Oct. 18, 2019 —
The Coast Guard released a request for information (RFI) today to gauge industry interest in re-competing the remainder of the offshore patrol cutter (OPC) program of record. This information will inform the acquisition strategy for the follow-on procurement. The decision to immediately re-compete the remaining program is a means to balance acquisition risk. The Coast Guard is committed to conducting a fair and open re-competition in order to acquire the OPC fleet needed to address the Nation’s security needs, while maintaining public trust and stewardship of the American taxpayers’ dollars. The RFI can be found here.
Following a determination by the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security that extraordinary relief is necessary, the Coast Guard announced on Oct. 11 that the service is moving forward with an adjustment to the OPC detail design and construction contract with Eastern Shipbuilding Group for up to the first four hulls. Production on the first OPC, Argus, commenced in January 2019; it is scheduled for delivery in 2022. Long lead time material to support construction of the second cutter, Chase, are on order.
The Coast Guard plans to acquire 25 OPCs. The cutters will bridge the capabilities of the national security cutters, which patrol the open ocean, and the fast response cutters, which serve closer to shore. The OPCs will replace the 270-foot and 210-foot medium endurance cutters, which are becoming increasingly expensive to maintain and operate.
The deadline to submit responses to the RFI is Nov. 6.
For more information: Offshore Patrol Cutter Program page