CUSTER GALLATIN NATIONAL FOREST - Riley Pass Bluff B Mine Waste Excavation Project

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to questions submitted by potential bidders regarding the Riley Pass Bluff B Mine Waste Excavation Project (Solicitation: 1240LU26Q0020). It clarifies various aspects of the solicitation, including project timelines, submission requirements, and operational details.

• Narrative Page Limit: Responses to the "short narrative" requirement are limited to 10 pages.
• Project Type: This is a new project, though similar services have been performed previously under contract #1240LU25C0002.
• Completion Dates: July 1, 2026, is a firm contractual completion date for all non-seeding work. Seeding must occur prior to June 15, 2026, or between September 15–October 15, 2026. The government will not alter the period of performance.
• Working Hours: Work may not occur on weekends or holidays unless approved by the Contracting Officer (CO). Night work is not allowed.
• Measurement: Mine waste excavation quantities are measured by pre- and post-removal surveys, with payment based on the actual quantity removed.
• Electronic Files: The government will provide only polyline locations for disturbance areas and boundary lines in DWG format. Contractors must create other necessary electronic files.
• Site Access: Keys for site access will be obtained at the post-award meeting and must be returned at project completion. Keys are not available during the advertisement period. Site access is permitted by walking in as needed.
• Water Source: Contractors are responsible for supplying water for dust control and must obtain written permission from the water source owner, providing documentation and identifying the source.
• Past Performance: Providing required past performance details (contract number, POC, quotes) is sufficient. CPARS reports may be included but are not mandatory. Past performance can be a separate section or integrated within relevant experience narratives.
• Seeding Mixture: The specified seed mix is Sterile Rye Triticum aestivum x Secale cereale, with an application rate of 50 lbs/acre.

These clarifications address key bidder concerns regarding timelines, deliverables, and operational constraints, potentially influencing proposal preparation and strategy. The document also notes updates made via SF30 Amendments 001.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding the Riley Pass Bluff B Mine Waste Excavation Project (Solicitation: 1240LU26Q0020), updated on 02/13/2026.

• Narrative Page Limit: Responses to the Terms and Conditions narrative are limited to 10 pages, as addressed in SF30 Amendment 001.
• Project Type: This is a new project, not a recompete, though similar services were performed under contract #1240LU25C0002.
• Completion Date: July 1, 2026, is a firm contractual completion date for all non-seeding work. Seeding must occur prior to June 15, 2026, or between September 15–October 15, 2026.
• Period of Performance: The government will not alter the period of performance, even with temporary stabilization measures.
• Working Hours: Work is not permitted on weekends or holidays unless approved by the Contracting Officer (CO). Night work is not allowed.
• Measurement: Mine waste excavation quantities are measured by pre- and post-removal surveys, with payment based on the actual quantity removed.
• Electronic Files: The government will provide only polyline locations for disturbance areas and boundary lines in DWG format; contractors must create other necessary electronic files.
• Site Access: Keys for site access will be provided post-award and must be returned at project completion. Keys are not available during the advertisement period. Site access is permitted by walking in as needed during advertisement.
• Water Source: A contractor-provided water source requires written permission from the water source owner and adherence to all Federal, State, and Local Regulations.
• Dust Control: Visible dust is unacceptable. Contractors must shut down if dust cannot be controlled.
• Temporary Haul Roads: A specific temporary access road will be left on site; all other internal temporary haul routes must be removed, recontoured, and seeded prior to completion.
• Archaeologist: Onsite archaeologist availability must be coordinated with the CO, with requests recommended at least 14 days in advance.
• Past Performance: The government will evaluate past performance based on recency, and does not consider 10 years as recent.

These clarifications address specific questions regarding submission requirements, project timelines, work execution, measurement, site logistics, and safety protocols. Bidders should review these responses carefully to ensure their proposals accurately reflect the project's requirements and constraints. The document also references SF30 Amendment 001 for specific details on page limits and night work restrictions.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding the Riley Pass Bluff B Mine Waste Excavation Project (Solicitation: 1240LU26Q0020).

