Bid guide
How to bid on FY27 Channel to Victoria Maintenance Dredging with USACE Galveston
What the agency is buying and why it matters
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Galveston is conducting a market survey for firms capable of performing maintenance dredging for the FY27 Channel to Victoria contract in Matagorda County, Texas. This includes work in the Channel to Victoria, Seadrift Main Channel, North Wye, South Wye sections, and the Seadrift Turning Basin.
The work typically involves a pipeline cutter-suction dredge, with an expected removal rate of at least 14,000 cubic yards per day over approximately 180 days. The estimated value for this project is between $10 million and $25 million. This is an opportunity for experienced dredging firms, especially small businesses, to show their capabilities for a significant government contract.
Key dates and what happens at the deadline
This is a Sources Sought announcement, not a request for proposals. Responses are due by August 12, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET (2:00 PM Central time). This deadline is for submitting information about your firm's capabilities and interest.
After the deadline, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Galveston will use the gathered information for preliminary planning and to determine the appropriate set-aside decision for a future solicitation. A formal solicitation for this work is anticipated around January 2027.
Who this opportunity suits
This opportunity is suitable for experienced dredging firms, particularly those with expertise in pipeline and cutter-suction dredging for deep draft navigation channels. Firms should be capable of removing at least 14,000 cubic yards per day and be familiar with the traffic conditions in the Channel to Victoria area.
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 237990, Dredging and Surface Cleanup Activities, which has a small business size standard of $37,000,000. Small businesses, including 8(a), HUBZone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) firms, are highly encouraged to respond. For dredging procurements, small businesses must perform at least 40% of the volume dredged with their own equipment or equipment owned by another small business dredging concern.
How to respond to this Sources Sought
To respond, you will need to provide specific information about your firm. This includes your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code, which can be found through your System for Award Management (SAM) registration.
You must also state your firm's name, address, point of contact, phone number, and e-mail address. Indicate whether your firm intends to submit a bid if the project is set-aside for various small business categories. Include information on any existing Joint Ventures, Mentor Protégés, or teaming arrangements. Provide at least three examples of comparable work performed within the last five years, including a brief description, customer name, and dollar value for each project. Finally, state your firm's bonding capacity (Bid Bond- 20% of total bid amount; Performance and Payment Bond- 100% of the contract amount) per contract and aggregate construction bonding level.
Practical tips for preparing a competitive response
Ensure your SAM registration is active and up-to-date, as your UEI and CAGE codes are required. Double-check that all contact information is accurate. Clearly articulate your firm's experience with pipeline and cutter-suction dredges, especially in deep draft navigation channels and similar environments to the Channel to Victoria.
When describing past projects, focus on how they demonstrate your firm's capability to handle the magnitude and complexity of this specific dredging work, including the daily cubic yardage requirement. Highlight any experience in Matagorda County or similar coastal Texas waterways. Also, be aware that a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) score in the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) will be a responsiveness item for the future solicitation. While not required for this RFI, it is important to prepare for this requirement.
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 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Galveston; the original posting controls.