New Bedford Hurricane Barrier, Sector Gate Painting, New Bedford/Fairhaven, MA

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District is issuing a set aside for certified small business contractors for the Skin Plate and Gate Guide Painting at the New Bedford Hurricane Barrier located in New Bedford, MA. The NAICS code for the work described below is 238320. The project is planned to be issued in August 2025 and will be set aside for Small Businesses.  The period of performance will be approximately 270 days. The estimated magnitude of this project is between $1,000,000 - $5,000,000.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District is issuing this Sources Sought Announcement for Construction Services for the New Bedford Hurricane Barrier, Sector Gate Painting.  This announcement is to determine interest, availability and capability of 8(a), HUBZone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Women-Owned and Small Business concerns for this project.  The NAICS code for this procurement is 238320.  The project is planned to be issued in the summer of 2025 with construction to take place in the Fall of 2025 or Spring of 2026.  The estimated construction cost is between $1,000,000 - $5,000,000.

The New Bedford - Fairhaven Hurricane Barrier is a flood control structure constructed between 1962 and 1966.  The barrier includes a dike extending across the New Bedford Harbor navigation channel.  There is an opening through the harbor dike with two steel sector gates that allows boat traffic to traverse through the dike.  During times of storm surge, the two sector gates can be closed to prevent flooding in the harbor.  The sector gates are made of steel trusses, beams and a skin plate with an existing coal tar epoxy paint system.  Each sector gate is approximately 59 feet tall and 90 feet across at their widest point and generally two thirds of the gates are always under water.  

This project shall include painting above the water line for the east and west sector gates, the gate drive rack, and the stop gate guide beams (8 total). 

The preparation methods include a solvent clean and use dry abrasive blasting techniques to fully remove all dirt, grease, existing coatings and corrosion from existing steel surfaces to the white metal grade (SSPC SP 5/NACE No. 1).  Water blasting techniques will not be permitted.  Following the steel preparation, the Contractor shall apply an epoxy zinc-rich primer and coal tar epoxy coating system.  The preparation and painting work shall be performed within a Class 2a temporary containment structure. 

Workers and the environment may be exposed to lead and cadmium containing materials from the existing paint system to be removed.

This work shall be completed with the gate in the open position and impacts to navigation traffic shall be minimal.

Please note that this solicitation is set aside for certified small businesses. This is not a request for proposals at this time; the solicitation requirements and contract documents which will include instructions for submission and the response date will be available on or about August 2025. Neither telephonic, mailed, nor faxed requests for hard copies of this solicitation will be accepted. The solicitation will only be available online; in order to view the solicitation offerors must access the System for Award Management website (www.sam.gov). In order to download the solicitation, offerors must access the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (https://piee.eb.mil/). All responsible sources may submit a bid which shall be considered by the USACE New England District. Additional questions may be emailed to the Contract Specialist at kyle.k.hall@usace.army.mil