The Navy announced the purchase in a Special Notice contract
document on Monday.
“This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive
proposals,” the Navy said in the notice. “This is not a solicitation or request
for offers. No solicitation package is available and email requests will
not be honored. Only one responsible source and no other supplies or
services will satisfy agency requirements.”
The NRL provided no further details concerning the aircraft’s purchase in the announcement.
Twin Otter International is known for providing aviation
support for scientific researchers, public entities, and individual businesses.
Since 1989, Twin Otter International has delivered aircraft and services to government
clients like NASA, the National Science Foundation, NOAA, and NRL.
Known to the military as a UV-18 Twin Otter, the aircraft is
a short-takeoff-and-landing unpressurized plane designed to be rapidly
configured to support embarked projects.
According to the NRL website, a UV-18 Twin Otter is already
assigned to the Navy’s Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1. VXS-1 also
operates a P-3 "Orion" (NP-3C) and Beechcraft King Air (RC-12M).
