INDUSTRY DAY – Willapa Harbor Maintenance Dredging

The "Industry Day FY26 Willapa Bay Dredging" event on August 27, 2025, gathered various construction and dredging companies to discuss the upcoming Willapa Bay dredging project. Key discussions included the need for an updated survey of the Entrance Channel, which will be publicly available. Questions arose regarding dredging methods, with clarification that current environmental documents do not cover pipeline dredging but it may be considered for future events. Attendees requested consideration for a second season mob/demob in the base bid due to challenging weather conditions, which was noted for future events but limited to a single season for FY26 due to environmental documentation expiration. Best Management Practices for dredging exist, but none specifically for oyster beds. Interested firms are encouraged to propose capability presentations, and feedback on subcontracting opportunities is sought from large businesses.

The Willapa Harbor Maintenance Dredging Industry Day (Virtual) outlined a project to restore three Federal Navigation features of Willapa Bay to their authorized depths: Bay Center, Nahcotta, and Tokeland Entrance Channels. The project involves dredging up to 180,000 cubic yards, with additional dredging in the Palix River/Bay Center Access Lane for dredge access. Dredging will occur during specific environmental in-water work windows in FY26-FY27. Authorized depths range from -9ft to -15ft MLLW, with overdepths allowed, but no advanced maintenance. Challenges include difficult mobilization, dangerous access, exposed Pacific Ocean conditions, unmaintained channels, shifting shoals, and unpredictable weather. Environmental documents are complete, and plans and specifications are in progress, with an anticipated award in January/February 2026. Feedback is sought on project site conditions, the classification of work as Option Items, and the intent to solicit as an Invitation for Bids to encourage competition among both large and small businesses.

The Willapa Harbor Maintenance Dredging project, identified by Solicitation #: W912DW26BA001, is a federal initiative by the Seattle District Navigation Section to restore three Federal Navigation features of Willapa Bay to their authorized depths. The project involves dredging up to 180,000 cubic yards from the Bay Center Entrance Channel & Mooring Basin Access Lane, Nahcotta Entrance Channel & Mooring Basin Access Lane, and Tokeland Entrance Channel, along with additional dredging in the Palix River/Bay Center Access Lane for access. Dredging will occur during specific environmental in-water work windows between July 2026 and February 2027. Challenges include difficult mobilization, dangerous access, exposed Pacific Ocean conditions, unmaintained channels, shifting shoals, and unpredictable weather. The project is anticipated for award in January/February 2026, with construction in FY26-FY27. The USACE Office of Small Business Programs encourages early engagement and relationship building for small businesses. Feedback is requested on project site conditions, the potential for many option items, soliciting as an Invitation for Bids, and the sufficiency of provided information for competitive bidding.

The document provides general advice for small business involvement in USACE projects, emphasizing early engagement and understanding of anticipated small business participation. Key recommendations include developing a Small Business Commitment Document and a Subcontracting Plan based on historical data and market information, utilizing resources like SAM.gov and FPDS. The document stresses building relationships through platforms like SBA SubNet and FPDS, requesting agency information on recent awards, and sourcing small businesses with APEX Accelerators. It also outlines responsibilities for other than small contractors under FAR 52.219-9, including good faith efforts and eSRS reporting. Contact information for the USACE NWS Office of Small Business Programs, including the Small Business Professional Enshané Nomoto, is provided for further assistance.