Protecting vulnerable coastal barrier islands, mitigating wave erosion, and advancing ecosystem restoration along the Mississippi Sound, Kesser International Inc. has been awarded a $15,533,425 firm-fixed-price contract. The civil works coastal restoration award finances the initial phase of restoring Deer Island near Biloxi, Mississippi, through the extension of the Katrina Key rock breakwater structure.
Contract Details: At A Glance
| Contractor: | Kesser International Inc. |
| Award Date: | September 21, 2026 |
| Contract Value: | $15,533,425 |
| Project: | Deer Island Restoration Phase I: Katrina Key Rock Breakwater Extension |
| Location: | Biloxi, Mississippi (Deer Island) |
| Contract Number: | W91278-26-C-A019 |
| Awarding District: | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District |
District Context & Mission Impact
This long-awaited coastal protection project is administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District under Civil Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies programs. The Mobile District manages major coastal storm risk management, ecosystem restoration, and navigation channels across Mississippi, Alabama, and Northwest Florida. Deer Island acts as a critical natural barrier shielding the mainland Biloxi shoreline from Gulf storm surge and high-energy wave action. Decades of storm events, hurricane impacts, and continuous wave action have caused severe shoreline erosion. Extending the Katrina Key heavy stone breakwater dampens wave energy, captures accreted sediment, protects marsh habitats, and helps return the island toward its historical footprint through 2027.
Contractor Spotlight & Industry Context
Headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas, Kesser International Inc. is an established small business general contractor specializing in heavy civil construction, marine structures, earthen levees, breakwaters, and environmental restoration projects for federal agencies. Bids were solicited via the internet with six competitive proposals received. Constructing offshore rubble-mound breakwaters requires marine derrick barges, precise placement of heavy marine armor stone and bedding stone, geotextile foundation placement, hydrographic surveying, and navigating shallow-water tidal logistics. Partnering experienced heavy civil marine contractors with USACE coastal engineers ensures resilient shoreline protection for Gulf Coast ecosystems.
