Latest Bids for Ocean County Beach Replenishment ‘Under Review’ by Feds

Beach replenishment in South Seaside Park, N.J., Jan. 29, 2019. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

The federal agency in charge of a long-awaited beach replenishment project on Ocean County’s northern barrier island has successfully closed its bidding process for the work, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers told Shorebeat.

The project has been delayed for over two years as the bidding process has played out amidst rising costs for the work, as local municipal governments – most prominently Toms River – have shelled out hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair beaches and dune crossovers that have been washed away by storms.

Stephen Rochette, spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District, said the latest round of bids for the project were received by vendors July 10.

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“The project entails providing periodic nourishment (dune repairs and beachfill) to the existing coastal storm risk management project along portions of the ocean shoreline between Point Pleasant Beach and Berkeley Township,” he said. “The bids submitted by the potential contractors are currently under review.”

There have been multiple previous rounds of bidding that have resulted in just as many delays. Initially, bids were rejected because they came in too high. Another round saw bidders protest the results, which led to a challenge process under federal defense procurement laws. Local officials are hopeful the specifications of the current bid solicitation can lead to an award.

Rochette said there was no firm date as to when a bid award may be announced.