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，用于建设一个254英尺的研究平台；阿拉斯加地区研究船（ARRV）这艘多用途研究船将极大地改善进入北极水域的途径，并专门设计用于在阿拉斯加附近的季节性海冰和开阔海域作业，包括楚科奇海、波弗特海、白令海、阿拉斯加湾和东南沿海水域。了解北极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，北极的常年冰正在以比目前模型预测的更快的速度变薄，最近的研究表明，变薄正开始对区域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首次为更新美国学术研究船队而新建。阿拉斯加大学费尔班克斯分校（UAF）最初的提案是为了响应美国国家科学基金会项目招标NSF 07-515，要求管理、收购和运营一艘阿拉斯加地区研究船（ARRV）。最初的提案由10个邮件审稿人和10个小组成员审查。该小组的主要建议是分阶段采建战略，以降低风险并提供监督。国家科学基金会实施了四阶段的方法，并在资助下一阶段之前完成了既定的里程碑。该设计于2004年12月完成，并在获得第一期CSA（0723426）后，在项目的第一期进行了更新。2008年10月举行了一次成功的最终设计评审（FDR），利用外部专家小组来验证项目基线（成本、范围和进度）以及UAF？项目执行计划（PEP）。继2009年3月美国国家科学委员会（NSB）批准后，UAF开始船厂选择阶段（第二阶段）。所有第二阶段的里程碑都成功完成，NSF同意在2009年12月初授予造船厂合同。在收到投标后，项目基线也从FDR更新，并由NSF内部审查准确性和充分性，作为授予过程同意的一部分。修订后的项目基线是本合同的基础，与FDR或NSB批准的基线没有显著差异。NSF仍然相信该项目能够成功完成，项目总成本为1.995亿美元。通过每周与UAF的电话会议，计划的季度现场访问和年度外部审查来维护项目的监督。一个独立的监督委员会（AOC）为UAF和NSF在整个计划和调试期间的技术和科学优先事项提供建议和建议。NSF还聘请了一位有经验的顾问，负责管理英国一艘类似科考船的建造和设计。UAF随后于2009年12月18日将建造合同授予威斯康辛州马里内特的马里内特海事公司。造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，以监督设计验证和转移。AOC将在2010年2月举行他们的第一次海上试验和科学操作计划会议。下一次外部小组审查将于5月在NSF总部举行，届时将由一个类似于FDR的专家小组评估第三阶段初始阶段的进展。实际建设将于2010年9月开始。船舶交付和海上试验计划于2013年1月进行，科学操作将于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.