Port of Galveston RFQ for Galveston Harbor and Channel Section 216 Study July 2026

2026-005 REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

FOR GALVESTON HARBOR AND CHANNEL SECTION 216 STUDY

The Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves, Galveston, Texas (the “Port”), acting as the non-Federal sponsor, hereby solicits Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) from qualified Architect-Engineer (A-E) firms to provide professional planning, engineering, environmental, economic, and program management services necessary to complete a Section 216 Review of Completed Project Study for the Galveston Harbor and Channel Federal Navigation Project.

The study will be conducted pursuant to Section 203 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1986, as amended. The Port will prepare the study for Federal review and consideration by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASA(CW)).

The contract will be issued with no guaranteed quantity of services and use of the contract is wholly dependent on the needs of the Port. The Port of Galveston could award projects to a single respondent, or multiple respondents.

Please note that all Qualification Submissions (“Submissions”) must be received at the designated location by the deadline indicated below. Qualifications Submissions received after the required deadline will be returned unopened and considered void and unaccepted.

I. General Requirements

The Port seeks a highly qualified Architect-Engineer team with demonstrated expertise in planning, engineering, economics, environmental compliance, navigation, hydraulics, sediment transport, and Federal Civil Works processes.

The selected team shall demonstrate the ability to complete an accelerated Section 216 study conducted under Section 203 authority and deliver a complete feasibility study package suitable for Federal review and consideration.

The Port places particular emphasis on:

• Section 216 study experience;

• Section 203 study experience;

• Deep-draft navigation project experience;

• HarborSym economic modeling;

• Hydrodynamic numerical modeling;

• Sediment transport and deposition analysis;

• Federal environmental compliance;

• Accelerated study execution;

• Federal review coordination; and

• Successful completion of studies reviewed by Headquarters USACE and the Assistant

Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASA(CW)).

A. Deadlines

Sealed, electronic submissions will be received until 2:00 PM (Central Time) on August, 19th, 2026 and then publicly opened and read aloud at the Port of Galveston’s general offices located at 123 25th St., 8th Floor, Galveston, TX 77550. Packages received after this date and time will not be considered.

B. Guidance on Submissions

Submissions shall be uploaded electronically to:

https://portofgalveston.bonfirehub.com

Vendors can register by clicking the white button at the top right of the screen at the above link.

Registration instructions are also included at the following link:

https://vendorsupport.gobonfire.com/hc/en-us/articles/15646869029783-Vendor-

Any questions specifically regarding vendor registration may be directed to purchasing@portofgalveston.com.

The Port will accept questions about this RFQ and about any matter related to the scope of work through 2:00 pm (Central Time) on August 7, 2026. Questions must be submitted online through the Port’s e-Procurement portal, https://portofgalveston.bonfirehub.com. Oral instructions or information concerning the RFQ given by Port staff or personnel will not bind the Port and should not be considered authoritative when assembling Responses.) All questions and answers will be posted on the Port’s website under the “About Us” section. (Select the “Bids” tab in the “About Us” section.)

Submissions must address each applicable requirement set out in this RFQ. Only Respondents who can provide, either directly or as part of a team under its control, (collectively referred to herein as “Respondent”) the services identified in in this RFQ should provide a Submission for consideration.

Unless expressly allowed by written authorization from the Port, no Submission may be changed, amended, or modified in any manner after it is delivered to the Port. However, a Submission may be withdrawn and submitted any time prior to the deadline set for receipt thereof.

Response packages shall include one electronic qualifications package in PDF format of all requested materials.

Galveston Wharves requests that Respondents compile their Submissions into a single PDF file that responds to section III and all requirements therein, as well as the scope of work.

The submission file shall be uploaded to the e-Procurement Portal under the “Proposal Submission” section.

Responses must be typed on standard-size (8 ½” x 11”) document with each page numbered sequentially. Responses must contain a table of contents with page numbers and be arranged to correspond to the terms and requirements of this RFQ in the order those terms/requirements appear in this RFQ. Responses must be typed in 10-point font or larger.

Submissions may not exceed 20 pages in length (excluding cover letter and any supporting documentation). Submissions that succinctly address the qualifications of the Respondent to perform this project will be more favorably received than Submissions which make it difficult for the evaluation committee to assess the Respondent’s ability to perform the services ultimately expected of the selected contractor.

There will be a pre-submission conference on Wednesday August 5, 2026 at 10:00 AM held in the Board Room of the Port of Galveston offices at Shearn Moody Plaza, 123 25th St., 8th Floor, Galveston, TX 77550.

Communications with Port staff. Except to verify receipt of their Submissions, Respondents shall not contact the Port staff after the closing date for receipt of Submissions. All Respondents will be notified when a selection decision has been made.

II. Client Background Information

The Port of Galveston is the second oldest port on the Gulf of Mexico. Today, its strategic proximity to the Gulf of Mexico (the Port is located six nautical miles from the open waters of the Gulf) enables the Port to play a key role in moving a wide range of cargoes and supporting a broad segment of the maritime industry. Current cargoes include roll-on/roll-off, fertilizers, petroleum (crude and refined), and specialty products (such as wind turbines and ship-to-rail cargo).

