Contract · Federal

A Study on Vessel Design Challenge

Agency: TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF / MARITIME ADMINISTRATION
Location: WASHINGTON, DC
Amount: Amount not listed
Posted: Sep 11, 2026
Set-aside: None (open competition)
NAICS code: 541720 - Scientific Research and Development Services (general category) look up NAICS codes
PSC code: R405 - Professional, Administrative, and Management Support Services (general category)

Timeline

Posted

Sep 11, 2026
Status

Open now

What contracts like this typically pay

No award history yet for this category (NAICS 541720).

What this contract is for

Agency: TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF / MARITIME ADMINISTRATION
Location: WASHINGTON, DC
NAICS: 541720 - Scientific Research and Development Services (general category)
Scope: Federal

U.S.

Maritime Administration (MARAD) A Study on Vessel Design Challenge RFP No.

693JF726R000016 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP): The Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance (META) program is issuing a request for proposals (RFP) for a Vessel Design Challenge (Challenge).

This Challenge intends to fund multiple design teams willing to undertake integrated design work to improve fuel efficiency and reduce vessel underwater radiated noise (URN) to create the next generation of U.S. vessels.

Individual awards depend on number of designs proposed for the package.

Awards are intended to be for not less than $150k and likely not more than $450k.

Project completion timeline is 12-18 months.

Total funding available is up to $1.25 million.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The META program (46 U.S.C. § 50307) is investigating the interconnections between broader fuel efficiency, reducing URN from vessels, and exploring potential co-benefits.

It is the policy of the United States to revitalize and rebuild domestic maritime industries and workforce to promote national security and economic prosperity.

Accomplishing this requires making United States-flagged and built vessels commercially competitive in international commerce, rebuilding America’s maritime manufacturing capabilities, and expanding and strengthening the recruitment, training, and retention of the relevant workforce.

The most promising opportunities for optimizing fuel efficiency gains and achieving URN reductions are in the early ship design stage, using a systems approach.

This requires intentional and integrated ship designs that prioritize fuel efficiency while simultaneously reducing URN.

Advanced fluid dynamic modeling enables comparison among hull, engine, and propeller design and arrangement, provi...

Official solicitation and documents

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