Duluth Maintenance Dredging 2024

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District is seeking firms that have the capability to provide maintenance dredging in Duluth, MN.

This project involves maintenance dredging in the Duluth-Superior Federal navigation channel located along the border of Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Contractor will be required to mobilize a dredge to the Duluth-Superior channel and perform mechanical dredging within the channel.  Dredging will be required within the following areas:

•         The mouth of the Duluth Entry

•         Two separate areas of the Duluth Harbor Basin along the westerly channel limits

•         East Gate Basin near Rices Point.

The contract may also include options to perform additional dredging within the East Gate Basin along the easterly channel limits.

Dredged material will be placed along Wisconsin Point adjacent to a closed former landfill between the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) and the most landward 12 foot (ft) depth contour.  The Contractor must have the equipment and ability to perform in-water mechanical dredging to the required depths, to transport and place material at the required placement area.

Placement at Wisconsin Point will require the implementation of various Best Management Practices (BMPs) to ensure turbidity is kept within state-approved limits at the placement site. BMPs will also be implemented to limit debris being placed along Wisconsin Point. Placement at Wisconsin Point is unrestricted for hydraulic or mechanical placement.  An allowable transfer box location will be provided to allow for hydraulic placement operations and will be located adjacent to the southernmost limits of the Federal navigation channel (near Allouez Bay).  An allowable pipeline path (for hydraulic placement) and staging area will be provided near a closed former landfill on Wisconsin Point, adjacent to the placement site.  If the pipeline access route is utilized, the Contractor will be responsible for ensuring Wisconsin Point Road and Allouez Bay (pedestrian, vehicular and watercraft traffic) remains accessible to the public through the life of the project.

The required dredging depths will be approximately 27 ft to 33 ft below Low Water Datum (LWD) depending on the location within the harbor. The material is expected to be a mix of (predominantly) sand, with the potential of minor debris typical in an active harbor. The quantity of dredged material in the contract may range from approximately 50,000 cubic yards to 80,000 cubic yards.

The anticipated period of performance for dredging is 1 July 2024 through 15 October 2024.

The Contractor would then demobilize when dredging and material placement are complete.

This Sources Sought announcement is for planning and market research purposes only and is NOT a Request for Proposal (RFP), or Invitation for Bid (IFB).

No basis for claim against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought Notice. The Government will not pay for information or comments provided and will not recognize any cost associated with the submission of responses or comments.

Information regarding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers process for settling requests for equitable adjustments and duration goals to achieve defenitization of equitable adjustments for change orders under construction contracts can be found by going to https://www.usace.army.mil/Business-With-Us/Partnering/then clicking on “View FFP Contract Changes Playbook Here”.  

Interested companies are encouraged to respond.

The contractor will have an estimated 105 calendar days to complete this requirement.

The contract is expected to be solicited in or around April 2024.

The estimated cost of construction is between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000.

The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code is 237990, which has a small business size standard of $37 million.

The responses received to this notice shall be in summary format and shall not exceed five (5) pages, including the Sources Sought Information Form.

In order for the Government to determine the extent of industry interest and experience in the project, interested contractors shall complete the information attached to this sources sought.

Please reference in the subject line "SOURCE SOUGHT Maintenance Dredging Duluth, MN”

Respondents will not be contacted regarding their submission or information gathered as a result of the Sources Sought.