In terms of cargo, Galveston is rising in the rankings as a top-50 U.S. cargo port. Almost 12 million tons of cargo moved through the deep-water harbor in 2023, placing it 38th among the busiest U.S. ports and waterways with a statewide economic value of cargo operations at public and private marine terminals on Galveston Harbor totaled $6.5 billion and generated 19,000 Texas jobs. The Port predicts project freight shipments in the Houston-Galveston region to grow by more than 80% by 2035, topping 1.86 billion tons, due to increased concentrations of distribution centers in the Houston-Galveston area, an expanding Midwestern population, and the expansion of the Panama Canal to allow passage for larger and wider vessels calling ports.

In addition to being a top-50 cargo port, Galveston is the fourth most popular cruise port in the U.S., hosting more than 1.5 million passengers a year. The Port expects these numbers to continue to grow as the fourth terminal is now in service as of November 2025.

The Port has identified an opportunity to enhance the supply chain using the west side of the port which is currently underutilized. By elevating the existing highway, creating a flyover from I45 to the port and rehabbing the last stretch of the internal road network – Old Port Industrial (OPI) Road 41-51st, the Port of Galveston addresses cargo, cruises, and communities. Adding additional lanes of traffic to existing infrastructure, will enable more efficient cargo transportation, reduce congestion and travel times, increase imports and exports, augment tariff collections, improve pedestrian safety, and enhance island access and egress.

III. Purpose

The purpose of the study is to evaluate modifications to the existing Galveston Harbor and Channel Federal Navigation Project that improve navigation reliability while reducing long-term Federal Operations and Maintenance (O&M) costs.

The study shall evaluate structural and non-structural alternatives intended to:

• Reduce sedimentation within the federally maintained navigation channel;

• Reduce annual Federal maintenance dredging requirements and associated lifecycle costs;

• Improve navigation safety, reliability, and efficiency;

• Reduce current-driven operational constraints affecting deep-draft and shallow-draft vessel traffic;

• Improve reliability of authorized channel dimensions; and

• Support continued maritime commerce within the Galveston Harbor and Channel navigation system.

The study shall evaluate the relationship between tidal hydraulics, sediment transport, navigation operations, maintenance dredging requirements, and Federal O&M expenditures.

Submissions will be reviewed and evaluated as to qualifications to perform the services required by a Selection Committee consisting of Port staff. The Selection Committee will make a recommendation and present it to the Board of Trustee for consideration. Interviews of the short-listed respondents may be necessary to finalize the selection of the highest qualified Firm. In case we move forward with interviews, the respondents should plan to be available on August 26, 2026 in order to be considered. Should interviews be needed a final score will be determined for the short-listed respondents which will include a combination of the Written Proposal and Oral Interviews in Section IV.B.2

The scoring procedures are based on assessing the qualifications submitted. Any idea, concept, representation or discussion included in the Submission will become the intellectual property of the Port of Galveston for use at its sole discretion. Selection Committee will evaluate the submittals based on the established scoring criteria below. The evaluation and pre-qualification of Submissions will be used to prepare the final list of pre-qualified firms to the Board of Trustees.

This document shall serve to provide interested parties with specific information as to the Procedures for Selection. These services will be acquired in compliance with the Texas Procurement Laws.

In determining whether a professional engineering services provider is qualified, the Port shall consider such factors as professional ability; past performance; willingness to meet time and budget requirements; site specificity; quality of the proposal and prior work; the proposed work’s fit for the Port and the Port’s neighbors; feasibility of the proposal; originality and timeliness; safety of visitors and passersby; and, the ability – if required – to obtain the requisite permitting necessary.

IV. Qualification Submissions and Selection Process.

A. Qualification Submissions

Each Respondent must provide a Submission containing a full and complete response to each of the questions and requests set forth in this section and fully comply with the General Requirements set out in this RFQ. In preparing a Submission, Respondents shall answer each of the following questions and requests thoroughly. The completeness and succinctness of the Respondent’s answers to these questions and request will be considered in the evaluation process. No price or cost information is to be included in the Submission.

The ideal firm should have extensive experience in municipal and/or maritime engineering as detailed in the Scope of Services. The qualifications and commitment of the key personnel assigned is critically important in the prequalification of a firm. Please provide the following in your response:

Statement of Qualifications submissions are limited to:

• 1 page cover letter with requirements outlined in item A below;

• 7 pages to describe the AE firm/team and relevant past projects, with focus areas outlined in items B, C, E, and F below;

• 7 pages to describe technical approach, with focus areas outlined in item D below;

• 1 page (each) resumes for key individuals as noted in item E below;

1. Cover letter (Not included in Page Count.) The Submission package should begin with a cover letter and statement of interest, not exceeding one page in length that summarizes the Respondent’s key qualifications and approach to performing the required services. If the Respondent is proposing a team or multiple-entity arrangement to perform the services the cover letter shall identify the lead firm and all proposed subcontractor(s) and indicate the nature of the business relationship (e.g., joint venture, prime/subcontractor, etc.) between the parties. The letter shall indicate who is authorized to legally bind the Respondent and must be signed by that individual.

2. Table of Contents (Not Included in Page Count.) Applicants must include a table of contents that clearly identifies what part of the RFQ is being addresses in each section of the submittal.

