The US Navy has released a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking a Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) to supervise the procurement and construction of its new Medium Landing Ship (LSM) fleet.
The Navy expects to award the contract in mid-2026.
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Under the acquisition plan, the selected VCM will oversee initial LSM production at two sites, namely Bollinger Shipyards and Fincantieri Marinette Marine.
Bollinger Shipyards under a contract awarded in September 2025, will play a role in LSM long lead time procurement and engineering design, while Fincantieri Marinette Marine will be responsible for constructing four vessels.
The VCM will determine the allocation strategy for the remaining three ships authorised under the base contract.
In addition, the VCM will act as the primary contractor with the Navy, issuing and managing subcontracts directly with the shipyards.
This direct contractual control is intended to streamline project oversight, and combined with a standardised design, aims to address cost and schedule risks.
US Navy ships programme executive officer rear admiral Brian Metcalf said: “The VCM approach not only accelerates construction timelines but also strengthens our industrial base by engaging multiple shipyards.
“By providing a mature, ‘build-to-print’ design and empowering a VCM to manage production, we are streamlining oversight for this acquisition. This approach accelerates the timeline and strengthens our industrial base, ensuring we have the capacity and expertise needed for sustained maritime advantage.”
The acquisition strategy represents a shift from traditional Navy contracting and oversight practices in shipbuilding.
The VCM will coordinate all phases of LSM construction, from design through delivery and post-delivery support, across several shipyards concurrently, utilising commercial shipbuilding procedures and requiring fewer Navy personnel than previous programmes.
The Navy will supply a mature vessel design in a “build-to-print” format to reduce technical challenges and scheduling uncertainties.
In December 2025, the Navy and Marine Corps jointly identified Damen Naval’s LST 100 as the baseline model for the LSM programme.
The LSM is intended to bridge the operational gap between short-range landing craft and larger amphibious warfare vessels.
The new ships will support Marine Corps operations by providing littoral mobility in contested areas and are expected to form a fleet of 35 vessels aimed at increasing agility in expeditionary logistics and distributed manoeuvre.
In December last year, the US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) selected Damen Shipyards Group’s Landing Ship Transport (LST)100 design for its LSM programme.
