Quick answer
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' October 6, 2026 abstract for Sandbridge Beach solicitation W9123626BA011 lists three evaluated offers: Weeks Marine at $33,465,800, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock at $35,722,700, and Manson Construction at $43,984,595. The government's estimate was $38,195,492. These are bids, not a confirmed award, final taxpayer expenditure, construction start, or realized savings.
The story
A new federal procurement record offers a more concrete price picture for the next Sandbridge Beach erosion and hurricane protection project in Virginia Beach. An October 6 bid abstract for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers solicitation W9123626BA011 lists three construction offers, including a lowest evaluated bid of $33,465,800 from Weeks Marine. [1][2]
That is a bid, not an announced contract award. The distinction matters when residents, public officials, and news reports describe what the federal government has committed to spend.
WHAT THE RECORD SHOWS
The Corps' Sandbridge Beach Erosion and Hurricane Protection Beach Renourishment Project was advertised as a sealed-bid construction procurement. Its bid abstract, dated October 6, lists a government estimate of $38,195,492 and three total evaluated offers: [1][2]
Weeks Marine: $33,465,800. [2]
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock: $35,722,700. [2]
Manson Construction: $43,984,595. [2]
The lowest listed offer is approximately $4.73 million below the government estimate. These figures are total evaluated prices covering the contract line items in the abstract; they should not be described as final taxpayer expenditures or as evidence that construction has begun. [2]
The record indicates a bid opening on October 5 and an October 6 publication of the abstract. The procurement includes dredging and beach-fill work, mobilization, and provisions related to sea turtles. The solicitation describes a project performance period of approximately 365 days after a notice to proceed. [1][2][3]
WHAT THE NUMBERS DO NOT ESTABLISH
A bid abstract is a snapshot of offers submitted, not proof of an award. Federal contracting officials still must complete the applicable procurement process. A final contract amount, the awardee, a notice-to-proceed date, and actual expenditures require subsequent records.
The project's earlier planning documents projected substantial beach nourishment work, but forecasts of dredging quantity and schedule should not be treated as completed activity. The Corps' solicitation and amendments are the relevant records for the current procurement. [4]
WHY IT MATTERS LOCALLY
Sandbridge's oceanfront faces recurring erosion and storm exposure. Beach renourishment is a public infrastructure intervention intended to sustain protective beach width and reduce coastal storm risk. The newly published bids help residents understand the scale of the proposed work and provide a baseline for tracking the eventual award.
A bid lower than the government estimate does not, by itself, establish savings. Scope, options, final award terms, modifications, and completion costs can affect the ultimate comparison.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
The key next documents are the contract award notice, the final obligated amount, the notice to proceed, any construction schedule, and subsequent modifications. Those records can answer whether the lowest bidder won, when work is expected to occur, and how final costs compare with the initial estimate.
DOCUMENTED FACTS VS. ANALYSIS
Documented: The October 6 bid abstract lists three offers and a government estimate for solicitation W9123626BA011. [1][2]
Analysis: The difference between the lowest bid and estimate is useful context, but it is not yet realized budget savings.
Not established by these records: A completed award, construction start, or final project cost.
Sources
- Sandbridge Beach Erosion and Hurricane Protection Beach Renourishment Project, W9123626BA011 — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / SAM.gov. The official contract opportunity identifies the project, solicitation number, USACE Norfolk District, Sandbridge Beach location, offer deadline, and procurement history.
- Signed Abstract of Offers, W9123626BA011 (PDF available on mirror) — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District (document mirrored by Sweetspot). Directly inspected signed four-page federal abstract: October 5 opening, October 6 signature, estimate $38,195,492 and three evaluated offers. The host’s AI summary is not the primary evidence.
- W9123626BA011 solicitation history and abstract listing — SAM Clerk. Third-party SAM.gov procurement history and attachment listing; not an original federal agency analysis.
- FY25+ Workload Forecast, September 2025 — Norfolk District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The district forecast lists Sandbridge Beach Nourishment as a stand-alone construction project with an estimated price range of $25 million to $50 million and anticipated solicitation in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026.