3. Firm Overview. A description of the candidate firm, including a brief history, the number of employees and their disciplines, the firm’s philosophy regarding client and customer service, the location of the firm, years in business, biographies of principals, a biography of the individual who will be assigned as the primary representative to the Port, and any other information the candidate firm may deem relevant to a prequalification selection.

4. A statement indicating how the candidate envisions being able to provide services to the Port and a demonstrated understanding of the high expectations of the Port and its stakeholders.

5. A statement detailing how the firm and its staff are qualified to completed tasks related to the Scope of Services.

6. An organizational chart identifying team members and their areas of responsibility. A description of the history of the firm and description of the personnel in the proposing office. Provide current workload and available capabilities of each proposed team member

7. Resumes of key personnel who will be assigned to provide services to the Port and who have the experience and level of expertise required along with current license numbers of Texas Registered Professional Engineers who will be responsible for leading the design team in their area of expertise with a statement committing the aforementioned staff. Key personnel shall include the following:

a. Project Manager

b. Lead Planner

c. Lead Economist

d. Lead Hydraulic Engineer

e. Lead Environmental Manager / NEPA Lead

f. Navigation Specialist

g. Engineering Lead

8. Listing of past and relevant projects with those similar to this Scope of Work.

a. Section 216 studies

b. Section 203 studies performed on behalf of non-Federal sponsors

c. Deep-draft navigation studies

d. HarborSym analyses

e. Navigation economics

f. Hydrodynamic modeling

g. Sediment transport analyses

h. Environmental compliance

i. USACE feasibility studies

j. Federal review processes

9. Listing of current Section 216 and Section 203 related engineering services clients.

10. Information regarding the candidate firm’s current and projected workload and its ability to meet project schedules and be available.

11. References (Not Included in Page Count.) Applicants shall provide three client references that are knowledgeable about the value of the Respondent’s services on prior projects. When providing client references, please use the form included as Attachment A.

12. Firms shall also describe any contracts for services awarded to their firm that have been cancelled or terminated for unsatisfactory performance in any respect and a phone number and contact person for that organization. Please also provide a description of any legal proceedings involving the firm related to any client or projects that were unresolved or active in the last ten years.

13. Other Information. Briefly summarize any other important and appropriate factors, not already provided in response to the questions and requests listed above, about the Respondent’s qualifications that are relevant to the consideration of the Respondent for this project. To include:

a. Project understanding and technical approach

b. Strategy for accelerated study execution

c. Strategy to conduct concurrent engineering and environmental efforts

d. Federal coordination

e. Stakeholder coordination

f. Delivery of the study by January 31, 2028

B. Evaluation Process.

Upon receiving the Submissions, a Selection Committee will be established by the Port. The proposal will be evaluated utilizing the following criteria:

Submissions will be opened so as to avoid disclosure of contents to competing offerors and kept confidential during the process of subsequent negotiation when selected for a specific project. The Port’s Selection Committee will use the evaluation criteria listed in the following paragraphs to evaluate Submissions. Interviews may be requested of a short list of qualified respondents and will be tentatively held on August 26, 2026. If interviews are held, the Committee will determine a final score for the short-listed respondents which is a combination of the Written Proposal and Oral Interviews but follows the Scoring criteria in (b.) below.

1. Scoring Criteria

Submissions which comply with the above criteria will be evaluated based on consideration of the criteria below.

1. Relevant Experience and Qualifications (30%). Evidence and documentation of prior experience that demonstrates the Respondent’s ability to satisfactorily perform all of the required services. Evaluation factors include:

• Section 216 experience;

• Section 203 experience;

• Deep-draft navigation experience;

• HarborSym experience;

• Navigation economics experience;

• Federal feasibility study experience;

• Successful Federal review experience;

• Successful work in the Galveston Bay Navigation Complex area of interest.

2. Project Team and Key Personnel (25%). The extent to which the proposed project team demonstrates the qualifications, relevant experience, organizational capacity, and key personnel necessary to successfully deliver the required services. Evaluation factors include:

• Qualifications of key personnel;

• Relevant project experience;

• Availability of personnel;

• Team integration.

3. Technical Approach and Study Understanding (20%). The extent to which the respondent demonstrates a clear understanding of the project requirements and presents a logical, comprehensive, and effective technical approach to successfully complete the study. Evaluation factors include:

• Analysis of implied tasks and key tasks related to study objectives;

• Detailed plan to evaluate and address navigation issues;

• Detailed plan to evaluate the project’s economics;

• Detailed plan to evaluate the project’s environmental requirements;

• Detailed plan to streamline the project’s Federal review requirements.

4. Accelerated Schedule Execution Strategy (15%). The extent to which the respondent presents a realistic and achievable strategy for delivering the project on an accelerated schedule, demonstrating effective planning, resource commitment, and risk management to meet critical milestones. Evaluation factors include:

• Schedule realism to meet January 31, 2028 deadline;

• Plan to use existing data and analysis;

• Concurrent activities strategy.

5. Federal Coordination and Quality Management (10%). The extent to which the respondent demonstrates the ability to effectively coordinate with federal agencies and stakeholders while implementing a comprehensive quality management program that ensures the timely delivery of high-quality, compliant work products. Evaluation factors include:

• USACE coordination experience at district and HQ levels;

• ASA(CW) coordination experience;

• Quality control procedures;

• Comment resolution experience.

