Contract · Federal

A Study on Vessel Design Challenge

Agency: TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF / MARITIME ADMINISTRATION
Location: WASHINGTON, DC
Amount: Amount not listed
Posted: Sep 14, 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 14, 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

The purpose for this amendment is to respond to the following questions: Question-1.

Domestic Applicant Definition: Section D.1 of the RFP states the Challenge is "open to all types of domestic applicants other than individuals." Our company is a U.S.-registered entity, though its ultimate parents are in Canada and Europe.

Could you confirm whether an entity with this ownership structure qualifies as a "domestic applicant" for purposes of serving as the lead applicant/Recipient of a cooperative agreement under this RFP?

Response-1.

For the purposes of this project, a U.S. registered entity will be evaluated as a domestic applicant.

Question-2.

Citizenship-Based Funding Restriction: We understand that MARAD/META cooperative agreements may include a restriction on using award funds for "work to be done or done in a facility owned by someone other than a Citizen of the United States (as defined in 46 C.F.R. § 315.3(b))." Could you confirm whether this restriction, or an equivalent, will apply to cooperative agreements resulting from this RFP, and if so, how it would apply to a design team whose naval architecture/engineering firm is U.S.-registered and performs all work domestically, but has foreign parent ownership?

Response-2.

For the purposes of this project, a design team located in the U.S. working at a U.S.-registered firm and performing all work domestically would not fall under the restriction.

Question-3.

Team Lead Eligibility vs.

Preference: Section B notes a preference for "team leads represented by U.S. companies, those with U.S. headquarters, and those operating under the U.S. flag." Could you confirm whether this operates solely as an evaluative preference, or whether it functions as a disqualifying eligibility criterion for a team lead whose ultimate parent is a foreig...

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