U.S. Army Seeks Expertise for Shoreline Resilience Projects at Naval Support Area Cutler
The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is actively soliciting expertise for several initiatives, prominently including a project aimed at enhancing shoreline resilience at the Naval Support Area (NSA) in Cutler, Maine.
Adverse weather events have precipitated severe erosion and degradation of the shoreline, jeopardizing the structural integrity of NSA Cutler’s infrastructure. The challenging climatic conditions render the area largely unsuitable for traditional and hybrid infrastructure solutions.
Consequently, ERDC is in pursuit of specialized technical support and groundbreaking innovations to devise a fresh application of natural and hybrid infrastructure (NHI) technologies and methodologies for their implementation.
The overarching objective of this endeavor is to pinpoint viable solutions that can mitigate shoreline erosion while bolstering resilience through an integrated approach that marries NHI with conventional designs, all while adhering to performance, regulatory, and budgetary constraints.
Coastline of the proposed project site at NSA Cutler. © ERDCWERX
ERDC cordially invites pre-proposals that must align with the following eligibility criteria and additional stipulations:
- The applicant team should encompass a diverse range of competencies essential for developing both NHI and conventional infrastructure, combined with expertise to assess the expected performance of the proposed interventions.
Exemplary team members might include field practitioners experienced in large-scale NHI implementations across varied coastal landscapes, as well as scientists and engineers adept at quantifying the engineering efficacy of both NHI and conventional infrastructures.
Additionally, personnel proficient in crafting state and Federal permit applications (along with necessary supporting exhibits) for NHI projects—including discussions, presentations, and negotiations with relevant agency representatives—are crucial. - Applicants are encouraged to furnish evidence of prior successful endeavors, such as: 1) creation of NHI project concepts and designs, 2) successful navigation of Federal and state permitting processes relating to NHI, and 3) completed construction of NHI initiatives.
- The applicant team should possess familiarity with the Federal and state regulatory frameworks governing the installation of NHI and conventional infrastructures within the coastal landscapes of Maine. Prior experience in obtaining environmental permits for operations conducted at military installations is also mandatory.
- The development of the NHI and conventional infrastructure interventions must consider both existing and projected conditions at Little Machias Bay, as well as the landscape encompassing and adjacent to the NSA Cutler installation.
- Applicants should showcase previous work that reflects innovative NHI strategies employed in cold regions or areas subjected to extreme weather conditions (for instance, Arctic and sub-Arctic environments).
- It is the responsibility of applicants to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations while securing all necessary Federal, state, and local permits required for any proposed sampling or testing to gain insights into the dynamics of Little Machias Bay and the coastline at NSA Cutler.
Coordination with ERDC, pertinent USACE Districts, NSA Cutler, Maine state agencies, and other local and Federal authorities regarding environmental impact assessments for any proposed actions at the installation is also incumbent upon applicants.
While not mandatory, the following elements are highly desirable:
- Applicants are encouraged to outline additional fieldwork or data collection activities envisioned to support the outcomes articulated in the section titled ‘Desired End-state’. Refer to the “Background” section for a listing of information and data to be provided to prospective vendors.
- Applicants should elucidate how the proposed activities could build upon existing Federal and state datasets or any ongoing initiatives endorsed by Federal and State agencies.
- Identifying both quantitative and qualitative success metrics for each project task and goal is encouraged. Additionally, establishing go/no-go decision points throughout the proposed project timeline is deemed advantageous.
All applicants must be registered on SAM.gov, as registration details should encompass all applicable awards.
Estimated Government Funding Profile
Funding up to $2,100,000 may be allocated for initiatives under this announcement, with the Government retaining the discretion to issue multiple awards.
All resultant contracts will adhere to a firm-fixed price model. All items, technologies, and services (including research and development) acquired via this Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) are designated as commercial.
University and non-profit applicants should be aware that commercial clauses will be integrated into the award, necessitating prior coordination with relevant legal counsel before submission.
Estimated Period of Performance
A maximum duration of 30 months is projected for multi-year awards, with the option for multi-year proposals. The Government reserves the right to grant the full duration of performance for selected projects or limit awards to the initial year(s), based on the proposals received.
Evaluation Criteria
Submissions will undergo evaluation according to the criteria stipulated in the CSO Solicitation document, facilitated by ERDC subject matter experts.
All resultant contracts will adopt a firm-fixed price framework, and all items, technologies, and services acquired through this CSO will fall under commercial designation.
University and non-profit proponents must be cognizant of the integration of commercial clauses in the award and should coordinate proposals with relevant legal counsel prior to submission.
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