A7 - LAKE TAHOMA Sources Sought Notice.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE FOR

EMERGENCY DEBRIS REMOVAL - DREDGING LAKE TAHOMA NC

Waterway Debris Removal Related To Hurricane Helene Lake Tahoma, And The Big Buck Creek And Little Buck Creek, McDowell County, North Carolina

This is a Sources Sought/Request for Information only. This is NOT a Solicitation Announcement, nor is it a Request for Proposal. This request does not obligate the Government in any contract award.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, (CESAW) is conducting research to determine the market capabilities of potential contractors to perform emergency debris removal – dredging. CESAW wants to identify contractors experienced with strategies, procedures to accomplish this requirement and has the resources to respond to the Helene Hurricane ongoing recovery missions for this lake, impacted by recent storms and Hurricane Helene. The works areas for this dredging service are Lake Tahoma and the immediately adjacent feed waters, Buck and Little Buck Creeks, City of Marion, County of McDowell State of NC.

Lake Tahoma

Lake Tahoma is a private lake, approximately 170 acres, in the mountains of Western North Carolina, United States, in McDowell County. It is fed by the waters of Buck Creek to the west and Little Buck Creek to the North. The lake is about 5 miles northwest of Marion. The Lake is currently the main water supply for the intakes at Marion Water. Marion Water requires 2,100 GPM flow from Lake Tahoma (2.5 MGD) to operate. Max turbidity rate allowable is 20 NTU at Marion Water Treatment Plant intake.

During Hurricane Helene the lake received significant debris inflows which resulted in floating and submerged debris along with sedimentation. In early 2025, USACE preformed hydrographic survey of the bottom of Lake Tahoma to help identify Hurricane Helene debris.

When compared to pre-event surveys there is an estimated 500,000 cubic yards of debris in the lake. The heaviest concentrations are on the west and north sides caused by debris flows from Big Buck Creek and Little Buck Creek.

Emergency Debris Removal – Dredging Lake Tahoma including Big Buck and Little Buck Creek Feeders

Base Work - Estimated Quantity: 50K to 100K CY.

Environmental Window: None.

The work consists of removing 100,000 (estimated) cubic yards by hydraulic sediment debris removal from Lake Tahoma to the existing HOA owned Confined Disposal Facility (CDF) to restore parts of the lake to pre-Hurricane Helene conditions. These efforts shall be focused on the Big Buck Creek, Little Buck Creek areas and upstream of the penstock. The Contractor shall place the hydraulically removed sediment into the existing HOA CDF. The government will provide pre- and post-Hurricane Helene hydrographic surveys of Lake Tahoma.

The work will also include the removal of approximately 50,000 CY of floating and subsurface debris (C&D, Vegetative, titled property, etc.) throughout the lake up to approximately 60 feet below current water level. This material shall be removed from the lake to a Temporary Off Load Sites (TOLS) and taken to a Contractor constructed temporary debris storage and reduction (TDSR) site. At the TDSR site(s) the Contractor shall sort, separate, and reduce the debris before hauling it off for final debris disposal.

No underwater diving scope, for rigging or otherwise of subsurface debris, will be required.

The work will involve restoring functionality to the penstock and removing storm associated debris within 100’ upstream of the penstock; restoring the penstock and the area to approximately pre-storm conditions.

Work with and inform local officials of activities with the desired objective to maintain the required downstream minimum discharge / flow from the dam. The Contractor shall continuously monitor the turbidity at the intake during project operations. Note, the penstock at the dam is undersized to provide sufficient flow, therefore if the lake is drawn down below the existing fixed weir, additional pumping would be required to maintain minimum required flow

The magnitude of construction for this project will be between $25M to $100M

Optional Work Emergency Debris Removal Mechanical Dredging

OPTION 1 Big Buck and Little Buck Creek Areas

Emergency Debris Removal Mechanical Dredging, Big Buck and Little Buck Creeks area focus

Estimated Quantity: 100K to 200K

Environmental Window: None

The optional work includes 200,000 cubic yards of mechanical sediment debris removal in Lake Tahoma to restore parts of the lake to pre-Hurricane Helene conditions. These efforts shall be focused on the Big Buck Creek, Little Buck Creek areas and upstream of the penstock. This material shall be removed from the lake to a TOLS and taken to a Contractor constructed TDSR site. At the TDSR site(s) the Contractor shall allow the sedimentation to temporarily drain back into the lake before hauling it off for final debris disposal. No underwater diving scope, for rigging or otherwise of subsurface debris, will be required

