T-AGM(R) Missile Range Instrumentation Ship
A 2002 MIT reported investigated the feasibility of converting an existing ship to a Mobile Test Range Asset in order to field a platform carrying the Cobra Judy II (CJ2) system on a much newer ship. Based on a review of available hull forms and prior research, the Henry J. Kaiser class oiler (T-AO 187) was found to be the most suitable conversion candidate. There were some issues of concern. The ship is much larger than required; after conversion, there will be a large amount of excess weight (in the form of ballast) and space.
The Navy issued pre-solicitation notice N00024-05-R-2200 on 23 August 2004 for RFP N00024-04-NR-91311. The T-AGM(R) will be U.S. flagged new construction ship classed in accordance with American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) standards, certified by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and designed / built in conformance with Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) requirements and other commercial and regulatory body rules and regulations as applicable. The ship shall receive a Panama Canal/Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS) Net Tonnage Certificate. Helicopter Facilities shall be provided in accordance with NAVAIR Air Capable Ship Aviation Facilities Bulletin No. 1J for Level III (Day Only), Class 5 (Hover Operations in excess of 15 ft.), MH-60S operations. The maximum length overall shall not exceed 712 feet, the maximum beam shall not exceed 106 feet, the maximum navigation draft shall not exceed 27 feet and the air draft shall not exceed 136 ft. The T-AGM(R) shall be capable of using all current T-AGM 23 USNS OBSERVATION ISLAND facilities and ports. The T-AGM(R) shall be capable of performing mission operations in wave heights of 8-13 feet and surviving in wave heights of 25-46 feet. A Military Sealift Command (MSC) Civilian Mariner (CIVMAR) crew or an MSC contracted civilian crew will operate the ship. The ship will be designed for a full complement of 88 persons berthed in 62 single staterooms and 13 double staterooms.
Dedicated interior mission space with a combined usable deck area of no less then 1,254 square meters is required. Mission system power requirements are estimated at 8MW at a five (5) knot loitering speed. The T-AGM(R) is required to support two deck mounted mission radar arrays and a topside antenna area is required to accommodate approximately 38 communication antennas. A horizontal separation of 30 meters and a vertical separation of 11 meters is required for the deck mounted mission radars. The distance from the bridge wings to the closest mission radar shall be no less then 30 meters. The estimated weight of the upper mission radar array is 298 long tons and that of the lower mission radar array is 270 long tons.
The projected service life of the T-AGM(R) will be 30 years. The ship is required to be fully supportable within the current commercial and DoD supply chains. The ship will have the capability to conduct independent and unreplenished operations for up to 70 days with an operational range of at least 12,000 nautical miles at a sustained speed of 20 knots at 80% of the Maximum Continuous Rating (MCR).
The Navy plans to conduct the T-AGM(R) procurement in two phases. Phase I will contract for a concept/preliminary design with the award of only two firm fixed price contracts. Phase II was for detail design and construction of the ship. Award for Phase II will only be made to the Contractors who received a Phase I award. The planned date for release of the RFP was 1st Quarter, FY05 with planned date of award during the 3rd Quarter FY05. The RFP included a Performance Specification with radar and mission equipment Interface Control Documentation (ICD). The ICD would be updated during Phase I to reflect the mission system design development of the radar integrator. The deliverables submitted under Phase I will be evaluated along with each contractor¿s price proposal to determine the awardee for Phase II. On 29 November 2005 Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co., Inc. was awarded contract N00024-06-C-2213, Marinette Marine Corporation was awarded contract N00024-06-C-2214, and Halter Marine was awarded contract N00024-06-C-2215.
USNS Observation Island is 564 feet long with a displacement of 17,015 long tons. Bender builds all types of vessels, crabbers, offshore supply vessels, push boats, shrimp boats, factory trawlers, riverboats, passenger vessels, tuna seiners, tug boats, for a total of more than 800 Bender-built ships operating worldwide. Bender's VS-483 is a 272-foot long 14.5 Knot Platform Supply Vessel, and the Kodiak Enterprise, a 12 knot 275' Factory Trawler, was delivered October 1989 by Bender. The 240' USCGC MACKINAW (WLBB-30) icebreaker was launched April 2, 2005 by Marinette Marine. The Coast Guard had awarded Marinette Marine Corperation with a contract to construct a new multi-purpose icebreaking vessel on Oct 15 2001. Halter Marine has the capability to build medium size ships up to 50,000 DWT. It is the largest supplier of Army watercraft and provider of the Army's Logistic Support Vessel. Halter Marine offshore service vessels range in size from 205-foot platform supply vessels to the recently delivered 279-foot Construction Anchor/Handling Tug (CAHT) vessel.
Phase II will be awarded to the responsible offeror whose proposal represents best value to the Government, price and other factors considered. The planned date for award of Phase II is 3rd Quarter FY 2006. Ship delivery is planned for FY 2010 The NAICS Code for the T-AGM(R) procurement will be 336611 (Ship Building and Repair).
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