CRAINS ISLAND HABITAT RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT PROJECT (HREP) SIDE CHANNEL EXPANSION (STAGE II)

The Crains Island Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Project Side Channel Expansion Stage II is a small business set-aside solicitation issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District. Located in Chester, Illinois, the project aims to restore wetland ecosystem resources, floodplain forest communities, and side channel connectivity and depth while increasing acreage protected from coarse sediment deposition. This second phase of construction focuses on the excavation of the Crains Island side channel and the subsequent reuse of that material to create elevated ridge habitat and fill remnant channels. While large tree clearing was completed in Stage 1, the contractor is responsible for removing any smaller vegetation that has since grown in the work areas. The scope of work includes the construction of earthen embankments on federally owned land, requiring adherence to specific technical specifications regarding earthwork, exterior improvements, and survey control using NAD 83 and NAVD 88 standards. Project documentation includes detailed boring location plans, technical drawings, and a bid item schedule covering mobilization, excavation, and seeding. Amendment 0001 was issued to clarify bid schedule quantities, provide responses to bidder inquiries regarding NPDES permits and groundwater data, and extend the bid deadline to December 14, 2023. Site access is designated via Perry County Road 230, and the project requires strict coordination regarding public utilities and right-of-way requirements.