New Bedford Hurricane Barrier Dewatering

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District is issuing a Sources Sought Announcement for a construction project for repairs at the New Bedford Hurricane Barrier in the town of New Bedford, MA, to determine the interest, availability, and capability of 8(a), HUBZone, Women-Owned and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned concerns and Small Business concerns as described below.  The NAICS code for this procurement is 237990.  This project is planned to be issued in the spring of 2021.  The estimated construction cost is between $1,000,000.00 and $5,000,000.00.

The New Bedford Hurricane Barrier was completed in 1966 at a cost of over $18 million.  This structure protects about 1,400 acres in New Bedford, Fairhaven and Acushnet from tidal flooding associated with hurricanes and coastal storms.  The Barrier consists of a 152 ft wide central gated channel with earth fill dikes with stone slope protection extending back on both sides, the Clarks Cove Dike in New Bedford, and the Fairhaven Dike.

The Barrier includes two 52 ft tall sector gates that close off the channel during potential high-water events.  Normally, the two sector gates are stored in a retracted position inside of gate pockets, leaving the central channel open for boat traffic.  Sediment and debris accumulate in the gate pockets, causing the movement of the gates to be impeded.  Additionally, the steel wheels that the gates rest on become flattened over time and need to be replaced.

This project consists of the following Scope:

• Dewatering of each sector gate (one at a time) by placing government furnished bulkheads and pumping out the water within the gate pockets. Placing bulkheads involves transferring the 9ft x 11ft steel bulkheads from the dike adjacent to the west sector gate onto a barge, moving the barge to the sector gate, and lowering the bulkheads into place via barge mounted crane. 
• Jacking the sector gates and replacing the wheels that the gates rest on
• Removal of accumulated sediment inside the gate pocket
• Painting of one horizontal truss on each gate
• Painting of the water line area of the skin plate

Interested firms should submit a capabilities package to include the following: business classification (i.e. HUBZone, etc.) as well as qualifications and experience in performing the work components stated above. Firms must submit past demonstrated construction experience similar to the components stated above.  The project examples must have been performed within the last seven years. However, the experience does not have to be demonstrated on one single project. Please include a Point of Contact and phone number for each project example who may be contacted for further information on contractor’s effort and performance. Please indicate the team subcontractors that will be used to support the offeror’s effort and include their prior experience and qualifications. Proof of bonding capability must be submitted with the package.

Responses are required no later than February 12, 2021.  Responses should be submitted via email to Sara J. Torres at sara.j.torres@usace.army.mil.  Responses are limited to twenty-five pages.  The Government will not pay for any material provided in response to this market survey nor return the data provided.  This notice is for information purposes only and is not a request to be placed on a solicitation mailing list nor is it a Request for Proposal (RFP) or an announcement of a solicitation.  The results of this survey will be considered to be in effect for a period of one year from the date of this notice.