering a System Security Plan (CDRL C001).

• Cyber incident reporting and cooperation with NCIS are required.

• Government representatives will inspect the test USV no less than fourteen (14) days before the start of the test and may require accommodation for up to six (6) representatives.

• Three (3) Government representatives will be present at the remote C2 station(s) and three (3) on the chase vessel(s) or the test USV during the test.

• The Contractor shall request Government approval for the use of its test USV prior to commencing the MUSV Test Event.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment J-5 MUSV Test Plan," outlines the objectives, scope, and procedures for the Test and Evaluation (T&E) of the surrogate Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) System for the MUSV 10 U.S.C. 4022 prototyping.

• Objectives: To establish measures of success for T&E, verify system performance, evaluate operational effectiveness, and assess system maturity.
• Key Testing Areas: Perception and Situation Awareness (PSA), COLREGS compliance & Vessel Safety, and Long-duration mission capabilities.
• Scope: Defines test criteria, methodologies, scenarios, and data collection requirements. Vendors are expected to develop a final test plan incorporating this document.
• Test Phases: Includes PSA Testing, COLREGS & Safety Scenarios, and Long Duration Mission.
• Test Procedures: Details specific tests within each phase, including "Circle PSA Testing," "Square Wave Classification," "Basic COLREGs Encounters," "Navigational Safety" scenarios (Static Object, Keep In Zone, Keep Out Zone, Shallow Water), and "Long Duration Mission Execution."
• Data Collection & Analysis: Specifies data requirements and analysis procedures for each phase.
• Roles & Responsibilities: Vendor roles to be specified in the test plan.

This document is crucial for bidders as it details the performance standards, testing methodologies, and success criteria for the MUSV prototype. Understanding this test plan is essential for developing a compliant system and preparing a responsive proposal. It outlines the specific capabilities that will be evaluated, providing insight into the government's expectations for system performance in various operational scenarios, including navigation, collision avoidance, and long-duration operations.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, titled "Attachment 6: Data Rights," is a form designed for bidders to assert any restrictions on technical data or computer software they are required to furnish as part of their proposal or contract.

The form includes a table with the following columns:

• Technical Data or Computer Software to be Furnished with Restrictions
• Technical Data or Computer Software
• Asserted Rights Category
• Name of Person Asserting Restrictions

Bidders are expected to complete this table to clearly identify any data or software for which they are asserting restrictions.

This attachment is crucial for bidders to properly declare any proprietary or restricted data or software. Failure to accurately complete this form may impact the government's rights to use, modify, or disclose the provided technical information and software. It directly informs the data rights clause of any resulting contract.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, Attachment J-7, provides Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) Pricing Tables for the Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) opportunity. It serves as a template for bidders to provide cost estimates.

• Instructions: Details on how to complete the tables, including rounding, currency (2026 U.S. Dollars thousands), and exclusions (fuel, CONUS/OCONUS travel, dispatch/recovery).
• Model 1 CO/CO: Tables for estimating costs based on operational days per year (1,250 and 2,500) for Option Years 4 and 5. Includes fields for Vessel, Insurance, Software Licensing, O&S Rate, and Total Annual Rate, as well as FFP Purchase per Vessel.
• Model 1 Government Purchase: Tables for estimating annual recurring autonomy license costs and FFP Purchase per Vessel, also based on operational days per year.
• Model 2: Tables for estimating Total Cost ($k) broken down by Labor Hours, Labor, Material, and ODC for Block Buy quantities (5 and 10). Includes fields for Annual Recurring Autonomy ($k) License and FFP Purchase ($k) per Vessel.

Bidders must use these tables to provide their cost proposals in the format specified. The data entered will be crucial for the government's evaluation of pricing for the MUSV opportunity.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, Attachment J-4, details the Payload Space, Weight, Power, and Cooling (SWaP-C) requirements for the Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV). It specifies the reservations for future Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) racks and the requirements for integrating payload decks.

• Interior Reservations (Table 1): Details SWaP-C reservations for multiple GFE racks, including weight, dimensions (width, depth, height), front/rear maintenance envelopes, heat dissipation to HVAC, and AC power consumption.
• Power Requirements (Section 1.1.2): Specifies 220 V, 60 Hz, 3-phase power for interior racks.
• Payload Deck Requirements (Section 1.2.1): The deck can integrate two Forty-Foot Equivalent Units (FEUs), each weighing 36.3 MT and consuming 75 kW (150 kW total).
• Mounting Requirements: Utilizes ISO 1161:2016 corner fittings and conforms to ISO 668-2020 container dimensions. FEU locations can also accommodate two Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs).
• Payload Power Connections: Requires 440 VAC, 60 Hz, 3-ph power with specific voltage stability (±5%), frequency stability (±0.5Hz), and harmonic distortion (THD ≤5%) requirements. Power connections must be within 10 ft of the payload location.
• Network Requirements: Provides an Ethernet connection for each payload location.
• Payload Clearance: A 4-foot clearance envelope is required between FEU payloads and at the ends for door opening.
• Center of Gravity (CG): Provides CG data for FEU payloads for weight and stability analysis (Table 2).

This attachment is critical for bidders to understand the physical, power, and environmental constraints of the MUSV platform. It informs the design, integration, and operational capabilities of any proposed payloads or equipment intended for the vessel, particularly concerning space, weight, power, cooling, and network interfaces.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a template for providing vessel characteristics and related data. It appears to be designed for bidders to fill out and submit as part of a proposal or technical submission.

• Vessel Characteristics: Includes fields for dimensions (LOA, LBP, BOA, Depth, Draft), displacement, and performance metrics (speed, range at various loads and payloads).
• Machinery & Propulsion: Details on propulsion power, prime mover type, propulsor type, and power generation.
• Payload Capacity: Information on total payload area, FEU/TEU bays, weight capacity, and power capacity.
• Auxiliary Systems: Fields for fuel load and other auxiliary systems.
• Hullform Characteristics: Hull designer, type, material, deckhouse material, and accommodations.
• Security: Systems for intrusion detection, anti-tamper, anti-boarding, platform security, and cybersecurity.
• Autonomy & Perception: Details on platform OEMs for navigation, MCS/EO, and C2 systems, as well as perception systems.
• Classification: Fields for classification body and notations.
• Service Life: Expected service life of the vessel.
• Partners: Information on shipbuilder, engine OEM, GenSet OEM, integrator, and other major partners.
• Shipyard: Details on the shipyard, location, and any required facility or capital investments.
• Production Timeline: Information on current capacity per year.

Bidders are expected to use this template to detail the characteristics of the vessel they propose to offer. This information is crucial for the government to evaluate technical compliance, performance capabilities, and overall suitability for the opportunity. Completing this template accurately will be a key part of the proposal submission.