Construction of the Alaska Region Research Vessel Program Solicitation NSF 07-515: Phase 3 Management Proposal

这是一个重大研究设备和设施建设(MREFC)项目，用于建造一个254英尺的研究平台；阿拉斯加地区研究船(ARRV)。这艘多用途科考船将极大地改善进入北极水域的途径，专门设计用于阿拉斯加附近的季节性海冰和开阔海域，包括楚科奇、博福特和白令海、阿拉斯加湾和东南沿海水域。了解北冰洋海冰的变化对于更好地了解全球气候变化至关重要。卫星观测显示，北极常年冰的减薄速度比目前的模型预测的要快，最近的研究表明，这种减薄正开始对地区和全球产生重大影响。ARRV将提供一个急需的、技术先进的海洋学平台，使多学科团队能够在冰缘和季节性冰中进行实地研究，以解决各种关键的区域和全球生态系统问题，包括气候变化和海洋环流。这将是自20世纪80年代以来美国国家科学基金会为更新美国学术研究船队而建造的第一艘新船。阿拉斯加大学费尔班克斯分校(UAF)最初的提案是对国家科学基金会项目征集NSF 07-515的回应，该项目旨在管理、获取和运营阿拉斯加地区科考船(ARRV)。最初的提案由10名邮件审查员和10名小组成员审查。专家小组的一项主要建议是采取分阶段收购和建设战略，以降低风险并提供监督。国家科学基金会实施了四个阶段的办法，在为下一阶段提供资金之前，将完成既定的里程碑。该设计于2004年12月完成，并在项目第一阶段期间进行了更新，授予了第一阶段CSA(0723426)。2008年10月，成功地进行了最终设计审查，利用外部专家小组核实了项目基线(成本、范围和进度)以及UAF-S项目执行计划。在国家科学委员会(NSB)于2009年3月批准继续进行后，UAF开始了造船厂选择阶段(第二阶段)。所有第二阶段的里程碑都顺利完成，NSF于2009年12月初同意授予造船厂合同。在收到投标书后，还更新了罗斯福的项目基线，并作为同意授标过程的一部分，由国家科学基金会内部审查其准确性和充分性。这一修订后的项目基准是这项奖励的基础，与罗斯福和国家安全局批准的项目没有太大区别。NSF仍有信心，该项目能够顺利完成，项目总成本为1.995亿美元。通过每周与UAF举行电话会议、计划的季度现场访问和年度外部审查来维持对该项目的监督。一个独立的监督委员会(AOC)在整个规划和调试期间就船舶的技术和科学优先事项向UAF和NSF提供咨询和建议。NSF还保留了在英国管理类似研究船建造和设计经验的咨询人员。UAF随后于2009年12月18日将建造合同授予威斯康星州马里内特的Marinette海洋公司。船厂项目启动会议将于2010年1月举行，第一次季度项目审查会议将于3月举行，以监测设计、核查和移交。AOC将于2010年2月举行首次海试和科学行动规划会议。下一次外部小组审查将于5月在国家科学基金会总部举行，届时将由一个类似于罗斯福的专家小组评估第三阶段初期阶段的进展情况。实际建设将于2010年9月开始。舰船交付和海试计划于2013年1月进行，科学作业从2014年1月开始。

This is a Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) project for the construction of a 254 foot research platform; the Alaska Region Research Vessel (ARRV). This multipurpose research ship will dramatically improve access to Arctic waters and is specifically designed to operate in seasonal sea ice and open ocean waters near Alaska, including the Chukchi, Beaufort, and Bering Seas, the Gulf of Alaska and southeastern coastal waters. Understanding changes in Arctic sea ice is vitally important to developing a better understanding of global climate change. Satellite observations have shown that the perennial ice in the Arctic is thinning at a rate greater than current models predicted, and recent research suggests the thinning is beginning to have major regional and global consequences. The ARRV will provide a much needed, technologically advanced, oceanographic platform to enable multidisciplinary teams to conduct field research at the ice edge and in seasonal ice in order to address a variety of critical regional and global ecosystem issues including climate change and ocean circulation. This will be the first NSF new-build toward renewal of the U.S. academic research vessel fleet since the 1980s. The original University of Alaska, Fairbanks (UAF) proposal was in response to the National Science Foundation Program Solicitation NSF 07-515 for the management, acquisition and operation of an Alaska Region Research Vessel (ARRV). The original proposal was reviewed by 10 mail reviewers and 10 panelists. A major recommendation from the panel was a phased acquisition and construction strategy to mitigate risk and provide oversight. A four phase approach was implemented by NSF with given milestones to be completed prior to funding of the next phase. The design was completed in December 2004 and was refreshed during Phase I of the project following award of the Phase I CSA (0723426). A successful Final Design Review (FDR) was held in October 2008 which utilized an external panel of experts to verify the project baseline (cost, scope, and schedule) as well as UAF?s Project Execution Plan (PEP). Following the National Science Board (NSB) approval to proceed in March 2009, UAF began the shipyard selection phase (Phase II). All Phase II milestones were completed successfully and NSF consent to award the shipyard contract was granted in early December 2009. The project baseline was also updated from FDR following receipt of bids and reviewed internally by NSF for accuracy and sufficiency as part of the consent to award process. This revised project baseline is the basis for this award and does not significantly differ from FDR or what was approved by the NSB. NSF remains confident that the project can be successfully completed with a total project cost of $199.5M. Oversight of the project is maintained through weekly teleconferences with UAF, planned quarterly site visits, and annual external reviews. An independent oversight committee (AOC) provides advice and recommendations to both UAF and NSF on the technical and scientific priorities for the vessel throughout the planning and commissioning period. NSF has also retained a consult with experience managing the construction and design of a similar research vessel in the UK.UAF then awarded the construction contract to Marinette Marine Corporation of Marinette, Wisconsin on December 18, 2009. The shipyard project kick-off meeting will be held in January 2010 with the first quarterly project review meeting in March to monitor design verification and transfer. The AOC will hold their first sea trials and science operations planning meeting in February 2010. The next external panel review will be held in May at NSF headquarters where progress during the initial stages of Phase III will be assessed by a panel of experts similar to FDR. Actual construction will begin in September 2010. Ship delivery and sea trials are planned for January 2013 with science operations beginning in January 2014.