Deadlines soon: Dredging (USACE), DOE land-lease for AI/energy (paused), NIST RFQ instrument, and two Navy reverse industry day updates

Executive takeaway

If you need something you can actually bid near-term, the strongest “real solicitation” signal in this set is Big Suamico Harbor Dredging (USACE Chicago District): total small business set-aside, defined dredge quantities, and an estimated price range of $1M–$5M.

The Laser-Powered Electric Field Probe notice from NIST is also actionable, but it’s attachment-driven (instructions/evaluation/specs are in the RFQ attachments). The DOE Oak Ridge AI/energy land-use RFP is explicitly noted as temporarily paused, so treat it as strategic monitoring rather than a sprint bid.

What the buyer is trying to do

USACE: dredge Big Suamico Harbor (WI)

The Corps intends to dredge Big Suamico Harbor in Suamico, Wisconsin, completing both base and option work in a single dredge season. The harbor target depth is minus 8 LWD with an allowable 2-foot over-dredge tolerance.

NIST: buy a laser-powered electric field probe

NIST is seeking quotes for a laser-powered electric field probe. The notice points vendors to attachments for the RFQ instructions, evaluation criteria, and requirements/specifications.

DOE: lease DOE land for AI data center and/or energy generation (paused)

DOE is soliciting proposals for long-term lease agreement(s) on real property at Oak Ridge, TN for entities to design, finance, permit, develop, construct, install, own, maintain, operate, and decommission AI data center and/or energy generation infrastructure. However, DOE states it has temporarily paused all current AI and Energy land use solicitations pending a department review.

NAVSEA: NextGen Submarine Rescue Reverse Industry Day (updates)

Two postings appear to be updates to the same Reverse Industry Day effort (one explicitly mentions uploading slides for reference). These are typically pre-solicitation engagement signals rather than a proposal submission event—verify what (if anything) is being requested by the deadline.

VA (Marion, IN): two A/E design projects (later deadlines)

Two VA notices (SDVOSBC set-asides, NAICS 541330) are for 100% design A/E services: one to replace/add security cameras; another to upgrade a steam distribution loop (including CIH services described in the snippet). They are not the “soonest” deadlines in this batch, but they may matter for A/E firms building a VA pipeline.

What work is implied (bullets)

• Harbor dredging execution: mobilize dredging plant, dredge up to 20,000 CY base with an option for an additional 20,000 CY; complete base + options within one dredge season; control to minus 8 LWD with 2-foot over-dredge tolerance (verify disposal/placement requirements in attachments).
• Instrument supply (NIST RFQ): provide a laser-powered electric field probe meeting the requirements/specifications (verify full specs, delivery, and acceptance criteria in attachments).
• Land lease development concept (DOE): propose a lease-based approach to develop and operate AI data center and/or energy generation infrastructure on DOE sites (design/finance/permit/build/operate/decommission)—but track the pause status and any revised instructions.
• Industry day participation (NAVSEA): review posted materials/slides and determine if registration, written responses, or capability submissions are requested by the stated date (verify in posting/attachments).
• VA A/E design (security cameras): 100% design including schematic design, design development, construction/bid documents, construction administration, technical specs, and cost estimates; camera compatibility with existing electronic security system; power/network upgrade design; identify IT/electrical closets; detail each camera location; provide construction duration planning info.
• VA A/E design (steam loop): 100% design for steam distribution loop/condensate return upgrades including demolition/abatement and new piping/manholes/valves/insulation/supports; phasing to maintain building temperatures; CIH services (background sampling, continuous monitoring, unannounced compliance visits, and support as described).

Who should bid / who should pass (bullets)

• Bid (strong fit): small businesses with dredging capability aligned to harbor work and schedule discipline (USACE dredging is explicitly a total small business set-aside).
• Bid (if you can comply via attachments): manufacturers/resellers able to quote an electric field probe exactly to NIST’s requirements and document compliance per RFQ instructions (verify in attachments).
• Bid (pipeline play): SDVOSBC A/E firms under NAICS 541330 with VA healthcare campus experience in security systems design or steam/utility infrastructure design (plus CIH capability for the steam loop effort).
• Pass / monitor: firms that cannot execute dredging within one season or cannot control depth/tolerances; firms that cannot meet NIST’s attachment-driven technical specs; and anyone treating the paused DOE RFP as “award-imminent” rather than a monitor-and-prepare item.
• Pass / treat as engagement: teams looking for a traditional proposal submission on the NAVSEA Reverse Industry Day postings—unless the posting/attachments explicitly request a deliverable by the deadline.

