Nov. 26, 2018 —
A Coast Guard boat crew aboard a 47-foot motor lifeboat (MLB) with a mounted M-240 weapon system returns to its base in Ilwaco, Washington, Aug. 29, 2018. The MLB fleet will undergo service life extension work as part of the In-Service Vessel Sustainment Program, to extend the useful life of the boats by 20 years. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Levi Read.
A request for proposal (RFP) was released by the Coast Guard on November 21 for the purpose of acquiring services and supplies 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 proposes to award one Firm-Fixed Price Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract resulting from this RFP. The contract shall have an ordering period of 10 years from date of contract award.
Requests for information were released for the MLB in in September 2016, November 2017 and July 2018.
The fleet of more than 100 MLBs has been in service for 15 to 21 years and is approaching the end of its planned 25-year service life. 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 service’s primary search and rescue platform in surf and heavy weather conditions will effectively remain the same, while efforts to enhance human system integration will be made where practical.
“The 47’ MLB has been the Coast Guard’ most prominent surf-capable boat for over 20 years,” said Cmdr. David Obermeier, deputy program manager for boats acquisitions. “Through the SLEP, we are excited to extend that capability for another two decades by delivering a more resilient and sustainable MLB back to the fleet.’
The MLB has been used to save over 6,000 lives, assist over 44,000 mariners and protect over $520 million in property.
The RFP can be found here. The deadline to submit responses is Feb. 22, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. EST.
For more information: In-Service Vessel Sustainment Program page