Connected

The Navy released its final request for proposals for the Ship-to-Shore Connector on May 20, after repeated delays.

The vessel, alternately referred to in documents as LCAC-100, is slated to replace the fleet's air-cushioned landing craft.

According to updates from Naval Sea Systems Command spokesman Chris Johnson, the program took its time working through the bureaucratic process, but, as of April 25, Johnson said the setbacks were not expected to impact the initial operational capability for SSC.

The RFP released last week shows the first batch of four SSCs being delivered in 2016. If all of the extending options of the contract were exercised, the last SSCs would be delivered in 2020.

The Navy has said it expected initial IOC for the SSC in 2019, and to have its LCAC fleet completely replaced by 2030.

At a conference in October, Capt. Walt Towns, head of the Navy's amphibious warfare directorate, said the SSC could still be fielded on time if the RFP were released by the end of 2010. Towns also said that there may be a dip of between 15 and 18 vessels in the transition between LCACs and SSCs.

The draft RFP, which was posted on March 1, said the final copy would be out by the end of that month.

The RFP includes one parameter that appears to have been modified sometime in the past month requiring the weight of the SSC not exceed 180 metric tons. According to the RFP, the contractor will owe the government $110,000 per craft for every ton over 180 the vessel weighs, up to a penalty of $1 million.

The RFP also asks that offerors address the issue of total ownership cost for the craft in their bids. “Offerors shall describe the top three design and engineering Total Ownership Costs (TOC) reduction initiatives inherent in their approach to developing the SSC Detail Design,” the proposal stipulates. “Offerors shall provide supporting rationale, including design trade-offs and key assumptions, to demonstrate the projected likelihood that each TOC reduction will provide a substantial benefit to the Government, assuming 150 annual operating hours per craft and a 30 year service life.”

The RFP says companies should emphasize total ownership cost while designing and building a test and training craft. The total ownership cost-reduction strategies are included in the RFP's evaluation criteria, with credit being given to the proposals evaluators believe are most likely to benefit the government.

Responses to the RFP are due by June 20.