U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) details acquisition strategy for National Maritime Center (NMC) Mariner Credentialing Program (MCP) Modernization and Support Contracts

The US Coast Guard has announced that it will award a non-competitive 5-year 8(a) set-aside) this Summer to acquire Contractor technical and administrative support services for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) National Maritime Center (NMC) Mariner Credentialing Program (MCP). The focus of this efforts will be to provide the “full range of technical and administrative services to meet the mission needs of the NMC.

Contractor tasks shall include: acquiring, receiving, opening, sorting and distributing all incoming mail and supplies; preparing and processing outgoing mail/packages; processing Merchant Mariner credential applications; producing Merchant Mariner credentials and medical certificates; creating and managing official merchant Mariner records (electronic and paper based); record storage/upkeep and preparing Mariner records for archiving; correspondence and documentation; website support and updates; development of graphics in support of examinations and other program activities; system testing and database support; and completing data entry related to the credentialing process.” See details here

At the same time, the agency announced that it will compete the “Mariner Credentialing Program (MCP) IT Modernization” contract this Fall as an 8(a) set-aside.  — “The mission of the USCG MCP is to efficiently and effectively issue Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMCs) to fully qualified U.S. mariners working across thousands of U.S. Flagged Vessels that are owned and operated by over 900 marine employers. The MCP is executed through the National Maritime Center (NMC), located in Martinsburg, WV, with 17 Regional Examination Centers (RECs) and 2 Monitoring Units located throughout the country and its territories. The MCP issues credentials to over 210,000 professional U.S. Merchant Mariners. The NMC reviews and issues approximately 125,000 mariner applications and medical certificates annually. The NMC and RECs administer approximately 26,000 examination modules annually. The NMC maintains a database of over 25,000 exam questions. There are approximately 300 course providers providing approximately 2,000 approved courses. Approximately 30,000 phone calls and emails are handled by the call center each month. Additional information regarding the NMC credentialing process of U.S. Merchant Mariners can be found on the NMC website at: https://www.dco.uscg.mil/national_maritime_center/. Develop, implement, deploy, deliver and sustain a low-code-no-code, Cloud hosted, SaaS solution using Agile Solution Development best practices within agreed upon cost and schedule timelines. Implement a phased approach to replace and transition MCP operations from the current Merchant Mariner License and Documentation (MMLD) system to the new Mariner Credentialing Solution. Provide all management, supervision, engineering services, personnel, labor, materials, and equipment (except for Government furnished items) required to plan, design, develop, implement, support and maintain the solution. Engage closely with internal USCG MCP stakeholders to review, analyze and validate existing MCP documentations and processes to develop detailed user stories, sprints, back-log and iteration planning, workflows, system requirements, and implementation and test plans. Ensure that the solution meets and aligns to all current DoD and Federal standards as will be identified. Perform all planning and development activities and develop required deliverables to align to USCG Non-Major Acquisition Program (NMAP) manual and MCP tailored Systems Engineering Lifecycle (SELC) processes. Work closely with MCP Information System Security Officer (ISSO) to obtain an Authorization-to-Operate (ATO), within agreed upon schedule. Develop interfaces with existing government systems to include internal and external CG systems (e.g. DHS FSMS, TWIC, National driver’s license registry, MISLE, Coast Guard Business Intelligence (CGBI)) to support/enable operations.” See details here. 

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