Maintenance Dredging of New York and New Jersey Harbor – Arthur Kill 50’ Reach, Federal Navigation Project

The New York District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) proposes to perform maintenance dredging of portions of the New York and New Jersey Harbor, Arthur Kill 50’ Reach, Federal Navigation Project. The dredged material would be processed and subsequently transported to and placed at a contractor furnished, State permitted upland placement site(s). The proposed maintenance dredging would remove approximately 125,000 cubic yards (CY) of selected critical shoals from the Arthur Kill 50’ Reach. Dredging in this channel would be required to a depth of -50 feet Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) plus 1 foot allowable overdepth. The dredged material is expected to consist primarily of silt and clay.

Due to expected restrictions in the State Water Quality Certificates, the proposed work will likely require using a mechanical dredge with an environmental clamshell bucket. Additionally, multiple barges and tugboats will be needed to perform the work during the dredging, dewatering and unloading operations. The dredged material would be required to meet all federal, state, and approved local criteria required by the government agencies having jurisdiction where the placement site is located. All necessary permits required for the dredged material placement will be provided by the contractor to the government.

The apparent low bidder shall, within 35 calendar days from the date the apparent low bidder is notified of being such, provide copies of all required permits and approvals for transportation, transfer, dewatering, processing, and final placement of dredged material, and shall submit evidence of such permits and approvals to the government. Bidders should consult the specifications for all submittal requirements.

Once the contract is awarded, the contractor will be required to commence work within five (5) calendar days after the date of receipt of the notice to proceed, and maintain an integrated production rate of at least 2,500 cubic yards per calendar day for the dredging, transportation, transfer, dewatering, processing, and final placement of the material. The presence of dredging equipment in the channel will impact ship traffic, and it is necessary to maintain this production rate while minimizing the duration of this impact.

Plans and specifications for the subject project are expected to be available in March of 2023, with bid opening in April 2023. It is the intention of the government to award in June/July 2023 and the proposed work is anticipated to take place between August and October 2023. The work is estimated to cost between $10,000,000 and $25,000,000.

Liquidated damages of $2,540.00 per calendar day of delay will be assessed to the contractor until all work under the contract is accepted as complete. This is an unrestricted procurement.