Dredging for the United States Navy of the Federal Navigation Project (FNP) in the Kennebec River, Bath and Phippsburg, Maine.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District will be issuing an Invitation for Bids on behalf of the United States Navy (USN) for dredging of the Federal Navigation Project (FNP) in the lower Kennebec River below Bath, Maine. This will be an unrestricted invitation for bid (IFB) requiring a hydraulic hopper dredge to perform the work. The NAICS code for this procurement is 237990 with a size standard of $32.5M. The estimated construction cost is expected to range from $1,000,000 to $5,000,000. The work involves urgently needed dredging of two portions of the authorized, 27-foot deep, 500-foot wide, FNP channel in the lower Kennebec River. The objective of this project is to clear hazardous shoaling on or before the sail-away of the PCU CARL LEVIN (DDG 120), a US Navy Destroyer scheduled to depart Bath Iron Works heading to open-ocean for sea-trials on or about October 17, 2022. The CARL LEVIN has been deemed critical to national defense and its departure cannot be delayed. Dredging would restore the channel to its authorized dimensions and involves the removal of a total of about 47,500 cubic yards (cy) of clean sand from two areas. Approximately 37,000 cy of sand will be removed from the Doubling Point area (i.e., just below Bath) and approximately 10,500 cy of sand will be removed from the Popham Beach area (at the river mouth). As part of this requirement, maintenance dredging of the channel at Doubling Point will be performed first to alleviate critical shoals there to allow the CARL LEVIN safe passage. Dredging in the vicinity of Doubling Point will be to a maximum elevation of -32 below Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW). Material dredged from the Doubling Point area will be placed in the previously used in-river disposal area north of Bluff Head in about 95-100 feet of water. Dredging at Popham Beach will be to a maximum elevation of -29 below MLLW. Material dredged from the Popham Beach area will be placed in the previously used 500-yard diameter nearshore disposal area located about 0.4 nautical miles south of Jackknife Ledge and in about 40-50 feet of water. To complete this requirement, it is anticipated that a hydraulic hopper dredge will need to be capable of a production rate (i.e., dredging and placement of dredged material) of about 100,000 cubic yards within a 30-day period. To meet Navy's above stated objectives, contractor's bonds are required within 7 calendar days of award and contractor's plans including Initial Project Schedule, Public Notice, Notice to Mariners, Aids to Navigation, Accident Prevention Plan, Contractor Quality Control Plan, and Environmental Protection Plan within 5-days of the Notice to Proceed. Dredging will need to commence within 10 calendar days from Notice to Proceed (NTP) and dredging completed (minimally at Doubling Point) on or before October 17, 2022. The remainder of the work at Popham Beach can be completed subsequent to the transit of DDG 120.