1-105D RequestforProposal.pdf

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

ENGINEERING DESIGN AND PERMITTING OF ABANDONED MINE RECLAMATION

105D DISCHARGE AREA, CENTRE COUNTY

Trout Unlimited (“TU”) is soliciting proposals for specialized engineering design, permitting, and construction oversight services to support the reclamation of abandoned mine land (AML) features at a discharge area (105D discharge area) in the Beech Creek watershed. The project is located at latitude/longitude coordinates 41.061927°, -77.898399°, in Snow Shoe Township, Centre County PA. The project involves the design and permitting for reclamation of abandoned mine features, including abandoned high walls, spoils, pits, and underground mine entrances.

This RFP is being used to support an application to the Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (BAMR) AML/AMD Grant Program for funding. Any contract resulting from this RFP will be contingent on TU receiving the grant award, and subject to the terms and conditions of the final grant agreement. Therefore, the project must meet Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) and Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (BAMR) design requirements as well as landowner goals.

The 105D discharge area is located on a single property and is the result of several underground mine entrances and subsequent surface mining activity. Some of the abandoned surface mine features abut a neighboring property. TU has been coordinating with the primary landowner and has received a BAMR Consent for Right of Entry form signed by all owners named on the deed to support an AML/AMD Grant application. While reclamation on this single property is possible, it would be preferrable for the grading to extend slightly onto the neighboring parcel to fully restore approximate pre-mining grades. For this project, TU will be responsible for securing additional landowner permission as needed. In the event that the neighboring landowner is unwilling to participate in reclamation activities, the project will move forward with the signed landowners only.

To support development of a Proposal, potential bidders (“Contractors”) are provided with the basic project information provided above and below, as well as the attached AMD Technical Assistance Report. Contractors should base their cost estimate on this information, as well as the Contractor’s interpretation of existing site conditions and anticipated project needs.

Project Requirements:

- Design must comply with all relevant and prevailing (local, State, and Federal) design and construction standards.

- Design must restore the site to approximate pre-mining contours in such a manner that surface water drains away from abandoned underground mine workings.

- Design must include the addition of alkaline material to soil sufficient to neutralize, to the extent practicable, any remaining coal waste or acid-producing material within the reclamation area.

- Design must include replacement of existing underground mine drains with new drainage/collection systems.

Drainage/collection systems should be designed in a manner that facilitates future monitoring and treatment of AMD on the property after reclamation is complete.

- Design must consider landowner preferences regarding seed mixes/replanting plans and configuration of mine drains to minimize impacts to their cabin driveway and enjoyment of the property.

Anticipated Scope of Work:

The extent of all data collection, analyses, design, reporting and other work tasks to be performed by the Contractor should be limited to those necessary to satisfy the project requirements listed above, tasks outlined in the Scope of Work, and the requirements to meet standards of administrative completeness for the applicable regulatory permits and/or registrations governing the project.

Design and permitting (Phase 1: Tasks 1-6) will be funded by one AML/AMD Grant Program grant. Construction activities, including the services provided by a design consultant (Phase 2: Tasks 7-8) will be completed under a subsequent grant following the successful design and permitting of the reclamation project.

Contractor’s Single Point-of-Contact / Project Manager

Contractor shall identify a single individual under the Contractor’s direct employ to act as Contractor’s primary point-of-contact and Project Manager for the project. This single point-of-contact will be responsible for the Contractor’s project administration; all project meetings and correspondence between the Contractor and TU and their supporting partners; preparation of project reports and invoices; and all coordination with any of the Contractor’s subcontractors, if applicable.

Phase 1 – Design and Permitting

Task 1. Site Investigations and Mapping

Contractor (or their designated subcontractor) will provide sufficient topographic survey necessary to inform all aspects of project design. At minimum, survey data shall be collected within all areas where any modifications of existing field conditions are proposed. All field surveys must be tied to permanent benchmarks (2 minimum), located within readily-accessible proximity to the project site. Hardcopy and digital mapping shall include detailed descriptions of locations and elevations of benchmarks/control points. All surveys shall be performed in a known coordinate system and datum. Mapping shall include corresponding datum and coordinate system information.

