MARAD houses several business-oriented products and services, some covered in more detail elsewhere on marad.dot.gov. Below is a list of some more prominent efforts.

Office of Acquisition

The Office of Acquisition provides efficient, effective, and economical acquisition practices for the Maritime Administration and administers national programs for regular and emergency acquisition services. The Maritime Administration utilizes FedBiz Opps to announce solicitations and requests for comments. See our Virtual Office of Acquisition for all Maritime Administration acquisition information. 

Non-retaliation Policy for Small Entities

Department of Transportation has a policy regarding the rights of small entities to regulatory enforcement fairness and an explicit policy against retaliation for exercising these rights. Access the policy here: http://www.dot.gov/regulations/rights-small-entities-enforcement-fairness-and-policy-against-retaliation.

Contracts & Solicitations

MARAD uses the Federal Business Opportunities web site (FedBiz Opps) to announce solicitations and requests for comments. MARAD also has its own Virtual Office of Acquisition web site.

Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP)

The purpose of the Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP) is to address and promote commercial operations through the identification, development, and application of new methods, procedures, and technologies.

Cargo Preference Information

Cargo Preference is the reservation, by law, for transportation on U.S.-flag vessels, of all or a portion of all oceanborne cargo, which moves in international trade either as a direct result of the federal government’s involvement, or indirectly through financial sponsorship of a federal program, or in connection with a guarantee provided by the federal government.

Title XI Federal Ship Financing Program Information

The Title XI Federal Ship Financing Program provides for a full faith and credit guarantee by the United States government to promote the growth and modernization of the U.S. merchant marine and U.S. shipyards.