U.S. Service Members are helping the government and residents of Guam return to normal after the impacts of Typhoon Mawar. The storm struck the island with winds up to 140 miles-per-hour on May 24, 2023.
Task Force West Deputy and Deputy Duel-Status Commander to Joint Task Force 671, Col. Chris Nagelvoort said that Guam has not been affected by a natural disaster of this severity and magnitude in a long time, thereby requiring a combination of new and old approaches and methods to accelerate recovery.
“The strength and slow pace of Typhoon Mawar affected the island in a way that left the citizens enduring over 36 hours of heavy winds and rain. This level of damage hasn’t been seen on the island in decades,” said Nagelvoort. “It damaged houses, particularly roofs, throughout the island creating the need for a program to repair roofs and help people return to their homes.”
On June 9, 2023, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), in coordination with the Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Mayor’s Council of Guam, launched the Roofing Installation Support Emergency Utilization Program (RISEUP) to help temporarily repair metal roofs damaged by Typhoon Mawar.
Soldiers from the 9th Mission Support Command from the U.S. Army Reserve deployed to Guam from Fort Shafter in Honolulu, Hawaii, to serve as the command element for Task Force RISEUP (TF RISEUP), while Soldiers from the 797th Engineer Company based out of the Dydasco Army Reserve Center in Barrigada, Guam, were mobilized to support the effort.
Maj. Ben Meintel, an engineering officer with TF RISEUP, said teamwork is vital to providing the support and comfort needed to bring families home.
“This effort has everyone across the DoD working together,” Meintel said. “Teams from Navy Seabees, Air Force Engineers and Army National Guard and Reserve support TF RISEUP and work every day to help in the recovery.”
Command Sgt. Maj. Joshua Engel, the TF RISEUP senior non-commissioned officer, shared that most of these Reserve Soldiers have themselves been affected. “We have locally affected National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers, answering the call to duty to provide relief efforts within their local communities,” he said. “Our focus is to save lives, prevent human suffering, mitigate severe property damage.
The end state is to complete each project within our joint community by partnering with our active duty counterparts from AF 254/544 RED HORSE and the JTF 785 Seabees. The TF RISEUP joint teams combined efforts have had a positive affect they should be proud of.”
The goal of RISEUP is to identify houses that will be structurally sound after roof repairs, bringing families back home and relieving pressure on local shelters. Eligible roofs must cover indoor living space completely enclosed by walls to include facilities for cooking, eating, sleeping and sanitation.
Soldiers assigned to 797th Vertical Engineering Company, 9th Mission Support Command, U.S. Army Reserve provided the first temporary roofing repair June 10, 2023, for a family in Dededo, Guam. The team completed the project the following day providing the family with the installation of 1,500 square feet of roofing to provide protection from the elements until a permanent fix can be made by the home owners.
As of June 13, 2023, USACE received over 298 validated “rights of entry,” allowing assessment of homes’ eligibility for the program.
Local residents impacted by the storm should first contact their local mayor’s office to initiate the process.
Courtesy of the 305th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District will host a Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC) Pre-Proposal Conference for potential Architect and Engineering (A-E) service-related government contractors Tuesday, June 13, 2023, 1-4 p.m. CST, at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jadwin Building, 2000 Fort Point Rd, Galveston, TX 77550.
This event is open to all large and small businesses interested in working with the Galveston District. The conference will include presentations from USACE staff and an open session for participants to ask District staff questions.
The purpose of the event is to present upcoming work opportunities for the Galveston District and hold exchanges with industry before receipt of proposals, to improve the understanding of government requirements and industry capabilities for the Galveston District Civil Works Programs. Potential offerors can judge whether they can satisfy the government’s requirements for the District’s Civil Works Program. This increases the government’s ability to obtain quality supplies and services--including construction at reasonable prices--and increases efficiency in proposal preparation, evaluation, negotiation, and contract award.
Attendees must participate in person as no live virtual option will be available.
Registration is required no later than 4 p.m. CST, June 9, 2023. Each firm will be limited to three attendees. For security reasons, visitors must be U.S. citizens and present a state or federal issued identification for access to USACE facilities.
To register for the event, please visit this URL: bit.ly/900M-MATOC. Please enter only one attendee name per registration form.
As stated in FAR 15.201(f), any general information disclosed in these meetings will be made available to the public as soon as practicable, but no later than the next general release of information, to avoid creating an unfair competitive advantage. Any materials distributed by the Government at these meetings shall be made available to all potential offerors, upon request to the contract specialist identified.
For more news and information, visit https://www.swg.usace.army.mil/Missions/Projects/.