Additional data collection necessary to completion of the design should be accounted for under this task, including property line surveys, delineation of Waters of the United States (WotUS) and Waters of the Commonwealth subject to state and/or federal regulations, any additional geochemical data deemed necessary.

In their proposal, the Contractor will identify gaps in the existing data for the site and describe their approach to collecting data necessary to complete the design package.

Task 2. Site Dewatering Plan

Contractor will develop a plan for dewatering of flooded pits and managing underground mine discharge during construction. This plan will include the method and sequence of dewatering, including any temporary storage or treatment of water.

Task 3. Grading Plan

Contractor will develop a grading plan to remove surface mine features including high walls, spoil piles, and pits as shown on the maps included with the attached AMD Technical Assistance Report. The grading plan should restore the site to approximate pre-mining contours, with the goal of draining surface water away from the underground mine workings with minimal infiltration. The grading plan shall include material estimates for alkaline addition requirements and any other soil amendments deemed necessary to neutralize acidity and facilitate successful revegetation of the site.

The grading plan should take into consideration the fact that future goals for the site include ongoing monitoring of AMD discharge from the underground mine to develop plans for future passive treatment.

During the design process, the Contractor will consult with TU and the landowner to ensure that the final reclamation plan takes into consideration future activities at the site.

Task 4. Underground Mine Drainage/Collection System Design

The Contractor will incorporate new underground mine drainage/collection systems into project design to replace the existing mine drains, which are not functioning as intended. The design/plans for drainage systems will include the following steps/elements:

- Excavation and removal of existing drains

- Installation of new drainage/collection systems

- Management of mine water during/after construction

Designs should take into consideration the ease of future monitoring (water chemistry and flow), landowner considerations (piping all drainage systems to one side of the access road), and future treatment options.

Task 5. Permitting

The Contractor will, upon review of project site conditions and anticipated impacts to regulated resources, determine the applicable regulatory permit(s) under which this project will be authorized by the PA Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), Centre County Conservation District, US Army Corps of Engineers, and any municipal or county permitting authorities relevant to the project.

Under this Task, the Contractor will be responsible for the following:

- Prepare all project design elements in conformance with all (local, state, and federal) existing regulatory permit requirements

- Prepare and submit all necessary supporting documentation to meet minimum administrative completeness standards of applicable regulatory requirements.

- Provide response to regulatory review comments following permit application/registration submittal, including any design/plan modifications to satisfy regulatory review.

- Contractor will provide one digital copy of the entire, complete submitted permit application/registration package and permit approval or acknowledgement letters from regulating agencies to Trout Unlimited, Inc. including all design / detail drawings; Erosion & Sedimentation Control Plans; PNDI and PASHPO screenings and associated regulatory consultations (if required); dewatering plans and all other supporting documents submitted with the permit application/registration and approval letters provided by regulating agencies.

Task 6. Construction Documents and Construction Cost Estimate

Contractor will supply Trout Unlimited, Inc. with a complete set of design/construction plans, to include detail drawings and technical specifications as necessary to affect proper implementation of the project. Comparison of existing and proposed conditions must be shown, as well as proposed erosion & sedimentation (E&S) control and dewatering measures to be utilized.

All critical elevations, grades, slopes and other design criteria essential to proper construction, including replacement of mine drains, must be clearly marked on the construction plans.

Contractor will supply a material quantity estimate for excavation, alkaline addition, replacement mine drain structures, E&S controls and all other construction materials and quantities required for the project.

Where required, construction plans/documents shall bear the seal of a Professional Engineer licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Contractor shall provide TU with one digital copy (PDF format) and two hardcopies of the design/construction documents package. Electronic shapefiles and/or CAD files of project elements shall be made available upon request.