C. Selection Process

After determining the highest ranked Respondent using the criteria described above, Port staff will first attempt to negotiate a scope of work (SOW), a schedule of hours, and a contract with the Respondent. If the Port is unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with the selected firm, the Port shall, formally and in writing, end all negotiations with that firm and proceed to negotiate with the next firm in the order of the selection ranking until a contract is reached or negotiations with all ranked firm’s end.

V. Additional Requirements

A. General.

1. The Port does not assume, and hereby specifically disclaims any responsibility or obligation of any nature, to any of the persons or entities responding to this RFQ and will make no payment or reimbursement of any cost, fee or other expenditure whatsoever associated with the preparation or submission of a Submission.

2. The contract(s) awarded will be governed by the laws of the State of Texas and is (are) deemed payable and performable in Galveston County, Texas. The venue for all disputes thereunder shall lie in Galveston County, Texas.

B. Insurance. The successful respondent must comply, as applicable, with the Port’s insurance requirements. The requirements are included as Attachment B.

C. Schedule.

1. The Port intends to adhere to the schedule below

Milestone Period End Date Release of RFQ for Qualifications Submissions

July 26th, 2026

Questions Received through:

End of Question-and-Answer Period

2:00 PM CST August 7th, 2026

Submissions Due 2:00PM CST August 19th, 2026 Short-list Interviews August 26, 2026

D. Miscellaneous.

1. In addition to all rights provided by law, the Port:

a. reserves the right to reject any or all Submissions; and,

b. may, at its sole discretion, waive technical mistakes, informalities or irregularities in any Submission received.

2. Neither this document, nor the advertisement of the Notice of the RFQ, is an offer. The attachments included with this RFQ are incorporated herein for all purposes.

3. It is the express intent of the Port that each Submission be: comprehensive, prepared in good faith, and be in full compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, rules, standards and ordinances. Acceptance of any Submission is expressly conditioned upon actual closing and funding of the Project after approval of all documents by counsel for the Port and by the Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves. Acceptance of any Submission is not acquiescence or agreement with any term or condition set forth in the Submission or any proposed documents included in, or referenced by, the Submission.

VI. Attachments

A. Scope of Services B. Port of Galveston Professional Services Agreement C. Client References

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ATTACHMENT A

Project Information and Proposed Scope of Services

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Galveston Harbor and Channel Project is a critical component of the Houston-Galveston-Texas

City Navigation Complex and serves a wide range of commercial, industrial, military, cruise, and energy-related maritime activities.

To maintain full authorized depth and width for project users, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers removes approximately 2.5 million cubic yards of dredged material annually from the project.

The annual Federal cost associated with maintenance dredging, dredged material placement, placement area improvements, hydrographic surveys, and related O&M activities is estimated to be approximately $25 million per year.

In addition to recurring maintenance costs, strong tidal currents within portions of the Inner Harbor create operational constraints for vessel movements, reduce navigation flexibility, and contribute to sediment deposition within the Federal navigation channel.

Preliminary hydraulic and sediment transport modeling has indicated that a general navigation feature enclosing the west end of the harbor channel would substantially reduce sedimentation in the Inner

Harbor. These preliminary findings shall be independently validated, and other potentially effective solutions shall be evaluated as part of the study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of the study is to identify the alternative or combination of alternatives that provides the greatest overall Federal benefit through reductions in annual O&M expenditures while maintaining or improving navigation safety, reliability, and efficiency.

The study shall evaluate:

• Existing conditions;

• No-action alternative;

• Enhanced maintenance and operational alternatives;

• Structural alternatives;

• Hybrid alternatives; and

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• A Locally Preferred Plan (LPP), if warranted.

The study shall quantify and compare:

• Sedimentation rates;

• Maintenance dredging requirements;

• Federal O&M expenditures;

• Navigation reliability;

• Navigation efficiency;

• Navigation safety;

• Environmental impacts;

• Benefit-to-Cost Ratios (BCRs);

• Payback periods; and

• National Economic Development (NED) benefits.

ACCELERATED SCHEDULE

The Port intends to submit the completed study to the ASA-CW no later than January 31, 2028. The completed study will include the feasibility report, associated NEPA documentation, a thirty-five percent (35%) design of the recommended alternative, and any other required submission documents.

Respondents shall demonstrate their ability to execute an accelerated feasibility study schedule and maintain continuous progress toward this milestone.

PROCUREMENT STRATEGY

The Port intends to award a single qualifications-based Architect-Engineer contract for completion of the study.

The contract will be structured with phased task authorizations corresponding to major study milestones. The phased authorization approach is intended solely to align expenditures with funding availability and shall not be interpreted as separate procurements or independent studies.

The Port currently anticipates:

Phase I – Study Initiation, Alternatives Development, and NEPA Scoping

Target Completion: January 2027

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Phase II – Alternative Evaluation, Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP), and DRAFT Integrated Feasibility and Environmental Report

Target Completion: September 2027

Phase III – Final Integrated Feasibility Report, NEPA Documentation, 35% Design, and Federal

Submission Package

Target Completion: January 2028

FEDERAL COORDINATION

The selected consultant shall support continuous coordination with the USACE Galveston District, Headquarters USACE, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASA(CW)), Federal and

State resource agencies, and other stakeholders throughout study execution.

