2018

VINTON, La., October 23, 2018 — Port of Vinton officials announced this week that dredging operations near the mouth of the Vinton Navigation Channel has been completed.

Magnolia Dredging of Mandeville, La., was the contractor on the $1.098 million maintenance dredging project that removed more than 21,400 cubic yards of spoils over a 24-week period. The southernmost portion of the channel where it enters into the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway was returned to an elevation of minus-10.5 feet, and the spoils were relocated onto nearby private open-water areas to create new marshlands in an environmentally beneficial use manner.

“It has been more than seven years since any maintenance dredge work has been performed on the channel, and in that time, a naturally occurring ‘humping’ of sediment near the mouth of the channel has gradually represented a growing navigation issue on the waterway for shallow water maritime vessels and barges,” said Jerry Merchant, president of the Port of Vinton board of commissioners.

“During the deepening of approximately 2,000 linear feet of the channel, the port also took the opportunity to modify the two corners of land bordering the channel where it enters into the GIWW,” he added.  “This is especially important for tugboat operators to make their navigation into the channel from the GIWW an easier task.”

The initial phase of the project focused on preparing the land area that was selected to receive the dredge spoils,” Merchant explained. “We are especially appreciative for the cooperation of the Stream Land Company for partnering with the port in making their property available to receive the dredge spoils.”

Merchant said that the Port of Vinton and its tenants offer a variety of specialized services that accommodate the expansion of our Southwest Louisiana regional economic development.

“High on that list is the 11-year presence of Dunham/Price on 75 acres of port property adjacent to the channel where it has the nation’s largest manufacturing site for steel-reinforced 40-foot concrete pilings as well as other pre-cast concrete materials,” he explained. “We are also home to a division of Performance Blasting & Coating that offers industrial painting and sandblasting services.”

Merchant was very complimentary of the port’s board of commissioners that led the way in applying for Calcasieu Parish funding support through a cooperative endeavor agreement with Gravity Drainage District No. 2.

“Our expansion project would not have been possible without a parish $200,000 Economic Development Riverboat Gaming Fund grant and a parish $500,000 Road and Drainage Trust Fund grant awarded specifically through the drainage district for the dredging project,” he said. “Virtually all of the runoff in the area’s water shed is directed toward the channel as it ends up draining into the GIWW.”

Located just minutes off Interstate 10 south of Vinton, the Port of Vinton has approximately 600 acres of industrial-zoned property for lease.

Vinton Harbor & Terminal District of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, does hereby advertise for sealed bids and will open same on:

1. Tuesday, February 6, 2018.
2. At the Office of the Lancon Engineers, Inc., 905 McKinley Street, Westlake, Louisiana 70669-5005 at the hour of 2:00 p.m. Central Time Zone.
3. For the Vinton Navigation Canal Maintenance Dredging (FY 2018); Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana; LEI Project No. 14-012.
4. Bidding documents, including drawings and technical specifications, are on file at the office of Lancon Engineers, Inc., 905 McKinley Street, Westlake, Louisiana 70669, or by calling 337/439-6333. Complete documents may be obtained from the Project Engineer upon deposit of $95.00 for each set of documents. Deposit is fully refundable for the first set of documents to all bona fide prime* bidders upon return of the documents in good condition no later than ten (10) days after receipt of bids. The deposit of all other set of documents will be refunded fifty percent (50%) upon return of documents as stated above.
   *Prime bidders are defined as licensed Highway, Street and Bridge Construction; and/or Heavy
   Construction; and/or Specialty: Dredging Contractors bidding this job as such.
5. All bids must be accompanied by bid security equal to five percent (5%) of the sum of the base bid and all alternates, and must be in the form of a certified check or cashier’s check drawn on a bank insured by the FDIC, or a Vinton Harbor & Terminal District Bid Bond Form contained in bidding documents, shall be written by a surety or insurance company currently on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Management Service list of approved bonding companies which is published annually in the Federal Register, or by a Louisiana domiciled insurance company with at least an Arating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide to write individual bonds up to ten percent of policyholders’ surplus as shown in the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide or by an insurance company in good standing licensed to write bid bonds which is either domiciled in Louisiana or owned by Louisiana residents, all in accordance with LSAR.S. 38:2218. No Bid Bond indicating an obligation of less than five percent (5%) by any method is acceptable.
6. The successful bidder shall be required to furnish a Performance and Payment Bond in an amount equal to 100% of the Contract amount, shall be written by a surety or insurance company currently on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Management Service list of approved bonding companies which is published annually in the Federal Register, or by a Louisiana domiciled insurance company with at least an A- rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best’s Key Rating
   Guide to write individual bonds up to ten percent of policyholders’ surplus as shown in the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide or by an insurance company in good standing licensed to write bid bondswhich is either domiciled in Louisiana or owned by Louisiana residents, all in accordance with LSAR.S. 38:2219.
7. Bids shall be accepted only from contractors who are licensed under LSAR.S. 37:2150-2163 for the classification of “Highway, Street and Bridge Construction; and/or Heavy Construction; and/or Specialty: Dredging Contractors.” No bid may be withdrawn for a period of forty-five (45) days after receipt of bids, except under the provisions of LSAR.S. 38:2214.
8. The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause as permitted by LA R.S. 38:2214B. The ability of an Entity to reject any bid is applicable only when administered in accordance with the Public Bid Law. In accordance with LSAR.S. 38:2212B (1), the provisions and requirements of this Section, and those stated in the bidding documents shall not be waived by any entity.
9. The public shall incur no obligation to the Contractor until the Contract between Vinton Harbor & Terminal District and the Contractor is fully executed.
10. A Non-Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held on Tuesday, January 30, 2018, and 2:00 p.m. at the office of Lancon Engineers, Inc., 905 McKinley Street, Westlake, Louisiana 70669-5005.
11. Official action on this bid will be taken within forty-five (45) days by Vinton Harbor & Terminal District, except as may be extended by mutual written consent with the lowest responsible bidder.
12. Minority owned firms and small businesses are encouraged to participate.
13. All bids must be plainly marked and should contain the following on the outside of the envelope: BID FOR “Vinton Navigation Canal Maintenance Dredging (FY 2018); Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana; LEI Project No. 14-012”.

Jerry Merchant, President
Vinton Harbor & Terminal District