Mine Reclamation Services for Regions 6 and 10

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service R6-Pacific Northwest Region established a Master IDIQ for architect-engineer services supporting Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) response actions at abandoned mine sites on National Forest System Lands in Regions 6 (Pacific Northwest) and 10 (Alaska), with ordering closed as of August 27, 2023.

This vehicle is no longer active for new orders. The ordering period ended nearly three years ago, and all 25 task orders issued under the vehicle have obligated the full $2.4 million combined potential value. The most recent order award was July 2023. Ordering activity peaked in 2022 with six orders, but the vehicle showed consistent baseline activity of three orders per year in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023.

Work contracted includes architect-engineer designs for mine removal actions, engineering evaluations and cost analyses (EE/CAs), long-term monitoring protocols, site characterization studies, hazardous substance assessment and remedial design, and operations and maintenance activities. Recent task orders cover removal action design and cultural resources input, annual operations and monitoring at specific CERCLA sites (Blackjack/Bluebird, White King/Lucky Lass, Champion Mine), feasibility studies, PRP searches, and sample handling and disposal activities.

Competition was concentrated among a small set of established environmental and mining remediation firms. Alta Science & Engineering Inc. (six orders, $1 million potential value) and Applied Intellect LLC (six orders, $690 thousand potential value) dominated prime awards, accounting for roughly 48% of combined potential value. Herrera Environmental Consultants Inc. (four orders, $356 thousand), Sundance-Ea Partners, LLC (five orders, $199 thousand), and two smaller firms completed the awardee base. Ninety-two percent of all task orders went to the top four primes.

Nearly all ordering (24 of 25 task orders, $2.4 million of potential value) funded Forest Service Region 6 programs, with a single order for Region 10. All task orders were competed unrestricted; no set-asides were employed. Task order values ranged from minimum guarantee orders at $2.5 thousand to $411 thousand, with most individual orders in the $25 thousand to $170 thousand range.

The scope of this solicitation covers A/E services for an array of Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) response actions at abandoned mine sites located on National Forest System Lands in Region 6 and 10. These sites are known or suspected to contain mine waste and hazardous substances that are or may be putting human health and/or the environment at risk.