The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Latin America & Caribbean District hosted a two‑day Industry Outreach Event on July 28–29, 2026, to brief construction industry representatives and Federal and Commonwealth partners on the upcoming Guajataca Dam Permanent Repair Project in Puerto Rico.
The event, held in San Juan and at the Guajataca Dam site, was designed to share project information, outline anticipated contract opportunities, and gather industry feedback ahead of future solicitations.
Headquartered in Puerto Rico, the district integrates missions across Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 33 nations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The outreach event supports the district’s commitment to early industry engagement for major civil works and infrastructure projects across the region.
Day 1: Presentations and Technical Discussions
The first day of the event took place at the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC) in San Juan. Representatives from PREPA, FEMA, USACE, and numerous interested contractors – including potential prime contractors, subcontractors, and joint venture partners – attended the session.
District engineers, project managers and contracting officials provided a detailed overview of the project’s complex engineering challenges and acquisition approach. Presenters outlined two major upcoming contract actions:
- Early Work Effort: Relocations, administrative facility demolition and relocation, traffic maintenance plan development, construction of a left abutment water supply siphon system, and associated roadway and utility impacts. All work affecting public roads or utilities w comply with Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority Standard Specifications.
- Permanent Repair Contract: Repairs to critical dam features to address project risks relating to embankment material migration into karst features, transverse cracking from seismic loading, cyclic softening of the puddle core, crest lowering and overtopping vulnerabilities, concentrated leak erosion, grouted riprap chute damage, and spillway‑related embankment scour. USACE highlighted the need for firms with expertise in grouting, deep soil mixing, cutoff wall installation, construction in karst conditions, concrete spillway construction, embankment filter construction, and mass earthwork.
Attendees were encouraged to submit questions through ProjNet to help refine future solicitation documents and ensure clarity on technical requirements.
Day 2: Site Visit to Guajataca Dam
On the second day, participants traveled to the Guajataca Dam site for a field walk‑through of the project area. The site visit allowed contractors to observe existing conditions, understand access constraints, and assess the scale of the upcoming work.
USACE engineers and project managers discussed the dam’s structural challenges, recent assessments, and the logistical considerations associated with executing large‑scale repairs in a remote, topographically complex environment.
Purpose and Impact
The outreach event served as a critical step in reducing acquisition risk and accelerating the project timeline for this major water infrastructure effort. By engaging industry early, USACE ensures that forthcoming solicitations are:
- Highly competitive
- Technically feasible
- Accurately priced
- Informed by contractor expertise and market conditions
Engaging qualified firms early for the permanent repair project directly supports long‑term dam safety, flood risk management, and water security for communities that rely on the Guajataca Dam.
Next Steps
USACE will continue refining acquisition documents based on feedback received during the event. Formal solicitations for the Early Work Effort and Permanent Repair Contract will be posted on SAM.gov once finalized.
For more information, visit the full announcement on Sam.gov @
https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/9b4f0eb9b48f43f8aa21c3b6676f4ad7/view