Dredging and Sediment Placement Alternatives

Based on responses to the Sources Sought for Dredging and Sediment Placement Alternatives, posted on January 8th, 2015, and feedback during the industry forum, conducted February 10th, 2015, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Great Lakes and Ohio River Division's intends to continue to explore the economic viability of, and capability and availability of potential parties interested in, public-private partnerships and public-public-private partnerships for dredging and sediment management within the Great Lakes region. In an effort to ascertain the practicality of achieving this initiative, the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division would like to conduct one-on-one discussions to exchange general information, further conduct market research and determine that a variety of practical options from a variety of sources exists to develop a project or series of projects within the region.

Those interested in participating shall submit in email format with ONLY the following information:

•Company, individual or federal/state/local agency name

•Background information about the organization/individual: Information may include experience; and, in the case of an organization, whether it is a public or private entity, the approximate size of the organization, and a brief mission statement. Submissions may not exceed one page and shall not include potential solutions, ideas and/or proposals.

•Point(s) of contact

•E-mail address(es)

•Telephone number(s)

Email submissions shall be submitted to Misty Jones at misty.d.jones@usace.army.mil no later than 1600 EST on 13 March 2015.

If interested parties previously submitted the aforementioned information in response to the initial sources sought, only a response indicating your interest in a one-on-one discussion and a statement indicating that information was previously submitted is required.

DISCLAIMER AND IMPORTANT NOTES:

This method of exchange is being conducted in accordance with FAR 15.201 - Exchanges With Industry Before Receipt of Proposals.

The Government intends on contacting respondents by 1 April 2015 for the purpose of arranging appointments to conduct individual teleconferences for general discussions. If the magnitude of response exceeds a manageable level; however, a subsequent announcement will be posted with alternate plans.

Any new general information that has not been previously released by the Government about agency mission needs and/or future requirements will be made available to the public as soon as practicable, but no later than the next general release of information, in order to avoid creating an unfair competitive advantage. Additionally, the government ethics rules and Competition in Contracting Act, (10 U.S.C. § 2304), prohibit preferential treatment of one vendor over another.

THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, INVITATION FOR BID, OR REQUEST FOR QUOTES.

Please continue to monitor FBO for further updates or changes.

This is a SOURCES SOUGHT ONLY.

Sources are sought for the economic viability, and capability and availability of potential parties interested in public-private partnerships for dredging and sediment management within the Great Lakes region. Great Lakes harbors and channels support the country as the 4th largest economic zone in North America. Maritime transportation infrastructure in the scope of this notice includes federally authorized, high use, commercial harbors as well as low use, commercial and recreational harbors; which provide the foundation for billions of dollars of revenue regionally. Industry, manufacturers, shippers and consumers need reliable and well maintained waterways on the Great Lakes.

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has the responsibility to operate and maintain 140 federally authorized harbors and channels on the Great Lakes (see attachments and hyperlinks for listings of federal project locations, project overviews and hydrographic and condition surveys ; and, the Great Lakes System Navigation Projects and Harbors). In addition, USACE operates 20 confined disposal facilities (CDFs) (see attachment for list of Active CDFs in the Great Lakes Region). We are seeking fiscally economical means to fully maintain the maritime navigation system to authorized dimensions; particularly, the low use commercial and recreational harbors. Further, some of the commercial harbors are running out of CDF capacity for dredged material in cases where beneficial use, near-shore placement or open water placement is not feasible. Extending the life of these CDFs will enhance the ability to maintain the maritime navigation system. In the past, dredged material has been considered a waste product; however, dredged material is a valuable resource with many beneficial uses as evidenced by recent innovative applications.

USACE is seeking interested parties to generate ideas and/or participate in public-private partnerships to better maintain Great Lakes navigable waterways in a long-term sustainable manner with reliable public and/or private investment. Improving navigation maintenance throughout the Great Lakes requires dredging of federally authorized channels as well as providing safe, appropriately engineered and environmentally sound methods of placement of dredged sediment. Specifically, USACE is seeking responses to ascertain interest and feasibility of exploring a host of solutions to the following three (3) challenges:

•Dredging maintains navigation channels, harbors and ports that are critical to the economic and cultural viability of communities within the Great Lakes region; however, there is a growing backlog of maintenance dredging within the Great Lakes region.

•Dredged material is generally treated as a waste product; which may be used as a valuable resource with many potential benefits.

•USACE is currently responsible for the operation of 20 Confined Disposal Facilities (CDFs) in the Great Lakes region. CDFs' capacities are steadily decreasing and will eventually become unusable as an alternative for disposal of dredged material. The cost to create new CDFs for disposal of dredged material is high. Extending the operational life of the existing system and facilities could potentially be more cost effective, and filled CDFs may also have potential uses.

USACE is particularly interested in projects that can be executed under current federal and state laws and policies.

Disclaimer: This Sources Sought Notice is issued solely for informational, collaborative and planning purposes. It does not constitute a solicitation (Request for Proposal or Request for Quotations) or a promise to issue a solicitation in the future.

USACE is seeking interested parties who have innovative ideas or potential solutions to one or more of the identified challenges above that may be implemented at one or more of the sites identified in the attachments herein. Any interested parties who would like to participate in discussions and/or collaborative efforts to address these challenges are requested to provide contact information via e-mail no later than 1600 EST on 9February 2015 to misty.d.jones@usace.army.mil.

Please only include the following:

•Company, individual or federal/state/local agency name

•Background information about the organization/individual: Information may include experience; and, in the case of an organization, whether it is a public or private entity, the approximate size of the organization, and a brief mission statement. Submissions may not exceed one page and shall not include potential solutions, ideas and/or proposals.

•Point(s) of contact

•E-mail address(es)

•Telephone number(s)

•Information regarding attendance of the below-referenced forum

An Industry Forum is planned for 0900-1200 EST on 10 February 2015 during the Great Lakes Waterways Conference to be held at Marriott Downtown at Key Center inCleveland, OH. Attendance is not required to participate in potential discussions held outside of this forum. Please include intent to attend the forum with the response, as well as the number of people attending.

A special notice will be posted on FBO.gov no later than 27 February 2015 regarding the Government's intent to conduct future discussions and/or meetings based on reviews of the sources sought responses and the industry forum. The Government will also advise if no further proceedings will occur.

Attachments and Hyperlinks:

•Hyperlinks to listings of Federal project locations, project overviews and hydrographic and condition surveys:
http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Operations.aspx
http://www.lrb.usace.army.mil/Library/MapsandCharts.aspx
http://www.lrc.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/ChannelSurveys.aspx

•List of Active CDFs in Great Lakes Region with USACE District points of contact (see attachment)

•Listing for Great Lakes Navigation System Navigation Projects and Harbors (see attachment)

•Great Lakes Commission website: http://projects.glc.org/rsm/index.html, Recycling Dredged Material in the Great Lakes