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

• USACE dredging: pricing for base and option quantities; technical approach for meeting minus 8 LWD depth with 2-foot over-dredge tolerance; schedule confirming completion in one dredge season; subcontract plan if applicable (verify all required forms, representations, and submittals in attachments/solicitation).
• NIST RFQ: completed quote per Att.1 - Request for Quote including instructions and evaluation criteria (verify in attachments); technical compliance narrative mapped to Att.2 - Requirements/Specifications (verify in attachments).
• DOE lease RFP: proposal elements and required formats (verify in attachments); confirm pause impacts, allowable submission timing, and whether questions/submissions are being accepted during the pause.
• NAVSEA Reverse Industry Day: confirm whether any written responses, capability statements, or registrations are required by the deadline (verify in posting/attachments; one notice references slides uploaded for reference).
• VA A/E (both): A/E qualifications and approach for 100% design + construction administration; relevant design samples; SDVOSBC eligibility documentation; and any VA-specific submission instructions (verify in attachments).

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

USACE dredging provides an estimated price range of $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 and identifies the dredge quantities (base up to 20,000 CY plus option up to 20,000 CY). Use that to sanity-check production assumptions and risk allowances. Practical research steps:

• Benchmark unit costs and production rates using your own historical jobs with similar dredge depths, volumes, and season constraints; align your schedule to “one dredge season” as stated.
• Scrutinize the solicitation package for disposal/placement, environmental controls, and survey/QA requirements that can swing cost (verify in attachments).
• Structure pricing so base work is competitive while option work is executable without relying on overly optimistic mobilization assumptions.

NIST RFQ is likely to reward strict compliance. Strategy should prioritize meeting specs exactly and presenting clean traceability from requirements to your offered item (model/config/accessories), with any deviations clearly identified (if allowed—verify in attachments).

DOE land lease (paused): since DOE states it has paused these solicitations, avoid heavy bid-cost spend until the review outcome is clear. Use the time to prepare your development/financing narrative and confirm internal appetite for long-term ownership/operations obligations described in the notice.

Subcontracting / teaming ideas (bullets)

• USACE dredging: line up local marine support and survey/QA resources early so your schedule can credibly meet the “one dredge season” constraint (verify any required specialty support in attachments).
• NIST RFQ: if you’re a reseller, team with the OEM to lock in configuration control and documentation that matches the requirements/specs (verify in attachments).
• VA steam loop A/E: partner A/E + CIH services (the snippet specifies CIH tasks) if CIH is not in-house.
• VA security camera A/E: coordinate with low-voltage/security design specialists familiar with IP-addressable, AC-powered camera systems and integration into an existing electronic security system.
• DOE lease: consider teaming between infrastructure developers, energy generation developers, and data center operators aligned to “design/finance/permit/build/operate/decommission” responsibilities described (monitor pause status first).

Risks & watch-outs (bullets)

• USACE dredging: base + options in one season tightens schedule risk; ensure your production plan is realistic and accounts for depth/tolerance requirements; confirm any disposal/placement constraints in the full solicitation (verify in attachments).
• NIST RFQ: attachment-driven requirements mean avoid assumptions—missing a single required document or spec can sink an otherwise strong quote (verify in attachments).
• DOE lease: the notice explicitly states DOE has temporarily paused these solicitations; timeline and submission rules may change.
• NAVSEA postings: “Reverse Industry Day” and “slides for reference” language suggests informational engagement—do not invest proposal-level effort unless the posting requires a deliverable by the deadline (verify in posting/attachments).
• VA A/E projects: both are 100% design with cost estimates and construction administration; ensure your team can support full design deliverables and site coordination described in the snippet (verify VA submission instructions in attachments).

Related opportunities

• W912P626BA018 BIG SUAMICO HARBOR DREDGING
• Laser-Powered Electric Field Probe (NIST)
• AI Infrastructure and Energy Generation Lease on DOE Land (Oak Ridge) (paused)
• NextGen Submarine Rescue Reverse Industry Day (Updated 26 January 2026)
• NextGen Submarine Rescue Reverse Industry Day (Updated 13 January 2026)
• VA A/E: Replace Security Cameras (Marion Campus)
• VA A/E: Upgrade Steam Distribution Loop (Marion Campus)

How to act on this

1. Pick one target: USACE dredging (execution bid), NIST RFQ (spec-compliant quote), or monitor DOE/NAVSEA as strategic items.
2. Download and read the attachments first where required (NIST RFQ; DOE RFP details; USACE solicitation package—verify in attachments).
3. Build a compliance matrix from the solicitation instructions and map your response documents to each requirement (especially for NIST).
4. Decide on teaming early (CIH for VA steam loop; OEM alignment for NIST; marine support for dredging).

If you want a second set of eyes before you commit bid dollars, Federal Bid Partners LLC can help you triage fit, build a compliance checklist, and structure a response plan around what the solicitation actually asks for.