R--Title XI - Review of financial, economic and technical aspects of applications received under this program.

Title XI Consultant Services I. Introduction: The purpose of this procurement is to establish a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) between the U.S. Maritime Administration and qualified contractors to conduct reviews of applications received under the Title XI loan guarantee program. Award's will be made to those contractor's that offer the government the best value. Both technical expertise and price will be considered for award. II. Background The Program, established pursuant to Title XI of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended (Act), provides for a full faith and credit guarantee by the U.S. Government of debt obligations issued by (1) U.S. or foreign shipowners for the purpose of financing or refinancing either U.S. flag vessels or eligible export vessels constructed, reconstructed or reconditioned in U.S. shipyards and (2) U.S. shipyards for the purpose of financing advanced shipbuilding technology and modern shipbuilding technology (Technology) of a privately owned general shipyard facility located in the U.S. The Program is administered by the Secretary of Transportation acting by and through the Maritime Administrator (Secretary). Under the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, appropriations to cover the estimated costs of a project must be obtained prior to the issuance of any approvals for Title XI financing. The primary purpose of the Program is to promote the growth and modernization of the U.S. merchant marine and U.S. shipyards. The Program enables owners of eligible vessels and eligible shipyards to obtain long-term financing with attractive terms. III. Statement of Work Contractors shall be responsible for providing the following services: A. Financial: - Review and evaluate the applicant's and other relevant parties (i.e. guarantor, charterer etc.); collectively to be referred to as the Applicant, financial condition. This analysis should include review of past, current and projected financial statements and footnotes indicating any trends and potential areas of concerns in the Applicant's financial condition. - Review the capitalization for the project. This analysis should include a review of the level, source and adequacy of the project's funding. - Review and evaluate the Applicant's payment history on it's debt obligations including Title XI debt if applicable. - Review the proposed ownership structure of the transaction. - Review the financial terms and conditions of the transaction. This analysis must include an evaluation of any proposed modifications to MARAD's standard financial requirements and financial covenants and the justification for such modifications. B. Economic: - Evaluate the overall economic soundness of the project taking into consideration the Applicant's history and performance in the trade. - Evaluate the proposed market for the project including a review of applicable market studies/surveys. - Evaluate the vessel's suitability for the intended trade. - Evaluate the project's cast flow including an analysis of revenues, utilization levels and expenses. C. Legal: - Review relevant contracts, including ownership documents (i.e. partnership agreements) charters, employment contracts, management agreements and insurance arrangements. - Indicate whether the project meets the applicable statutory and regulatory requirements for approval. If not, identify areas in which this project does not meet the applicable regulatory or statutory requirements. D. Shipbuilding: - Evaluate the shipyard's ability to build the vessel or the contractor's ability to modernize the shipyard on time and on budget. - Evaluate the reasonableness of the construction costs. - Evaluate the construction and payment schedule. - Evaluate the performance bond or other assurances provided with respect to performance under the construction contract. - Evaluate the plans and specifications for construction. E. Recommendation: - State whether you would recommend MARAD approval or denial of the projected as presently structured. - If the recommendation is to reject the project as proposed, provide recommendations that would enable you to issue a recommendation to MARAD to approve the project. IV. Evaluation Criteria: A. Contractors must have a current contract with GSA on the FABS or MOBIS schedule and meet one or more of the following criteria to be considered for award: 1. Experience in financial analysis and consultation. 2. Maritime Experience. 3. Legal experience. 4. Experience in economic analysis. 5. Accounting experience including knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.