“Coast Guard releases cutter boat-aids to navigation-small request for proposal” –CG-9

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Two Waterways Commerce Cutter variants – an Inland Construction Tender (top) and River Buoy Tender (bottom) (Credit: Birdon America)

The Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9) has “released a request for proposal (RFP) on Dec. 18, 2024, for the design and construction of the cutter boat-aids to navigation-small (CB-ATON-S). The RFP is available on SAM.gov here.”

Below is a description of the program from the RFP:

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is in the process of recapitalizing the current fleet of Waterways Commerce Cutters (WCC), which includes Inland Construction Tenders, Inland Buoy Tenders, and River Buoy Tenders.  As part of this recapitalization effort, the USCG is also replacing the existing cutter boats deployed on these cutters and determined that there is a requirement for up to fifty-one (51) new cutter boat aids-to-navigation small (CB-ATON-S).  The CB-ATON-S will primarily support the WCC’s aids to navigation (ATON) mission, providing autonomous operations and mission execution in areas physically inaccessible by a cutter and allowing for separate, simultaneous operations in collaboration with the cutter. The CB-ATON-S will also support secondary search and rescue and other law enforcement missions.

The USCG also intends to procure up to fifteen (15) CB-ATON-S for Aids to Navigation Teams to maintain small navigational aids within their area of responsibility.

In total, the Coast Guard intends to procure up to sixty-six (66) CB-ATON-S from this contract.

Technical specifications are in a 104 page document which is available as attachment 2 to the request for proposal, but I will provide some basics below.

Attachment-2_WCC_CB-ATON-S_Technical Specification_RFP.pdf (opens in new window)

045.10.1 The CB-ATON-S shall meet the following principal characteristics:

  • 045.10.1.1 Length, overall (maximum, outboard motors lowered to the operating position, including appendages and fendering): 21 feet, 0 inches (6.4 meters)
  • 045.10.1.2 Beam, overall (maximum, including appendages and fendering): 8 feet, 6 inches;
  • 045.10.1.3 Draft, static (maximum, outboards up in the trailer/cradle position): 1 foot, 0 inches;
  • 045.10.1.4 Height (maximum, on trailer): 12 feet, 6 inches;
  • 045.10.1.5 Weight (maximum, Hoisting Weight Condition): 3,000 pounds

The boats will be provided with a protective keel at least 12 inches wide to prevent damage during occasional grounding and beaching during operations.

Each boat will come with a trailer.

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