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Federal Maritime Commission seal

Federal Maritime Commission

Abbreviation: FMC

Chairman (as of 2026): Louis E. Sola

2026 Budget: $39M

SAM.govCGAC Code: 6500

Website: fmc.gov

The Federal Maritime Commission is the independent regulator of the United States' international ocean transportation system. FMC oversees ocean common carriers, marine terminal operators, and ocean transportation intermediaries.

FMC's profile rose following the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022, which expanded its authority over detention and demurrage practices.

How to Win FMC Contracts

Winning work at the Federal Maritime Commissionmeans understanding a procurement culture that blends rigorous compliance, deep mission focus, and a preference for vendors who can speak the agency's language from day one. This guide walks through how FMC buys, the vehicles it uses, and the steps your company should take to go from registered vendor to awarded contractor.

Understanding FMC Procurement

The Federal Maritime Commission obligates roughly $5-10M annually in contracts supporting ocean-shipping regulation, ALJ adjudication, and IT modernization. FMC is a small regulator but has outsized public visibility given global supply-chain impacts on ocean shipping.

Contracts cover specialized maritime economics research, enforcement support, case adjudication IT, and agency operations.

How FMC Buys

FMC uses GSA MAS and small direct contracts. The Office of Management runs procurement centrally.

Major Contract Vehicles

  • GSA MAS— Primary vehicle for IT, research, and services.
  • Case Management IT Contracts— Systems supporting complaint intake and adjudication.

Step 1: Get Registered and Compliant

Required Registrations

SAM.gov registration with UEI and CAGE code, full FAR representations and certifications.

FMC-Specific Requirements

Maritime economics or shipping-industry domain knowledge. FedRAMP Moderate for cloud services.

Certification Programs

8(a), WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB.

Step 2: Identify Opportunities

Primary Sources

SAM.gov filtered by FMC.

Key Offices

FMC Office of Management — Washington, DC.

Top Contract Types

FFP and T&M/LH.

Step 3: Position Your Company

Build Relationships

Attend Propeller Club, International Ocean Transportation Forum, and NCBFAA events. Ocean-shipping regulatory community is tightly networked.

Relevant NAICS Codes

  • 541990–Professional/Scientific Services NEC
  • 541611–Management Consulting
  • 541512–Computer Systems Design
  • 541720–Research in Social Sciences

Step 4: Develop Winning Proposals

Technical Approach

Demonstrate maritime economics or ocean-carrier regulatory expertise.

Past Performance

Prior FMC, MARAD, USCG, or commercial ocean-shipping experience.

Pricing Strategy

Price-sensitive; specialized expertise justifies rates.

Winning Strategies

  1. Specialize in ocean-shipping regulatory economics.
  2. Use GSA MAS as primary vehicle.
  3. Track supply-chain policy developments for adjacent work.
  4. Team with maritime law firms and shipping analysts.
  5. Pursue small IT modernization directly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Bidding FMC work without maritime domain knowledge.
  2. Treating it like a generic federal regulator.
  3. Missing the global context of FMC’s jurisdiction.

Small Business Programs

FMC meets small-business goals with modest but consistent 8(a) and WOSB utilization.

Key Contracting Offices

  • FMC Office of Management — Washington, DC

FMC by the Numbers

Annual Contract Spend
~$7M contract obligations (FY2025)
Contract Actions / Year
~70 prime awards/year
Top NAICS
541990
Professional Services NEC

Ready to Win FMC Contracts?

Stop guessing — let Blacksmith AI draft your next winning proposal.