The selected consultant shall be capable of producing technically defensible work products suitable for

Federal review and consideration without reliance upon substantial government-led revisions.

SECTION 1 – PROJECT OVERVIEW

1.01 INTRODUCTION

The Port of Galveston (Port), acting as the non-Federal sponsor, intends to complete a Section 216

Review of Completed Project Study for the Galveston Harbor and Channel Federal Navigation Project pursuant to Section 203 authority.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate modifications to the existing Federal navigation project that improve navigation reliability, reduce sedimentation within the Federal channel, reduce long-term

Federal Operations and Maintenance (O&M) costs, and enhance the safe, reliable, and efficient movement of commerce.

The study shall be prepared for Federal review and consideration by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

(USACE) and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASA(CW)).

The selected Architect-Engineer (A-E) team shall provide all planning, engineering, environmental, economic, navigation, hydraulic, and program management services necessary to complete the study and associated environmental documentation.

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1.02 STUDY AUTHORITY

The study will evaluate modifications to the existing Galveston Harbor and Channel Federal

Navigation Project pursuant to authorities available under Section 216, Review of Completed Projects.

The study will be conducted by the Port under Section 203 authority and prepared in accordance with applicable USACE planning guidance, engineering regulations, policy guidance, and environmental compliance requirements.

The completed study shall be suitable for Federal review and consideration for authorization through a future Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).

1.03 STUDY AREA

The primary study area includes the Galveston Harbor and Channel Federal Navigation Project and adjacent waterways that may be affected by project modifications.

The Engineer shall evaluate direct and indirect effects to:

• Galveston Harbor and Channel

• Galveston Inner Harbor

• Galveston Entrance Channel

• Texas City Ship Channel

• Houston Ship Channel

• Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW)

• Adjacent navigation facilities, terminals, and vessel operating areas

The Engineer shall evaluate hydraulic, sediment transport, environmental, navigation, and operational effects throughout the study area.

1.04 PROBLEM STATEMENT

The Galveston Harbor and Channel Project experiences recurring sediment deposition and strong tidal currents within portions of the Inner Harbor.

To maintain full authorized depth and width for project users, the Federal Government currently removes approximately 2.5 million cubic yards of dredged material annually from the project.

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The annual Federal cost associated with maintenance dredging, dredged material placement, placement area improvements, hydrographic surveys, and related Operations and Maintenance activities is estimated to be approximately $25 million per year.

Strong tidal currents within portions of the Inner Harbor contribute to sediment transport into the

Federal navigation channel and create operational constraints affecting vessel movements.

These conditions increase Federal O&M expenditures, reduce navigation flexibility, constrain vessel operations, and reduce overall navigation system efficiency.

1.05 STUDY OBJECTIVES

The study shall identify, formulate, evaluate, and compare structural and non-structural alternatives that:

• Reduce annual sedimentation within the Federal navigation project;

• Reduce Federal maintenance dredging requirements;

• Reduce Federal Operations and Maintenance expenditures;

• Improve navigation reliability;

• Improve navigation safety;

• Improve navigation efficiency;

• Improve availability of authorized channel dimensions;

• Reduce current-driven operational restrictions affecting vessel traffic; and

• Support continued economic growth within the Houston-Galveston-Texas City Navigation

Complex.

The study shall establish a defensible technical relationship between:

Hydraulics → Sedimentation → Maintenance Dredging Requirements → Federal O&M Costs →

Navigation Reliability and Efficiency

1.06 STUDY ALTERNATIVES

The Engineer shall evaluate a reasonable range of structural and non-structural alternatives.

Alternatives shall include, at a minimum:

No Action Alternative

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• Existing maintenance practices

• Existing dredging frequencies

• Existing placement area management strategies

Enhanced Operations and Maintenance Alternatives

• Modified maintenance dredging strategies

• Advanced maintenance dredging alternatives

• Alternative dredging frequencies

• Alternative channel management strategies

Structural Alternatives

• A closure structure at the west end of the Galveston Harbor Channel

• Other Training structure(s) to reduce current velocities and sedimentation

• Variations in length, alignment, and configuration of closure or other training structures.

• Hybrid alternatives

Locally Preferred Plan Alternatives

• Federal Interest Plan

• Expanded Locally Preferred Plan (LPP)

• The Engineer shall evaluate both Federal and non-Federal components where applicable.

1.07 KEY TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

The Engineer shall quantify:

• Existing sedimentation rates

• Existing maintenance dredging and DMPA requirements

• Existing Federal O&M expenditures

• Changes in sedimentation resulting from each alternative

• Changes in current velocities resulting from each alternative

• Changes in maintenance dredging requirements

• Changes in Federal O&M expenditures

• Navigation reliability improvements

• Navigation efficiency improvements

• Navigation safety improvements

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The Engineer shall evaluate impacts to adjacent Federal navigation projects and demonstrate that project benefits are not achieved through unacceptable adverse impacts to other Federal waterways.

