The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is accepting proposals to start the first construction phase of the Lower Mississippi Museum and Interpretive Center project in Vicksburg, Tommy Hengst, senior project manager for the Vicksburg District, told Kiwanis Club members Tuesday.

Phase I of the project includes floating the 1,000-ton MV Mississippi from the Yazoo Diversion Canal downriver to the planned museum site, along Jackson Street between Washington and Levee streets, and building a permanent foundation to display the towboat on land.

&#8220The deadline for contractors to get their proposals in is Nov. 20,” said Hengst. &#8220The Vicksburg District has an evaluation team that will score these proposals. The contractor with the highest score and the most reasonable plan to move the boat will be awarded the contract.”

Proposals have to be submitted electronically through the Vicksburg District’s Web site.

Hengst said he doesn’t expect more than a dozen offers to come in for the job that could run anywhere from $1 million to $5 million.

&#8220This is the most interesting phase of the project- getting the vessel out of the water, onto land and across the railroad track,” he said. &#8220It’s going to have to be lifted anywhere from 20 to 40-feet onto land and the least expensive way to do that is to let the river lift it for you. The cost is going to depend on how low the river is when it’s time to move it.”

The 218-foot towboat, which was built in 1961 and served as the Corps’ flagship for 30 years, has been docked in the canal since the city purchased it from the Corps for $1 in 1995.

The city transferred the title back to the Corps in August as part of a plan to include it as part of a museum complex detailing the history of Corps’ work in managing the Mississippi for navigation and flood control. Congress has provided initial funds for planning and about a third of the actual total cost – about $15 million.

The project is part of an overall redevelopment of City Front with city, state federal and private funds.

A mural project is under way, an Art Park is nearly complete, a playground is planned and a transportation museum and the Corps museum are in process.

Hengst said he was unsure how long it will take to complete Phase I.

&#8220We hope to have a contractor in place in December,” he said. &#8220Then, it’s going to depend on their schedule to get the boat in place. Once it’s in place, we can start refurbishing it.”

The MV Mississippi will provide a rare opportunity – the chance for locals and tourists to board an actual river boat and learn its mechanics.

The purchase of the MV Mississippi was made more than 10 years ago during the administration of former Mayor Joe Loviza after Memphis refused an offer of the vessel.

The project languished during the next for years and was not a priority for the Robert Walker administration, although the city faced ongoing docking expenses for the boat, which has deteriorated from neglect.

&#8220It’s in pretty rough shape right now,” said Hengst, who expects about 50 percent of the boat to be used as museum space. &#8220It will have to be painted, new lighting will be installed, the interior and all of the parts of the boat that will be open to the public for exhibits has to be prepared. I hope to have everything ready by this time next year.”

A contract award to begin construction on the rest of the museum is not expected until late 2007 with a grand opening in Spring 2009, Hengst said.

&#8220The museum is going to depend on the outcome of the budget for the 2007 fiscal year,” Hengst said. &#8220All of this is at the will of Congress, you know. It’s their prerogative to fund these projects.”

Congress originally authorized the project in 1992 with $2 million for planning, but has since extended the appropriation to $5 million.