Find us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/GalvestonDistrict or follow us on Twitter, www.twitter.com/USACEgalveston.
Contact
Carlos Gomez
(409) 766-3004
carlos.m.gomez@usace.army.mil
2000 Fort Point Road, Galveston, TX 77550
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District awarded a contract to Norfolk Dredging Company for $14 million to conduct periodic nourishment of the Brigantine dune and berm Coastal Storm Risk Management project. The project is a joint effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the City of Brigantine.
The contract calls for dredging and placing approximately 850,000 cubic yards sand. Sand is dredged from a borrow site near Brigantine Inlet. Sand is then pumped through a series of pipes, placed on the beach, and graded into an engineered dune and berm template, which is designed to reduce damages from coastal storm events. In Brigantine, sand will be placed in the northern portion of the community from just north of 14th Street south to approximately 4th Street North.
Norfolk Dredging Company is expected to begin dredging and beachfill operations in July 2023 and work is expected to be completed in the fall. Dunes will be repaired in certain areas; however, most of the work includes widening the beach between the toe of the dune and the water line.
The project is cost-shared between the Federal government, the State of New Jersey, and the municipality.
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced the signing of a final rule to implement a new credit assistance program for dam safety projects.
The new program, named the Corps Water Infrastructure Financing Program, will offer credit assistance in the form of direct loans and loan guarantees for non-federal dam safety projects to maintain, upgrade and repair dams identified in the National Inventory of Dams. The program will accelerate non-federal investments in water resources infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost loans with flexible repayment options to creditworthy borrowers.
“By expanding the tools for infrastructure financing, the Corps Water Infrastructure Financing Program will accelerate completion of dam safety projects nationwide,” said Mr. Michael Connor, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. “This critical program will support local communities by improving dam safety, building resilience and providing financial savings for crucial infrastructure investments.”
The final rule, signed today by Connor, establishes the process by which USACE will administer credit assistance, including the assessment of fees. This rule also sets forth the policies and procedures that USACE will use for receiving, evaluating and approving applications, and for servicing and monitoring direct loans and loan guarantees. Priority will be given for projects serving economically disadvantaged communities through fee waivers and project financing up to 80% of the total project costs.
“The nation faces a significant challenge in financing the rehabilitation, improvement and expansion of aging civil works infrastructure, particularly dam infrastructure,” said Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ commanding general. “This program will help address this challenge by providing long-term, low-cost loans for dam safety projects.”
This is a significant milestone for USACE and represents a new and innovative way to support the nation’s investment in infrastructure, while reducing the reliance on federal funding. The CWIFP will provide significant savings to local taxpayers for infrastructure investment.
According to USACE, the program will provide approximately $7.5 billion in total project financing and support up to $15 billion of infrastructure investment nationwide.
This program was authorized under the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014, often referred to as the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014. Program funding and further statutory direction was provided in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021.
The final rule will be posted in the Federal Register and will go into effect 30 days after it is posted. Upon going into effect, USACE will post a notice of funding availability, which will formally open the program and provide interested borrowers with instructions on the application process. For more information about CWIFP, visit https://www.usace.army.mil/CWIFP or contact the CWIFP Team at CWIFP@usace.army.mil or 612-518-0355.
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works establishes policy direction and provides supervision of the Department of the Army functions relating to all aspects of the Civil Works Program of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announces the recent completion of dredging in five south shore inlets. The projects have all been dual-purposed, restoring safe depths for navigation, and beneficially using all dredged sands for coastal storm risk resiliency and environmental restoration. The five inlets, all dredged since last fall are East Rockaway Inlet, Jones Inlet, Fire Island Inlet, Moriches Inlet and Shinnecock Inlet. Taken together, the dredging activities removed over a million cubic yards of sand, all of which was placed on adjacent beaches or into the literal drift system.
Dredging activities during the fall and winter season did see some major challenges given many extreme weather days and difficult working conditions. Yet, a strong partnership effort among multiple federal, state and local agencies continuously developed innovative strategies to deliver the projects while ensuring safety, endangered species protection and compliance with regulatory standards.
Most challenging were the latest activities to complete Contract 2 of the Fire Island to Montauk Point Project (FIMP) which required dredging in Moriches Inlet and Shinnecock Inlet. The Corps, in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) and federal and state resource agencies, worked tirelessly to deliver the project. With completion of work under the $24,498,050 contract, which was awarded to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company LLC of Houston, TX, there is now bolstered resilience of Long Island's coastline.
