USMC VBSS exercise
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Even with the advent of robotic USVs that have been used successfully near Iraq, humans who can board a ship and search it are still necessary. Special Forces like SEALs had been performing these duties, but wartime demands made it obvious that this was not an ideal use of such highly-trained troops outside of special scenarios like hostage rescue.

These days, other groups like the US Marines are being trained for Non-compliant boarding visit, board, search and seizure (NCB VBSS) roles. The US Navy’s 2005 move to create expeditionary troops is seen as another way to find trained forces for this role, and is also highly relevant to the Navy’s drive to rebuild its brown-water capabilities.

VBSS Related Contracts

Before: SEALs
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Unless otherwise specified, the The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division in Orlando, FL issues the contracts.

Aug 17/07: Small business qualifier LINXX Security Services in Virginia Beach, VA received an $8.6 million modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract (N61339-07-D-0003) to exercise an option to procure the services of instructors for the Non-Compliant Boarding Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (NCB VBSS) and Visit, Board, Search and Seizure Boarding Officer (VBSS BO) courses on behalf of the Center for Security Forces in Little Creek, VA.

Work will be performed in Norfolk, VA (30%); San Diego, CA (30%); Pearl Harbor, HI (20%); and Mayport, FL (20%), and work is expected to be completed in September 2008. Contract funds in the amount of $552,487 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

Oct 19/07: Small business qualifier LINXX Security Services in Virginia Beach, VA won a $16.3 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract. The contracts covers instructors for the non-compliant boarding visit, board, search and seizure (NCB VBSS) and VBSS boarding officer courses on behalf of the Center for Security Forces in Little Creek, VA. Work will be performed in Norfolk, VA (30%); San Diego, CA (30%); Pearl Harbor, HI (20%); and Mayport, FL (20%), and is expected to be complete in September 2007. This contract was competitively procured as a 100% Small Business Set-Aside, and 9 offers were received (N61339-07-D-0003).