New Lock Stoplogs

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE. THIS IS FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY – This notice does not constitute a solicitation announcement or restrict the Government to an ultimate acquisition approach and NO AWARD will occur from this notice. NO SOLICITATION, SPECIFICATIONS, OR DRAWINGS are available for this Notice. This is NOT a Request for Proposal (RFP) or Invitation for Bid (IFB).

INTRODUCTION:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, is issuing this Sources Sought notice and conducting market research as a means to identify the interest and capabilities of both small and large business entities to provide fabrication services to the Soo Project Office (SPO) in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.   

No basis for claim against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought Notice. The Government will not pay for information or comments provided and will not recognize any cost associated with the submission of responses or comments.

BASED ON THE RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE/MARKET RESEARCH, 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.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Fabricate and deliver two complete sets of stoplogs (16 total). The fabricator shall be certified under AISC 207-23 as an Advanced Bridge Fabricator, Intermediate Bridge Fabricator, or Advanced Hydraulic Fabricator. The fabricator shall also have a Fracture Control Endorsement (FCE).  Each full set of stoplogs includes 7 standard (non-filling) stoplogs and 1 filling stoplog (incl. 2 butterfly valve assemblies).  The stoplogs are approximately 115.7ft long, 4.7ft tall, and taper in depth over 24ft at the ends, from 4.7ft to 8.7ft deep.  The approximate weight of the filling and non-filling stoplogs is 96,700lb and 93,500lb, respectively, and 751,200lb for one complete set.  All stoplogs have the same overall geometry and steel plate girder design.  Each stoplog is composed of ASTM A709 Grade HPS 70W F3 steel plate, four (4) UHMW guide blocks, two (2) ASTM A148 Gr 80-50 S9 cast lifting lugs, two (2) steel leveling eyes, four (4) 3-inch steel bearing blocks, two (2) bolted steel ladder assemblies, two (2) bolted rubber J-bulb side seal assemblies, 26 bolted rubber bearing blocks (13 top, 13 bottom), and two (2) bolted continuous rubber seal blocks (1 top, 1 bottom).  Additionally, the filling stoplogs have two 14-inch wafer style butterfly valves, 14-inch schedule 20 connecting pipes, and two (2) operator handles with removable stem extensions. All stoplogs are coated with the 5-E-Z vinyl (grey) paint system by a certified SSPC QP3 fabricator. All fabrication shall be in accordance with AWS D1.5-2025 with 100% of welds non-destructively tested (MT fillet welds, UT CJP welds, UT & RT CJP butt welds) in addition to visual inspection. Fracture critical members include the girder dry-side (tension) flanges, girder webs, and lifting lugs. Stoplogs shall be delivered by barge or ship to the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The Government will off-load stoplogs from barges. Ships shall off-load stoplogs to a designated area accessible to the ship.

The anticipated Period of Performance (PoP) is estimated in Winter 2027 through Fall 2029.

The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code is 332312 – Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing, which has a small business size standard of 500 employees. The Product Service Code (PSC) is 9520 – Structural Shapes. Businesses of all sizes are encouraged to respond; however, each respondent must clearly identify the firm’s business size in the attached questionnaire. Small business firms interested in performing this work are strongly urged to respond to this Notice. Responses to this Sources Sought Notice will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions.

SOURCES SOUGHT RESPONSES:

If your organization has the potential capacity and capability to perform this type of work, please complete the attached questionnaire and submit via email to Contract Specialist Joseph Orlando at joseph.orlando@usace.army.mil and Contracting Officer Michelle Barr at Michelle.Barr@usace.army.mil no later than 2:00 PM Eastern Time on September 11, 2026. Please reference in the subject line "SOURCES SOUGHT NEW LOCK STOPLOGS.”

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.

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 notice.

RESPONDENTS WILL NOT BE CONTACTED REGARDING THEIR SUBMISSION OR INFORMATION GATHERED AS A RESULT OF THE SOURCES SOUGHT.