Scheduled Fuel Barge Transportation - Gulf Region (RFI)

The United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) has released a Request for Information (RFI) for scheduled fuel barge transportation services in the Gulf region. USTRANSCOM plans to award a contract by February 1, 2027, for the transportation of Department of War-owned bulk jet fuel, including Marine Diesel (F76), Jet A Fuel (JAA), and Jet Propellant 5 (JP5), by tug and barge. The service will cover all U.S. ports and points on the Gulf of America, the lower Mississippi River, and connecting waterways and tributaries. The contract period is anticipated to be from April 1, 2027, to March 31, 2032. This RFI is for market research purposes only to gather information on existing solutions and industry needs, and it is not a request for proposal. Responses are due by June 2, 2026, at 5:00 PM CT. USTRANSCOM encourages responses from businesses of all sizes, with the anticipated NAICS code being 483211 (Inland Water Freight Transportation).

The Request for Information (RFI) Worksheet TRANSCOM26W003 from the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) seeks information from companies regarding scheduled fuel barge transportation in the Gulf Region. The RFI addresses critical aspects such as organic asset capacity (minimum of 3 towboats and 6 barges), subcontracting intentions for small businesses, and the viability of meeting surge requirements, including a fourth 'On-Call' tow. It also inquires about asset replacement strategies for long-term Out-of-Service events, previous cargo history of barges (specifically 'dirty' products), and the methods for converting them for aviation fuel. Further questions cover cargo tank coatings, mitigation of rust and particulate contamination, cross-contamination prevention procedures when switching fuel types, and the commercial timelines and compensation practices for third-party cleaning services to remove residual water before loading aviation fuel.