This is a SPECIAL NOTICE to announce an INDUSTRY MEETING for a planned New York & New Jersey Harbor Deepening Project contract to dredge sandy and gravel sediments overlying several utility corridors in Anchorage Channel, located in the Upper Bay of New York Harbor. The meeting will be Tuesday, October 15, 2013 from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM at 26 Federal Plaza, Conference Room G located on the 6th floor. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION. THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. The purpose of this meeting is to allow the Government an opportunity to provide a brief overview of upcoming contract requirements, address specific questions, and seek information that can be valuable in planning the solicitation methods and documents so to ensure the required work is performed safely and acceptably. The contracting requirement for this project is scheduled to be awarded in March 2014. The Government invites companies from the dredging and maritime construction industry; and all other interested companies to participate. OVERVIEW The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, and partner agencies have awarded contracts that will complete nearly all planned construction necessary for the New York & New Jersey Harbor Deepening 50 foot navigation channel project. The main area remaining is over several various utility corridors within the Anchorage Channel located in the southern Upper Bay of New York Harbor. In this area, utilities related to water supply, oil, natural gas, electrical and telecommunications are buried or otherwise entrenched into the channel bottom. The elevation and protective measures in place for each of the utilities are different as are their elevation. The current sediment bathymetry in this area ranges from -45 feet mean low water (MLW) to -50 feet, the depth required for the project. Material in this range is comprised largely of sand or sand/gravel mixtures. To acceptably remove this material while providing sufficient protection of the underlying utilities the New York District is contemplating a variety of removal techniques as well as contingency plans. GENERAL SCOPE The Scope of Work for this Anchorage Channel Utility Corridor channel deepening contract involves the following elements: The dredging of all material within the channel, and associated side slopes, to at least -50 feet MLW. The Corps estimates the volume of material needed to be dredged, as estimated by bathymetric surveys, as approximately 53,000 cubic yards. Geophysical and coring data indicates that this material is sandy to sandy/gravel sediments. The utilities underlying this work shall not be harmed or otherwise adversely impacted by the channel deepening. The various utilities' locations have been estimated within identified tolerances both planimetrically and by depth. While the as-built nature of each utility is known, how they have aged and their present nature is not known other than that they are intact and operational. The distance between the various utilities and the required required depth varies from over 7 feet to 3.5 feet. For this reason, utilizing removal techniques that do NOT involved direct mechanical removal means directly over the utilities in various defined protection zones is a preferred approach by the Corps in accomplishing this work. Design and construction methodology alternatives, as well as alternative construction contract acquisition strategies, will be discussed. THIS IS AN INDUSTRY MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. This is not a solicitation announcement for proposals and there may be No contract awarded from this announcement. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests. USACE is restricting in-person attendance to the ten (10) companies to RSVP. Each company that is notified that its attendance request has been accepted can send two representatives each. If space permits, this limitation scenario may change and will be posted on FEDBIZOPPS. A conference line will also be available for interested parties to participate via phone. Specific questions regarding the attached draft PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS and other materials to be posted on FEDBIZOPPS will be addressed during the industry day meeting. Additionally, during the meeting, each company will be allowed and encouraged to ask questions. The industry meeting agenda will involve a presentation by the Government, followed by a discussion of features of work involved with channel deepening over the various utilities as well as contract strategies. Additional background materials and meeting handouts (if any) will be posted to FEDBIZOPPS prior to October 15, 2013. It is recommended that interested parties check the website for updates. POC & Contact information for attending the USACE Anchorage Channel Utility Corridor Deepening Contract Industry Meeting is Mr. Bryce Wisemiller. To RSVP please email at
[email protected] no later than 3:00 PM Eastern Time on October 10, 2013 with the names, affiliations, phone, and return e-mail address.