Army Corps Uses Flexible Agreements for Civil Works Research

GAO Reports

Published March 19th, 2026

Detected March 19th, 2026

Summary

The GAO has released a report detailing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' use of flexible 'other transaction' agreements for civil works research. The report highlights the first such agreement for a prototype flume design and three additional agreements for algal bloom research, noting the flexibility these agreements offer compared to traditional contracts.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

This GAO report provides an update on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' utilization of 'other transaction' (OT) agreements for its Civil Works program research, as authorized by the Water Resources Development Act of 2018, as amended. The report details the Corps's first OT agreement awarded in 2024 for the design of a prototype flume to test hydraulic structures, with the design expected to be completed in April 2026. Additionally, three more OT agreements were awarded in September 2025 to research innovative technologies for detecting and managing harmful freshwater algal blooms affecting Corps infrastructure.

These OT agreements offer greater flexibility than traditional procurement contracts, allowing the Corps to advance new technologies more rapidly. The report indicates that the Corps may opt for a follow-on OT agreement or a traditional contract for the assembly of the prototype flume. Regulated entities, particularly those involved in infrastructure research and development or environmental management technologies, may find this report informative regarding the Corps's procurement methods and research priorities. No specific compliance actions or deadlines are mandated by this report, which serves as an informational update.

Source document (simplified)

GAO-26-108350 Published: Mar 19, 2026. Publicly Released: Mar 19, 2026.

Fast Facts

The Army Corps of Engineers manages water infrastructure projects, such as locks and dams. To fund research related to these projects, the Corps can use "other transaction agreements," which are more flexible than other contracts.

In 2024, the Corps awarded its first such agreement for the design of a prototype flume to test the operation of locks and other structures. The Corps expects the design for this flume to be completed in April 2026 and the prototype to be assembled as a follow-on project.

The Corps also awarded three additional agreements of this type in 2025 to research algal blooms that can affect water infrastructure.

Example of A Research Flume, Located at the Corps Hudson Integrated Coastal Engineering Research Facility

Two large water chambers separated by concrete walls, in a warehouse-type space with pipes and machinery.

Highlights

What GAO Found

The Water Resources Development Act of 2018, as amended in 2022 (the 2022 act), authorized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to use other transaction (OT) agreements to carry out certain projects to support research activities for its Civil Works program. OT agreements are generally not subject to the same federal laws and regulations as procurement contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants. OT agreements allow agencies more flexibility and help advance the development and use of new technologies more rapidly, which can help agencies to meet mission needs and project requirements.

The Corps's first civil works OT agreement was for the design of a prototype model of a waterway channel. Once assembled, this model will allow for research on hydraulic structures, such as testing the operation of lock gates and how they could fail. The Corps reported to GAO that, as of October 2025, the design was roughly 20 percent complete. Should the Corps determine that the design is satisfactory upon its completion, planned for April 2026, Corps officials expect to proceed with assembly of the model as a separate follow-on project. These officials said that for assembly of the model, they could choose to award a new follow-on OT agreement consistent with Corps's authority or a traditional contract subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation and other federal laws and regulations.

Additionally, in September 2025, the Corps awarded three more OT agreements to examine effects of harmful freshwater algal blooms on Corps infrastructure. The research to be conducted under these OT agreements will investigate innovative, cost-effective, and scalable technologies for early detection and management of algal blooms.

Why GAO Did This Study

The 2022 act authorized the Corps to use OT agreements for research and development to support its civilian civil works missions and authorities. This research can aid the Corps's management of its water resources infrastructure, such as dams and levees, by, for example, helping to mitigate the risks posed by natural disasters and severe weather.

The 2022 act includes a provision for GAO to annually report on the Corps's use of its OT authority for research supporting its Civil Works mission. In December 2024, GAO issued its second report on the Corps's use of this authority. This third report updates the status of the Corps's efforts since the 2024 report. GAO reviewed documents and conducted interviews with Corps and Department of the Army officials.

Contact: Hilary Benedict at BenedictH@gao.gov.

Full Report

Full Report (6 pages)

GAO Contacts

Hilary Benedict Director Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics benedicth@gao.gov

Media Inquiries

Sarah Kaczmarek Managing Director Office of Public Affairs media@gao.gov

Public Inquiries

Topics

Government Operations Military forces Engineers Research and development Water resources Laws and regulations Federal acquisition regulations Water resources development Construction Operations and maintenance Proof of concept