SWM Town Hall with Industry Concept Paper and SAM Special Notice Announement_Final.pdf

Introduction

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Middle East District, will host an in person and virtual Town Hall with Industry on 26 March 2026 from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Eastern Daylight- Saving Time (EDT) to discuss the Pioneering of Alternate Design and Delivery Methodologies (ADDM) in the United States Central Command (US CENTCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR). The event will occur at The Doubletree Hotel by Hilton Front Royal Blue Ridge Shadows, 111 Hospitality Drive, Front Royal, VA 22630. Additionally, the event will be broadcast on-line via a Microsoft Teams Webinar at https://events.dod.teams.microsoft.us/event/f18f62cc-982c-4a5d-98c8- 6817684c4386@fc4d76ba-f17c-4c50-b9a7-8f3163d27582. Upon registration, the participant will gain access to the Webinar portal to join the discussion.

Overview

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is committed to delivering vital public and military engineering services in an increasingly complex and dynamic environment. Our traditional design-bid-build and even design-build project delivery models, while historically successful, face growing pressure from accelerated timelines, constrained budgets, and the need for greater innovation to solve the nation’s toughest engineering challenges.

USACE is proactively seeking to evolve its own processes. Just as the Army adapts its operational approach to the situation on the ground, USACE must adapt its design and construction methodologies to the unique demands of each project. We must move beyond a "one-size-fits-all" approach to project delivery and embrace a future of greater collaboration, innovation, and shared risk with our industry partners.

The Middle East District is seeking two to three A-E Professionals and two to three Construction Professionals from industry to voluntarily staff the expert panel to support this “Town Hall with Industry.” These professionals will enable collaborative discussions with USACE personnel using the Request for Information (RFI) questions shown on Pages 2-3 of this notice.

Additionally, the District is requesting initial comments and/or written products to effectively facilitate dialogue prior to the event. Interested firms are not to provide any proprietary information as part of their response to this notice as any feedback received will be handled as publicly releasable.

Problem Statement

The Middle East District seeks innovative and comprehensive ADDM that fundamentally transform how we approach project development and execution. We are challenging our industry partners to propose holistic solutions that integrate novel design concepts, cutting-edge construction techniques, and progressive project delivery frameworks. The problem statement is:

How can USACE and Industry collaboratively structure and execute projects to significantly reduce delivery schedules, improve cost-effectiveness, and enhance the overall quality and life-cycle value of our infrastructure, moving beyond the limitations of our current delivery models of Design-Bid-Build (D-B-B) or Design-Build (D-B)?

We are not simply looking for new materials or designs, but for new paradigms of partnership.

This includes, but is not limited to, models that leverage early contractor involvement (ECI), progressive design-build (PDB), Design-Build to Budget (DBtB), Integrated Design and Construction (IDAC), and other collaborative approaches that break down the traditional silos between design and construction.

Objectives

(1) Educate the District on Emerging Methodologies: To gain a comprehensive understanding from our industry partners of the current landscape of innovative design and delivery models (such as put limited to: Progressive Design-Build, Early Contractor Involvement, and Alliancing, etc.). Our goal is to learn how these models are being successfully implemented in the private sector and other government agencies to accelerate schedules, reduce costs, and improve project outcomes.

(2) Identify Barriers to Implementation within the CENTCOM AOR: To identify and understand the specific business practices, market conditions, contractor experience, contractual laws/regulations/policies, end user expectations (cost, schedule, quality), and cultural barriers that could challenge the District’s ability to effectively implement an ADDM process versus the commonly used D-B-B and D-B methodology.

(3) Define Pilot Project Opportunities: To identify and scope two or three potential upcoming USACE projects that would serve as ideal candidates for piloting a novel, collaborative design and delivery methodology. The objective is to match specific project complexities with the most suitable innovative approach and establish a clear path for trial implementation.

Questions for Industry Partners based on each Objective. *These questions will guide the collaborative discussions during the event. *

Objective 1: Educate the District on Emerging Methodologies

Successful Delivery Model(s): "Beyond the standard Design-Build or Design-Bid-Build methodology, what is the single most effective collaborative delivery model you have used in the last five years, and what specific attributes made it successful?"

