F--CERCLA removal action at Mojave NP, CA

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0001) to Solicitation #140P2126Q0049, originally dated 03/17/2026, provides the following:

• Attachment 3 Transmittal: Includes clarifications (4 pages) that augment the Statement of Work, Work Plan, and the original solicitation.

• No Change to Due Date: The due date and time for offers remain 5/5/26 at 3:00 pm PT.

• Statement of Work

• Work Plan

• Solicitation

No changes to the proposal deadline or submission requirements are indicated, beyond the inclusion of the new clarifications.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides clarifications and responses to questions submitted by potential bidders following a site visit for the CERCLA removal action at the Hidden Hill historic mine site. It addresses specific points related to the solicitation, SOW, and site logistics.

• Borrow Source: Waste rock from the site cannot be used as a borrow source for backfilling excavations. If backfill is needed, NPS may negotiate a contract modification for import from an approved source within MOJA.
• Road Improvements: Temporary installation of culverts is not permitted. Any minor road modifications proposed by the contractor require submission to NPS for review and approval, with a compliance review taking approximately 45 days.
• Vehicle Weight Limits: There are no MOJA-specific weight, load, or size limits for the dirt road beyond State and County laws. A small off-road articulated dump truck may be proposed for use on the dirt road.
• Staging Areas: NPS will not permit staging areas along South Kelbaker Road or areas blocking public access to Hidden Hills Road. Proposed staging areas must be included in the traffic control plan.
• Rubble Foundation Wall: No buttressing or shoring of the rubble foundation wall is allowed. Excavation near the wall must be done with hand tools to the maximum extent possible without damaging its structural integrity.

This document does not change the overall terms, conditions, requirements, or specifications of the solicitation. All changes will be formalized via written amendment. Questions received by the specified deadline will be answered in an amendment, which will also include notes from the site visit and a list of attendees. The due date for quotes is May 5, unless extended by amendment.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is a Request for Quotations (RFQ) for a Non-Time-Critical Removal Action (NTCRA) under CERCLA at the Hidden Hill historic mine site in Mojave National Preserve. The work involves removing mine tailings and commingled contaminated soil and transporting them to appropriate disposal facilities. The primary goal is to mitigate risks to human health and the environment from copper in the mine tailings.

• Removal of mine tailings and commingled contaminated soil.

• Transportation of materials to appropriate disposal facilities.

• Sampling and analysis of soil.

• Onsite archeological monitoring.

• Preparation of reports.

• Compliance with CERCLA and relevant environmental regulations.

• Contract Type: Single firm-fixed-price contract.

• Estimated Magnitude: Below $350,000.

• Period of Performance: 400 calendar days after notice to proceed.

• Performance and Payment Bonds: Required.

• Submission Deadline: May 5, 2026, at 1500 local time (Pacific Time).

• Submission Method: Email to sarah_welch@nps.gov.

• Evaluation Criteria: Tradeoff process based on technical capability, past performance, and price. Technical capability will be evaluated based on relevant prior experience and qualifications of key personnel. Past performance will be evaluated through customer surveys and CPARS. Price will be evaluated for reasonableness.

• Site Visit: Scheduled for April 9, 2026, at 10:00 am PT. RSVP required by April 6, 2026.

• This procurement is 100% set-aside for Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEES).

• Offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).

• The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code is 562910 (Environmental Remediation Services) with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees.

• The estimated magnitude of this acquisition is below $350,000.

• Offerors must acknowledge all amendments.

• Key personnel identified in Attachment 1 must be proposed.

• Electronic invoicing via the Internet Payment Platform (IPP) is required.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This form (Form 7: Relevant Experience) is for offerors to list projects performed within the past five years that are similar to the work described in the solicitation. The government may use this information to gather past performance data. It helps assess the offeror's familiarity with the Statement of Work and their capability criteria.

• Contractor/Offeror Name
• Prime or Subcontractor status
• Project Name, Location, Client/Owner, Telephone, Email
• Project Value
• Performance Period Dates
• Description of the Project and Offeror's Work
• Area of Comparability from RFQ Section M.2 1.A: Offerors must indicate if their project meets specific criteria related to CERCLA, contaminant types, affected media, magnitude of removal, historical features, endangered species habitat, waste characterization, planning documents, challenging environments, and federal government customers. Specific fields are provided to enter contract numbers if applicable.

Bidders must complete this form to demonstrate their relevant experience and capability. It directly addresses the past performance and capability evaluation criteria outlined in Section M.2 1.A of the RFQ. Providing detailed and comparable project information is crucial for a successful proposal.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "FORM 8: General References," is a template for offerors to provide general references to the Government as described in the solicitation. It is intended to gather information about the offeror's surety, corporate bank(s), and insurance company.

• Surety Information: Requires the name, address, agent name, and telephone number of the surety.
• Corporate Bank Information: Requires the name, address, agent name, and telephone number of the bank, along with the types and numbers of accounts held.
• Insurance Company Information: Requires the name, address, agent name, telephone number, and types of policies held by the insurance company.

