A14_SSN_CHOH_326202_Dams_4-5.pdf

A14 Page 1 of 4 Sources Sought Notice (SSN)

United States Department of the Interior

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

DENVER SERVICE CENTER

CONTRACTING SERVICES

1 DENVER FEDERAL CENTER, BUILDING 50

P.O. BOX 25287

DENVER, COLORADO 80225-0287

D5217 (DSC-CS)

CHOH 326202

Date: September 15, 2026

To: General Public (Via the Government’s Point Entry)

From: Marc H. Nguyen, Contracting Officer, Department of Interior

Subject: Sources Sought Notice – 140P2026R0109

Reference: Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park (CHOH) – Repair Historic

Potomac River Dams 4 and 5

** This is a Sources Sought Notice (SSN) for the purpose of conducting Market Research.

Proposals are NOT being requested, nor accepted at this time. Responses are being requested from both Large and Small Businesses. **

1. Purpose:

a. The purpose of this SSN is to gain knowledge regarding the types of interested businesses and their qualifications. Information obtained through this SSN by the

National Park Service (NPS) will be utilized to develop the acquisition strategy. The amount of interest, or lack thereof, will determine the possibility of a Small Business or other Socio-Economic Set-Aside for solicitation and award purposes. Analysis of the quality of responses to this SSN will be considered in the Market Research being conducted and in the making of any set-aside determination for this requirement;

b. The Government anticipates conducting a competitive acquisition for this requirement.

The amount of interest or lack thereof will determine the possibility of a small business or other socio-economical small business set-aside for solicitation. Analysis of the quality of responses to this source sought announcement will be considered in the market research being conducted, and in the making of any small business set-aside determination for this requirement; and

c. No solicitation, proposal package, specifications, or drawings are available with this

SSN.

2. Cost Reimbursement: Response to this announcement is strictly voluntary. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this SSN, nor any follow-up information requests.

3. Bonding: Bid, Performance, and Payment Bonds are anticipated to be required.

4. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code: 237990 Other Heavy and

Civil Engineering Construction and Size Standard: $45M

5. Project Description: This project is located at Potomac River Dams 4 and 5 within the

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park (CHOH). CHOH extends 184.5 miles

A14 Page 2 of 4 along the east side of the Potomac River from Georgetown, Washington, DC to

Cumberland, Maryland. Potomac Dam Number 4 and 5 are two of the seven dams constructed on the Potomac River which were used to divert water into the C&O Canal and provide slackwater navigation on the Potomac River. The C&O Canal Company operated from 1828 through 1924; however, these dams are currently operated and maintained by

NPS. A hydroelectric generation facility is located on the right (West Virginia) abutment of each dam and neither of these hydroelectric facilities are owned or operated by NPS. The left abutment for each dam consists of mortared masonry. A stabilization project is currently underway and being administered by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation via interagency agreement with NPS at the Potomac Dam Number 5 Left Abutment. Both dams are classified as Significant Hazard dams by NPS since dam failure could lead to life loss, the loss of recreation reservoirs, hydropower loss, major repair costs, major losses to natural/cultural resources, and/or impacts to park visitation.

Potomac Dam Number 4 was initially constructed as a rock fill timber crib dam in 1835 then reconstructed in 1861 as a mortared masonry run-of-river gravity dam with a grouted rubble core. A 1936 flood breached the section of the dam between approximate stations 0+40 and

1+06 and was subsequently repaired with concrete that same year. Underwater voids along the downstream toe were observed during a 1991 underwater inspection and were repaired in 1994. The approximate hydraulic height of Dam 4 is 20 ft (measured during 2023 HAER survey), and its spillway length is 715 ft. Of note is that the height of the dam below water on either side of the run-of-the-river crest varies.

