Marine Harbour Tug and Flexible Capability Carrier (Navy-Tug flex) - TNW 2026 Tender

Original: Marine-Hafenschlepper und flexibler Fähigkeitsträger (Navy-Tug flex) - TNW

Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr

About this tender

The Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw, procurement reference Q/S2BM/SA014/41078) is procuring up to 20 identical harbour tugs with a working deck (class 724) for the German Navy through a framework agreement. The vessels must meet the rules of a recognised classification society and German flag requirements and are to be drawn from an existing series production. The tugs are intended to replace six roughly 35-year-old class 725 harbour tugs that no longer meet requirements. Beyond pure towing, the vessels are to serve as a flexible capability carrier. They must be able to carry two ISO 20-foot or four ISO 10-foot standard containers and have a technical endurance of at least seven days. Listed mission tasks include berthing assistance and manoeuvring of Navy vessels in roads and harbours, towing of naval vessels and equipment, support for sea-target firing (including transport, deployment and towing of targets), support for shipyard trials and compensation runs, ice service in harbours, firefighting in harbour and at sea, pollution response, and salvage and securing of vessels at sea. The notice cites the current security situation and Russia's hybrid campaign against Germany and its allies in the North and Baltic Seas as the reason for urgent procurement, with delivery targeted by 2028. The procurement is a restricted procedure with competitive negotiation (Verhandlungsverfahren mit Teilnahmewettbewerb). The page visible here covers the participation (qualification) stage. The lot runs for an estimated 84 months with no extension options. The single lot (LOT-0000) covers an initial order of ten tugs with a call-off option for ten further units. Scope also includes associated equipment (towing gear, towing hooks, salvage equipment, tools, spare parts), documentation, software, crew training and familiarisation, a project schedule, risk management, and construction status meetings. The contract value is not stated in the visible text; the page is truncated before any value or award-criteria section.

Bidder eligibility

Quality certification: management, design and production must hold ISO 9001:2015 or an equivalent certificate, or provide a self-declaration of renewal or readiness to certify to ISO 9001:2025 (certificate must be in place by award). Certificates must be renewed within 3 months of expiry. References (supplier and third-party): (a) a written self-declaration, qualified electronically signed, of building and delivering at least 10 comparable harbour tugs for public or private clients in 2023–2025, comparable meaning class notation TUG or ESCORT TUG under DNV rules (or an equivalent class society); plus a written third-party reference from a past client confirming delivery of 10 harbour tugs in 2023–2025. (b) a qualified electronically signed self-declaration of producing ASD S1000D and ASD S2000M documentation for a comparably complex product for public clients since 2020, showing at least one technical break-up with several associated equipment items and maintenance tasks. (c) consortia may pool member evidence. Key personnel: at least one project manager with at least three years' experience in the last five years (since 2020) leading production of harbour tugs or comparable ships. Personal data is not to be submitted. Language: key personnel must be fluent in German (written and spoken), shown by native speaker status or CEFR C1 or equivalent. Classified information: bidders must be able to exchange information up to VS-NUR FÜR DEN DIENSTGEBRAUCH electronically using GnuPG VS-Desktop / Kleopatra. A self-declaration is required now; at least two valid PGP keys must be supplied when requested. Insurance: industrial-standard operator liability insurance of at least EUR 10 million per damage event for personal injury, property damage and consequential financial loss.

How bids are scored

This is the participation (qualification) stage. The visible text describes pass/fail suitability criteria (quality certification, references, key personnel, language, classified information handling, insurance, turnover and capacity), not a scored price/quality split. Award criteria and any weighting are not visible in the extracted text, which is truncated before the award section. Applications are evaluated against these minimum requirements to shortlist bidders for negotiation.

Key requirements

• ✓Up to 20 identical class 724 harbour tugs with working deck, from ongoing series production
• ✓Classification society compliance and German flag; carry two 20-ft or four 10-ft ISO containers
• ✓Minimum seven-day technical endurance; multi-role use including towing, mine-related and firefighting duties

CPV codes

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Shipping and maritime funding covers zero-emission vessels, alternative fuels, port electrification and efficiency retrofits. It comes from transport ministries, port authorities, research programmes and industry coalitions. Applicants are commonly asked to show vessel or port partners and a plan for fuel supply.