EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COMMITTEE ON OCEANOGRAPHY 89 



ance with Armed Services Procurement Regulation. The Bureau through its 

 field agents inspects the ship at different stages of its construction to insure 

 compliance with the contract plans and specifications. Prior to delivery and 

 again prior to expiration of the guarantee period the ship is inspected by a naval 

 board of inspection and survey. Contractor-responsible deficiencies are deter- 

 mined and charged to him as adjustments of the contract price. 



(6) Maritime Administration. In general, the Maritime Administration's 

 procedures are similar to those of the Bureau of Ships but are more simplified. 

 These procedures are followed but are not available as written directives. Ship 

 characteristics are prepared by the user in conjunction with the Maritime Ad- 

 ministration. Preliminary and contract plans and specifications are prepared 

 either by MARAD or by private naval architects, but they are reviewed by the 

 Maritime Administration. 



The Maritime Administration does not keep a complete bidder's list as does 

 the Bureau of Ships; however, MARAD keeps current records of shipbuilding 

 facilities existing in all U.S. shipyards capable of building seagoing vessels and 

 has a detailed knowledge of the capabilities of most of these yards. 



The bids are invited on the basis of contract plans and specifications, perform- 

 ance conditions, time limits, etc., specified in the invitation. Invitations to bids 

 are nationally advertised. A shipyard having the facilities required to construct 

 the ship may submit a bid. 



There is no bidder's conference as such, but a prospective bidder may request 

 clarification of any part of the invitation, in writing. Written replies to such 

 inquiries are simultaneously distributed to all prospective bidders. 



The lowest responsive bidder gets the contract, unless statutory provisions 

 require different allocation of the contract in the national interest. If the Mari- 

 time Administration has no current and detailed knowledge of the capabilities 

 of the responsive bidder, a specific survey to establish the ability of the bidder 

 to perform all the requirements of the contract is carried out by the technical, 

 legal, and financial personnel of the Maritime Administration. Final determina- 

 tion of the responsiveness of the bidder, in such cases, is made on the basis of 

 this survey. 



MARAD personnel carry out plan approval and inspection throughout the 

 construction of the ship and witness tests and trials. Upon completion, the ship 

 is inspected by the Trial and Guarantee Survey Board before delivery is accepted. 



(c) Coast and Geodetic Survey: The Coast and Geodetic Survey has a small 

 staff to develop preliminary design plans, determine ship characteristics and 

 approve key plans. Design of the ship is usually given to the Maritime Admin- 

 istration, but on occasion a private naval architect may design the ship under 

 contract by MARAD. All other details of contracting and inspection are handled 

 by MARAD, but Coast and Geodetic Survey personnel are assigned to the 

 shipyard as a part of the shipyard construction inspection staff. 



(d) Bureau of Commercial Fisheries: The Bureau has a decentralized system 

 for new vessel construction. Preliminary operational requirements are defined 

 by the staff of the laboratory or field station having need for the vessel. This 

 statement is reviewed and approved by the region and central office. A qualified 

 naval architect is selected by negotiation. Depending on the amount of the 

 contract, it is approved at either the regional office or central office level. The 

 plans may also be submitted to the Bureau of Ships for their review. After 

 approval of final plans and specifications, bid invitations for the vessel construc- 

 tion are prepared and issued to as large a list as possible of prospective bidders. 

 Award is made to the lowest responsible bidder in accordance with requirements 

 of Federal procurement regulations. Performance bond and payment bond are 

 required. The architect usually performs inspection, conducts dock and sea 

 trials, and certifies as to completion of contract. 



(e) Coast Guard: The Coast Guard has small in-house construction caoabilities 

 but a large competent staff of naval architects to prepare ship designs, process 

 contracts, and inspect ships. With minor exceptions the Coast Guard system 

 closely parallels the system of the Bureau of Ships. 



(/) National Science Foundation: Grants are made to research institutions to 

 cover acquisition costs of various items of equipment for basic research, including 

 research vessels. In the case of vessels, appropriate controls are provided in the 

 grant letter whereby all critical stages in design and procurement are subject to 

 Foundation concurrence. An advisory committee, with representation from 

 Bureau of Ships, Maritime Administration, and Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, 

 has been established to advise in the technical administration of these procurement 

 procedures. The Foundation has also acquired an antarctic research vessel, 

 which is being converted by and will be operated by MSTS. The Foundation 



