Proposal Solicitation for Construction and Operation of an Alaska Region Research Vessel (ARRV)

The Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) Integrative Programs Section (IPS) is soliciting proposals to identify an organization to manage the construction contract of the Alaska Region Research Vessel (ARRV) using the existing NSF-funded design, and once constructed, manage the vessel operations to support NSF and other Federally funded science activities.

The ARRV design was completed in 2004 through a grant made to the University of Alaska.  As designed, the vessel will be a 236 foot multipurpose oceanographic research ship capable of operating in seasonal sea ice and open ocean regions around Alaska, mainly in the Chukchi, Beaufort and Bering Seas as well as the Gulf of Alaska, coastal southeast Alaska and Prince William Sound.