Contractor shall provide TU with an estimated total cost to construct the designed project and a breakdown of costs for each major construction element. Estimated costs for each major construction element shall include at minimum the categories below:

1) Mobilization/demobilization

2) Replacement of underground mine drains

3) Grading and alkaline addition

4) Access road maintenance, improvement, or modification (as needed)

5) Erosion and sediment controls

6) Site stabilization/revegetation

7) Municipal permits and road bonds (if applicable)

The intended funding source for future construction of the project being engineered/permitted under this proposal is a federal grant subject to the Davis Bacon Act and PA Prevailing Wage Law. As the Contractor, engineering services are not included in the Davis Bacon Act or PA Prevailing Wage Law, but components of construction will be. For this reason, the Contractor should include Davis Bacon and prevailing wages in estimates for project construction categories above.

Please note that if subcontractors such as drill rigs, heavy equipment operators, etc. are used to conduct site investigations as part of the design process (spoil pile investigations, etc.) they will also be subject to Davis Bacon and PA Prevailing Wage Law, and any cost estimate including those labor categories as part of the site investigation should take this into account.

Phase 2 – Construction Bidding Support and Construction Oversight

Task 7. Construction Bidding Support

Construction activities and construction oversight (Phase 2) will be funded by a second AML/AMD Grant, which will be submitted by TU using the design and construction cost estimates provided by the Contractor under previously described tasks. Contractors that have both engineering and construction capabilities will not be eligible to bid on the construction itself, as it is not permissible for a Contractor to bid on a scope of work that they have helped to develop.

The Contractor will assist TU by attending a bid meeting with prospective construction firms and answering bidders’ questions about project specifications and bid document contents. The Contractor will review construction proposals and bidder qualifications with TU; however, TU retains sole discretion in selecting a construction firm. The successful construction firm will be contracted directly by TU, not subcontracted to the oversight Contractor.

Task 8. Construction Oversight

The Contractor will provide construction oversight for the implementation of the reclamation design. The Contractor will directly oversee the construction process in the field, ensure that the design is implemented correctly, adjust for field conditions as necessary in coordination with TU and the Landowner(s), and create the “As-built” drawing package for the Project. The Contractor will also assist TU with the review of construction invoices.

In the Proposal, please identify proposed costs for the bidding and contractor selection as one cost, and identify the construction oversight cost on a “cost per day” basis.

Insurance Requirements

General Insurance Requirements:

The Contractor will carry liability insurance, including general liability coverage and professional errors and omissions coverage (if providing professional services), covering the services performed for TU and described in this Contract. The policy limits shall be at least $2,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate. The $2,000,000 limits referred to in this paragraph may include the Contractor’s umbrella or excess policy, provided the terms of the umbrella or excess policy follow the form of the underlying policy. Contractor shall also carry Worker's Compensation Insurance to meet fully the requirements of applicable workers' compensation laws in connection with the death, disability or injury of Contractor’s employees arising directly or indirectly out of the performance of the services to be provided under this Agreement.

Grant-Specific Insurance Requirements:

The AML/AMD Grant Program carries certain specific insurance requirements which must also be met by the Contractor’s insurance policy:

1. Comprehensive General Liability Insurance, including bodily injury and property damage insurance, to protect the Commonwealth and the Contractor from claims arising out of the performance of the Agreement. The amount of public bodily insurance shall not be less than $1,000,000 per occurrence. The amount of property damage insurance shall not be less than $500,000 per occurrence. If the policy is issued for bodily injury and property damage combined, the amount shall not be less than $1,500,000 per occurrence. Coverage shall include underground, explosion, and collapse hazards.

2. Automotive Liability Insurance, including bodily injury and property damage insurance, to protect the Commonwealth and the Contractor from claims arising out of the performance of the Agreement. The amount of automobile bodily insurance shall not be less than $500,000 per person and $1,000,000 per occurrence. The amount of automobile property insurance shall not be less than $500,000 per occurrence. If policy is issued for bodily injury and property damage combined, the amount shall not be less than $1,500,000 per occurrence.

The required insurances shall be of the Contractual Liability type and the named insurance parties shall include the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Trout Unlimited, Inc. All insurances must be occurrence based and “claims made” policies are not acceptable. The insurances shall not contain any endorsements, or any other form designed to limit and restrict any action by the Commonwealth, as an additional insured, against the insurance coverages regarding the work performed by the Commonwealth.

