RFI Vinyl Paint Spec - LLA Discharge Ring and Cavitation Repair
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Walla Walla District, has issued a Special Notice (RFI) to identify alternative protective coating materials for the Little Goose Turbine Discharge Ring Upgrade and Blade Cavitation Repair project in Starbuck, WA. This RFI aims to justify a brand-name restriction for specialized vinyl paint specifications. Responses are due May 14, 2026.
Scope of Work
This project involves applying a specialized protective coating at the transition zone between new stainless-steel overlay and existing mild steel to prevent galvanic corrosion. The environment is characterized by extreme hydrodynamic pressure and impacted-immersion. The Government intends to specify proprietary constituent materials (e.g., Titanium Dioxide, Suspending Agents, Vinyl Resins, Silanes from manufacturers like Kronos, Elementis Specialties, Wacker Chemie AG, Momentive Performance Materials, and Dow Corning) as mandated by UFGS 09 97 02, Painting: Hydraulic Structures.
USACE is seeking information from sources that can provide alternative constituent materials or coating systems capable of meeting the rigorous impacted-immersion service life and adhesion requirements. Alternatives must demonstrate a 20+ year service life without adhesion failures, blistering, or galvanic corrosion, and without requiring additional Government-funded research and development or batch-level quality control testing.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Special Notice (Request for Information - RFI)
- NAICS: 237990 Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction ($45 million size standard)
- Set-Aside: None specified (this is an RFI for brand-name justification)
- Response Due: May 14, 2026, by 10:00 AM Local Time
- Published: April 29, 2026
- Anticipated Construction Solicitation: November 2026
Evaluation
Interested parties must submit a statement of capability with clear and convincing evidence. This evidence should include independent laboratory testing and historical performance data on USACE navigable waterway structures, demonstrating that proposed alternative materials meet the specified service life and performance criteria.
Additional Notes
This notice is for information purposes only and is not a request for competitive proposals or bids. A determination by the Government not to compete this specific material requirement is solely at their discretion. If no affirmative written responses demonstrating capability are received, a solicitation including the brand-name constituent material requirements will be issued. Electronic responses should be sent to chandra.d.crow@usace.army.mil. Oral communications are not acceptable.