Ensuring deep-water commercial navigation along vital inland waterways in the Mid-South region, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. LLC(opens in new tab) has been awarded a $12,275,250 contract modification (P00007). The civil works action expands ongoing long-term capability station dredging along the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS), bringing the total cumulative face value of the contract vehicle to $59,134,410.
Contract Details: At A Glance
| Contractor: | Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. LLC(opens in new tab) |
| Award Date: | August 19, 2026 |
| Modification Value: | $12,275,250 ($59,134,410 Cumulative Value) |
| Project: | MKARNS Long-Term Capability Station Dredging |
| Location: | Various locations along the MKARNS (Arkansas & Oklahoma) |
| Contract Number: | W9127S-22-D-0026 (Modification P00007) |
| Awarding District: | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District |
District Context & Mission Impact
This major inland navigation maintenance action is administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District. The Little Rock District oversees civil works operations, flood damage reduction projects, and inland waterway navigation throughout the Arkansas River Basin. The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS) spans 445 miles from the Mississippi River to near Tulsa, Oklahoma, serving as a critical commercial shipping corridor for grain, fertilizer, petroleum, steel, and heavy industrial cargo. Natural river currents and high-flow river events continually wash heavy sediment into authorized navigation channels, creating underwater shoals that can grounding commercial barge traffic. Sustaining long-term station dredging capabilities ensures USACE maintenance crews can rapidly clear shoal material, maintaining the 9-foot navigation channel draft and protecting regional agricultural and industrial freight mobility through 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, operating a major fleet of hydraulic cutterhead suction, trailing suction hopper, and specialty pipeline dredges. Bids were originally solicited via the internet with two competitive proposals received. Executing station dredging along active inland navigation rivers requires specialized cutterhead pipeline dredges, booster pumping stations, and precise placement site management to avoid impeding commercial towboat traffic. Exercising contract modifications for long-term dredging capacity provides USACE contracting officers with reliable, immediate response resources to keep high-value inland trade arteries open to commerce.
