Request for Information (RFI) – Market Research for Ocean Transportation of Hazardous Waste (Guam to CONUS)

*** Please be advised that this RFI - Market Research is posted under both NAICS codes 483113 and 483111 to ensure the broadest possible industry dissemination. The postings are identical; interested parties need submit only one response. ***

November 3, 2026

Attention Maritime Transportation / Ocean Freight industry partners: 

Request for Information (RFI) – Market Research for Ocean Transportation of Hazardous Waste (Guam to CONUS)

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is conducting a market survey to determine the commercial availability and operational capacity of ocean carriers to transport government-generated hazardous waste from the Territory of Guam to permitted facilities in the United States. Pursuant to the Military Cargo Preference Act (10 U.S.C. § 2631) and coastwise trade statutes under 46 U.S.C. Chapter 551, the Government is evaluating the availability of qualified U.S.-flagged vessels, including coastwise-endorsed vessels and U.S.-flagged vessels operating under registry endorsements in accordance with the statutory Guam trade exemption (46 U.S.C. § 12111(b)).

This market survey assesses industry capability to meet technical environmental safety standards and required volume throughput, while establishing factual market data regarding whether domestic vessel capacity is sufficient or if alternative statutory authorities, such as the hazardous waste transport exception under 46 U.S.C. § 55105(b) or applicable administrative waiver procedures must be evaluated to ensure mission readiness and regulatory compliance.

1.    The current Cargo Description and Operational Requirements for DLA are: 

     a.    Cargo Type: Department of War (DoW) Generated Hazardous Waste. The waste streams include a broad range of materials, including:

           i.    RCRA-regulated hazardous waste: Waste exhibiting ignitability (D001), corrosivity (D002), reactivity (D003), or toxicity characteristics, including waste containing lead, chromium, cadmium, mercury, benzene, and other hazardous constituents.

           ii.    Contaminated liquids: Waste fuels, gasoline, solvents, paints, thinners, corrosive liquids, contaminated wastewater, and other petroleum- or chemically contaminated liquids.

          iii.    Used oil and petroleum-related waste: Used lubricating oil, oily water, oil filters, sludge, and petroleum contaminated materials, some of which may be managed as non-RCRA-regulated waste. 

          iv.    Batteries: Lithium-ion batteries, lithium-metal batteries, lead-acid batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, and other spent batteries requiring regulated transportation or disposal.

         v.    Contaminated solids: Paint debris, spent blasting media, contaminated soil, oily rags, absorbents, filters, and other solids contaminated with hazardous substances.

          vi.    Other hazardous materials and waste: Oxidizers, corrosive chemicals, flammable substances, aerosol waste, and compressed gas cylinders, where applicable. The cargo includes both RCRA hazardous waste requiring a Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest and other regulated or non-hazardous waste streams. Individual shipments vary in composition and may contain materials classified under multiple DOT/IMDG hazard classes, including Classes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9. 

     b.    Waste is generally packaged in approved drums, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), or other appropriate containers and consolidated into 40-foot shipping containers. Bulk liquid waste may also be transported in ISO tank containers. The applicable waste classifications, quantities, and packaging are identified on the corresponding waste profiles, manifests, and shipping documents. 

     c.    Hazard Class/UN Number Required: (See Attached List.) 

     d.    Required Weekly Throughput Estimate:  2 Each – (40-Foot Container’s) 

     e.    Route: Guam to United States (West Coast) 

     f.    Required Shipping Window: Present – Indefinite

Interested industry partners are requested to submit a written response to this Request for Information (RFI) within twenty (20) calendar days from the date of publication of this notice. This will enable the Government to thoroughly evaluate commercial market capacity, operational feasibility, and statutory compliance. Submissions should directly address the following required questions:

1.    Company Information
    a.    Company Legal Name: 
    b.    Company Cage Code: 
    c.    Physical Address: 
    d.    Website: 
    e.    Primary NAICS code:
    f.    Business Size (large / small):
    g.    Any socioeconomic status, if any: 

2.    Point of Contact
   a.    Name:  
   b.    Title: 
   c.    Phone: 
   d.    Email:

3.    Status: Does your company currently operate a Jones Act-compliant vessel scheduled on this route during the specified shipping window?

4.    Technical Certification: Is your company legally certified and operationally equipped to accept, stow, and transport all the specific classes of hazardous waste listed? (See attached “DLA-GUAM – Hazardous Waste List”.)

5.    Volume and Throughput Capacity? (Critical): 

6.    What is the maximum volume (measured in standard Conex/ISO container equivalents) that your company can commit to transporting on this route per week for the DoW, and DoW Contractors for the Hazard Class/UN Number Required?

7.    Can your company meet or exceed the military's minimum required throughput of 2 Each – 40-Foot Container’s (or equivalent) without causing operational or regulatory storage backlogs in Guam?

8.    If your company can only offer partial or restricted capacity (e.g., limiting transport to 1 container per week/voyage), please provide specific operational, regulatory, or safety constraints dictating this volume limit.

Commercial Intent: If your company possesses both the technical capability and the required volume capacity, is your company willing to support the DoW, and DoW Contractors executing the removal of hazardous waste from Guam?

Justification for Refusal: If your company is unable or unwilling to accept this cargo, or cannot meet the required weekly volume throughput, please state the specific technical, regulatory, safety, or vessel allocation reasons for your refusal/capacity limitation. 

This RFI-Market Research does not constitute a solicitation and does not obligate the Government to issue a solicitation, award a contract, or pay for information submitted in response to this notice. The Government will utilize the provided data, as well as any omissions, to assess commercial capability, capacity, availability, procurement strategies, and hazardous waste transportation exceptions.

Please submit your written response directly to Bradley Moehlig at Bradley.Moehlig@dla.mil & Mike Mamaty at Michael.Mamaty@dla.mil . Submissions should be delivered electronically via email in Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word format.

Please referencing Subject Line: 'Response to RFI – Maritime Transport of Hazardous Waste (Guam to CONUS)'. Timely submission of capabilities, vessel availability, and commercial operating constraints will directly inform DLA's acquisition strategy, small business determinations, and required statutory compliance determinations under federal maritime law.