FY26 Willapa Harbor Maintenance Dredging

PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE

This Synopsis/Pre-Solicitation Notice is ONLY A NOTIFICATION that a solicitation is anticipated and forthcoming. All questions regarding this Synopsis/Pre-Solicitation should be submitted in writing to the Point of Contact(s) indicated below.

Construction Project: FY26 Willapa Harbor Maintenance Dredging

Pre-solicitation Notice Number: W912DW26Z1ATA

The magnitude of construction is estimated to be between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000.

The resulting contract will be firm-fixed-price.

FY26 Willapa Harbor Maintenance Dredging Project Details:

USACE Seattle District has a need for a construction dredging, project entitled FY26 Willapa Harbor Maintenance Dredging, Willapa Harbor, WA at three federal navigation features in Willapa Bay, Washington: (1) the entrance to Tokeland Marina; (2) the entrance channel to Nahcotta; and (3) the Bay Center entrance channel and basin. The work is anticipated to begin in July 2026 and all in-water work must be completed by 15 Feb 2027.

The project will require dredging via mechanical (clamshell) means to remove approximately 180,000 CY of accumulated sediment across the three project features. The minimum required dredging depth varies from -10 ft (Bay Center and Nahcotta) to -15 ft MLLW (Tokeland).

In addition, dredging of approximately 10,000 CY may be required to a minimum depth of -9 ft MLLW in the Palix River thalweg to ensure sufficient water depths for the dredge, scow, and tugboats to transit to/from Bay Center and the disposal sites. This amount has the potential to change due to the dynamic nature of the Palix River at its confluence with Willapa Bay.

Dredged material will be disposed via bottom-dump barge at the Cape Shoalwater and/or South Channel open-water disposal locations within Willapa Bay.  The work window varies by project features, but ranges between 16 July through 15 Feb of any given calendar year for each specific project feature. The in-water work windows are as follows:

•           Tokeland Marina: 16 July 2026 through 15 February 2027

•           Nahcotta: 16 July 2026 through 01 February 2027

•           Bay Center and Palix River: 16 July 2026 through 30 September 2026

Access to/from Willapa Bay requires transit of the Willapa Bar, an unmaintained and unprotected entrance from the Pacific Ocean with dynamic shoals, strong tidal currents, and challenging weather conditions.  Furthermore, marine transit within Willapa Bay between project features and dredged material disposal sites requires transit through similar unmaintained and often shallow water depths. Potential risk exists for vessel groundings or accidents. Aids-to-Navigation across the Willapa bar have been removed as they are no longer reliable due to dynamic shoaling conditions. In all locations, shoals are present and shift depending on environmental conditions including tides and storms. This performance window includes the worst season for storm and marine conditions.  Contractors should expect difficult mobilization, demobilization, and construction conditions.

See the forthcoming solicitation for details about bid submission and virtual bid opening. The NAICS code for this procurement is 237990, Dredging and Surface Cleanup, and the associated small business size standard is $37,000,000 in average annual receipts.

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