US East Coast/Gulf Coast Jones Act Tanker (Extended Term Charter)

Background
The Military Sealift Command (MSC) is conducting a Sources Sought request for information regarding the availability and pricing of a U.S. flag Jones Act compliant tanker. The goal is to secure one clean tanker capable of carrying various clean products, specifically F76, JP5, JP8, or JA1, in compliance with the Jones Act.
This initiative is part of MSC's Strategic Sealift Program to enhance operational capabilities.

Work Details
The contractor must provide a tanker that meets the following specifications:
1. Capable of non-coastwise voyages and loading a minimum of 280,000 BBLs of specified products without exceeding a laden draft of 12 meters.
2. Must include stowage plans for JP8, JP5, F76, and JA1 demonstrating compliance with density and API standards.
3. Maximum dimensions: LOA not exceeding 182.9 meters, beam not exceeding 32.31 meters, and DWT not exceeding 48,500 MT.
4. Equipped with a 10-ton boom or crane for cargo operations and must have three segregations with double valve isolation between each segregation.
5. Capable of performing cargo operations at offshore facilities and anchorage.
6. Must maintain a minimum speed of advance of 13 knots while laden.
7. Installation requirements include two CONSOL stations within six months post-delivery and one Fuel Delivery Station within one year after contract award.

Period of Performance
The charter period begins on December 9, 2027, lasting for one year with options to extend through November 6, 2032.

Place of Performance
Primarily US East Coast/US Gulf Coast; Worldwide delivery port is US Gulf Coast.

Bidder Requirements
Bidders must provide detailed company information including CAGE Code, point of contact details, small business size status, company history relevant to similar requirements, and security clearance status.
Additionally, bidders must submit detailed vessel specifications including estimated daily charter rates and fuel consumption rates.

Incumbent Analysis (see Incumbents section for more detail)
This opportunity appears to have a confirmed incumbent based on the prior MSC tanker charter contract N3220523C4144 awarded to American Petroleum Tankers (value $148,441,065; 01/09/23–01/08/27). That contract involved time charter of a U.S.-flag, Jones Act-compliant double-hull clean products tanker (Evergreen State) with inert gas and segregated ballast tanks, carrying roughly 310,000 bbls of clean petroleum products including JP8/JP5/F76 with double valve isolation. The current extended-term charter similarly seeks a Jones Act compliant clean tanker for JP8/JP5/F76 (and JA1) with large cargo capacity and segregations/double valve isolation, indicating continuity in vessel type and mission requirements.