T-AGOS(X) Ocean Surveillance Ship
Ocean surveillance ships that gather underwater acoustical data. The T-AGOS ships are operated by Military Sealift Command to support the anti-submarine warfare mission of the commanders of the Atlantic and Pacific fleets. The unique SWATH (small waterplane area twin-hull) hull form offers high stability at slow speeds and in adverse weather conditions.
T-AGOS ships, operated by United States Military Sealift Command (MSC), support the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission of the commanders of the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets by providing a platform capable of passive and active anti-submarine acoustic surveillance. The 110 metre, steel ‘small waterplane area twin hull’ (SWATH) vessels support the Navy’s Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS) by gathering underwater acoustical data using Surveillance Towed-Array Sensor System (SURTASS) equipment.
Austal USA LLC, Mobile, Alabama, on 18 May 2023 was awarded a $113,906,029 fixed-price incentive (firm target) and firm-fixed-price contract for detail design of the Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance Ship T-AGOS 25 Class. The contract includes options for detail design and construction of up to seven T-AGOS 25 class ships, special studies, engineering and industrial, provisional items orders, post-delivery mission system installation period, and data rights buy-out, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $3,195,396,097. Work will be performed in Mobile, Alabama (42%); Houma, Louisiana (13%); Camden, New Jersey (13%); Shelton, Connecticut (6%); Cincinnati, Ohio (5%); Grove City, Pennsylvania (3%); Semmes, Alabama (3%); Chesapeake, Virginia (2%); Milford, Delaware (2%); New Orleans, Louisiana (1%); and various locations across the U.S., each less than 1% (10%), and is expected to be completed by November 2024. If all options are exercised, work will continue through June 2034. Fiscal 2022 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $113,906,029 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the SAM.gov website, with two offers received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-23-C-2203). As prime contractor for the contract, Austal USA is teaming with L3Harris Technologies, Noise Control Engineering, TAI Engineering, and Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors to deliver the TAGOS-25 program, from the company’s new steel shipbuilding facility in Mobile, Alabama. Utilising proven, advanced manufacturing processes and innovative production techniques that incorporate lean manufacturing principles, modular construction, and moving assembly lines, Austal USA is currently delivering multiple naval shipbuilding programs and sub-contracted projects. Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer Paddy Gregg said the T-AGOS contract adds to Austal USA’s growing portfolio of steel shipbuilding programs and is a further demonstration of the US Government’s trust in Austal USA’s capabilities. “T-AGOS is a unique auxiliary naval platform that plays an integral role in supporting Navy’s anti-submarine warfare mission. Austal USA is honoured to be selected to deliver this critical capability for the Navy, utilising our advanced manufacturing processes, state-of-the-art steel shipbuilding facilities and our growing team of shipbuilders. On 06 July 2020 the US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) awarded VT Halter Marine, a company of ST Engineering North America, a $2.2 million contract for industry studies for the auxiliary general ocean surveillance ship (T-AGOS(X)) program. . The contract is for a 12-month study to perform trade-off studies and analyses of the Navy design. “We have designed, constructed and delivered more oceanographic research and surveillance vessels than any other single U.S. shipyard. In fact, we finished the T-AGOS 23, named the USNS Impeccable, in 1995. For generations, Halter Marine’s shipbuilders have proudly supported our armed forces, and we are honored to continue that tradition today.” said Bob Merchent, President and CEO of Halter Marine.
Halter Marine has teamed with Gibbs & Cox as the ship designer. Kevin Amis, Executive Vice President of Operations said “Gibbs & Cox has nine decades of designing naval ships, and we are excited about this partnership. We have assembled partners that have excellent performance records for capability and technology requirements of the T-AGOS program.”
Naval architecture and marine engineering firm BMT was awarded a contract to conduct industry studies to advance the design of the next generation of U.S. Navy Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance Ship (T-AGOS(X)). BMT is a leading independent naval architecture and marine engineering design consultancy experienced in supporting U.S. Government shipbuilding programs. The industry studies address technical solutions and design tradeoffs, provide recommendations to improve producibility and affordability, and include technical reviews of the Navy’s evolving ship design. Prime contractor BMT partnered with U.S. shipbuilder Philly Shipyard for the project.