Potomac Dam Number 5 was initially constructed as a rock fill timber crib dam in 1836 then reconstructed in 1857 as a mortared masonry run-of-river gravity dam with a grouted rubble core. A concrete repair to the downstream face between approximate stations 6+50 and

6+60 was made in the early 1900s (no exact date is known). Underwater voids along the downstream toe were observed during a 1991 underwater inspection and were repaired in

1993. The approximate hydraulic height of Potomac Dam Number 5 is 17 ft (measured during 2021 HAER survey), and its spillway length is 711 ft. Of note is that the height of the dam below water on either side of the run-of-the-river crest varies. The run-of-river spillway is oriented perpendicular to the Potomac River between stations 0+00 and 5+00, and between stations 5+00 to 7+11 the spillway is oriented approximately 8 degrees toward the center of the Potomac River (when looking downstream).

a. The project is located at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Historic Park (CHOH), Washington

County, Maryland.

b. The Park will remain open during construction, thus contract activities and logistics must be structured and scheduled to minimize visitor impact;

c. The site requires protective measures to ensure the surrounding area remains undisturbed;

d. The structure is a historic/natural/cultural resource;

e. The anticipated period of performance of 1,337 calendar days (Design & Construction) including any potential weather shutdown;

f. There are seasonal/other shutdowns mandated through the construction season; and

g. Winter construction may be required.

6. Project Scope: The contract is a design-build (D-B) project to repair Potomac Dams 4 and

5. The DB Contractor will be responsible for performing detailed design, analysis, regulatory permitting, and construction for the scope of repairs at these dams. The selected Design-

Builder will be required to follow the Denver Service Center (DSC) design review workflow and submit 70%, 95%, and 100% design deliverables for NPS review and approval. Upon

A14 Page 3 of 4 successful acceptance of the 100% design package, NPS will Issue For Construction (IFC), authorizing commencement of physical work. The rehabilitation of both dams is needed primarily to mitigate dam safety concerns for both dams, address deferred maintenance, increase the resilience of both dams to flooding, improve the operability of the hydroelectric plant at Dam 4, and to restore American Eel habitat in the Potomac River pool upstream of

Potomac Dam Number 4. These improvements will be complementary to the historic attributes of these dams and performed in accordance with Section 106 of the National

Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and other applicable regulations.

7. Solicitation: At this time, NPS DSC anticipates issuing a competitive Request for Proposals

(RFP) around February 2027; and awarding a single Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract.

8. Submittal Instructions: We are seeking to understand the level of your company’s interest in this project to help determine the appropriate solicitation method. Please respond to all questions in full and submit your completed information to the Contracting Officer at marc_nguyen@ios.doi.gov on or before October 15, 2026. Your response will be included in the market research and considered in any small‑business set‑aside determination for this requirement.

a. Provide Company Name, address, Name and email of Point-of-Contact, and UEID.

b. What is your experience as the Prime Contractor for Federal Government constructions contracts similar to the scope and magnitude of this project?

c. How does your company intend on complying with local construction building licensing and permitting for Washington County, Maryland?

d. This project will require Insurance and Performance and Payment Bonds. What is your company’s bonding capacity (no letters required)?

e. Provide up to two (2) past projects experience with Design Construction similar in type and scope completed withing the last seven (7) years demonstrating the listed skills and experiences.

f. Under the above listed NAICS, Small Business Administration (SBA) is your company certified as the following, please check all applicable boxes:

1) ☐ Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned Small Business (EDWOSB)

2) ☐ Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone)

3) ☐ Indian economic enterprise (IEE)

4) ☐ Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE)

5) ☐ Other Native American Owned Company

6) ☐ Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB)

7) ☐ Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB)

8) ☐ SBA certified Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB)

9) ☐ Other:

g. What estimated percent of this work will your company self-perform?

☐15%

h. Does your company have experience with Design-Build (DB) projects?

☐ Yes ☐ No mailto:marc_nguyen@ios.doi.gov

A14 Page 4 of 4

i. What will influence your company’s commitment for submitting a proposal for this project? Please check all applicable boxes.

1) ☐ Solicitation posting (approximately February 2027)

2) ☐ Schedule completion date for all Desing and Construction (1,337 calendar days from award).

3) ☐ Details of the Specifications and Drawings for the Request for Proposal?

4) ☐ Other commitments/contracts?

5) ☐ Other?

Submittal Due Date/Time: 12 Noon Eastern Time October 15, 2026.

Submit To: Contracting Officer, Marc Nguyen, email at marc_nguyen@ios.doi.gov

Attachment: 2 Att01 – Drawings Dam 4 Att02 – Drawings Dam 5 mailto:marc_nguyen@ios.doi.gov