Wheatley Dam Dredging Services

The County Commissioners of Charles County, Maryland are requesting sealed bids from qualified dredging firms for wet dredging, hauling, and sediment disposal services at Wheatley Dam reservoir, with bids due September 15, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting is scheduled for August 25, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. via teleconference, and a non-mandatory site visit is scheduled for August 27, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. at Gilbert Run Park. Pre-bid meeting registration closes August 24, 2026.

The scope targets sediment accumulation in the northern and western cove areas identified through bathymetric and sub-bottom profiling surveys conducted in late 2024. Sediment consists primarily of soft, unconsolidated silts with high organic content ranging from 1 to 2 feet in thickness, with some locations exceeding 2 feet. Payment is based on contract unit price per cubic yard; total dredged volume is contingent upon bidder pricing and project budget. Contractors must furnish all labor, materials, equipment, and services for mechanical dredging, temporary dewatering and staging, transport to the County-Designated Sediment Placement Area adjacent to the Charles County Landfill, stockpile construction, and site restoration. All work must comply with Maryland Department of the Environment wetlands and waterways permits, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Clean Water Act Section 404 authorization, NPDES General Permit requirements, and Maryland erosion and sediment control standards. Environmental controls include Type II turbidity curtains, silt fencing, tree protection fencing, and weekly erosion control inspections.

Bidders must demonstrate a minimum of five years' active engagement in dredging services and provide at least three completed representative projects within the past five years showing mechanical freshwater dredging, erosion and sediment control, and sediment handling experience. The base contract term is October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, with four optional one-year renewals at the County's sole discretion. Unit prices remain firm through the base term; extension-year pricing adjusts by Consumer Price Index percentage change. A 5% bid bond is required; the successful contractor must provide performance and labor bonds equal to 100 percent of contract price. The contractor must mobilize within thirty days of notification. Electronic bid submission is required through the County's eProcurement Portal at https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/charlescountymd. Latasha Minor, Purchasing Representative, is the sole point of contact at (301) 645-0659 or minorl@charlescountymd.gov.