Dredging

Steptoe & Johnson LLP has represented dredging and marine construction contractors for almost 25 years on a full range of issues faced by these companies in their dealings with federal, state, and local governments, as well as with private owners.  Our work for these companies has included representing them at the GAO, at the Boards of Contract Appeals, and in federal and state court.

Our vast experience includes successfully prosecuting and defending agency bid protests and protests at GAO and the US Court of Federal Claims.  Issues raised in these protests have included bidder responsibility; challenges to independent government estimates; cancellation of solicitations; unbalanced bidding; agency use of unauthorized deviations; and challenges to agency technical evaluations, price evaluations, and best value decisions.

We also have represented dredging contractors in claims litigation involving all of the types of claims typically encountered by such contractors: claims involving owner changes, differing site conditions, variation in estimated quantities, terminations, suspensions, acceleration, and defective specifications. 

Steptoe also has extensive experience in representing dredging contractors on both sides of the prime contractor-subcontractor relationship.  Our efforts have included drafting subcontracts and liquidation agreements, as well as representing both prime contractors and subcontractors on direct and pass-through claims.

As a result of our experience with the dredging industry, we are intimately familiar with the technical aspects of dredging work and with the unique issues that face the industry. 

In the course of handling these claims, we have gained significant experience in  successfully using mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to reach timely and cost-effective solutions to contested issues.

Because of the length and breadth of its experience, Steptoe is well-qualified to provide exceptional and efficient representation in this area.