Steinar Nerbovik, Philly Shipyard President and CEO, remarked “Philly Shipyard is excited to take part in these industry studies. Working alongside BMT, together we look forward to providing the detailed research that will shape the future of these vessels and the important mission they serve.”
The Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance Ship (T-AGOS(X)) Program is a recapitalization of the planned retirements of the T-AGOS 19 and T-AGOS 23 ship classes. T-AGOS is the platform for the Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS). The T-AGOS(X) Class will replace the existing capability of four T-AGOS 19 and one T-AGOS 23 Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull (SWATH) ships as they reach the end of their service lives beginning in 2026. The 2016 N81 Force Structure Assessment (FSA) increased the requirement from five to seven vessels and there is potential for additional ships. The T-AGOS(X) Class ships will have a 30-year service life threshold requirement.
The Government estimates an award date for the Industry Studies contract in 3Q FY20 and with an approximate 12 month Period of Performance. The Statement of Work (SOW) described engineering and technical effort that the Contractor will be required to perform in support of the Navy led design of T-AGOS(X). Industry participation was seen as critical to achieving a balance of ship performance and affordability. Following this effort, a separate Lead ship Detail Design and Construction (DD&C) contract award is planned in FY22 with ship delivery scheduled for FY25. T-AGOS(X) will achieve Ready for Tasking following completion of Post Delivery Tests and Trials in FY26.
The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) has a requirement to procure Industry Studies for The Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance Ship (T-AGOS (X)) as detailed in the enclosed solicitation, N00024-20-R-2244. On Jan 14, 2020 NAVSEA issued a full and open competitive solicitation for the procurement of T-AGOS(X) Industry Studies.
Following the industry studies effort, a separate T-AGOS(X) Lead ship Detail Design and Construction (DD&C) contract award is planned in FY22, with ship delivery scheduled for FY25. The Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS) mission system will be procured separately as a Navy Program of Record (POR) system to outfit the ships. This includes the Compact Low Frequency Active (CLFA) array, TL-29A twin line passive array, Integrated Common Processor (ICP), and mission handling systems.
A seven-ship class is currently planned, with the potential for additional ships being required. Contract award for lead ship Detail Design and Construction (DD&C) with options for follow additional ships is anticipated in FY22. The 40-month lead ship DD&C effort is planned which includes the production engineering and procurement of long lead time material. The ships will be procured and built in the US.
A Request for Information (RFI) was issued on 18 April 2019 for a Large Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull (SWATH) ship to conduct market research. After receipt of responses, an Industry Day was held for the T-AGOS(X) Class program on 26 June 2019 in Washington DC. One-on-one breakout sessions between the Government and interested industry attendees were also held 26-27 June 2019 and 2 July 2019 in Washington DC. The overall objective of the Industry Day was to provide industry with the following information: current technical requirements and projected near term schedule for an upcoming Industry Studies solicitation, and to gain feedback from industry on the overall draft contract requirements. As a result of the feedback provided from the RFI and Industry Day, the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), on behalf of the Support Ships, Boats, and Craft Program Office (PMS325) is (1) assessing the interest and/or capabilities of the small business industrial base and (2) conducting follow-on market research of proven SWATH designs via a RFI/Sources Sought Notice.
The ship shall transit at all combinations of headings, modal periods, and speeds up to full power through the top of Sea State 5, and transit through all headings, speeds, and expected modal periods to a transit speed of at least 10 kts through the top of Sea State 6, without restriction. The ship shall transit at speeds through 7 kts at best heading through Sea State 7. The ship shall tow arrays at speeds through 5 knots through all headings and expected modal periods through the top of Sea State 6 and at best heading (+/- 45 degrees) in Sea State 7.
The ship shall meet the array deployment/retrieval operations at speeds through 5 kts at best heading (+/-45 degrees) over the range of expected modal periods through Sea State 6 and retrieve the passive array only at best heading in Sea State 7. The ship shall not suffer any damage (including permanent set to the structure except shell "hungry horse") in any of the operational conditions described through Sea State 7. Survival of the ship, equipment, and personnel through Sea State 8 while maintaining best heading under power. The ship shall maintain a steady course during all mission operations, in each Sea State, in the wind associated with the specified Sea State with significant wind gust added to mean wind velocity.
