A Study on Vessel Design Challenge

Amendment No. 1 to Solicitation No. 693JF726R000016 for the URN-Vessel Design Challenge provides official agency responses to three questions regarding applicant eligibility and citizenship-based restrictions. The amendment clarifies that a U.S.-registered entity qualifies as a "domestic applicant" and is eligible to serve as a lead applicant or cooperative agreement recipient, even if its ultimate parent companies are located in Canada or Europe. Additionally, the restriction on using award funds for work conducted in foreign-owned facilities does not apply to a U.S.-registered naval architecture or engineering firm that is located in the U.S. and performs all work domestically, regardless of foreign parent ownership. Finally, the solicitation's preference for team leads represented by U.S. companies, U.S. headquarters, and those operating under the U.S. flag is strictly an evaluative preference rather than a disqualifying eligibility criterion. Any U.S.-registered entity with domestic offices and staff performing the work will be considered a domestic applicant.

This cooperative agreement outlines the terms and conditions for a federal financial assistance award from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) to Curtin Maritime Corp. Under MARAD’s Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance (META) program, the recipient will receive funding to develop, deploy, and evaluate the environmental performance of an all-electric assist tug and hybrid dredging operation. The agreement establishes a 24-month period of performance commencing on the effective date. The document defines the roles of both parties, emphasizing MARAD’s substantial technical involvement and oversight. It mandates quarterly performance and financial reporting, alongside strict guidelines for equipment management, procurement standards, and federal audits. Reimbursable costs must comply with 2 C.F.R. Part 200, and payments must be processed monthly through the Delphi e-Invoicing System. Additional administrative mandates include strict compliance with equal opportunity employment, lobbying restrictions, and federal policies regarding delinquent tax liabilities and felony convictions. The agreement also details liability limits, intellectual property and data rights, and procedures for project suspension, termination, disputes, and closeout.

The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) has issued Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 693JF726R000016 for a Vessel Design Challenge funded under its Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance (META) program. The initiative aims to fund multiple collaborative design teams to develop integrated vessel designs that improve fuel efficiency by at least 30% and significantly reduce underwater radiated noise (URN) for the next generation of U.S. commercial vessels. MARAD plans to award cooperative agreements ranging from $150,000 to $450,000 per project, with a total available program funding of up to $1.25 million. Projects must be completed within 12 to 18 months. Eligible design proposals may include redesigned, forthcoming, or theoretical vessel concepts, provided they are commercially useful and exclude small recreational or fisheries vessels. Ideally, applicant teams should utilize a design-build approach incorporating naval architects, marine engineers, shipyards, vessel owners/operators, and technology suppliers. Proposals are limited to 20 pages and must be submitted electronically to the designated DOT contract specialists within 120 days of the RFP's publication. Applications will be evaluated based on the feasibility of their technology integration plan, methodological rigor for URN and fuel efficiency modeling, team capabilities, project timeline, and budget justification. MARAD will fund 100% of selected project costs, and applicants must maintain active registration on SAM.gov to qualify for an award.