• Proposal Narrative Page Limit: Responses are limited to 10 pages. (Addressed on SF30 Amendment 001).
• Project Type: This is a new project, though similar services have been performed under contract #1240LU25C0002.
• Completion Dates: July 1, 2026, is a firm contractual completion date for all non-seeding work. Seeding must occur prior to June 15, 2026, or between September 15–October 15, 2026. The period of performance will not be extended.
• Working Hours: Work may not occur on weekends or holidays unless approved by the Contracting Officer (CO). Night work is not allowed. (Addressed on SF30 Amendment 001).
• Excavation Measurement: Mine waste excavation quantities are measured by pre- and post-removal surveys. Payment is based on the actual quantity removed.
• Electronic Files: The Government will provide only polyline locations for disturbance areas and boundary lines in DWG format. Contractors must create other necessary electronic files.
• Site Access Keys: Keys will be provided at the post-award meeting and must be returned at project completion. Keys are not available during the advertisement period. Site access is available by walking in.
• Water Source: A contractor-provided water source requires written permission from the owner and documentation, following all Federal, State, and Local Regulations.
• Dust Control: Visible dust is unacceptable. The contractor must shut down if dust cannot be controlled.
• Temporary Haul Roads: The temporary access road constructed by the contractor will remain on site. Internal haul routes for waste will be removed, recontoured, and seeded prior to completion.
• Archaeologist Availability: Archaeologists must be requested at least 14 days in advance for coordination.

This document clarifies key aspects of the solicitation, including deadlines, work restrictions, measurement methods, and site access. It also references SF30 Amendment 001 for specific details on page limits and working hours.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0001) to solicitation 1240LU26Q0020 modifies the original solicitation dated 02/02/2026.

• Attachment Added: Attachment 6, Site Photos (doc: Attach6.1240LU26Q0020SitePhotos) has been added.

• Excavation Quantity Clarification: Item 20615 specifies that 85,000 CY shall be excavated first to allow the design engineer to survey the area.

• Question and Answer #1: Clarifies that the narrative response to "Quoters shall provide a short narrative" should be no more than 10 pages.

• Question and Answer #39: Addresses restrictions on working hours. Work may not occur on weekends or holidays unless approved by the Contracting Officer (CO) for special circumstances. Night work will not be allowed.

• Solicitation details regarding excavation quantity and submission requirements (narrative length).

• Terms and Conditions (implicitly, via Q&A).

• No change to proposal deadlines is indicated.

• Bidders should note the added site photos and the clarified excavation sequence. The narrative page limit and working hour restrictions are important considerations for proposal preparation.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides photographs and site information for the approximate work area related to Solicitation 1240LU26Q0020. It is intended to help potential bidders visualize the terrain and access points.

• Visual representations of the work area from various aerial and ground perspectives.
• Annotations indicating the "Approximate Area of Work."
• Notes regarding haul route access from the top of the bluff, requiring a submitted haul plan.
• Specification that slopes can have an incline as steep as 70%.
• Requirement for ingress and egress to be from the bluff top.
• Identification of a "Borrow Site" and "Borrow Placement Location" in relation to Custer National Forest and NFSR #3123.

This attachment is crucial for bidders to understand the physical characteristics of the work site, including its topography, accessibility challenges, and potential material sourcing locations. This information is vital for planning project execution, estimating costs, and developing technical proposals.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document contains construction plans for the 2026 Riley Pass Bluff B Mine Waste Excavation Project. It provides detailed site plans, vicinity maps, and specific construction details necessary for bidders to understand the scope and requirements of the project.

• Sheet Index: Outlines the different sheets included in the plan set (Vicinity Map, Plan View and Details).
• Vicinity Map: Shows the project location within the Custer Gallatin National Forest, Harding County, South Dakota, and surrounding access roads.
• General Notes: Provides critical instructions for contractors, including requirements for utility locating, archaeologist presence during construction, and sediment management.
• Site Details: Includes specific excavation areas (Area 1: 225,000 CY, Area 2: 85,000 CY), proposed mine waste consolidation areas, and channel details.
• Channel Detail & Notes: Specifies requirements for channel construction, including side slope requirements, waste placement, and the use of compacted borrow material.
• Spring Drain Detail: Details the construction of a spring drain, including excavation, backfill, and geotextile requirements.
• Temporary Access Road: Illustrates the design for a temporary access road.

