Mississippi River, New Orleans Harbor And Various Bar Channels Cutterhead No 4-2025

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, is soliciting sealed bids for the hire and operation of one fully crewed and equipped hydraulic pipeline cutterhead dredge to perform maintenance dredging operations in the Mississippi River, New Orleans Harbor, and various bar channels throughout Louisiana. Bidders must select and bid on one of three dredge lot categories differentiated by discharge pump size specifications: Lot One (27-inch ID pump discharge without submerged pump), Lot Two (30-inch or greater ID without submerged pump), or Lot Three (30-inch or greater ID with submerged pump). The contract requires contractors to furnish the dredge along with attendant plant equipment including tenders, crew boats, survey boats, fuel barges, and associated equipment capable of operating in river stages above 12 feet, and bidders must bid on all items including optional items within their selected lot. Payment will be structured hourly for dredging work with adjustments based on pay-time categories (100% for effective dredging, 70% for non-effective operations, and 35% for inclement weather), along with lump-sum pricing for mobilization/demobilization and preparatory work. Sealed offers are due by May 27, 2027, at 10:30 AM local time at the KO Contracting Division in New Orleans, Louisiana, with a 60-calendar-day minimum acceptance period for government evaluation, and bid opening to be established by future amendment.

This procurement carries no set-aside designation and is unrestricted with a contract magnitude estimated between $10,000,000 and $25,000,000, subject to fund availability per FAR 52.232-18. The dredging work encompasses multiple regions including New Orleans Harbor, Algiers/IHNC/Harvey Lock Forebays, Houma Navigation Canal, Bayou Lafourche, Barataria Bar, and Baptiste Collette Bar Channel, with dredging operations measured in varying hourly requirements by region and dredge type. The contractor must commence performance within 5 calendar days of receiving notice to proceed and complete all work within 30 calendar days, with performance and payment bonds required within 10 calendar days of award and notice to proceed anticipated within 1-3 days after bond receipt. The solicitation requires compliance with all surveying, environmental, and safety requirements per EM 385-1-1, and the dredge must meet minimum production rates specified for each operational region. All work will be performed in the New Orleans Harbor Reach of the Mississippi River and adjacent lock forebays of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, with inquiries directed to Contract Specialists Jeff Sprunger or Cori Caimi at the New Orleans District.