Title XI IFA Pool Request for Quotations

U.S. Department
of Transportation

MARITIME

ADMINISTRATION

1200 New Jersey Ave, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20590

693JF726Q000009
Federal Ship Financing IFA Solicitation
07/14/2026

INTRODUCTION

A. PURPOSE OF THE SOLICITATION (the Solicitation)
The U.S. Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Office of Marine Financing (OMF) intent of the Solicitation is to establish a pool of qualified Independent Financial Advisors (IFAs) that will compete to provide expert, third-party analysis (IFA Work) which evaluates the economic soundness for government-guaranteed loans under the Federal Ship Financing Program (Tile XI) (or Project) under 46 U.S.C. Chapter 537. OMF may also require research and other services from time to time.
The Solicitation outlines (1) the requirements for submitting a technical proposal (the Initial Proposal) for evaluation for entry in the pool of qualified IFAs (the IFA Pool); (2) the requirements for submitting a technical and price quotation (the Quotation) for a contract or purchase order award (the Contract) to complete IFA Work for a specific Title XI Financing application (the Application) or perform other work as required by MARAD; (3) the process outlining establishment of the IFA Pool; and (4) MARAD’s evaluation criteria for both the Initial Proposal and the Quotation. The aforementioned processes are for “At Cost to the Government” (At Cost) Contract awards and “No Cost to the Government” (No Cost) Contract awards. Under No Cost awards the pre-approved cost for the IFA Work is invoiced directly to the third-party Title XI financing applicant (The Applicant). Under Cost awards all work is invoiced to the Government.
B.

FORMAT OF THE SOLICITATION

Part I
Part II
Part III

693JF726Q000009

IFA Pool Establishment
IFA Request for Quotations
Contract Clauses and Requirements

PART I: IFA POOL ESTABLISHMENT

A.

SEEKING QUALIFIED IFA POOL PARTICIPANTS

OMF is requesting that companies submit an Initial Proposal, if they desire, that outlines its overall staff expertise and history with IFA Work, especially Title XI or any other Federal Financing Program IFA Work. The Initial Proposal from the potential IFA will not include pricing but introduces the IFA to MARAD and OMF as a potential, technically capable candidate for the IFA Pool.

B. QUALIFIED IFA POOL PARTICIPANTS

The IFA Pool will contain IFAs whose Initial Proposals have been determined to be Technically Acceptable. IFAs in the IFA Pool will be eligible to compete for IFA Work and other work for Title XI.