Maintenance Dredging of Raritan River to Arthur Kill Cut-off Federal Navigation Channel

The New York District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) proposes to perform maintenance dredging of the Raritan River to Arthur Kill Cut-off Federal Navigation Channel. The project will consist of basic work dredging to a depth of -20 feet Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) plus 1 foot of allowable overdepth (280,000 cubic yards), with an option to dredge an additional 1 foot of overdepth (80,000 cubic yards).

The proposed maintenance dredging including options would remove approximately 360,000 cubic yards (CY) of material from the critical shoal area, with subsequent placement at the Historic Area Remediation Site (HARS), approximately 5 miles east of Sandy Hook, New Jersey. The dredged material is expected to consist primarily of silt and clay.

Based on the past dredging projects within the New York Harbor / New York and New Jersey Channels, and restrictions typically set forth in New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Water Quality Certificates, the proposed work can only be performed by utilizing a mechanical clamshell dredge having a closed environmental bucket. Additionally, multiple ocean-going, bottom-dumping barges, tugboats and survey vessels will be needed to perform the work during the dredging and placement activities.

The dredging and placement at the HARS would be required to meet all federal, state, and approved local criteria required by the government agencies having jurisdiction where the dredging and placement sites are located.

Once the contract is awarded, the contractor will be required to commence work within five (5) calendar days after the date of receipt of the Notice to Proceed, and maintain an integrated production rate of at least 8,000 cubic yards per calendar day for the dredging and placement of the dredged material. The presence of the dredging equipment in the channel will impact ship traffic, and it is necessary to maintain this production rate while minimizing the duration of this impact.

The proposed work is anticipated to take place in the summer/fall of 2024. The work is estimated to cost between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000. Liquidated damages of $2,633.00 per calendar day of delay will be assessed to the contractor until all work under the contract is accepted as complete. This is an unrestricted procurement.