Waterway Characterization Services: Channel Condition Assessment and Characterization Eastern Shore of Virginia

The Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission is requesting proposals for waterway characterization services supporting the Eastern Shore Dredged Material Management Initiative across up to ten priority Eastern Shore waterways, with proposals due October 16, 2026 at 3:00 PM EST. This is a qualifications-based professional services procurement under Virginia Code 2.2-4302.2 and 2.2-4303 in which offerors must not submit proposed fees, rates, cost estimates, or pricing with initial proposals; compensation will be negotiated after qualification ranking.

The scope spans three categories that offerors may pursue individually or in combination: Category A (Hydrographic/Bathymetric Survey and Geospatial Data Services), Category B (Sediment Sampling, Characterization and Laboratory Services), and Category C (Integrated Waterway Characterization combining both disciplines). A-NPDC anticipates awarding up to two contracts in each category, subject to qualifications and available funding.

The initial contract term is one year with up to three additional one-year renewals at A-NPDC's option. Statutory contract ceilings are $10 million per term and $2.5 million per project under Virginia Code 2.2-4303.1. Funding flows from the Virginia Waterway Maintenance Fund administered by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Insurance requirements include professional liability coverage of $500,000 per claim and $1,000,000 aggregate; commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate; and marine operations liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence where applicable.

Evaluation scores on a 100-point scale emphasize technical approach and data usefulness (30 points), key personnel and team qualifications (25 points), relevant experience (20 points), field logistics and platform capability (10 points), schedule and response capacity (10 points), and references and past performance (5 points). Questions are due October 2, 2026, with responses posted by October 9, 2026. The Procurement Representative is Kellen Singleton, Coastal Project Manager. Submissions are accepted electronically through eVA or by sealed physical delivery to the A-NPDC office in Accomac, Virginia.