How to bid on Southwest Pass Maintenance Dredging for the Dept of the Army

What the agency is buying

The Department of the Army is seeking a fully crewed and equipped cutterhead dredge. The dredge must have a discharge pipe with an inside diameter of at least 30 inches, along with all necessary supporting equipment and crew. The work involves maintenance dredging in the Mississippi River Southwest Pass area and potentially other locations within the New Orleans District.

This project is estimated to be valued between $10 million and $25 million. It represents a significant construction opportunity for firms specializing in large-scale dredging operations.

Key dates and deadlines

This solicitation was published on April 27, 2026. The deadline for submitting responses is February 03, 2027, at 12:00 PM ET. The solicitation was expected to be issued around December 9, 2024. A bid opening date has not yet been set and will be established in a future amendment.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is suitable for construction firms with extensive experience in large-scale dredging projects, particularly those involving cutterhead dredges of 30 inches or greater discharge size. Vendors should have the capacity to provide a fully crewed and equipped dredge, including all attendant plant. The project falls under the construction category.

How to respond

To access the solicitation documents, you will need to view the original source on the portal. If the first click takes you to the portal's homepage, click the link again to go directly to the bid. You may need a free account to view all documents, though some bids allow access without one.

For marketing purposes, you are encouraged to register as an Interested Vendor on beta.Sam.gov. This can be done by clicking on the solicitation title and then selecting 'Register as an Interested Vendor' to enter your business information. Offerers are also encouraged to post subcontracting opportunities on the Small Business Administration's Subnet. To be eligible for a government contract award, offerers must be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM).

Tips for a competitive response

Ensure your proposal clearly demonstrates your firm's capability to provide a fully crewed and equipped cutterhead dredge meeting the specified 30-inch minimum discharge diameter. Highlight your experience with similar large-scale dredging projects, especially those in riverine or coastal environments.

Pay close attention to all instructions for inquiries regarding the solicitation, as these may be updated by amendments. Thoroughly review all solicitation documents once they are available to understand the full scope of work, technical requirements, and evaluation criteria. Confirm your SAM registration is active and up-to-date well in advance of the submission deadline.