Award Watch: USACE Caribbean A-E Survey & Mapping IDIQ + quick-turn DLA/Air Force/USCG buys

Executive takeaway

The most strategic item in this watchlist is the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Caribbean District Industry Day announcement for a planned A‑E Indefinite‑Delivery, Indefinite‑Quantity (IDIQ) contract covering topographic and inland hydrographic surveying and mapping in Puerto Rico and the Antilles. This is early market research—no award will be made from responses—so the near-term goal is positioning: register, shape the acquisition approach, and decide whether to pursue prime or subcontract roles.

In parallel, several DLA Maritime notices are straightforward RFQ-style buys with electronic quote submission and “specs not available” language in the synopsis; these tend to reward bidders who already know the NSN and the approved-source landscape.

What the buyer is trying to do

USACE Caribbean District planned A‑E IDIQ (surveying & mapping)

USACE’s Caribbean District is planning recurring surveying and mapping support to enable civil works project planning, engineering design, construction, operations, and maintenance. The stated geography is within the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Antilles. The vehicle is anticipated as an A‑E IDIQ with a one-year base and options extending the total ordering period up to five years, with a maximum order limit anticipated for the life of the contract.

The Government is using responses to this announcement to inform the acquisition strategy, and is also organizing an Industry Day (with optional “one-on-one” sessions) for interested firms.

What work is implied (bullets)

• Topographic surveying
• Property/boundary surveys
• Geodetic control surveys
• Construction surveys
• Inland hydrographic surveying
• Surveying/mapping deliverables that support planning, engineering design, construction, operations, and maintenance for civil works projects
• Participation in Industry Day logistics and optional one-on-one capability discussions (if you elect to attend)

Who should bid / who should pass (bullets)

• Should bid (as prime or sub): Firms with demonstrated A‑E surveying capability covering both topographic and inland hydrographic scopes, and the ability to execute within Puerto Rico and the Antilles.
• Should bid: Teams that can cover boundary/property, geodetic control, and construction survey work under one umbrella (or with a clean teaming model).
• Should pass (or stay sub-only): Firms that cannot support work in the stated geography or cannot credibly cover hydrographic surveying alongside land surveying.
• Should pass: Firms that are not prepared to operate under an IDIQ task-order environment for multi-year ordering (base plus options), or cannot resource variable demand.

Response package checklist (bullets; if unknown say “verify in attachments”)

• Industry Day registration email content requested by the notice (firm name; participant names/titles; contact info; business type/small business category (if any); UEI; prime vs subcontractor intent; request for one-on-one session if desired).
• A concise capability statement aligned to the described work (topographic, boundary/property, geodetic control, construction, inland hydrographic).
• Any additional response instructions and formatting requirements: verify in attachments (the synopsis indicates this is market research/Industry Day driven, not a full solicitation).

Pricing & strategy notes (how to research pricing; do not invent pricing numbers)

Because the USACE item is an Industry Day / market research step (not a solicitation), the “pricing” move right now is to help the Government understand realistic task-order economics and capacity—not to force numbers into a vacuum.

• Use the Industry Day and any one-on-one session to discuss what drives cost and schedule in this geography (mobilization, site access, control networks, hydrographic equipment needs, and task-order turnaround expectations), without over-committing.
• Prepare internal “should-cost” ranges by work type (topo vs boundary vs geodetic control vs construction vs inland hydrographic) using your historic job data; then decide what levers you can offer (bundled field crews, multi-discipline crews, standby capacity) if the Government is weighing acquisition strategy.
• For RFQ-style DLA items in this watchlist, price research typically starts with your supply chain reality and any approved-source constraints stated in the synopsis; where “specifications, plans, or drawings are not available,” your quoting accuracy depends on prior NSN experience and confirmed part/source compliance.

Subcontracting / teaming ideas (bullets)

• Pair a land surveying prime with a specialist inland hydrographic surveying firm if you do not routinely self-perform hydrographic scope.
• Consider teaming that covers the full stack: boundary/property + geodetic control + construction surveying + hydrographic, so USACE can issue task orders without multi-award coordination risk.
• If you are strong locally but thin on hydrographic gear/experience, position as a subcontractor focused on property/boundary, control, or construction surveys while a partner covers hydrographic tasks.

Risks & watch-outs (bullets)

• Not a solicitation: The USACE notice states responses are for acquisition strategy planning; no contract will be awarded based on responses, and no reimbursement will be made for response costs.
• Geographic execution risk: The work is tied to Puerto Rico and the Antilles; ensure you can support fielding, travel/logistics, and sustained performance before signaling prime intent.
• IDIQ reality: Even with a stated maximum order limit anticipated over the life of the contract, task-order volume and timing can vary—avoid staffing assumptions that require guaranteed flow.
• For DLA RFQs in this watchlist: Synopses state specifications/drawings are not available and identify approved sources; if you cannot meet source/part constraints, you may be noncompetitive regardless of price.
• Fast deadlines: Several items here have near-term cutoffs; only pursue if you can obtain the solicitation promptly and submit electronically on time.

Related opportunities

• INDUSTRY DAY ANNOUNCEMENT: IDIQ for A‑E Services for Topographic and Hydrographic Surveying and Mapping (USACE Caribbean District)
• 48--VALVE,SAFETY RELIEF (DLA Maritime RFQ)
• 48--COVER PLATE,VALVE (DLA Maritime RFQ)
• 59--SWITCH,FLOW (DLA Maritime RFQ)
• Read-Out Support Equipment (ROSE)
• Inspection certification testing repairs and replenishment for Viking life raft
• CCA,ANALOG MULTIPL

How to act on this

1. Open the USACE Industry Day notice and register exactly as requested (including whether you want a one-on-one session and whether you plan to prime or subcontract).
2. Draft a one-page capability snapshot mapped to the five survey types stated in the notice and your ability to operate within Puerto Rico and the Antilles.
3. For any RFQ items you may pursue, pull the solicitation from the notice link promptly and confirm approved-source/part constraints before spending time on pricing.
4. If you want help deciding prime vs sub positioning or building a compliant response package, contact Federal Bid Partners LLC for capture and proposal support.

Author: Riley Chen, Compliance & Bid Advisor