Particular attention shall be given to:

• Texas City Ship Channel

• Houston Ship Channel

• Gulf Intracoastal Waterway

• Galveston Entrance Channel

1.08 EXISTING INFORMATION UTILIZATION

The Port intends to maximize the use of existing information and technical work products to accelerate study completion and reduce duplication of effort.

The Engineer shall utilize existing project information to the maximum extent practicable, including:

• Existing hydraulic models

• Existing sediment transport models

• Existing hydrographic surveys

• Existing engineering analyses

• Existing environmental information

• Existing economic information

• Existing dredging records

• Existing placement area information

• Existing geotechnical information

Note: Coast and Harbor Engineering conducted a high-level numerical model of a closure structure and its effects on current in the area of interest. The Engineer shall coordinate with and evaluate the applicability of existing modeling efforts, model files, assumptions, calibration data, and technical work products previously developed for the project and adjacent projects.

The Engineer shall document how existing information will be incorporated into the study.

1.09 STUDY SUCCESS CRITERIA

The study shall be considered complete when the following have been achieved:

• Completion of feasibility-level engineering analyses;

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• Completion of approximately 35 percent design of the recommended alternative;

• Completion of all required environmental documentation and NEPA coordination;

• Completion of hydraulic, navigation, engineering, environmental, and economic evaluations;

• Identification of a Recommended Plan;

• Preparation of a complete Federal submission package suitable for review by USACE and

ASA(CW); and

• Delivery of final Integrated Feasibility and Environmental Report documentation no later than

January 31, 2028.

1.10 FEDERAL COORDINATION

The selected Engineer shall support continuous coordination with Federal, State, and local stakeholders throughout study execution.

Anticipated coordination includes:

• USACE Galveston District

• Headquarters USACE Section 203 Program Staff

• Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASA(CW))

• U.S. Coast Guard

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

• National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)

• Texas General Land Office (GLO)

• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)

• Galveston County Navigation District

• Other affected stakeholders and resource agencies

The Engineer shall support vertical integration throughout the study and prepare briefing materials, technical summaries, presentation materials, and comment response documentation necessary to support Federal review and decision making.

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2.01 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The Prime Consultant shall demonstrate experience with:

• USACE Civil Works feasibility studies;

• Deep-draft navigation projects;

• Navigation economics;

• Federal environmental compliance processes;

• Multi-disciplinary project management.

The Consultant Team shall collectively demonstrate experience with:

• Section 216 studies;

• Section 203 studies performed on behalf of non-Federal sponsors;

• HarborSym economic modeling;

• Navigation benefit analysis;

• Hydrodynamic numerical modeling;

• Sediment transport modeling;

• Navigation safety and operational analyses;

• Feasibility-level engineering design;

• National Economic Development (NED) analyses;

• Federal environmental review processes;

• USACE planning requirements;

• Vertical integration and Federal review coordination.

2.02 REQUIRED TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES

The Consultant Team shall demonstrate the capability to perform:

Planning

• Federal feasibility studies;

• Alternative formulation and evaluation;

• Federal interest determination;

• Benefit-cost analyses.

Economics

• HarborSym modeling;

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• Navigation economics;

• Operations and Maintenance cost analyses;

• National Economic Development (NED) analyses;

• Benefit-to-Cost Ratio evaluations.

Hydraulics and Sediment Transport

• Hydrodynamic numerical modeling;

• Tidal circulation analyses;

• Sediment transport analyses;

• Sediment deposition analyses;

• Channel shoaling evaluations.

Engineering

• Closure structure;

• Other training structures;

• Variations in alignment, length, or configuration of a closure or training structure;

• Feasibility-level design;

• Construction cost estimating.

Environmental

• NEPA compliance;

• Environmental Assessment (EA) preparation;

• Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) preparation;

• Resource agency coordination;

• Public involvement processes.

Navigation

• Deep-draft navigation studies;

• Vessel traffic analyses;

• Navigation safety evaluations;

• Operational analyses.

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2.03 ACCELERATED STUDY EXECUTION REQUIREMENT

The Port intends to complete the study, associated environmental documentation, approximately 35 percent design, and Federal submission package by January 31, 2028.

Respondents shall demonstrate prior experience completing accelerated studies involving:

• Concurrent engineering and environmental efforts;

• Accelerated Federal review schedules;

• Multi-agency coordination;

• Compressed project delivery schedules;

• Complex navigation studies.

Respondents shall provide a detailed strategy for completing the study within the required schedule.

Particular emphasis shall be placed on:

• Immediate initiation of NEPA coordination;

• Utilization of existing technical information;

• Concurrent execution of planning, engineering, environmental, and economic analyses;

• Continuous Federal coordination.

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SCOPE OF SERVICES

A1.00 GENERAL

The Engineer shall provide all professional services necessary to complete a Section 216 Review of

Completed Project Study for the Galveston Harbor and Channel Federal Navigation Project conducted under Section 203 authority.

The Engineer shall provide planning, engineering, economics, environmental compliance, navigation, hydraulics, sediment transport, stakeholder coordination, and program management services necessary to prepare a complete feasibility study and associated environmental documentation suitable for

Federal review and consideration.

