USCG awards four contracts for response boat-small demonstrator boats

The Coast Guard on Jan. 8 awarded four contracts to acquire response boat-small demonstration boats that will be used to develop and validate performance requirements, assess industry capabilities and gather information about the marketplace. The service will use the information captured from operation of the boats to inform development of future boat acquisitions.

The contracts were awarded to:

• Birdon America Inc. of Denver, Colorado.
• Gravois Aluminum Boats LLC dba Metal Shark of Jeanerette, Louisiana.
• Inventech Marine Solutions of Bremerton, Washington.
• SAFE Boats International of Bremerton, Washington.

The total combined value of the four contracts is approximately $3.6M.

Each contractor will deliver within three months one demonstrator boat possessing design and performance characteristics that closely align with Coast Guard mission needs and requirements. The boats range in length from approximately 29 to 37 feet and each is powered by twin outboard engines producing up to 600 horsepower.

Coast Guard boats support a range of Coast Guard missions, including drug interdiction; living marine resources; migrant interdiction; defense readiness; search and rescue; other law enforcement; aids to navigation; and ports, waterways, and coastal security.

Birdon America says that the demonstrator boat award underscores its commitment to providing its customers with innovative, reliable solutions that ensure mission success in maritime operations and that its design was selected for its ability to meet stringent performance requirements.

“This award reflects Birdon’s dedication to supporting the U.S. Coast Guard with cutting-edge solutions that enhance mission performance and crew safety,” said Tony Ardito, president at Birdon America. “We are proud to contribute to the Coast Guard’s vital role in safeguarding our nation’s waterways.”

Birdon says it will leverage its in-house rapid prototyping capabilities to build an RB-S demonstrator boat. Under the contract, it will deliver its demonstrator to one of the designated USCG facilities in Norfolk, Va., or Charleston, S.C., for a three-month operational evaluation period.

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