How to bid on Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Maintenance Dredging for USACE Galveston

What the agency is buying

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Galveston is conducting a market survey for firms capable of performing maintenance dredging on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. This work is located between Matagorda Bay and Corpus Christi Bay in Calhoun and Aransas Counties, Texas.

The project involves dredging approximately 1.5 million cubic yards. The estimated value is between $5 million and $10 million, with a projected duration of 140 calendar days. This is a sources sought notice, not a solicitation for proposals or a contract award.

Key dates and deadlines

The sources sought notice was published on July 31, 2026. Responses are due by August 14, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET (2:00 PM Central Time). This is a firm deadline, and late submissions may not be considered.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is suitable for experienced construction firms specializing in dredging and surface cleanup activities (NAICS code 237990, small business size standard $37 million). The government is looking for firms with experience as a prime contractor, using pipeline and cutter-suction dredges, working on deep draft navigation channels, and capable of dredging at least 14,000 cubic yards per day. Familiarity with traffic conditions on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is also required.

Small businesses, including 8(a), HUBZone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB), and Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB), 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 access the opportunity, click “View original source” on the portal. If the first click leads to the homepage, click it again to go directly to the bid. You may need a free account to view documents, though this is not always required.

Your response must include your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code, firm’s name, address, point of contact, phone number, and e-mail address. Indicate whether your firm will submit a bid if the project is set aside for specific small business categories. Include information on 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. Also, state your firm’s bonding capacity (Bid Bond – 20% of total bid amount; Performance and Payment Bond – 100% of contract amount), both per contract and aggregate construction bonding levels in dollars. Firms failing to provide all requested information may be excluded.

Practical tips for a competitive response

Ensure your SAM.gov registration is active and up-to-date, as your UEI and CAGE code are required. Verify that your firm has a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) score entered in the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) prior to responding. This is a responsiveness item, and bids without a NIST score in SPRS will be deemed non-responsive.

When describing past projects, clearly highlight how your experience aligns with the minimum capabilities required, such as pipeline and cutter-suction dredge use, deep draft navigation, and daily dredging volume. Emphasize any experience within Whooping Crane critical habitat areas, noting the specific work window restrictions (May 01 - October 31).

Carefully review the limitations on subcontracting for small businesses (FAR 52.219-14), ensuring that no more than 85% of the amount paid by the Government for contract performance, excluding materials, goes to subcontractors that are not similarly situated entities. For large businesses, be prepared to submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan if the action is solicited as Full and Open Competition.