Tainter Gates Sandblasting

The International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico, United States Section (USIBWC) intends to issue a solicitation for the sandblasting and painting of eight (8) Tainter gates at the Amistad Dam located in Val Verde County, Texas. The project involves the rehabilitation of the radial gates, including surface preparation, sandblasting, and application of a new coating system to ensure the longevity and functionality of the gates.

Scope of Work:

The scope of work includes, but is not limited to, the following tasks:

Testing for lead-based paint on the existing coatings.

Complete removal of existing paint/coating from the eight radial gates.

Surface preparation through sandblasting to achieve the required cleanliness and profile.

Application of a new coating system as specified in the technical specifications.

Replacement of radial gate anodes, side seals, bottom seals, and seal fasteners.

Re-tensioning of gate cables and alignment of gates after seal replacement and re-lubrication.

Compliance with all safety and environmental regulations, including the handling and disposal of hazardous materials.

Project Duration:

The project is expected to be completed within 365 days from the date of award.

Site Visit:

Contractors are highly encouraged to attend a site visit to provide potential bidders with an opportunity to inspect the worksite and existing conditions. Site visits may be schedule for Amistad Field Office, 670 Texas Spur 349, Del Rio, TX 78840 with the following CORs:

Evelio Siller-Area Operations Manager
evelio.siller@ibwc.gov
830-469-3440
915-315-0009

Juan Escobar – Powerplant Superintendent
juan.escobar@ibwc.gov
830-469-3440

Demetrius Gaines-Assistant Area Operations Manager
demetrius.gaines@ibwc.gov
830-469-3440

Virtual site visits (video/photographs) are not permitted.

Site visits should be scheduled by the due date posted on form SF1442   Section "01-08 - Bid Instructions"

The approximate Estimated Magnitude of this project is $1 Million to $5 Million.

Contract Type:

This is a 100% Small Business Set Aside. Only Offers from Small Businesses will be considered for this solicitation. The resulting contract will be a firm-fixed-price contract.

NAICS Code:

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this project is 237990 - Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction with a corresponding small business standard of $45 Million. 

Active Unique Entity ID (UEI#) needs to be included in your offer.

The government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible Offeror based on technically acceptability, based on Contractor's Technical Approach, Expertise and Qualified Personnel to provide the services, Past Performance, and Management Approach will be evaluated.

The Contractor shall provide all labor, material, equipment, subcontract, supervision, and management to perform the requirements of this Statement of Work (SOW).    

Technical Approach - Quote must demonstrate the technical approach by providing a narrative addressing all the items in the scope. The narrative shall at a minimum include your plan of action, equipment, key team members, and schedule.

Past Performance – Quotes shall demonstrate successful past performance of at least 3 three (3) references for similar projects. The information shall include name of person, company, phone number, email address, and brief description of the project.

Offerors shall meet or exceed and specifications and scope of work of items being quoted.

Failure to submit required technical approach and past performance will deem a proposal non-responsive and no consideration for award will be given.

INVOICE PROCESSING PLATFORM

The U.S. Section International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) has transitioned to an electronic invoicing system. The Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) is a secure, web-based system provided by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. IPP is available at no cost to any commercial vendor or independent contractor doing business with a participating government agency.

Information concerning accessing the IPP system will be provided at time of award.

For further information, please contact angelica.baca@ibwc.gov via email ONLY

END of solicitation/RFB

Attachments:         

SF1442 - 191BWC26B0001     

245A - Minimum Quals for Award Joint Venture

245B - Minimum Quals for Award

245 - Minimum Quals for Award

358 - Non-Disclosure Agreement     

B-1 Amistad Dam Asbestos and Lead-Based Paint Survey

B-2 Amistad Power Plant Asbestos and Lead Survey Report

B-3 Amistad Asbestos and Lead paint Survey

SOW Radial Gate SPECS

IBWC-110 Certification of Authority for Signing Bids

IBWC-116 Statement of Equipment

IBWC-117 Pre-Bid Conference Attendance

Wage Determination

Q&As

5/16/26 M001 - To attached Q&A and Updated SF1442 form and the following updates below:

1. Vendors will be granted access to upload bids starting on 5/28/26.

2. Names of individuals who plan to attend the site visit on 5/27/26, shall be furnished before 5/26/27 by email submission to evelio.siller@ibwc.gov with a copy to angelica.baca@ibwc.gov

3. Project Period of Performance is expected to be completed within 365 days from the date of award.

4. Evaluation Process: 

The government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible Offeror based on technically acceptability, based on Contractor's Technical Approach, Expertise and Qualified Personnel to provide the services, Past Performance, and Management Approach will be evaluated.

