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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Civil Works Public Private Partnerships Pilot Program

Public private partnerships (P3s) can accelerate delivery, reduce long-term costs and promote risk sharing in project delivery. In 2018, under the direction of The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, USACE established a P3 pilot program with the goal of demonstrating the viability of new delivery methods that significantly reduce the cost and duration of project delivery. Four projects, including two flood risk management projects, a channel improvement project, and an ecosystem restoration project, participated in this pilot program. These projects served as a proof of concept that alternative delivery methods such as P3s can be an efficient and effective tool for project implementation. USACE estimates that the alternative delivery methods applied to the pilot program projects contributed to an estimated cost savings of more than $500 million and time savings of 23 years. In 2025, USACE ramped down the P3 Pilot Program as it successfully demonstrated that alternative delivery can be an efficient and effective tool for project implementation.  

P3 Pilot Program Summary

Each of the four pilot program projects went through nomination, development and validation to explore how P3 delivery compared to traditional project delivery and to identify any obstacles to implementation the project as a P3. The nomination, development and validation of these projects took 6-24 months depending on specific project details.

P3 Program Benefits

The USACE P3 pilot program resulted in federal savings of more than $500M and 23 years.

P3 Pilot Projects

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Expand List item 30309Collapse List item 30309  Brazos Island Harbor ("BIH") Channel Improvement Project, Texas: Project deepens the Port of Brownsville ship channel from 42 feet to 52 feet, in addition to dredging berthing areas, constructing dredged material placement area capacity, raising levees, and providing aids to navigation.
 
  • The Port of Brownsville, working with the NextDecade Corporation, have selected a contractor to perform essential improvements to the Brownsville Ship Channel as part of Phase 1 of the P3 project. For more information, visit here.
  • Investment Size: $288M
  • Non-Federal Sponsor(s): Brownsville Navigation District, acting as the financial representative for the Port of Brownsville
  • P3 Elements: Design, Build, Finance, and possible Operate/Maintain
  • Contracting: Non-Federal
  • Non-federal Revenue Source(s): Private entities
  • Cost / Time Savings: $72M / Completion by 2024
  • Additional Authorities: None identified

Mr. Michael Connor, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Worked, signed the Project Partnership Agreement for the Brazos Island Harbor Navigation project.

BIH signing

Michael L. Connor, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Esteban Guerra, Brownsville Navigation District Chairman, and Timothy Vail, Commander Colonel of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District. From left to right second row: John Reed, Brownsville Navigation District Commissioner, David Keane, NextDecade Senior Vice President, Ralph Cowen, Brownsville Navigation District Vice Chairman and John Wood, Brownsville Navigation District Secretary, celebrate the signing of the Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project at the Port of Brownsville on July 6, 2022.

“This crucial navigation project will execute funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, resulting in infrastructure that will ease supply chain issues, promote clean energy capabilities for the nation, and provide significant economic benefits to the region. This project is a public private partnership pilot using an innovative delivery approach to develop solutions that more efficiently deliver sustainable infrastructure.” – Lt. General Scott Spellmon, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Commanding General

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expand List item 23945Collapse List item 23945  Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Area Flood Risk Management Project: Project is designed to protect the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo metro area during times of extreme flooding using river control structures, floodwalls, levees, and other flood protection measures.
 
  • Investment Size: $2.84B
  • Non-Federal Sponsor(s): Metro Flood Diversion Authority; City of Fargo, North Dakota; and City of Moorhead, Minnesota
  • P3 Elements: Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Maintain
  • Contracting: Non-Federal
  • Non-Federal Revenue Source(s): State Appropriations, Sales Taxes, and Assessment District
  • Cost / Time Savings: $100M Federal / Completion by 2027
  • Additional Authorities: None identified
  • Website: https://www.fmdiversion.com/
  • Additional Information
Expand List item 37368Collapse List item 37368  South Platte River & Tributaries (Adams & Denver Counties), Colorado, Ecosystem Restoration and Flood Risk Management Project: Project is designed to address the loss of riparian, wetland and in-channel habitat associated with urban development along the South Platte River, while providing for ancillary flood risk management and recreation opportunities.
 
  • Investment Size: $550M
  • Non-Federal Sponsor(s): City and County of Denver
  • P3 Elements: Design, Build, Adaptive Management
  • Contracting: Non-Federal; progressive contract
  • Non-Federal Revenue Source(s): Tax assessments, state funding, and grants
  • Cost / Time Savings: $121-194 million / 2 - 5 years
  • Additional Authorities: Using Section 204, reimbursement authority
Expand List item 37369Collapse List item 37369  Louisville Metro Flood Risk Management Project: The project is designed to provide greater reliability to the Metro Louisville Flood Protection System by bringing 1950s-era components (pump stations, road closure structures, flood walls and gates) up to 2020 standards.
 
  • Investment Size: $206M
  • Non-Federal Sponsor: Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD)
  • P3 Elements: Design & Build
  • Contracting: Non-Federal, bundled contracts
  • Non-Federal Revenue Sources: Stormwater and wastewater fees from their customer base
  • Cost/Time Savings: Estimated project savings of up to 30%, with expected delivery up to 8 years ahead of a traditionally delivered project.
  • Additional Authorities: Using Section 204, reimbursement Authority

Questions

Please direct any questions related to USACE alternative delivery methods and public private partnership agreements to the Delivery Innovation Team at: Delivery-Innovation-Team@usace.army.mil