This document is essential for bidders to accurately estimate costs, understand the physical scope of work, identify potential challenges, and prepare a compliant proposal. It details the exact locations for excavation, waste consolidation, and specific construction methods for channels and drainage features.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment 2: Schedule of Items/Price Schedule," provides the detailed breakdown of tasks and estimated quantities for the "2026 Bluff B Mine Waste Excavation Project." It serves as a pricing schedule for potential bidders to submit their quotes.

• Itemized List of Work: Includes specific tasks such as Mobilization, Construction Surveying and Staking, Erosion Control, Watering for Dust Control, Channel Borrow, Mine Waste Excavation and Embankment, Linear Grading, Aggregate Surfacing, Roadway Reconditioning, Seeding, and Separation Geotextile.
• Units and Quantities: Specifies the unit of measure (e.g., LS, LF, CY, Mile, Acre, SY) and the estimated quantity for each item.
• Pricing Fields: Provides columns for Unit Price and TOTAL, where bidders are expected to fill in their pricing.
• Contract Quantity Items: Items marked with an asterisk (*) denote contract quantity items.
• Price Quotation Furnished By: Fields for bidder's Name, Address, Phone, E-mail, and UEI#.

This document is critical for bidders as it outlines the specific work items and their estimated quantities. Bidders must use this schedule to prepare their comprehensive price proposals. All items require pricing for the bid to be considered responsive. It also provides essential details for understanding the scope and scale of the project for pricing and resource allocation.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items, issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ), for the Riley Pass Bluff B Mine Waste Excavation Project. The project involves excavating historic mine waste at various locations on Bluff B, and placing and compacting it in consolidation areas.

• Excavation of historic mine waste.

• Placement and compaction of mine waste in consolidation areas.

• The solicitation includes numerous attachments detailing terms and conditions, schedule of items, statement of work, supplemental specifications, final plans, and wage determination.

• Anticipated contract type: Firm fixed price.

• Period of Performance: Not explicitly stated, but implied to be related to the excavation and placement tasks.

• Estimated Value: Not stated.

• Quote Due Date: March 3, 2026, 4:00 PM Mountain Time.

• Evaluation Criteria: Best value to the Government, based on Experience and Past Performance. Experience will be evaluated on relevancy, size, complexity, and type of work. Past performance will consider recency, relevancy, and quality.

• Quotes will be evaluated using a comparative methodology.

• NAICS Code: 562910 (Remediation Services), Size Standard: 1,000 employees.

• Set Aside: 100% small business set-aside.

• Schedule of Items

• Document demonstrating recent and relevant experience and past performance (pages 12-14 provide details).

• Bid guarantee (if applicable).

• Acknowledgment of Amendments.

• Bid Bond/Offer Guarantee: 20% required if quote/offer exceeds $150,000.

• Performance & Payment Bonds: Required at 100% of original contract price if value exceeds $150,000, due 10 days after award.

• Questions Due: February 23, 2026, 12:00 PM Mountain Time.

• Contact for questions: Alisha Knaub at (406)438-2981 or alisha.knaub@usda.gov.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document outlines the project specifications for the "2026 Bluff B Mine Waste Excavation Project" located in the Custer Gallatin National Forest. The project involves the excavation and consolidation of mine waste, along with associated construction activities.

• Mine Waste Excavation and Consolidation: Excavation of mine waste using GPS-controlled equipment, placement, and compaction in designated consolidation areas. Mine waste is defined by specific arsenic (>142 mg/kg) and radium-226 (>30 pCi/g) concentrations.

• Site Preparation and Grading: Includes clearing, grubbing, stripping, and grading of excavation and consolidation areas.

• Roadway Excavation and Embankment: Construction of roadways and embankments, including material placement, compaction, and shaping.

• Construction Water: Furnishing and applying water for dust control and compaction.

• Soil Erosion and Sediment Control: Implementation of permanent and temporary erosion control measures.

• Turf Establishment: Soil preparation, seeding (Sterile Rye), and mulching of disturbed areas.

