Operation & Maintenance of Expeditionary Transfer Dock Vessels
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
This is a Justification and Approval (J&A) for a non-competitive bridge contract for the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of Expeditionary Transfer Dock (ESD) Vessels. The Department of the Navy, Military Sealift Command (MSC), intends to award this one-year firm-fixed-price contract to the incumbent contractor, Ocean Ships, Inc. (OSI), to ensure critical mission continuity. The contract period is from May 2, 2026, to May 1, 2027.
Purpose & Rationale
The J&A outlines the critical need to limit full and open competition for this bridge contract, citing Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.103-1, "Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements." The primary reasons for this sole-source award are:
- Continuity of Operations: To prevent any interruption in service during the transition to a new, competitively awarded follow-on contract.
- Avoidance of Duplication of Costs: Awarding to a new contractor for a short-term bridge would incur substantial, unrecoverable costs for mobilization, onboarding, security clearances, and training.
- Mitigation of Mission Impact: A service gap would severely disrupt critical national security missions reliant on the ESD vessels.
- Operational Efficiency: Transitioning vessels to a non-incumbent for a brief period would be operationally burdensome, logistically complex, and financially inefficient.
Contract Details
- Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price bridge contract with separately estimated pass-through expenses.
- Duration: One-year firm period, from May 2, 2026, to May 1, 2027.
- Incumbent Contractor: Ocean Ships, Inc. (OSI).
- Product Service Code: V124 (Marine Charter For Things).
- Place of Performance: Houston, TX, United States.
Agency & Contacts
- Department: Department of Defense
- Sub-Tier: Department of the Navy
- Office: MSCHQ NORFOLK
- Primary Contact: Kurt Oberg (kurt.j.oberg.civ@us.navy.mil, 5642303410)
- Secondary Contact: CRUZ RAY (RAY.A.CRUZ10.CIV@US.NAVY.MIL, 5642263190)
Key Dates
- Published Date: May 14, 2026
- Bridge Contract Period: May 2, 2026 - May 1, 2027
Set-Aside
This is a Sole Source / Other Than Full and Open Competition justification; therefore, no set-aside designation applies.