********** SOURCES SOUGHT TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION AND MARKET SURVEY FOR LARGE-SCALE CIVIL WORKS CONSTRUCTION ********** ********** INTRODUCTION ********** ********** The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Chicago District is issuing this sources sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support the requirement for Thomas J O Brien Lock and Dam Major Rehabilitation - Construction, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. The intention is to procure these construction services on a competitive basis. ********** ********** BASED ON THE RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE/MARKET SURVEY, THIS REQUIREMENT MAY BE SET-ASIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES (IN FULL OR IN PART) OR PROCURED THROUGH FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION. All Small Business Set-Aside categories will be considered. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions. ********** ********** The contract type is anticipated to be Firm Fixed Price construction contract, using FAR Part 15 solicitation procedures. The proposed contract is subject to Construction Wage Rate Requirements. ********** ********** North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS): 237990 - Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (Size Standard: $45.0M) ********** Product Service Code (PSC): Z2KA - Repair or Alteration of Dams / Navigation Structures ********** Duration of Performance: Estimated at Three (3) Years; 1,095 calendar days. Specifics regarding the number of option periods will be provided in the solicitation. ********** Place of Performance: Thomas J O Brien Lock and Dam Major Rehabilitation - Construction, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois ********** ********** DISCLAIMER: THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) TO BE SUBMITTED. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. RESPONSES WILL NOT BE RETURNED TO THE RESPONDER. NOT RESPONDING TO THIS NOTICE DOES NOT PRECLUDE PARTICIPATION IN ANY FUTURE REQUEST FOR QUOTE (RFQ) OR INVITATION FOR BID (IFB) OR RFP, IF ANY ISSUED. IF A SOLICITATION IS RELEASED, IT WILL BE SYNOPSIZED ON THE GOVERNMENT-WIDE POINT OF ENTRY (GPE). IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF POTENTIAL OFFERORS TO MONITOR THE GPE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THIS REQUIREMENT. ********** ********** PROGRAM BACKGROUND ********** ********** The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Chicago District (LRC), is preparing an acquisition strategy for Phase 2 construction of the T.J. O Brien Lock and Controlling Works Major Rehabilitation project on the Calumet River in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. The facility features a 110 ft by 1,000 ft lock chamber with concrete-capped circular sheet pile cells and low-lift sector gates regulating water exchange between Lake Michigan and the inland waterway network. As the requiring activity, USACE Chicago District delivers comprehensive engineering, design, and construction management to execute structural, mechanical, and electrical revitalization, ensuring long-term operational reliability and structural integrity. ********** ********** REQUIRED CAPABILITIES ********** ********** The scope of this requirement includes: ********** ********** *Repair and strengthening of the upper and lower guide walls and chamber lock walls through grout injection. ***Repair of a portion of the upper guide wall that was impacted by a barge in early 2026. ***Replacement of the existing sector gate operating machinery with modern equipment Revisions to the sump pump pits under the control houses for ease of maintenance ***Replacement of site hatches and covers, removal of unused pits, and rehabilitation of associated concrete and drains ***Replacement of the culvert valve gates and actuators ***Installation of two new jib cranes to service all four screens for gate openings on the controlling works ***Replacement of all gates and actuators at the controlling works ***Various upgrades to the electrical service, ductbank, and control systems associated with the items previously listed ***Upgrades to the emergency lighting and circuitry in the lock house and maintenance garage ***Upgrades to the backup generator and uninterruptible power supplies ***Revisions to the main lock house roof drain outfall to eliminate backups into the lock house when the lock water near the outlet freezes during cold weather. ********** ********** SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND MARKET INQUIRIES: ********** ********** Business Section ********** ********** Section A - CORPORATE CAPACITY and BONDING ********** ********** If your organization has the potential capacity to perform these contract services, please provide the following information: ********** ********** 1. This requirement involves large-scale, high-risk civil works construction. Potential offerors must demonstrate that their available single-project bonding limit and working capital capacity are sufficient to support a single contract whose total commitment significantly exceeds the annual revenue size standard established for NAICS 237990. Please submit a formal letter of bondability from your surety specifying your single-project limit, aggregate limit, and remaining uncommitted capacity. If utilizing a Joint Venture or teaming arrangement to meet bonding and financial underwriting requirements, detail the administrative structure and combined capacity. ********** ********** 2. Please note that under a Small-Business Set-Aside, in accordance with FAR 52.219-14 (Limitations on Subcontracting), the small business prime must perform at least 15% of the work themselves in terms of the cost of performance, excluding materials. Please provide your tailored capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements. ********** ********** 3. Small Business Subcontracting: Should this requirement be solicited as Full and Open