• Aggregate Courses: Placement and compaction of surface course aggregate and minor crushed aggregate.

• Roadside Improvement Material: Includes erosion control products (bales, wattles, logs, rolls) and temporary rolled erosion control products.

• The document specifies various construction methods, materials, testing, and acceptance criteria.

• Specific sections detail requirements for mobilization, construction survey and staking, and temporary haul road construction.

• Bidders must adhere to detailed specifications for materials, construction methods, and quality control.

• Surveying and staking require direct supervision by a licensed Professional Land Surveyor.

• Erosion control plans must be submitted 14 days prior to construction.

• Specific testing and sampling frequencies are outlined for various materials.

• Not explicitly stated in this document.

• The document references various standard specifications (e.g., FAR, AASHTO, ASTM) and includes numerous modifications and additions to standard clauses.

• GPS machine-mounted grade control equipment is required for mine waste excavation and consolidation.

• All erosion control materials must be biodegradable and certified noxious weed free.

• Seed must be certified noxious weed free and approved by the Contracting Officer.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a "General Decision" for South Dakota, specifically for "Heavy and Highway Construction Projects" statewide. It provides prevailing wage rates and fringes for various labor classifications.

• Labor Classifications: Includes Electrician, Ironworker, Laborer (with specific group descriptions), Painter, Power Equipment Operator (with specific group descriptions), and Truck Driver (with specific group descriptions).
• Rates and Fringes: Lists the hourly wage rate and fringe benefit rate for each classification and group.
• Executive Orders: Notes applicability of Executive Order (EO) 13706 (Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors) and EO 13658 (Establishing Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors), including minimum wage requirements for covered workers.
• Union Rate Identifiers: Explains various identifiers (e.g., "SU", "UAVG", "SA") used to denote the source and type of prevailing wage rates.
• Wage Determination Appeals Process: Outlines the process for appealing wage determinations.

This document is crucial for bidders as it establishes the minimum wage rates that must be paid to laborers and mechanics employed on federal or federally assisted construction projects covered by the Davis-Bacon Act. Bidders must ensure their proposals and labor costs account for these prevailing wage rates to comply with contract requirements.

Sources Sought Notice

This notice is for market research purposes only and is not a solicitation for proposals. The USDA, USFS, Custer Gallatin National Forest is seeking information on industry capabilities for a firm-fixed-price contract to perform reclamation work on Bluff B of the Riley Pass site. The work involves excavating historic mine wastes and placing them in consolidation areas.

• Mobilization, demobilization, bonding, and insurance

• Construction surveying and staking

• Erosion control

• Channel borrow excavation, hauling, and placement

• Excavating, loading, hauling, placing, and compacting mine wastes

• Road clearing, compaction, and scoria placement

• Handling of mine waste that may present an endangerment to human health and the environment.

• Compliance with OSHA regulations for hazardous waste sites (29 CFR 1910.120).

• Personnel must have completed OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER training.

• Contract type: Firm-fixed-price.

• Estimated magnitude: Between $1 million and $5 million.

• This is a sources sought notice; no contract will be awarded from this announcement.

• Respondents are requested to provide information on their capabilities.

• Responses are limited to two (2) pages and must include:

  • Vendor's name, SAM UEI, address, point of contact, phone number, and email address.
  • Vendor's interest in submitting a proposal when the requirement is synopsized.
  • At least three (3) examples of capability to provide similar/same type of work.
  • Firm's Business Size for NAICS code 562910 (Remediation Services) - Size Standard is 1,000 employees.

• Email responses to alisha.knaub@usda.gov not later than January 29, 2026.

• The type of set-aside decision will depend upon the capabilities of the responses.

• Small businesses, HUB-Zone, EDWOSB, and SDVOSB are encouraged to participate.

• Project Site: North Cave Hills land unit of the Custer-Gallatin National Forest (CGNF) in Harding County, South Dakota.

• Approximately 100 miles north of Belle Fourche, SD; 25 miles north of Buffalo, SD; and 30 miles south of Bowman, ND.

• Nearest town: Ludlow, South Dakota (approx. 5 miles east).

• No reimbursement will be made for costs associated with providing information.

• Respondents will not be notified of the results of the information gathered.