The completed study shall:

• Comply with applicable USACE planning guidance and policy requirements;

• Support review by USACE and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASA(CW));

• Evaluate structural and non-structural alternatives;

• Advance the recommended alternative to approximately thirty-five percent (35%) design;

• Complete all required environmental coordination and documentation;

• Establish a Recommended Plan;

• Support future authorization consideration through WRDA.

A1.01 PROCUREMENT AND PHASING STRATEGY

The Port intends to award a single qualifications-based Architect-Engineer contract.

The study shall be executed through phased task authorizations aligned with funding availability and major study milestones.

The phased authorization structure is intended to maintain continuity of personnel, technical analyses, environmental coordination, and stakeholder engagement throughout study execution.

The Engineer shall assume that all phases will ultimately be completed.

A1.02 STUDY COMPLETION REQUIREMENT

The Engineer shall complete the feasibility study, environmental documentation, approximately 35 percent design, and Federal submission package no later than January 31, 2028.

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The Engineer shall organize work activities to support concurrent execution of planning, engineering, economics, environmental compliance, and Federal coordination activities.

A1.03 STUDY PHASES

The study shall be organized into three phases:

Phase I, Study Initiation, Alternatives Development, and NEPA Scoping

Target Completion: January 31, 2027

Phase II, Alternative Evaluation and Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP)

Target Completion: September 30, 2027

Phase III, FINAL Integrated Feasibility and Environmental Report, 35% Design, and Federal

Submission Package

Target Completion: January 31, 2028

The Port reserves the right to authorize subsequent phases prior to completion of preceding phases to maintain schedule continuity.

A1.04 CROSS-CUTTING TECHNICAL DISCIPLINES

The Engineer shall integrate the following disciplines throughout all study phases:

• Program Management

• Planning

• Economics

• Hydraulics and Hydrology

• Sediment Transport

• Navigation

• Engineering

• Environmental Compliance

• Stakeholder Coordination

• Federal Coordination

The Engineer shall demonstrate continuous integration among these disciplines.

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A1.05 FEDERAL ECONOMIC JUSTIFICATION

The primary objective of the study is to identify modifications to the existing Federal navigation project that reduce Federal Operations and Maintenance expenditures while maintaining or improving navigation safety, reliability, and efficiency.

The Engineer shall establish a defensible relationship between:

Hydraulics → Sedimentation → Maintenance Dredging Requirements → Federal O&M Costs →

Navigation Reliability and Efficiency

The Engineer shall quantify:

• Existing Federal O&M expenditures;

• Existing maintenance dredging requirements;

• Existing sedimentation rates;

• Changes resulting from each alternative;

• Benefit-to-Cost Ratios (BCRs);

• Net economic benefits;

• Payback periods;

• National Economic Development (NED) benefits.

A1.06 EXISTING INFORMATION UTILIZATION

The Port intends to maximize utilization of existing project information to accelerate study completion.

The Engineer shall utilize existing information to the maximum extent practicable.

Existing information may include:

• Hydraulic models;

• Sediment transport models;

• Hydrographic surveys;

• Environmental studies;

• Engineering concepts;

• Geotechnical information;

• Economic analyses;

• Dredging records;

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• Placement area information.

The Engineer shall document all existing information utilized and identify any limitations associated with its use.

A1.07 NUMERICAL MODELING REQUIREMENTS

The engineer shall use USACE-approved models for all aspects of the engineering analysis and design work. Approved models are those on the USACE “set-list”. While USACE maintains an exception to policy pathway for one-time use of other models, the desire to quickly complete this study precludes pursuit of one-time use ETPs.

Throughout the study, the engineer will coordinate with USACE to review or validate model usage and outputs as required.

The Engineer shall utilize the USACE HarborSym economic modeling framework, or its successor approved by USACE, for evaluation of navigation benefits and economic impacts. The Engineer shall demonstrate prior HarborSym experience and identify personnel responsible for development and execution of HarborSym analyses.

USACE maintains a list of planning models at the following link:

https://planning.erdc.dren.mil/toolbox/current.cfm?ThisPage=ModelCert&Side=No. For engineering models, the Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC) hosts the main suite of preferred Hydrology, Hydraulics, and Coastal (HH&C) engineering models (such as HEC-RAS and HEC-HMS) on the HEC software page: https://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/.

A1.08 VERTICAL INTEGRATION

The Engineer shall maintain continuous coordination with:

• USACE Galveston District;

• Headquarters USACE Section 203 Program Staff;

• Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASA(CW));

• Federal resource agencies;

• State resource agencies;

• U.S. Coast Guard;

• Other affected stakeholders.

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The Engineer shall prepare briefing materials, presentation materials, technical summaries, and comment response documentation supporting Federal review and decision-making.

A1.09 KEY STUDY RISKS

The Engineer shall identify and manage risks associated with:

• Accelerated schedule execution;

• Environmental review requirements;

• Stakeholder opposition;

• Federal review timelines;

• Technical uncertainties;

• Funding timing.

The Engineer shall proactively identify risk mitigation measures throughout study execution.

A2.00 PHASE I – STUDY INITIATION, ALTERNATIVES DEVELOPMENT, AND NEPA

SCOPING

Target Notice to Proceed:

August 2026

Target Completion:

January 31, 2027

A2.01 OBJECTIVE

The objective of Phase I is to establish the technical, environmental, navigation, and economic foundation necessary to support completion of the study on an accelerated schedule.

