Safeguarding commercial navigation channels and supporting critical waterborne commerce in the Pacific Northwest, HME Construction Inc. has been awarded an $11,502,000 firm-fixed-price contract. The civil works award finances clamshell maintenance dredging along with integrated hydrographic and land survey operations, reaching an overall cumulative face value of $12,999,900.
Contract Details: At A Glance
| Contractor: | HME Construction Inc. |
| Award Date: | July 28, 2026 |
| Contract Value: | $11,502,000 ($12,999,900 Cumulative Face Value) |
| Project: | Clamshell Maintenance Dredging and Hydrographic/Land Survey Work |
| Location: | Portland, Oregon |
| Contract Number: | W9127N-26-C-A028 |
| Awarding District: | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District |
District Context & Mission Impact
This regional navigation project is administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Portland District. The Portland District manages vital water resource infrastructure throughout the Columbia River Basin, maintaining hundreds of miles of deep-draft and shallow-draft shipping channels. The Columbia-Snake river system serves as a dominant trade corridor for agricultural exports, timber, and bulk commodities. Mechanical clamshell dredging operations are vital for excavating concentrated sediment shoals near berth structures, docks, and tight navigation channels where hydraulic pipeline dredges cannot easily maneuver. Coupling physical sediment excavation with continuous hydrographic survey modeling allows the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to precisely track channel depths, prevent vessel groundings, and maintain uninterrupted commercial river transit.
Contractor Spotlight & Industry Context
Based nearby in Vancouver, Washington, HME Construction Inc. is a seasoned marine contractor specializing in mechanical dredging, pile driving, and heavy waterfront civil construction across the Pacific Northwest. Bids were solicited via the internet with one proposal received. Clamshell dredging requires specialized heavy crane barges equipped with high-capacity environmental buckets to scoop underwater sediments cleanly while minimizing turbidity. Integrating pre- and post-dredge hydrographic surveying ensures compliance with rigid environmental permits and precise contract pay-quantities. Local commercial partnerships like this emphasize the critical reliance on expert regional marine fleets to keep essential inland waterways open for national and global commerce.