OPTION 2 Lake Tahoma Main Body

Emergency Debris Removal Mechanical Dredging, Main Body Lake Tahoma

Estimated Quantity: 100K to 200K

The optional work includes 200,000 cubic yards of mechanical sediment debris removal in Lake Tahoma to restore parts of the lake to pre-Hurricane Helene conditions These efforts shall be focused on the main body of the lake. This material shall be removed from the lake to a TOLS and taken to a Contractor constructed TDSR sites. At the TDSR site(s) the Contractor shall allow the sedimentation to temporarily drain back into the lake before hauling it off for final debris disposal. No underwater diving scope, for rigging or otherwise of subsurface debris, will be required.

OPTION 3 Combined Disposal Facility Improvements

Real Property Improvement – Increase Capacity to 500K CY Lake Tahoma HOA

The work includes making improvements to the Lake Tahoma HOA owned and operated existing CDF. Plans to increase the CDF capacity to 500K CY will be provided, sourced from the HOA plans and specifications for CDF. The contractor is responsible for obtaining all necessary and required permits. The Contractor shall construct the CDF improvements according to the plans and specifications provided by the HOA via the Contracting Officer.

This task does not include disposal of material previously left in the CDF.

OPTION 4 Additional Hydraulic Dredging:

Emergency Debris Removal – Dredging Lake Tahoma

Estimated Quantity: 100K to 400K

The work includes dredging of main body of Lake Tahoma to pre-Hurricane Helene conditions and depths. Upon completion of the CDF improvements the Contractor will perform additional hydraulic sediment debris removal in Lake Tahoma in 100K CY increments. The sediment will be deposited into the improved CDF. The Contractor is not responsible for further, FINAL disposal of material placed in the CDF.

restore middle The work includes performing additional hydraulic dredging making improvements to the Lake Tahoma HOA owned and operated existing CDF. Plans to increase the CDF capacity to 500K CY will be provided, sourced from the HOA plans and specifications for CDF. The contractor is responsible for obtaining all necessary and required permits. The Contractor shall construct the CDF improvements according to the plans and specifications provided by the HOA via the Contracting Officer.

This task does not include disposal of material previously left in the CDF.

The overall magnitude of construction for this project will be between $250,000,000 and $500,000,000; if all options exercised.

All interested firms with 237990 as an approved NAICs code have until 22 April 2025 at 1600 Eastern Daylight Saving Time to submit the following information:

1. Name & Address of your Firm

a. Identify any offices in NC that were in place prior to September 2024

b. Identify any offices/operation centers in NC put into place in response to Hurricane

Helene relief efforts.

2. Point of Contact (Name/Phone/E-mail)

3. Current SAM

4. Documentation of use of a hydraulic pipeline dredge

5. Business Size, to include designation as HUBZone, 8(a), Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Woman-Owned Business, and Large Business. Any supporting documentation that confirms your socio-economic status should be provided, i.e., letter of certification from VA confirming SDVOSB status. The Government must be able to verify SBA certification of HubZone and 8(a) via SAM.

6. Bonding capability - both single and aggregate capacity contracts, as evidenced by submission of Surety Company Letter stating bonding capacity.

7. Evidence of capabilities to perform comparable work (dredging projects). The contractor must provide evidence of comparable work on two (2) recent projects greater than $1,000,000.00 in value (not more than five (5) years old.)

a. Include the project name and description of the key/salient features of the project

(completion date, total contract construction value, and your company's level of involvement in the project, i.e., subcontractor (type), prime, GC, etc. and your specific role.

b. Additionally, if you were teaming with another firm, clearly identify your role on the project(s) submitted.

c. Please provide at least one point of contact (with e-mail address and phone number) for project validation. Note: The Government will not give credit to projects if the lack of information hinders the ability to determine relevancy and/or level or experience.

