NSF Taking "Icebreaking Services" Bids - Coast Guard Lacks The Ships

[hatrack]

The whole Goddamned cryosphere is falling apart before our eyes, and the UNITED FUCKING STATES OF AMERICA doesn't have the financial wherewithal to build icebreaking ships for science missions?

Unbelievable.

Document Type: Sources Sought Notice
Solicitation Number: DCCA-060024
Posted Date: Jan 04, 2006
Original Response Date: Feb 28, 2006
Current Response Date: Feb 28, 2006
Original Archive Date: Mar 15, 2006
Current Archive Date: Mar 15, 2006
Classification Code: V -- Transportation, travel, & relocation services
Naics Code: 483112 -- Deep Sea Passenger Transportation

Contracting Office Address

National Science Foundation, Division of Contracts & Complex Agreements, DCCA, 4201 Wilson Boulevard Room 475, Arlington, VA, 22230

Description

To Whom It May Concern:

The National Science Foundation (NSF), an independent agency of the United States Government, is seeking information regarding the long-term (10 or more years) availability of icebreaking services capable of enabling the re-supply of the U.S. Antarctic Program's (USAP) McMurdo Station. NSF is the U.S. Government Agency responsible for directing and funding the USAP, and manages the entire United States national program in Antarctica, including logistic support activities, so that the program may be managed as a single package.

Background

NSF is interested in contracting for icebreaking services to annually open a channel through 1-2 year 10/10ths sea ice, and then escort an ice-strengthened tanker and an ice-strengthened cargo ship to the pier at McMurdo Station, located at 77 deg 51' S, 166 deg 40' E. NSF intends for this to be a long-term arrangement. It is expected that a contract would include annual mobilization and de-mobilization periods (length of time to be determined based on location of home port) and an operating period in the Southern Ocean south of 60d deg S of approximately 6 to 8 weeks. After that period the vessel would be off-contract and free to engage in other work.

Traditionally, the USAP has relied on the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to perform the McMurdo break-in and ship escort service using its POLAR class ships. However, these vessels are 30 years old and are reaching the end of their design life. NSF is now seeking alternative means of opening the supply channel to McMurdo Station through a reliable long-term arrangement, either with a commercial or governmental provider, or through a multi-national arrangement.

NSF is not seeking binding offers to contract at this time; however, based upon the information received the Foundation may initiate discussions, seek offers, and award a contract with an owner or operator per the authority at 42 U.S.C. 1870(c).

EDIT

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=19175

[aquart]

1. Makes you wonder what they did with the money.

[hatrack]

2. Blew up some buildings in Iraq, I'm sure

Either that, or sprayed some rain forests in Colombia with defoliants. Some such bullshit.

[tatertop]

3. Maybe Russia can help us out

[Coastie for Truth]

5. Russia's Ice breakers are a "Commercial Venture"

They have a dozen "civilian luxury cabins" for "tourists" - $15-$20K for an 8 week arctic cruise.

[tatertop]

9. Perhaps they can combine the two

[Coastie for Truth]

13. I would "pop" for a the price of a one week Caribbean cruise to ride one

But the present tariff is a bit steep. They also do a cruise to Antarctica - where the tourists pose with penguins (I have been told that they follow people around like puppies).

[tatertop]

16. Ohh man... count me in

Paleaze

[Coastie for Truth]

4. So Halliburton Is Going Into the Ice Breaking Business

<>
Michael Healey - first African American Admiral in the US Coast Guard (when it was still the Revenue Cutter Service)
<>
This is the USCGC Healy, named after the first African American Coast Guard Admiral.
<>

[hatrack]

6. That wasn't your ship, was it Coastie?

And until DU, I had never heard of Admiral Healy - and I think it may have been thanks to you!

:hi:

[Coastie for Truth]

7. Much after my time

My era was the "Wind Class" - then came the "Star Class" - the Healy is the newest class.

[jpak]

8. I just got back from Antarctica (Ross Sea)

The US is currently contracting with Russian companies for ice breaking services into McMurdo (and will probably continue this into the near future).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krasin_(icebreaker)

I had a few beers with some of the crew of the Krasin while they were refueling in Lyttelton NZ last month.

:beer:

If the current coastie icebreakers are replaced by foreign contract ships, US scientists may also lose the use of these vessels for research and search and rescue (Hobart Australia is a lot closer to the Ross Sea than Vladivostok).

[tatertop]

10. That is very cool. What kind of beer they serving in Lyttelton, NZ?

[jpak]

11. Tui, CD, Speights, Guiness, Mac's Gold, Monteith's, etc.

all good

:)

[tatertop]

12. Have you had Panther beer by any chance?

Some of those I have never seen.
Are some of those brewed in NZ?

[Dead_Parrot]

14. Most are...

Not sure about "CD", and the NZ Guinness is from Australia... Sacrilege!

[tatertop]

17. Please tell me more

I have heard that Panther is the only good beer brewed in NZ.
Please tell me more (and make me jealous;).

[hatrack]

15. Lyttelton - that was Scott's last port of call pre-McMurdo, wasn't it?

Robert Falcon Scott - the George W. Bush of polar explorers.