Maintaining safe, navigable waterways and supporting vital military and commercial maritime transport across Mid-Atlantic shipping channels, Cottrell Contracting Corp.(opens in new tab) has been awarded a $75,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. The multi-year award finances recurring maintenance dredging services across federal navigation projects managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District.
Contract Details: At A Glance
| Contractor: | Cottrell Contracting Corp.(opens in new tab) |
| Award Date: | August 12, 2026 |
| Contract Value: | $75,000,000 (Maximum Shared Capacity) |
| Project: | Norfolk District Maintenance Dredging Services IDIQ |
| Location: | Various locations across the Norfolk District area of operations |
| Contract Number: | W91236-26-D-A013 |
| Awarding District: | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District |
District Context & Mission Impact
This major long-term dredging contract is administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District. The Norfolk District manages critical federal shipping channels throughout Virginia, including the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Hampton Roads maritime channels, and strategic riverine routes supporting Naval Station Norfolk and regional commercial ports. Continuous tidal movement, littoral drift, and riverine siltation cause recurring underwater shoaling, which restricts vessel drafts and threatens safe transit for defense vessels, commercial barges, and cargo ships. Establishing this $75 million IDIQ contracting capacity equips the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with immediate, flexible task order deployment to maintain authorized channel depths, execute environmental material placement, and safeguard vital supply lines through 2031.
Contractor Spotlight & Industry Context
Headquartered in Chesapeake, Virginia, Cottrell Contracting Corp. is an experienced small business marine contractor specializing in hydraulic pipeline dredging, channel maintenance, and coastal restoration throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Bids were solicited via the internet with two proposals received. Executing hydraulic cutterhead pipeline dredging requires specialized shallow and medium-draft vessels, high-pressure pipeline delivery systems, precise hydrographic bathymetry, and strict environmental compliance for dredged material placement sites. Long-term regional IDIQ agreements ensure federal agency project managers can rapidly respond to emergency shoaling while supporting small business participation in defense and civil infrastructure maintenance.