The Contractor shall provide all labor, material, equipment, subcontract, supervision, and management to perform the requirements of this Statement of Work (SOW).    

Technical Approach - Quote must demonstrate the technical approach by providing a narrative addressing all the items in the scope. The narrative shall at a minimum include your plan of action, equipment, key team members, and schedule.

Past Performance – Quotes shall demonstrate successful past performance of at least 3 three (3) references for similar projects. The information shall include name of person, company, phone number, email address, and brief description of the project.

6/4/26 M002 - To attached Updated SF1442 M002 form with updated bid due date to 7/6/26, open bid date to 7/8/26.and attendees site visit list.

6/9/26 M003 - To attached Q&A list.

6/29/26 M004 - See Q&As below:

1. The painting specification appears to reference SSPC-SP 5 (White Metal Blast Cleaning) for submerged surfaces and SSPC-SP 6 (Commercial Blast Cleaning) for non-submerged surfaces. Since the radial gates are almost never submerged, can SSPC-SP 6 Commercial Blast Cleaning be accepted for all gate surfaces?

No not accepted follow SPEC.

2. If the specifications require a pre-blast surface preparation prior to weld inspection, please clarify the required level of surface preparation for this pre-blast operation. Is SSPC-SP 6 / NACE No. 3 Commercial Blast Cleaning acceptable for the pre-blast required prior to weld inspection?

Yes, SSPC-SP6 / NACE No. 3

3. What level of SSHO is required for this contract?

See spec section 01.35.23 Safety 1.13 Site Safety and Health Office Qualifications and Duties.

4. Are Gates 1 through 8 fully operational and capable of raising to the fully open position?

Yes, Gates 1 through 8 are fully operational and capable of raising to the fully open position. Gate 1, 7,8 have existing friction that causes vibration and loud noises past 25 feet.

5. Would the Government consider postponing the bid date for this project to allow additional time for review and preparation of proposals?

Extension not granted. Due date remains the same.

7/19/2026 M005 Update/Post solicitation 191BWC26B0001 M003 (see attachment with updated information).

7/27/2026 M006 Q&As below:

1. Did your any agency have any sandblast for these Tainter gates since then?  Yes there has been sandblasting performed on the Tainter Gates before. Approximately years 2000-2005

2. To remove (and to place back) the Tainter gates, does anyone at your location remember last time if a land based stationary crane was used, or a barge-based crane was used? Tainter Gates have not been removed and reinstalled since original construction. Tainter Gates are not removable and services are to be performed installed.

3. From the satellite image, we are not 100% certain if the downstream side was strong enough to support the land-based crane.

The downstream side has a 800 foot length spillway basin with baffle blocks that are 9’ wide by 17’ long by 12’ high and spaced 19’ on centers. Amistad Dam is a binational dam maintained and operated by both US and MX. Contract Services are to be performed on US side only.

4. Other puzzle we are working on to position for the Tainter gate sandblast is the plan for crane and rigging operation of the Tainter gates. Refer to 01.11.00 3.4 C for Load Capacity of the embankment crest road and refer to 35.22.46 1.7 B for bridge loading thresholds.

5. We are trying to find the Tainter gate weight info from your documents, although we have the approximately weight.  Each tainter gate is 50 foot wide by 54 foot high welded steel. The gate radius is 52 feet measured from the center line of trunnions. The gates are fabricated from low alloy steel conforming to ASTM A-441 except for bracing which is ASTM A-36 steel. The gate hoist unit is designed for a cable pull of 120,900 lbs.