July 13, 2018 —
A boat crew aboard a 47-foot motor lifeboat (MLB) from Coast Guard Station Tillamook Bay conducts training outside the Tillamook Bay entrance, near Garibaldi, Oregon, Oct. 26, 2017. Work as part of the service life extension program will extend the useful life of the MLB by 20 years. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Levi Read.
A request for information (RFI) was released by the Coast Guard on July 12 for the 47-foot motor lifeboat (MLB) service life extension program (SLEP) as part of the In-Service Vessel Sustainment (ISVS) program. The Coast Guard is providing industry with the latest draft of the statement of work and specification along with access to the majority of the MLB technical data – drawings and technical publications – while seeking industry comments before making a formal solicitation for the contract, which has an estimated value of over $100 million.
This is the third RFI for the MLB; the first was released in September 2016 and the second in November 2017.
The MLB is the Coast Guard’s primary search and rescue platform in surf and heavy weather conditions. The fleet of more than 100 MLBs is approaching the end of its planned 25-year service life, and operational availability has been limited by parts availability and obsolescence issues. The SLEP will extend the useful life of the MLB by 20 years. The original operational capabilities and characteristics of the MLB will effectively remain the same, while efforts to enhance human system integration will be made where practical.
“This RFI answers questions posed through prior industry engagement,” said Cmdr. David Obermeier, deputy program manager for boats acquisitions. “It also gives industry the opportunity to provide additional feedback on the latest draft statement of work and specification."
The RFI can be found here. The deadline to submit responses is July 27, 2018, at 2 p.m. EST.
For more information: In-Service Vessel Sustainment Program page