MARAD picks Crowley Government Services to manage sealift recap procurements

The Maritime Administration today awarded Crowley Government Services a $56 million indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract to manage procuring the dozens of used sealift vessels required to recapitalize the sealift fleet, according to a public notice.

"The overall objective of the [vessel acquisition manager] contract is for the government acquisition of used ships to fulfill [Defense Department] sealift requirements," the public notice states.

"MARAD will acquire ships, including used U.S. or foreign-built ships as part of the Department of the Navy's plan to recapitalize the organic, government-owned sealift fleet in accordance with the Sealift That the Nation Needs report to Congress," the notice continues.

MARAD, along with the Navy and U.S. Transportation Command, has been working to recapitalize the surge sealift fleet -- dozens of auxiliary vessels activated for major wartime contingencies -- since 2018. Inside Defense reported last month the Navy's plans for recapitalization have shifted since its original report to Congress with a growing emphasis on used-ship procurement.

"Our recent market surveys reflect that the used commercial [roll-on/roll-off ships] with military utility are available now and we want to take advantage of that," Vice Adm. Ricky Williamson, deputy chief of naval operations for fleet readiness and logistics, said in a July interview.