Raccoon Island Restoration Project

This is a Sources Sought Notice. In preparation for an upcoming procurement, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Western Acquisition Division (WAD), on behalf of National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Habitat Conservation (OHC), Restoration Center (RC), Deepwater Horizon Program (DWH) is conducting market research to determine potential sources to conduct dredging for the construction of the Raccoon Island Restoration project within state-owned waters of Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. NOAA intends to compete this requirement utilizing the procedures of Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Overhaul (RFO) Part 14 Sealed Bidding. The Department of Commerce forecast ID# associated with this opportunity is 54921.

This project is an environmental restoration project to create beach and marsh habitat which includes dredging and placement of approximately 2,915,000 cubic yards (in-place volume) of fill borrowed from the Ship Shoal Block 88 borrow area in the Gulf of America. 

The project involves placing approximately 1,335,000 cubic yards of sand fill along 1.45 miles of shoreline to establish a dune crest at +8 feet NAVD88, with a variable width of 200 to 315 feet. Additionally, approximately 1,580,000 cubic yards of sand will be used to develop a 227-acre marsh footprint featuring three central mounds at +6.0 feet NAVD88.

Structural improvements for the project include the repair of 16 gulfside breakwaters using approximately 7,500 tons of armor stone. Additionally, the project prioritizes the comprehensive repair and extension of the existing terminal groin by 300 feet, which will require approximately 7,200 tons of armor stone. Finally, 13 bayside shoreline protection structures will be constructed using approximately 10,000 tons of foundation stone, approximately 40,800 tons of armor stone, and approximately 17,000 tons of oyster cultch.

Additional work includes construction of two tidal channels through the created marsh footprint and along the edge of the existing marsh; excavation of temporary flotation access channels; installation of 14 settlement plates; daily bird observations and bird abatement; supply and placement of approximately 10,400 haybales; vegetation plantings; completion of pre-construction and post-construction surveys, including but not limited to topographic, bathymetric, and magnetometer surveys.

To qualify for this project, the contractor must demonstrate ownership of equipment—or provide documentation of a joint venture/teaming arrangement—that meets specific operational standards. The equipment must hold American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and/or U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) dredge certifications for open-water operations in the Gulf of America, seaward of the COLREGS line. Additionally, the equipment must be capable of hydraulically placing at least 20,000 cubic yards of sand within a 24-hour period.

The estimated contract completion period is 600 calendar days from the date of award and receipt of the notice to proceed. 

The magnitude of the requirement in terms of physical characteristics and estimated price is more than $100,000,000. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this project is 237990, Other Heavy & Civil Engineering Construction. The small business size standard for this NAICS code is $45 million.  

All types of business concerns are encouraged to submit a brief, typed Capability Statement in response to this sources sought announcement. Standard brochures will not be considered a sufficient response to this notice. 

Submitted Capability Statements must include the following:

1.  Company Name and Address.
2.  Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Number.
3.  Type of business (e.g., large business, small business, 8(a), veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, and/or women owned small business) as validated via the System for Award Management (SAM) for NAICS 237990.
4.  Company point of contact-name, phone, and e-mail address.
5.  Web Page URL.
6.  Indicate whether a U.S. or Foreign Owned Entity.
7.  Indicate whether your interest in this as a prime contractor or as a subcontractor, and
8.  Demonstrate capabilities for meeting the following requirements in no more than eight (8) pages:

• Documentation confirming dredging equipment ownership or a signed teaming/joint venture agreement with a partner who owns the required assets. If a signed teaming/joint venture agreement is provided it does not count towards the applicable 8 page limitation.
• Documentation verifying that the dredging equipment holds the required ABS and/or USCG certifications for open-water operations seaward of the COLREGS line in the Gulf of America.
• Documentation verifying that the dredging equipment maintains a minimum hydraulic placement capacity of 20,000 cubic yards of sand within a 24-hour period.
• Bonding capability (single project and aggregate); and
• Submit at least three (3) past performance references for contracts demonstrating a scope of magnitude comparable to the criteria provided above. Include the following information for each reference:  
  • Company Name.
  • Company Address.
  • Contact person’s name, phone number and email address.
  • Description of work performed.
  • Dollar amount; and  
  • Completion Date.

Interested sources shall submit an electronic copy of their Capability Statement via email to Grace Parker, Contracting Officer at grace.parker@noaa.gov and Hillary Whitehurst, Contract Specialist, at hillary.whitehurst@noaa.gov no later than 12:00 p.m. Eastern on July 31, 2026. This is not a request for technical or cost proposals. The Government does not intend to award a contract based on this Notice or reimburse for costs incurred by interested parties providing the information requested herein. Capability Statements will not be returned. Information received will be considered solely to make an informed decision regarding potential procurement. Any questions or responses to this Sources Sought announcement shall be directed to the email addresses above. Responses to the Sources Sought announcement are not offers and cannot be accepted by NOAA to form a binding contract.