The U.S. Navy is seeking bids for a potential $349.4 million contract to provide comprehensive engineering and technical services for its growing unmanned maritime systems (UMS) fleet. The service released a solicitation for an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ), multiple-award contract, which will utilize a cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) structure.
Empowering Unmanned Fleet Operations
The Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific published the request for proposals, which mandates full life cycle support for unmanned underwater and surface vehicles. Companies selected will execute critical work spanning design and development, fabrication, system integration, testing, and operational deployment.
The contract scope also includes essential functions like logistics, dedicated training, and direct operational support for naval units deployed with these unmanned assets.
Key Mission Areas
Contractors will support the platforms vital to the Navy’s high-priority operational requirements. These systems contribute to a range of missions, including explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), mine countermeasures (MCM), intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and general force protection.
The services provided will ensure the sustained modernization and readiness of the fleet.
Contract Structure and Evaluation
The Navy structured the procurement as a multiple-award vehicle, meaning multiple qualified offerors will secure a piece of the work, each sharing a $5,000 minimum guarantee. Evaluators will assess proposals based on technical acceptability and competitive pricing, avoiding a trade-off analysis.
Notably, the Navy highlights small business participation as a key evaluation factor, offering the highest rating to bidders who propose small businesses perform at least 25 percent of the total work.
