Bid guide
How to bid on Atchafalaya River Bay, Bar, and Crewboat Cut Cutterhead Dredge NOS. 4-2026, OM26062 by Dept of the Army
What the Army is buying and why it matters
The Department of the Army is seeking a contractor to provide a fully crewed and equipped hydraulic pipeline cutterhead dredge. The work involves removing shoal material from the Atchafalaya River Bay, Bar, and Crewboat Cut Channel in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. This project is significant, with an estimated value between $10 million and $25 million.
This is an opportunity for firms specializing in large-scale dredging operations to secure a substantial government contract for critical waterway maintenance.
Key dates and what happens at the deadline
This is a pre-solicitation notice, meaning the official solicitation is expected to be issued around April 7, 2026. The bid opening date will be established later in a future amendment to the solicitation.
The deadline for this pre-solicitation notice is April 7, 2027, at 1:00 PM ET. This date is likely a placeholder for the final bid submission deadline once the full solicitation is released.
Who this opportunity suits
This opportunity is best suited for construction firms with significant experience in hydraulic pipeline cutterhead dredging. The Army specifically notes that few small businesses are expected to possess the necessary dredge plant size, pumping capacity, and operational capability for this work.
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 237990, which covers Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction, with a small business size standard of $37 million. While open to all, firms with large-scale dredging equipment and capabilities are the primary target.
How to respond to this pre-solicitation
The solicitation documents will be posted on SAM.gov. To access the opportunity, click the “View original source” link. If you land on the portal’s homepage, click the link again to go directly to the bid. You may need a free account to view documents, though for some bids, an account is not required.
Interested vendors are encouraged to register as an Interested Vendor on SAM.gov. Offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) to receive a government contract award. You can register at sam.gov.
Practical tips for a competitive response
Given the Army's assessment of the specialized equipment required, emphasize your firm's specific dredge plant size, pumping capacity, and operational capability in your proposal. Provide clear evidence of past projects demonstrating your ability to handle similar large-scale dredging operations.
Ensure all required bonding information is prepared, as bonding is a mandatory requirement for this contract. Begin preparing your SAM registration or verify its active status well in advance of the solicitation release. Consider posting subcontracting opportunities on the Small Business Administration’s SUBNet if you plan to utilize subcontractors.
See the live bid — deadline, agency details, and how to respond
Dates and requirements can change via addenda; always verify on the bid page and at the original source before responding.
View this bid on BiddingSimpleThis guide was prepared by BiddingSimple from the solicitation’s public posting. It is not official guidance from Dept of the Army; the original posting controls.