Bidders must complete and submit this form with their proposal. The information provided will be used by the Government to assess the offeror's financial stability and capacity to perform the contract. Failure to provide complete and accurate information may impact the evaluation of the offer.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document contains several forms (Forms 2, 3, 4, and 5) related to Solicitation 140P2126Q0049. These forms are crucial for bidders to complete and submit as part of their proposal. Form 2 is the Contract Price Schedule, Form 3 provides Additional Price Details, Form 4 requires Key Personnel Qualifications and Relevant Experience, and Form 5 is a Report on Limitations on Subcontracting.

• Form 2 (Price Schedule): Requires bidders to provide unit prices and CLIN prices for contract line items, including base work and options. It specifies how to handle lump-sum items, errors in calculations, and references the Statement of Work and wage determination.
• Form 3 (Additional Price Details): Supplements Form 2, providing a basis for the post-award Schedule of Values. It breaks down CLINs into sub-CLINs with estimated quantities and unit prices.
• Form 4 (Key Personnel Experience): Requires bidders to detail the qualifications and relevant experience of key personnel (Environmental Professional, Human Health Risk Assessor, Ecological Risk Assessor, Regulatory Specialist) against specific criteria related to CERCLA projects and challenging environments.
• Form 5 (Limitations on Subcontracting): A report required for small business set-aside contracts over the Simplified Acquisition Threshold. It details how the prime contractor will comply with the 50% subcontracting limitation for Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEEs) and other small businesses, referencing specific FAR clauses.

Bidders must accurately complete and submit Forms 2, 3, 4, and 5 with their proposals. These forms directly impact pricing, personnel qualifications, and compliance with subcontracting requirements, all of which are critical for proposal evaluation and award. The forms provide specific instructions and data fields that must be adhered to.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document contains standard representations and certifications required for offerors responding to federal solicitations. It outlines various FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation) provisions that bidders must acknowledge and, in some cases, complete or certify compliance with. This includes information related to Indian Economic Enterprises, annual representations, and telecommunications/video surveillance services.

• FAR 1452.280-4 (Indian Economic Enterprise representation): Requires offerors to represent whether they meet the definition of an Indian Economic Enterprise and intend to do so throughout contract performance.
• FAR 52.204-8 (Annual Representations and Certifications):
  • Specifies the NAICS code (562910 - Environmental Remediation Services) and small business size standard (1,000 employees).
  • Details various representations and certifications applicable to the solicitation, including those related to price determination, influence payments, confidentiality agreements, taxpayer identification, business ownership, and telecommunications equipment.
  • Indicates that offerors may complete these representations electronically via the System for Award Management (SAM) or by completing individual sections if SAM is not used or updated.
  • Notes that certain SAM representations may be included due to system updates but are not to be considered by the agency.
• FAR 52.204-24 (Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment): Requires offerors to represent whether they provide or use covered telecommunications equipment or services, as defined by Section 889 of the NDAA. Specific disclosures are required if the offeror responds affirmatively.

Bidders must carefully review these provisions to ensure they meet all eligibility and compliance requirements. Accurate completion and submission of these representations and certifications are critical for proposal acceptance and award. Failure to comply can result in disqualification. Offerors should pay close attention to the specific requirements for the NAICS code and size standard, as well as the prohibitions related to telecommunications and video surveillance equipment.

Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA)

This document presents an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) for the Hidden Hills Mine, an abandoned mine in Mojave National Preserve. The EE/CA addresses metals contamination in soil from historic mining operations and supports a non-time critical removal action (NTCRA). It includes site characterization data, risk assessments (human health and ecological), evaluation of response alternatives, and a recommended preferred alternative.

• Source of Contamination: Metals (arsenic, barium, cadmium, copper, lead, silver, vanadium, and zinc) in tailings, waste rock, and soil.
• Removal Action Objective (RAO): Eliminate the potential for metals impacts to human health and the environment.
• Contaminants of Potential Concern (COPCs): Arsenic and copper for human health. Arsenic, copper, lead, vanadium, and zinc for terrestrial plants. Antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, copper, lead, silver, and zinc for soil invertebrates. Antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, copper, lead, silver, and zinc for mammals. Arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, silver, vanadium, and zinc for birds.
• Recommended Alternative: Alternative 4 – Full Removal and Off-Site Disposal.

1. No Action: Does not meet RAO; baseline conditions remain.
2. Institutional Controls: Partially effective; reduces human exposure but does not eliminate environmental impacts. Estimated cost: $79,620.
3. Off-Site Disposal of Tailings, Placement of Cover Soils Over Waste Rock: Partially effective; eliminates human health risks but does not fully eliminate environmental risks. Estimated cost: $1,086,238.
4. Full Removal and Off-Site Disposal: Effective; achieves RAO and eliminates human health and environmental risks. Estimated cost: $7,865,495.

• Not specified in this document.

• Not applicable to this EE/CA document; it evaluates alternatives for a future removal action.

• Not specified in this document.

