News Releases

Coast Guard Releases Request for Proposals for the Offshore Patrol Cutter

Sept. 25, 2012

The U.S. Coast Guard today released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the design and construction of the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC). Responses for the full and open competition RFP are requested by Jan. 10, 2013.

The Coast Guard is implementing a two-phase strategy for Preliminary and Contract Design (P&CD) followed by Detailed Design (DD) and Construction. Through this RFP, the Coast Guard may competitively award up to three contracts for an 18-month P&CD effort. After P&CD, the Coast Guard will down-select to a single design that best balances affordability with Coast Guard requirements and award a Detailed Design and Construction contract for the lead OPC, with potential options to build up to 10 additional OPCs.

The OPCs will recapitalize the Coast Guard’s aging 210-foot and 270-foot medium endurance cutter fleet and serve as a critical capability bridge between the service’s National Security Cutters and Fast Response Cutters. The Coast Guard plans to acquire a total of 25 OPCs.

The Coast Guard is using a disciplined acquisition strategy, informed by successes and lessons learned in the Fast Response Cutter and National Security Cutter acquisition projects, that balances prudent cost-control measures with mission requirements by actively engaging industry early in the acquisition process. The Coast Guard made several data packages available for industry comment prior to release of the RFP, including a draft version of the RFP, draft specifications and draft technical data packages, to give industry early visibility into OPC requirements. The Coast Guard also engaged potential vendors during industry day events and one-on-one meetings to identify the best means for acquiring an affordable OPC.

To learn more about the Offshore Patrol Cutter project, please visit: http://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/opc/