Project – Constructor Integration: "From your perspective, what is the ideal point in a project's lifecycle for the constructor to be brought on board, and what key activities should happen at that stage to maximize value?"

Successful Case Study: "Can you share a case study where an early partnership between the owner, designer, and contractor led to a significant, measurable improvement in cost, schedule, or quality? What was the 'secret sauce'?"

Project-Technology Integration: "How are you seeing technology (e.g., Digital Twins (DT), Building Information Modeling (BIM), Artificial Intelligence (AI) being integrated into these collaborative models to improve decision-making and transparency?"

Objective 2: Identify Barriers to Innovative ADDM Implementation within the CENTCOM AOR

The FMS "Client-Agent" Conflict: In a Foreign Military Sales case, USACE is the executing agent, but the host nation is the ultimate client and provides the funding. How does this tripartite relationship fundamentally challenge the trust and shared-goal alignment required for a collaborative model like Progressive Design-Build, especially when the host nation often requires a firm, fixed price long before a collaborative design process can be completed?

Defining and Defending "Best Value": In an FMS context, USACE must justify its procurement decisions to the host nation. How difficult is it to "sell" a non-traditional delivery model to a foreign military partner who may view the American concept of "best value" as ambiguous compared to the certainty of a low-bid, lump-sum contract? What are the biggest hurdles in convincing them that a process-oriented, collaborative approach will yield a better outcome in terms of cost, schedule, and quality?

Non-Regulatory Constraints: "Beyond contractual terms, are there cultural, funding, recurring host nation directed design changes, communication barriers, etc. within USACE and/or the CENTCOM AOR business environment that make it difficult to establish a true, integrated team environment? Identify and describe these constraints?"

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) vs. Host Nation Requirements: From your perspective as the designer, where do the U.S. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)— with its strict rules on competition, cost justification, and non-price evaluation factors, etc. significantly conflict host nation’s procurement laws, commercial codes, and business expectations? What specific clause, regulation, or procedural step in the current USACE acquisition process presents the biggest obstacle to proposing or utilizing a more innovative delivery method?" "If you could 'red line' one part of the FAR or a standard USACE contract to encourage more collaboration, what would it be and why?"

Objective 3: Define Pilot Project Opportunities

Project Example(s): "Based on your experience, what type of project (in terms of size, complexity, and risk profile) is the perfect 'starter' for a new collaborative delivery model?" Is there an example of past USACE D-B-B or D-B project which would have been a great candidate project? If so, why?

Red Flags: "Conversely, what are the red flags that would make a project a poor candidate for a highly collaborative model?"

Commitment from USACE: "If selected to pilot a new methodology with us, what is the single most important commitment you would need from USACE leadership to ensure the project's success?"

Pilot Program Structure: "Looking ahead, how can we best structure a pilot program to capture 'lessons learned' effectively, so that a successful pilot can be scaled and replicated across the entire Corps?"

Desired Attributes of Solutions

Industry partners are encouraged to propose solutions that exhibit the following attributes:

Early and Integrated Collaboration: Methodologies that embed contractor and constructor expertise at the earliest stages of design (e.g., at the 15-35% design phase) to inform requirements, improve constructability, and identify risks before they become costly problems.

Shared Risk and Reward: Contractual and procedural frameworks that allow for a more equitable distribution of project risks and create incentives for all parties to achieve cost and schedule savings.

Accelerated Delivery: Innovative approaches to "fast-tracking" elements of a project, from permitting and site work to procurement and construction, without compromising quality or safety.

Enhanced Value: A focus on life-cycle value over initial low cost. Solutions should consider long-term operations, maintenance, and sustainability.

Flexibility and Adaptability: Methodologies that can be tailored to the specific complexities and unique requirements of a project, from large-scale military construction to civil works and ecosystem restoration.

Transparency: Open and transparent processes, particularly around cost and schedule management, to foster trust and a true team environment.

