Remaining Upper Approach Wall (RUAW) - New Lock at the SOO

MARKET RESEARCH QUESTIONNAIRE AND SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

1.    GOVERNMENT NOTICE / HEADER INFORMATION
Project Title: New Lock at the Soo Remaining Upper Approach Walls (RUAW)
 
Reference Number: W911XK-26-S-RUAW

NAICS Code: 237990 – Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction

PSC Code: Y1KB – Construction of canals

Estimated Magnitude of Construction: Between $25,000,000 and $100,000,000

Contracting Office: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Detroit District

Point of Contact: glenn.w.moon@usace.army.mil,  matthew.mcduffie@usace.army.mil, and nicholas.a.ardelean@usace.army.mil. 

Response Due Date: 15 June 2026 at 1400 Eastern Time. 

Method of Submission: Electronic mail (Email) to the Point of Contact

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2.    INTRODUCTION AND DISCLAIMER
This is a Sources Sought Notice and Market Research Questionnaire issued in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10, Market Research. This notice is issued solely for informational and planning purposes to assist the Government in determining the availability of qualified potential contractors, determining the appropriate acquisition strategy, and gathering constructability feedback.
This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP), Invitation for Bid (IFB), or a promise to issue a solicitation in the future. This notice does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. The Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this notice. All costs associated with responding to this notice will be solely at the respondent’s expense. Participation is strictly voluntary. Not responding to this notice does not preclude participation in any future solicitation.
All submissions become Government property and will not be returned. Any proprietary information should be clearly marked. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any proprietary information not properly identified. Responses may directly inform the Government's acquisition strategy, contract type selection, and project phasing.

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3.    PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is planning the construction of the New Lock at the Soo Remaining Upper Approach Walls (RUAW). The project is situated in a highly constrained marine environment and is conceptually divided into three distinct areas of work:
•    Work Area A: Installation of 500 linear feet of steel sheetpile wall on the South side of the upstream new lock approach channel, from the west side of the International Bridge to the end of the pier (located on Soo Locks West Center Pier).
•    Work Area B: Installation of 500 linear feet of a soldier pile and concrete panel combination wall on the North side of the upstream new lock approach channel, located directly adjacent to west end of completed work (located on Soo Locks Northwest Pier).
•    Work Area C: Installation of 1,700 linear feet of steel sheetpile wall on the South side of the upstream new lock approach channel, from the east side of the International Bridge to the existing coffer cells (located on Soo Locks West Center Pier).
The project requires heavy civil marine construction capabilities, deep foundation expertise, and the logistical capacity to execute work from an island site requiring waterborne transport of major materials and equipment.  Required work includes historic structure demolition, steel sheet plie or H pile and concrete panel wall construction, forming and placement of concrete caps, installation of drilled shaft mooring bollards, installation of new ductbank with new electrical lines and associated 40’ light poles. 

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4.    CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY QUESTIONS
Respondent Company Name: ___________________________________________________

Unique Entity ID (UEI): _______________________________________________________

CAGE Code: _________________________________________________________________

Primary Point of Contact: _____________________________________________________

Email Address: _____________________________________________________________

Telephone Number: __________________________________________________________

Single Bonding Capacity: $___________________

Aggregate Bonding Capacity: $___________________

Please provide narrative responses to the following technical capability areas:

Marine Construction Experience:
Describe your firm’s historical capability and experience executing heavy civil marine construction projects involving steel sheetpile and combination walls within active navigable waterways.

Logistical Capability:
Describe your firm's capability to secure, mobilize, and operate necessary marine equipment (e.g., crane barges, sectional barges, tugs) required to execute the magnitude of work described in the project description.

Quality and Safety:
Describe your firm's Quality Control program and safety record (including current EMR) operating under USACE EM 385-1-1 standards in marine and over-water environments.

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5.    PAST PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Provide information for up to three (3) similar marine construction or deep foundation projects completed within the last seven (7) years.

Project Detail                                   Project 1             Project 2             Project 3
Project Title / Location            
Contract Number            
Customer / Agency            
Final Contract Value            
Prime or Subcontractor?            
Brief Scope Description            
Customer POC (Name/Phone)            

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6.    SMALL BUSINESS AND TEAMING INFORMATION
Please indicate your firm's socioeconomic status under NAICS Code 237990 (Check all that apply):
[ ] Small Business (SB)
[ ] Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)
[ ] 8(a) Certified
[ ] HUBZone Certified
[ ] Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)
[ ] Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)
[ ] Large Business

Teaming and Joint Ventures:

Does your firm anticipate submitting a proposal as a Joint Venture, or utilizing an SBA Mentor-Protégé agreement for this requirement?
Response:

Subcontracting:
If responding as a Large Business, briefly describe your firm's ability to provide meaningful subcontracting opportunities to small business concerns for this specific marine scope.
Response: _________________________________________________________________

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7.    ACQUISITION STRATEGY AND CONSTRUCTABILITY FEEDBACK
Based on the provided project description and attached draft documents, please provide detailed feedback on the following elements to assist the Government's acquisition planning.

A. Logistics and Material Delivery:
The project is located on an island with limited laydown area and constrained access.  Please see the designated laydown areas and access location on the provided map.  Describe the feasibility of placing 12,000 CY of concrete with the limitation of overwater site access. Please provide any unsurmountable site access or laydown area challenges that would prevent you from successfully performing this work. 

Response:

B. Phasing and Scope Interest:
The project has been conceptually broken down into three parts (Work Area A, B, and C). Would your firm be interested in bidding on all parts of the work as a single contract, or a certain combination of the work? Please explain the logistical or pricing efficiencies of your preferred approach.

Response:

C. Area B Constructability:
Do you have concerns with the constructability of the combination wall design for the Northwest Pier in Area B? If so, please detail the specific technical constraints or high-risk elements of concern.  

Response:

D. Schedule Realism:
Based on the conceptual scope, assuming the contract is awarded prior to the end of the 2026 calendar year, if Work Areas A, B, and C were included in the contract, would you have any concern with a required contract completion date in September 2028?   Additionally, what is your estimated construction duration to build each area individually?

Response:

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8.    SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Format: Responses must be submitted in Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word format.

Page Limit: Responses shall not exceed 5 pages in total length.

Proprietary Information: Any proprietary information must be clearly marked as such on a page-by-page basis.

Submission Deadline: Responses must be received no later than the date and time specified in Section 1 of this notice.

Submission Email: Email responses directly to the Point of Contact listed in Section 1. Ensure the subject line reads: "Market Research Response - RUAW - [Company Name]".

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9.    CLOSING STATEMENT
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers appreciates your participation in this market research effort. The insight and feedback provided by industry are critical to developing a realistic, executable, and highly competitive acquisition strategy. The Government will review all responses internally and utilize the data to finalize the Request for Proposal structure, schedule requirements, and contract terms.