Protecting coastal infrastructure, restoring beach berm profile dimensions, and enhancing storm damage reduction along the Delmarva Peninsula, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. LLC has been awarded a $25,771,862 firm-fixed-price contract. The coastal storm risk management project finances the reconstruction of the Atlantic Coast of Maryland beach berm and dune system at Ocean City, Maryland, reaching a total cumulative face value of $29,130,326 if options are exercised.
Contract Details: At A Glance
| Contractor: | Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. LLC |
| Award Date: | September 28, 2026 |
| Contract Value: | $25,771,862 ($29,130,326 Cumulative Face Value) |
| Project: | Atlantic Coast of Maryland Beach Berm & Coastal Protection Reconstruction |
| Location: | Ocean City, Maryland |
| Contract Number: | W912DR-26-C-A018 |
| Awarding District: | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District |
District Context & Mission Impact
This major coastal storm risk management initiative is administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District. The Baltimore District oversees water resources development, navigation channels, and hurricane protection projects across the Chesapeake Bay basin and Atlantic coastline. Ocean City represents a vital coastal resort economy and critical barrier island system exposed to severe Atlantic nor’easters and tropical storms. The Atlantic Coast of Maryland project utilizes periodic beach nourishment to pump millions of cubic yards of offshore sand onto eroded beaches, elevating berm height and rebuilding protective sand dunes. Restoring these natural buffer systems mitigates wave energy, reduces coastal flooding, and protects millions of dollars in public boardwalks and private real estate through summer 2027.
Contractor Spotlight & Industry Context
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. LLC is the largest provider of dredging services in the United States, specializing in beach nourishment, harbor deepening, coastal restoration, and marine construction. Bids were solicited via the internet with three competitive proposals received. Executing large-scale beach nourishment requires deploying large trailing suction hopper dredges or hydraulic pipeline dredges to excavate sand from designated offshore borrow areas, transport it nearshore, and pump it through submerged steel pipelines onto the beach face where heavy earthmoving equipment shapes the sand to precise engineering grades. Partnering experienced dredging contractors with USACE coastal engineers protects vulnerable Atlantic communities against severe weather events.