• The document details extensive soil and groundwater sampling results, risk evaluations, and comparative analysis of the removal action alternatives.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Attachment 4, a Wage Determination (CA20260026), which specifies the prevailing wage rates for various labor categories applicable to construction projects in San Bernardino County, California. It is an excerpt for a solicitation/contract and provides a link to the full determination on SAM.gov.

• General Decision Number: CA20260026
• Effective Date: January 23, 2026 (Modification Number 2)
• Applicable Construction Types: Building, Heavy (including dredging but not water well drilling), and Highway.
• Labor Categories & Rates: Details specific wage and fringe benefit rates for various job classifications, including:
  • Asbestos Removal Worker/Hazardous Material Handler
  • Power Equipment Operators (various groups for different equipment types like cranes, tunnel work, etc.)
  • Laborers (including tunnel laborers, general laborers, and specific classifications like demolition, pipe laying, etc.)
  • Truck Drivers (various groups based on vehicle type and capacity)
• Premium Pay: Specifies additional pay for work on certain military bases ($3.00/hour) and for working in hazardous material environments ($2.00/hour).
• Executive Orders: Notes applicability of Executive Order 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and Executive Order 13658 (Minimum Wage).

This document is crucial for bidders to accurately estimate labor costs for the opportunity. It dictates the minimum wage and fringe benefits that must be paid to laborers and mechanics employed on the project, directly impacting the overall cost of proposals. Bidders must ensure their cost proposals comply with these wage determinations.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This document, a Non-Time Critical Removal Action Work Plan (NTCRAWP), outlines the plan for performing a removal action at the Hidden Hills Mine Site in Mojave National Preserve, California. The primary objective is to remove the tailings pile and contaminated soils that pose a threat to human health and the environment, and to dispose of this material at an appropriate offsite facility.

The removal action focuses on the tailings pile and associated contaminated soils. Key activities include:

• Site preparation, including mobilization, delineation of work zones, and dust control.

• Excavation of contaminated tailings and soils exceeding the copper Preliminary Remediation Goal (PRG) of 497 mg/kg.

• Waste characterization of excavated materials to determine if they are hazardous or non-hazardous.

• Transportation of excavated materials to an approved offsite disposal facility.

• Confirmation sampling to ensure all contaminated tailings have been removed.

• Site restoration, including grading and revegetation of disturbed areas.

• The primary performance metric is the removal of tailings and associated soils to achieve a copper concentration below the PRG of 497 mg/kg.

• Waste characterization will determine if materials are hazardous or non-hazardous according to RCRA Subtitle C and California regulations.

• Confirmation sampling will verify the successful removal of contaminated materials.

• The work is to be conducted at the Hidden Hills Mine Site within the Mojave National Preserve, California.

• The document does not specify a period of performance for the removal action itself, but it was prepared in May 2024.

• Protection of Threatened and Endangered (T&E) species, particularly the Desert Tortoise, is a critical requirement. Work will be coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and State Department of Fish and Wildlife.

• Preservation of historical and cultural resources will be ensured, with an archeological monitor present.

• Dust control measures will be implemented during excavation and transport.

• Personnel must comply with food storage and garbage disposal requirements for wildlife protection.

• Invasive plant species prevention measures will be followed.

• Site access will be restricted to authorized personnel in hazardous areas.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This Statement of Work (SOW) details the requirements for a contractor to conduct a Non-Time Critical Removal Action (RA) at the Hidden Hill Mine contaminated site within Mojave National Preserve (MOJA). The goal is to comply with CERCLA and the National Contingency Plan.

• Excavation, transportation, and disposal of approximately 150 tons of contaminated material, primarily copper in tailings.

• Site restoration, including recontouring and hydroseeding with native species.

• Waste characterization and post-removal confirmation sampling.

• Compliance with environmental regulations, including protection of desert tortoise and cultural resources.

• Work must be performed in accordance with the SOW and the Non-Time Critical Removal Action Work Plan (Attachment 2).

• All deliverables must be complete, accurate, and delivered on time.

• Safety regulations (OSHA, EM-385-1-1) must be followed.

• Environmental protection measures for natural and cultural resources are critical.

• The total work scope must be completed within 400 days of the Notice to Proceed (NTP).

• Field work is planned between November 30 and March 1 to avoid desert tortoise season and extreme heat.

• Mobilization for removal activities cannot occur prior to January 4, 2027.

• The site is located in the Mojave National Preserve, San Bernardino County, California.

• Contractor personnel must be HAZWOPER qualified.

• A Hazardous Substance Removal Certification (HAZ) is required.

• Specific personnel qualifications are required for key roles (Environmental Professional, Human Health Risk Assessor, Ecological Risk Assessor, Regulatory Specialist, Field Sampling Specialists).

• Strict adherence to environmental protection measures, including those for desert tortoise and cultural resources.

• All work products and intellectual property are the property of the U.S. Government.

• Data and deliverables must meet specific formatting and metadata standards (e.g., GIS, AutoCAD, EDD).