Phase I shall initiate environmental coordination, establish the existing conditions baseline, leverage existing technical information, review and validate prior modeling efforts, develop and screen alternatives, and position the study for uninterrupted advancement into Phase II.

The Engineer shall organize activities to maximize schedule efficiency and execute planning, environmental, engineering, navigation, and economic tasks concurrently whenever practicable.

A2.02 PROJECT MANAGEMENT

The Engineer shall provide overall management of Phase I activities.

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Tasks shall include:

• Project kickoff meeting;

• Monthly coordination meetings;

• Schedule management;

• Budget management;

• Risk management;

• Quality control;

• Progress reporting.

A formal study kickoff meeting shall be conducted within forty-five (45) days of Notice to Proceed.

The kickoff meeting shall include participation by the Port, USACE Galveston District, Headquarters

USACE Section 203 Program representatives, and other stakeholders as appropriate.

A2.03 EXISTING INFORMATION REVIEW

The Engineer shall inventory, review, and evaluate all available project information.

At a minimum, the review shall include:

• Existing hydraulic analyses;

• Existing sediment transport analyses;

• Existing feasibility studies;

• Existing authorization documents;

• Existing hydrographic surveys;

• Historical dredging records;

• Placement area capacity information;

• Existing navigation studies;

• Existing vessel traffic information;

• Existing environmental information;

• Existing geotechnical information;

• Existing engineering concepts.

The Engineer shall identify opportunities to utilize existing information and avoid duplication of effort.

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A2.04 EXISTING INFORMATION UTILIZATION MEMORANDUM

Due: October 31, 2026

The memorandum shall:

• Inventory existing information;

• Evaluate applicability of existing models and technical work products;

• Identify data gaps;

• Describe utilization strategies;

• Identify information requiring updates or validation.

A2.05 VERTICAL INTEGRATION AND FEDERAL COORDINATION PLAN

Due: October 31, 2026

The Engineer shall prepare a comprehensive coordination strategy supporting continuous engagement with Federal review organizations.

The plan shall identify:

• Coordination responsibilities;

• Review milestones;

• Agency Technical Review requirements;

• Policy review requirements;

• NEPA milestones;

• Public involvement milestones;

• ASA(CW) engagement opportunities;

• Critical schedule dependencies;

• Schedule risks and mitigation measures.

A2.06 NEPA SCOPING AND ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATION

The Engineer shall initiate environmental coordination immediately upon Notice to Proceed.

The Engineer shall prepare all draft materials necessary to support environmental coordination activities.

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• Development of scoping materials;

• Resource agency outreach;

• Stakeholder outreach;

• Public meeting planning, resourcing, and facilitation;

• Scoping documentation;

• Environmental constraints review;

• Identification of appropriate NEPA pathway;

• Preliminary impact identification.

The Engineer shall support all environmental coordination activities and prepare draft materials required for governmental review and issuance.

The Engineer shall evaluate the appropriate level of environmental documentation, including

Environmental Assessment (EA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pathways.

The Engineer shall not assume either pathway without evaluation.

A2.07 EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT

Due:January 2027

The Engineer shall prepare an Existing Conditions Report documenting baseline project conditions.

The report shall include:

• Existing channel conditions;

• Existing hydraulic conditions;

• Existing current velocities;

• Existing sedimentation patterns;

• Existing maintenance dredging requirements;

• Existing Federal O&M expenditures;

• Existing navigation conditions;

• Existing environmental conditions;

• Existing vessel operating constraints.

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The report shall identify average annual maintenance dredging quantities required to maintain full authorized project dimensions.

The report shall establish the Federal O&M baseline against which alternatives will be evaluated.

A2.08 NAVIGATION ANALYSIS

The Engineer shall evaluate existing navigation conditions and operational constraints.

The evaluation shall include:

• Vessel traffic patterns;

• Commercial vessel activity;

• Deep-draft vessel activity;

• Tow and barge activity;

• Existing operational restrictions;

• Current-related navigation impacts;

• Existing use of the Pelican Island Bridge opening.

The Engineer shall coordinate with:

• Galveston-Texas City Pilots Association;

• G&H Towing Company; regarding tugboat assistance to Gal-Tex Pilots;

• Selected Gulf Intracoastal Waterway operators, including Kirby Corporation and Florida Marine

Transporters, as appropriate.

The Engineer shall evaluate the extent to which vessel traffic currently utilizes the Inner Harbor and specifically the vessel traffic passing into or out of the harbor under or through the Pelican Island

Bridge. The engineer will identify potential operational impacts associated with retained alternatives.

A2.09 ALTERNATIVES DEVELOPMENT AND SCREENING

The Engineer shall develop and screen a reasonable range of alternatives. Alternatives shall include:

No Action Alternative

• Existing maintenance practices;

• Existing placement area strategies;

• Existing channel management practices.

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Enhanced Operations and Maintenance Alternatives

• Modified maintenance dredging strategies;

• Alternative dredging frequencies;

• Advanced maintenance alternatives.

Structural Alternatives

• Closure structure;

• Other…