NOTICE TO DREDGE CONTRACTORS - DREDGE CAPABILITIES AND ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES

This is a SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS and is not a solicitation announcement. The purpose of this Market Research and Sources Sought Notice is to gain knowledge of potential qualified firms with 1) ideas for increasing competition and identifying the government's requirement as effective dredging of the lower Mississippi, and 2) the interest, capabilities and alternative technical approaches of accomplishing maintenance dredging of any point on the Mississippi River between Mile 320 AHP and Mile 103 AHP (New Orleans, LA) and secondary dredging regions will be any point on the Mississippi River between Mile 953.8 AHP (Cairo, IL) and Mile 320 as well as other waterways within the New Orleans District. Responses to this Sources Sought Synopsis will be used by the government in making appropriate acquisition decisions. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, anticipates several future procurements in fiscal year 2023-2028 for the rental and/or unit price of dredging equipment to perform maintenance dredging of any point on the Mississippi River between Mile 320 AHP and Mile 103 AHP (New Orleans, LA) and secondary dredging regions will be any point on the Mississippi River between Mile 953.8 AHP (Cairo, IL) and Mile 320 as well as other waterways within the New Orleans District. Segments of the Mississippi River contain 12 shallow areas, called "crossings", that require annual maintenance dredging to remove shoaled sediment from the river bottom which provides the authorized channel depth of 45-50 feet for deep draft vessels to safely navigate the river. Historically this has been accomplished by use of Dustpan Dredge(s). The Government is seeking industry input on the capability and innovative approaches of accomplishing the dredging with all types of dredging equipment for fully crewed and equipped self-propelled dredge(s) for removal and satisfactory disposal of shoal material. The tracking number for this announcement is W912P8-23-SS-0099 The Government is requesting information on firms including: a) Provide details of the dredge inside diameter discharge size, which will be considered to be the minimum inside diameter of either the pump discharge or discharge pipeline, whichever is the lesser, b) Type of dredging head along with type of water jets (or alternative). c) Minimum brake horsepower (pump, etc.) applied to the pump impeller. d) Capability of continuous operation or alternative approach. e) Type of manufacture's horsepower rating for continuous operation or alternative approach, f) Manufacturer information to demonstrate dredge power and gear equipped for the pump size and horsepower utilized. g) Information on firms dredge capability of advancing into the dredge cut to achieve a minimum of 3000-foot length dredge cut (or alternative). h) Information on firms dredge capability to make a series of parallel and both contiguous and noncontiguous cuts through the shoal areas until the required widths and depths are achieved. i) Information on firms dredge capability to work in as little as 10 feet of water depth and in currents up to 15 feet per second. Note: The dredge will generally perform dredging within the general range of 12 feet to 75 feet in depth. j) Information on firms dredge capability to maintain a minimum production rate of 3200 cubic yards per pumping hour, as measured with the dredging head at a depth of 35 to 75 feet. k) Information on firms dredge capability to move out of the way of traffic within a minimum time period (5 minutes) and assist the dredge in advancing and aligning during dredging operations in the interest of safety and navigable considerations. m) After reading and providing the above, what ideas for increasing competition and identifying the government's requirement as effective dredging of the lower Mississippi can your firm identify or suggest in the government's effort. n) Information of firm's ability to dispose of dredged material ensuring disposal locations for waste materials, effluents, trash, garbage, oil, grease, chemicals, etc., shall be such that harmful debris will not enter the waterway, adjacent wetlands, or the disposal areas; prevent the use of the area for recreation; or present a hazard to wildlife. Debris disposal shall be in accordance with applicable Federal, State, and Local regulations, and shall be performed in a manner without the necessity of a Government designated disposal site. Interested firms should submit a capabilities package that includes the following minimum information: 1. Bidder's name, address, points of contact with telephone numbers and e-mail addresses. 2. Business size/classification to include any designations as Small Business, HUBZone, Service Disabled Veteran Owned, or 8(a) shall be indicated on first page of submission. 3. Bonding capability: Please provide a letter from your bonding company to support current bonding capability. 4. Description of capability to perform the proposed dredging, manage subcontractors, prepare and comply with various environmental permits, and capacity to execute this project with other ongoing dredging contracts. 5. Past performance/experience on projects of similar scope, describing no more than five (5) projects that are at least 50% construction complete within the past five years of the issue date of this Notice. The past performance information should include project title, location, general description of the dredging to demonstrate relevance to the proposed project, the bidder's role, dollar value of contract, and name of the company, agency or government entity for which the work was performed with contact information (reference name, phone number and e-mail address). 6. Type of Dredge proposed(Hopper, Cutterhead, Dustpan, etc.), Dredge name and various specifications on the equipment to include: Discharge diameter, suction diameter, year manufactured and/or major overhaul, ladder length, spud lengths, draft, horsepower of main engine and any booster pumps, max/min dredging depths, max/min width of channel the dredge can efficiently operate, hopper capacity (hopper dredge only). Please indicate what equipment you own or are able to obtain and from whom you will obtain equipment. 7. A statement confirming that if a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) was required for this procurement that it would not deter your submission of a proposal, and 8. Experience in performing work requirements of a similar size and magnitude as stated above. This experience must have been performed within the last five years. Responses are due by 12 September 2023. Responses should be sent via email to calvin.d.fogle@usace.army.mil, jason.d.crockett@usace.army.mil and shaun.a.mcafee@usace.army.mil. Responses are limited to ten (20) pages. Interested firms shall provide the above documentation in one original form. The Government will not pay for any material provided in response to this market survey nor return the data provided. This notice is for information purposes only and is not a request to be placed on a solicitation mailing list nor is it a Request for Proposal (RFP) or an announcement of a solicitation. If you can meet the above requirements, please respond to this announcement by email to Jason Crockett at jason.d.crockett@usace.army.mil and reference the Sources Sought Notice tracking number, W912P8-23-SS-0099, in the subject line. The results of this market survey notice will be used to determine the appropriate acquisition strategy for the solicitation. NOTE: Contractors must be registered in SAM (System for Award Management) to be eligible for contract award or payment from any DOD activity. Registration requires applicants to have a UEI number. Recommend registering immediately in order to be eligible for timely award.