The FIMP contract involved the hydraulic dredging of more than 320,000 cubic yards of sand from Shinnecock and Moriches Inlets, strategically placing it on updrift and downdrift beaches to reduce erosion and strengthen coastal resiliency. The FIMP Project reduces flood risk for Long Islanders along vulnerable areas of 83 miles of coastline in Suffolk County, from Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point.
"The completion of this contract signifies a major milestone in the FIMP Project,” said COL Matthew Luzzatto, commander, USACE, New York District. “Our dedicated team, alongside federal, state, and local partners, has worked tirelessly to address this challenging project. Their efforts will ensure the safety and well-being of the residents of the surrounding communities as we continue to strengthen our coastlines and make them more resilient against future coastal storms. I would like to thank everyone for their dedication, commitment, and unwavering support in completing this project.”
"We appreciate the opportunity to coordinate with USACE to meet their responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act during this phase of the project," said Ian Drew, field supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's New York Field Office. "We look forward to continued cooperation to fulfill conservation measures and goals for mitigation, monitoring, and management as this important work continues."
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “We’re proud to be the state partner in this effort with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to protect Long Island’s coastal communities by reducing flood risks. Climate change is driving an uptick in both severe storms and flooding. To safeguard our communities and our natural resources, we must continue to work together on the federal, state, and local levels on projects like this to increase storm resiliency.”
The work at Fire Island, Moriches and Shinnecock are part of a comprehensive, multi-year $1.7 billion project, fully federally funded under Public Law 113-2, the Emergency Supplemental Bill passed in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. The project incorporates a range of features to reduce coastal flood risks, including structure elevations, building retrofits, a breach response plan, beach and dune fill, and adaptive management strategies.
The USACE New York District will continue to lead construction efforts in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), Suffolk County, the Towns of Babylon, Islip, Brookhaven, Southampton, and Easthampton, the National Park Service (NPS), Fire Island National Seashore (FIIS), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Collaboration with these stakeholders ensures that environmental sensitivity and endangered species protection remain paramount as the FIMP Project advances.
For more information, please visit the USACE New York District website at: https://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Projects-in-New-York/Fire-Island-to-Montauk-Point/
About the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District:
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, is responsible for the federal water resources development in New Jersey, New York, and parts of Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. The District is committed to delivering vital engineering solutions, in collaboration with partners, to secure the Nation, energize the economy, and reduce risk from disaster.
The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is conducting innovative research on advanced materials and manufacturing technologies that will play a vital role in both civilian and military applications.
Researchers in ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL) are focusing on key areas such as Civil and Military Engineering, Blast and Weapons Effects on Structures and Geomaterials and Military Installations and Infrastructure.
“ERDC is one of the key research and development (R&D) organizations in the Department of Defense (DoD),” said Dr. Robert Moser, Senior Scientific Technical Manager with GSL, adding that ERDC is also one of four Science and Technology labs within the DoD that contributes mission-critical competencies.”
Within ERDC’s core competency of Blast and Weapons Effects on Structures and Geomaterials, researchers are working to utilize advanced materials technologies to protect the Warfighter from a range of threats. These materials range from concrete and geomaterials to advanced metals and composites. Unique experiments conducted at ERDC support these research activities and assist in the development of advanced computational models that aid in designing new materials and engineering their applications in infrastructure systems.
“Making true advancements and innovation in these fields requires a unique combination of disciplines— from materials science to structural engineers and computational modeling,” said Moser.
Another military engineering research area at ERDC focuses on force projection and maneuver support technologies - how military and support systems maneuver from place to place. ERDC engineers develop steel or concrete structures to protect Soldiers, facilities and critical infrastructure, while researchers analyze the materials necessary to make rapid infrastructure repairs or upgrade the capacity to support future operations. Such systems include rapid bridging, port construction and new lightweight material technologies.
Infrastructure is not only important on military installations, but it is also vital for civil applications such as dams, levees and hydropower projects. Current issues like an increase in natural disasters, aging infrastructure and future modernization requirements to support economic competitiveness are often underpinned by advancements in materials that support improved sustainability and resilience of critical infrastructure systems.
“We enhance our ability to accomplish the mission by making our systems more sustainable and resilient,” said Moser.
From the sustainability perspective, the goal is to minimize waste of materials and energy use, which can be accomplished by using local and indigenous resources and less fuel. Resilience applies to maintaining or accomplishing the mission under any adversity.
To carry out this mission-essential work, ERDC relies on a strong network of partners across the government, industry and academia. Additionally, growing a future workforce with the STEM skills needed to support critical DoD research is another key factor in mission success. From STEM outreach events and local schools/universities training students, Moser said that the work accomplished at ERDC wouldn’t be possible without the support and collaboration of its partners.