End State

The District is not seeking a single answer, but a diverse portfolio of innovative solutions that we can pilot and potentially integrate into our standard business practices. We invite our industry partners to bring their boldest ideas and deepest expertise to this Town Hall with Industry. Help us to co-develop frameworks for early collaboration that would enable USACE to effectively engage constructor and designer expertise at the earliest stages of project development (e.g., pre- 35% design). This includes defining clear roles, responsibilities, and communication pathways for a truly integrated team. To guide continued collaborative efforts following this event, USACE has developed the following questions:

Governance and Decision-Making Structure: "In a Design-Build to Budget (DBtB), Integrated Design and Construction (IDAC) Progressive Design-Build or Early Contractor Involvement (ECI), etc. scenario, what does the ideal governance and decision-making structure look like? Who should be in the room, and who holds the final decision-making authority on key design and budget issues?"

Risk and Opportunity: "How should risk and opportunity be shared in a more integrated model? What is a fair way to handle unforeseen site conditions or material cost escalations in a collaborative contract?"

Key Performance Indicators' (KPIs): "What are the most critical KPIs we should use to measure the success of a collaborative project, beyond just 'on-time and on-budget'?"

Target Modeling: "What would a 'target-value' or 'target-cost' model look like on a USACE project in the CENTCOM AOR? How would you recommend we structure the incentives to ensure all parties are driving towards a common financial goal?"

Administrative Information

Please submit the completed questionnaire attached with this notice along with any topic related feedback and/or written products to LTC Jerry Andes II at jerry.o.andes@usace.army.mil; SFC

Igor Malyshev at igor.d.malyshev@usace.army.mil, and Jeanette Farrell at Jeanette.M.Farrell@usace.army.mil, no later than (NLT) 4:00 PM EDT on 20 March 2026. Use the Subject Line: Town Hall with Industry -March 2026-Topic Feedback. Comments and written product will be evaluated for inclusion upon receipt. The District will contact the sender directly if there are any questions regarding the provided pre-event feedback. Firms planning to only attend virtually are also invited to provide feedback.

Please submit any general event related questions NLT 4:00 PM EDT on 23 March 2026 to the attention of Jeanette Farrell at Jeanette.M.Farrell@usace.army.mil. Use the Subject Line: Town Hall with Industry-March 2026-General Questions. We ask that you include LTC Jerry Andes II at jerry.o.andes@usace.army.mil; and SFC Igor Malyshev at igor.d.malyshev@usace.army.mil on the ‘cc line of your email.

Event Registration: All attendees are required to register online to provide their company name and attendee names with titles by 23 March 2026. Please register using the following hyperlink:

https://events.dod.teams.microsoft.us/event/f18f62cc-982c-4a5d-98c8- 6817684c4386@fc4d76ba-f17c-4c50-b9a7-8f3163d27582. When entering the meeting via MS Teams, please enter as a guest utilizing the email provided during registration. We are currently limiting in-person attendance at the event to 200 people. A questionnaire is included for the submittal with RSVP.

Cost: There is no cost to register nor to attend this event. Additionally, this notice is for information and planning purposes and is not a request for proposals nor any other type of commitment by the Government. All costs expended as related to a firm’s response to and/or participation in this event are not reimbursable to the contractor.

Read Ahead Products: Presentation slides will be provided to interested firms prior to the event as attachments to this notice on https://sam.gov. Please check this posting for event updates and information.

Parking: Parking will be available at the hotel. Parking permits will not be required on the day of the event.

Event Check-In and Agenda: Check-in on the day of the event will begin at 6:30 AM EDT. The kick-off time is 8:00 AM EDT and the tentative agenda will include the following: (1) a short District program overview; (2) a multi-faceted collaboration discussion focused on ADDM from 8:30 AM EDT- 12:00 PM EDT. A midday break is scheduled to occur from 12:00-1:00 PM EDT. The ADDM discussions will continue from 1:00-4:00 PM. The event location will be The Doubletree Hotel by Hilton Front Royal Blue Ridge Shadows, 111 Hospitality Drive, Front Royal, VA 22630. Additionally, the event will be broadcast on-line via a Microsoft Teams Webinar at https://events.dod.teams.microsoft.us/event/f18f62cc-982c-4a5d-98c8- 6817684c4386@fc4d76ba-f17c-4c50-b9a7-8f3163d27582. Upon registration, the participant will gain access to the Webinar portal to join the discussion.

Refreshments: Refreshments and lunch for a variety of options are available for individual purchase at the hotel restaurant. The Government will not provide refreshments or lunch.

For questions regarding this event, please feel free to contact Jeanette Farrell at the email address shown above.