8. Firm's capability to perform, to include geographic span and project size.

9. Information on Teaming Arrangement (if applicable). Although we are not looking for formal signed agreements at this time, if you intend to "team" with another firm, formally or informally, you must submit information, not more, than one (1) page, about your team's involvement. More specifically, you must submit sufficient information for the Government to determine the roles each team member will play and what your socio-economic status is or will be considering the proposed arrangement. Therefore, included in your one (1) page if you are a Small Business and you intend to mentor/protégé and/or JV with a large business both team members must sign agreeing that 40% of the labor will be performed by the 8(a) firm. Additionally, if the team is a mentor/protégé arrangement, identify the areas that will be mentored. Any supporting documentation that confirms your socio-economic status as a team should be provided.

The Government may not give credit to your socio-economic class if there is not sufficient documentation to support it or if the Government cannot verify through other means that your business is as such.

The NAICS Code for this project is 237990 Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction and the size standard is $45M. [NOTE: Dredging - To be considered small for purposes of Government procurement, a firm must perform at least 40 percent of the volume dredged with its own equipment or equipment owned by another small dredging concern.]

Responses to this Sources Sought Announcement will be used by the government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. All interested businesses, regardless of size should submit a narrative demonstrating their Specialized Experience in similar type contracts, Past Performance, Key Personnel. Capability statements should include size/classification of your firm, bonding capacity, bonding availability, details of similar projects, and the completion dates, references and contract amount for the similar projects listed.

SURVEY QUESTIONS – Must be answered

The following confidential survey questionnaire is designed to apprise the Corps of prospective dredging contractors' project execution capabilities. Please provide your response to the following questions. All questions are about the Emergency Debris Removal -Dredging, Wilmington Harbor Anchorage Basin, and Mid-River Channels, North Carolina.

General:

1) Have you ever worked on dredging jobs similar in nature to this project? If so, please describe the project and for whom the work was performed. Identify a point of contact and phone number, as a reference of relevant experience.

2) What percentage of work (volume of material dredged, transported and ultimately placed) can you perform with your own equipment or equipment leased, rented or owned by another contractor?

3) Have you performed dredging:

a. In support of natural/manmade disaster missions

b. That required floating and subsurface debris removal while simultaneously executing dredging operations,

c. Within lakes of similar size

d. Within conditions found in Western North Carolina?

4) Do you have the ability to be mobilized to Lake Tahoma within three (3) days and begin operations within five (5) days after Notice To Proceed (NTP)?

a. If No, how long after NTP will it take for you to mobilize and begin operations?

5) Would you be bidding on this project as a sole contractor, prime contractor with subcontractor(s) or as a joint venture?

6) Is there a dollar limit on the size of contract that you would bid?

a. Minimum value

b. Maximum Value

7) What is the largest dredging contract, in dollars, on which you were the prime contractor?

8) What is your bonding capacity per contract? What is your total bonding capacity?

Equipment:

9) What type of equipment (dredges and other critical equipment) do you own and/or operate that is suitable for the work described? Please list each dredge, other vessels, and critical equipment/vehicles you reasonably expect to use in performing each type of work described.

10) Identify which dredge(s), including support equipment (push boats, crew boats barges, etc.), you would employ on this project. Also, for each dredge, identify the maximum digging depth.

Narratives shall be no longer than 15 pages. The requested information shall be submitted electronically to:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Attn: Joshua S Craven and Edward A. Boddie E-mail: joshua.s.craven@usace.army.mil and edward.a.boddie@usace.army.mil The email should be titled: Emergency Debris Removal – Dredging Lake Tahoma

W912PM25B0008.

THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS SUCH.

Do not send hard copies of advertising or promotional materials. Please ensure that all responses are comprehensive and provide a name and point-of-contact for your firm for follow-up by this mailto:joshua.s.craven@usace.army.mil mailto:edward.a.boddie@usace.army.mil office or the procuring contracting officer. If you have responded to any previous e-mail messages or had other communications with our office regarding preliminary market research for this project, please be advised that it will be necessary for you to respond to this e-mail and the questions contained therein. Any responses involving teaming agreements should delineate between the work that will be accomplished by the Prime Contractor and work accomplished by the teaming partner

All information is to be provided on a voluntary basis at no charge to the Government. There is no entitlement to compensation related to or arising out of responding to this request for information (RFI), nor is there an entitlement to any debriefing. There should be no expectation of further communication in response to this RFI, but at the Government’s discretion t entitlement. All information provided becomes property of the Government. There is no guarantee, expressed or implied, that the market research for this acquisition will result in any guarantee of award or acquisition strategy.