“The ecosystem that is developing here is really exciting as we work to align with strategic initiatives across ERDC and the entire Corps of Engineers,” said Moser. “All of these new innovations and how we integrate them across our missions will help us solve the Nation’s toughest problems.”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recognized 71 of their subcomponent organizations for earning one of several “USACE Best Places to Work” categories during an awards ceremony today at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. Awards are based on employee responses to the 2022 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) regarding overall satisfaction with their job and the organization.
In the recently released 2022 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings, USACE ranks 166 out of 432 federal agency subcomponents, representing a 30-spot improvement from 2021.
“We continue to generate great momentum on FEVS,” said Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon, USACE commanding general. “But we’re still not done. I want to take our world-class organization to the next level while continuing to attract and retain the best, diverse talent.” According to the 2022 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government website, the rankings offer the most comprehensive assessment of how federal public servants view their jobs and workplaces, providing employee perspectives on leadership, pay, innovation, work-life balance and other issues. Most of the data used to develop the scores and rankings was collected by the Office of Personnel Management’s Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey in June and July 2022.
USACE scores were generated from more than 18,000 employee surveys, a 52% response rate across the organization and second highest amongst all Army commands.
Though the survey results show robust employee engagement levels, the data also provides opportunities for Spellmon and the USACE leadership team to build on current momentum.
“My command philosophy of promoting and maintaining a positive command climate; advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workforce; growing our next generation of leaders; and delivering the program requires leaders to set the conditions for optimal workforce engagement and innovation,” said Spellmon.
Key employee feedback included expanding available developmental opportunities, enhancing work/life flexibility, and increasing staffing levels to support a continually evolving and growing mission.
To find an upcoming USACE career event near you, visit: https://www.usace.army.mil/Careers/Career-Fairs/
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, has awarded a $23.9 million contract to Cashman Dredging & Marine Contracting Co. LLC, out of Quincy, Massachusetts, for Baltimore Harbor and channels maintenance dredging for Fiscal Year 2023.
In coordination with the Maryland Department of Transportation, Port Administration, the project consists of dredging approximately 1.5 million cubic yards of material from four channels in Maryland associated with the Baltimore Harbor, ensuring continued safe navigation for vessels going in and out of the Port of Baltimore.
“We are proud to announce this contract award as Baltimore Harbor channels rely on maintenance to serve and strengthen the region and the nation, energize the economy, and reduce navigation safety risks,” said Baltimore District Commander Col. Estee Pinchasin. “We are honored to work with the Port Administration on this effort as many diverse commodities import and export from the Port of Baltimore on a daily basis to accommodate some of the world’s largest ships.”
The amount of material being removed would cover the field at M&T Bank Stadium, goalpost to goalpost. All dredged material will be removed via clamshell dredge and transported by barge to the respective placement sites. The material being removed consists primarily of mud, silt, sand, shell, and mixtures thereof.
Approximately 1.1 million cubic yards of material dredged from Brewerton Angle, Tolchester Channel, Brewerton Channel Eastern Extension and Craighill Angle will be beneficially reused at the Paul S. Sarbanes Ecosystems Restoration Project at Poplar Island located on the eastern side of the Chesapeake Bay. In addition, approximately 350,000 cubic yards of material dredged from the Baltimore Harbor approach channels will be placed at the Cox Creek Dredged Material Containment Facility.
The following channels used by large container ships traveling to and from Port of Baltimore facilities will be dredged to their respective authorized dimensions, plus allowable over depth of 1 foot:
Maintenance dredging of the Maryland channels is expected to begin in late spring, with an estimated completion date of fall 2023. Cashman Dredging & Marine Contracting Co. will notify the U.S. Coast Guard 2 weeks before the start of dredging operations to be published in the Local Notice to Mariners.
For more information on the Baltimore Harbor and Channels project for Fiscal Year 2023, go to: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16021coll11/id/541
Senior U.S. Department of State and Department of Defense officials joined Nigeria’s Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao, represented by Air Vice Marshal Nnamdi Nwokoma Ananaba and other Nigerian partners to celebrate the completion of $38 million of improvements to the air base April 27.
The construction of the air base improvements is key to facilitating the operation and maintenance of the A-29 Super Tucano wing, and associated munitions, stationed here. The base improvements were delivered as part of a larger, historic $500 million U.S. foreign military sale to Nigeria, which also included the delivery of 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, precision munitions, and world-class training, including in air-to-ground integration to make airstrikes more accurate and thereby mitigate the risk of civilian harm.
