How to bid on Mississippi River Dredging Contract No. 6-2026 with Dept of the Army

What the Army Corps of Engineers is buying

The Department of the Army is seeking a contractor to provide a fully crewed and equipped self-propelled trailing suction type hopper dredge. This work will involve dredging services in the Mississippi River and Southwest Pass, and potentially other areas within and outside the New Orleans District.

This project, identified as Contract No. 6-2026 (OM26006), is valued between $10,000,000.00 and $25,000,000.00. It is a significant opportunity for firms specializing in large-scale dredging operations.

Key dates and what happens at the deadline

This is a Request for Information (RFI) for a solicitation that is expected to be issued on or about April 30, 2026. A specific bid opening date will be established in a future amendment to the solicitation.

The deadline for this RFI is April 30, 2028, at 11:30 AM ET. At this time, the agency will have gathered information to help shape the final solicitation.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is suitable for construction firms with expertise in marine dredging, specifically those owning and operating self-propelled trailing suction type hopper dredges. The contractor must be capable of providing a fully crewed and equipped vessel.

Given the magnitude of construction, firms with experience in projects valued between $10 million and $25 million are well-suited. All offerers must be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) to be eligible for a contract award.

How to respond

To access the opportunity, click “View original source” to open the portal. If you land on the homepage, click it again to go directly to the bid. You may need a free account to view documents, though for many bids this is not required.

The solicitation documents for this procurement will be posted on SAM.gov. You can access these files from a link located on SAM.gov. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader for .pdf files to open most documents posted by the New Orleans District.

You are encouraged to register as an Interested Vendor on beta.SAM.gov for marketing purposes. This can be done by clicking on the solicitation title and then clicking the 'Register as an Interested Vendor' button to enter your business information. Offerers are also encouraged to post notices of prospective subcontracting opportunities on the Small Business Administration's Subnet.

Practical tips for preparing a competitive response

Ensure your company's registration in SAM.gov is active and up-to-date, as this is a mandatory requirement for receiving a government contract award. Verify all your business information, including NAICS codes, is accurate.

Given the specialized nature of this work, focus on clearly demonstrating your firm's experience with similar large-scale dredging projects, particularly those involving self-propelled hopper dredges. Highlight your crew's qualifications and the capabilities of your equipment.

Pay close attention to all instructions when the full solicitation is released. Government solicitations often have specific formatting and submission requirements that must be followed precisely to ensure your bid is considered.