Competition, other-than-small-business offerors will be required to submit an acceptable Small Business Subcontracting Plan in accordance with RFO 19.109 and 52.219-9, as applicable. ********** ********** Interested firms are requested to describe their experience meeting small business subcontracting goals on comparable construction projects, identify potential subcontracting opportunities for small businesses, and provide preliminary estimated subcontracting percentages by socioeconomic category. Firms should also identify anticipated challenges and strategies to maximize small business participation. ********** ********** 4. Provide a comprehensive company profile including current small/large business status and socioeconomic ownership status (Small, Small Disadvantaged, Women-Owned, HUBZone, or Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concern), company profile to include number of employees, annual revenue history, office locations, UEI number, etc. ********** ********** 5. Can or has your company managed a team of subcontractors before? If so, provide details. ********** ********** 6. Can or has your company managed a task of this nature? If so, please provide details. ********** ********** SECTION B - PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT (PLA) EVALUATION ********** ********** To assist USACE in evaluating the practicability, efficiency, and market impact of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) pursuant to OMB Memorandum M-25-29 and federal procurement law: ********** ********** 1. Would your firm submit an offer for this project if a PLA is mandated? ********** ********** 2. Does your firm currently operate under collective bargaining agreements with building and construction trades in Cook County / Northern Illinois? ********** ********** 3. What is your assessment of the local skilled labor pool in Cook County for specialized trades (e.g., marine divers, heavy rigging, hydraulic mechanics, certified structural welders)? ********** ********** 4. Would requiring a PLA impact your project pricing or labor cost structure? If yes, estimate the anticipated percentage impact and explain the underlying cost drivers (e.g., benefit contributions, work rules, specialty subs). ********** ********** 5. Identify any operational benefits or significant risks associated with utilizing a PLA for this specific requirement. ********** ********** Technical Section ********** ********** SECTION C - TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES AND EXPERIENCE ********** ********** 1. What specific technical skills does your company possess which ensure capability to perform the tasks? Refer to the above REQUIRED CAPABILITIES section, and clearly identify the skills you have and describe how related to those capabilities. This includes identification of performance as you as a prime, and what you need to subcontract. ********** ********** 2. Describe your firm and experience (within the last 10 years) managing heavy marine/civil infrastructure projects exceeding $75M involving active navigation locks, underwater mass tremie grouting, or cofferdam dewatering. ********** ********** 3. Detail your capability to execute high-density mechanical/electrical equipment replacement within a rigid 120-day lock outage schedule. ********** ********** SECTION D - STATUTORY ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS ********** ********** 1. Recovered Materials: Are commercial grout mixes, tremie concretes, and backfill materials containing EPA CPG recovered content (e.g., coal fly ash, ground granulated blast-furnace slag) readily available in the Chicago metropolitan market meeting USACE engineering standards? ********** ********** 2. BioPreferred Products: Can your firm source USDA BioPreferred certified biodegradable hydraulic fluids, gear lubricants, and form release agents that satisfy severe marine environmental operating criteria? ********** ********** 3. Long-Lead Items: Identify any long-lead equipment items (e.g., custom gearboxes, sluice gates, jib cranes) that could exceed 12 months fabrication time. ********** ********** SUBMISSION DETAILS (CAPABILITIES STATEMENT) ********** ********** Interested parties are requested to submit the capability requirements in Sections A thru D, within ten (10) pages in length, and a font of not less than 10 pitch. Please only include a narrative of the requested information; additional information will not be reviewed. ********** ********** The deadline for response to this request is no later than 2:00 PM, Central Time November 27, 2026. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be e-mailed to ericka.d.hillard@usace.army.mil and sara.t.king@usace.army.mil. Include in the subject line the title of this requirement. ********** ********** The Government will evaluate market information to ascertain potential market capacity to: ********** ********** 1. provide services consistent, in scope and scale, with those described in this notice and otherwise anticipated; and ********** ********** 2. secure and apply the full range of corporate financial, human capital, and technical resources required to successfully perform similar requirements. ********** ********** Your response to this Sources Sought, including any capabilities statement, shall be electronically submitted to the Contract Specialist, Ericka Hillard, and Contracting Officer, Sara King, in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF), via email to ericka.d.hillard@usace.army.mil and sara.t.king@usace.army.mil. ********** ********** All data received in response to this Sources Sought that is marked or designated as corporate or proprietary will be fully protected from any release outside the Government. No phone calls will be accepted. All questions must be submitted to the contract specialist and contracting officer identified above. The Government is not committed nor obligated to pay for the information provided, and no basis for claims against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought. **********