U.S. Chargé d’Affaires for Nigeria David Greene, Director of the U.S. Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation Directorate Brig. Gen. Joel Safranek, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, North Atlantic Division Commander Col. John Lloyd, and other U.S. officials joined Amao and other Nigerian Air Force partners to celebrate the completion of the final phase of the construction program for A-29 Super Tucano support facilities.
“Since my arrival in Nigeria last year, I have closely tracked the progress of the A-29 program and am grateful, today, to celebrate the fruits of U.S.-Nigerian partnership and commitment,” stated Chargé d’Affaires Greene. “Nigeria’s A-29 program is the largest U.S. foreign military sales case to date to a country in Sub-Saharan Africa, an example of Nigeria’s leadership in being, as is the Nigerian Air Force’s motto, ‘willing, able, and ready’ to contribute to security and stability at home and around the region.”
The base improvements were delivered in two main phases, with the first phase completed in summer 2021 to allow for the safe delivery of the first A-29 aircraft, which now play a key role in Nigerian Air Force operations to combat violent extremist organizations, such as ISIS-West Africa and Boko Haram.
Crews are now finishing the second and final phase of air base improvement projects, which include improved base security, munitions storage and maintenance, aircraft hangars and aprons, and training facilities to ensure the continued successful operations of the new fighter wing.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District, which is part of the larger U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, North Atlantic Division, oversaw the construction of these projects, which are key to facilitating the operation and maintenance of the 12 A-29 Super Tucanos and their accompanying munitions.
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proudly supports our international partners like Nigeria by providing unique engineering expertise to bolster security capabilities, strengthen strategic relationships, and contribute to regional security,” Lloyd said. “Here at Kainji Air Base, it has been an absolute privilege to partner with the U.S. Embassy, U.S. Air Force, and the Nigerian Air Force to deliver these support facilities for their new fleet of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft.”
The U.S. Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation Directorate is managing the overall $500 million foreign military sale as part of its larger mission of administering security assistance programs around the world.
“Today is a proud occasion, not only for the country of Nigeria and the Nigerian Air Force, but also for the United States of America, the United States Air Force, and the United States Army,” said Safranek. “These new capabilities will help address the growing security challenges in the region, and counter the significant impact and threats posed to the people of Nigeria. It proves that together, as Partner Nations, and Military Allied Partners, we can accomplish great things which, in the end, make the country of Nigeria and the world a safer place.”
This is the largest U.S. foreign military sales case in sub-Saharan Africa and demonstrates the strong partnership between the United States and Nigeria. The United States is committed to assisting Nigeria in its efforts to create a more peaceful, prosperous nation.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today bade farewell to Maj. Gen. Richard J. (Rich) Heitkamp, USACE deputy commanding general (DCG) and the Army’s deputy chief of engineers, in a ceremony at its Washington headquarters.
Heitkamp has served in his current role since February 2021. He served as the principal advisor to Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon, the Army’s 55th chief of engineers and USACE commanding general, on issues related to the Army’s Engineer Regiment and to USACE, an organization with more than 38,000 civilian employees and 800 military personnel.
Heitkamp departs USACE for his new position as commandant of the InterAmerican Defense College at Fort McNair, Virginia.
“When I needed to fill the position of deputy commanding general a little over two years ago, I immediately turned to Maj. Gen. Rich Heitkamp and he stepped up without hesitation,” said Spellmon. “I have relied on his counsel, experience, judgement and tenacity to help guide USACE through some challenging times, and those qualities will ensure Rich’s success as the commandant at the InterAmerican Defense College.”
“The opportunity to serve as the USACE deputy commanding general for the past two years was not something I expected when I began my USACE journey in 2020,” said Heitkamp. “Serving as the DCG and as the Army’s deputy chief of engineers has been THE honor and privilege of my career.
“My time with USACE has been incredibly rewarding professionally and personally,” continued Heitkamp. “I hope that I will be remembered for making positive contributions during my time here to the critically important missions that we execute for the nation both here and abroad.”
Prior to becoming the deputy commanding general, Heitkamp served as the USACE national program manager for the Southwest Border Infrastructure Program where he was responsible for developing strategy, planning, and policy guidance for the program to secure the nation's borders.
USACE has a widespread presence across the nation and internationally, providing technical and construction expertise to more than 110 countries. Missions span a broad spectrum including: development and management of the nation’s water resources; support of commercial navigation; restoration, protection and management of aquatic ecosystems; flood risk management; disaster response; military construction; international and interagency services; project management and construction support to more than 250 Army and Air Force installations; environmental cleanup; real estate; research and development; and more.