Prior to the commencement of work, the Contractor must provide Trout Unlimited, Inc. with current Certificates of Insurance meeting the requirements set forth above. These Certificates shall contain a provision that coverage afforded under the policy shall not be cancelled or changed until at least thirty days written notice has been given to Trout Unlimited, Inc. and the Commonwealth.

Contract Terms

The Contract will be completed on a Time and Materials (T&M) basis with a “not to exceed” cost. Refer to the attached contract template as an example of TU’s standard service agreement. Please note this contract template is a draft and there may be verbiage changes when the final contract is received. Please note that state and federal requirements will apply to this project, as dictated by the AML/AMD Grant Program. For the purposes of this RFP, the state and federal requirements from past AML/AMD Grants received by TU have been included in this RFP package for your review. Similarly, insurance requirements of the final contract will be no less than what is included in the draft contract template; adjustments to specific language will be made as needed to incorporate the AML/AMD Grant’s specific requirements.

Disadvantaged Business Entity (DBE) Identification

If your company qualifies as a DBE, you may choose to indicate such along with any formal DBE certifications in your Letter of Interest.

Contractor Selection Criteria

TU will select a Contractor based on the following criteria. Although all listed criteria will be considered, qualifications and approach are the two most important criteria for the scoring team.

• Qualifications – Relevant expertise in AML reclamation, engineering design, permitting, and grant compliance.

• Approach – The Contractor’s proposed method to accomplish all tasks identified in the Scope of Work.

• References – Please provide up to three references for past AML reclamation work (not including TU).

• Cost – Overall cost will be considered as a selection factor but is not the primary selection criteria for this project.

• Schedule – Estimated timeline for completion of each task in the Scope of Work, and overall timeline to complete the overall Scope and provide all deliverables.

TU reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and waive any and all formalities in selecting the most advantageous Contractor.

Response Submittal Requirements

RFP Documents can be obtained at no cost on PennBid at https://pennbid.bonfirehub.com/. Proposals must be submitted electronically via PennBid by the date and time indicated. Questions regarding this project shall be submitted electronically via the “Ask a Question” feature in PennBid no later than the date and time indicated.

Responses to questions which require an addendum or changes to the RFP Documents will be issued via a Public Notice and posted on PennBid. Bidders who have registered with and downloaded documents for this project from PennBid will be notified by email when a change or addenda has been posted.

Please provide the following materials in your response to this RFP:

1. Letter of Interest (LOI) to Trout Unlimited, Inc. briefly outlining your firm’s qualifications for AML reclamation design, understanding of the services requested by Trout Unlimited, Inc., and any additional certifications.

2. Proposal document describing the approach you would take to accomplishing each task identified in the Scope of Work along with estimated timelines for completion of each task and the Project overall.

3. Completed Unit Cost Sheet (located on PennBid)

Deadline to submit proposal: September 26th, 2025, 5:00pm.

https://pennbid.bonfirehub.com/

UNIT COST SHEET

PROPOSED FEE: ENGINEERING DESIGN AND PERMIT OF ABANDONED MINE RECLAMATION

105D DISCHARGE AREA – SNOWSHOE TOWNSHIP, CENTRE COUNTY

Note: The Unit Cost Sheet is included with the Bidding Documents for Reference. Bidders shall complete the electronic bid form within PennBid (“Prepare Your Submission” tab), inclusive of all pricing items and required supporting documents as identified.

Task Estimated Cost

Task 1. Site Investigation and Mapping $_________________

Task 2. Site Dewatering Plan $_________________

Task 3. Grading Plan $_________________

Task 4. Underground Mine Drainage/Collection System Design $_________________

Task 5. Permitting (Not Including Permit Fees) $_________________ (no fees)

Estimated Permit Fees $_________________ (fees only)

Task 6. Construction Documents/Construction Cost Estimate $_________________

Task 7. Construction Bidding Support $_________________ (total)

Task 8. Construction Oversight $_________________ (daily rate)