The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard have released a draft request for proposals for an upcoming project to design and build up to three heavy polar icebreakers.
The Naval Sea Systems Command said Thursday USCG needs modern HPIBs in order to maintain access in both Polar regions and address national security, commercial, economic and maritime requirements.
The draft RFP document issued Thursday seeks to guide HPIB design maturity and encourage potential teaming arrangements between potential contractors.
Interested parties can submit responses to the notice through Dec. 11.
The Navy aims to release a final version of the RFP early next year.
USCG previously awarded five contracts for preliminary design studies and analysis under the HPIB program, as well as completed model tests with the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Carderock Division and National Research Council of Canada.