B08_-_RFQ_Mine_Mill_Data_Software_and_Training.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

National Operations Center

Denver Federal Center, Building 85 (OC-662) P.O. Box 25047

Denver, Colorado 80225-0047

It is

9/10/2025

Formal Request for Quote (RFQ) – Mine and Mill Data, Software, and Training

1. Introduction

The BLM Intends to issue a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) competitive award for Mine and Mill Data, Software, and Training

2. Instructions For Responses

Responses to this RFQ are voluntary in nature. Submission of quote is not a guarantee of award or agreement with the Government. Unsuccessful quoters will not be reimbursed for their submissions.

All quotes are required to be submitted via email to legli@blm.gov by September 22, 2025/12:00PM EST.

Requests for Information: Questions regarding this solicitation must be submitted in writing via email to legli@blm.gov by September 18, 2025 / 5:00PM EST.

Quotation due Date: Responses to this RFQ are to be received no later than September 22, 2025 / 12:00PM

EST.

3. Requirements Background and Scope

See Statement of Work (SOW), clauses and provisions, and wage determination below for details.

4. Contract Type

This RFQ is for a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) purchase order for one (1) year with a period of performance of 9/25/2025 – 9/24/2026.

NAICS Code – 541519 – Other Computer Related Services $34M Size standard

PSC – R499

5. Administration

The Contracting Officer is the only government official who is authorized to enter into, administer, and/or terminate contracts and make related determinations and findings.

Government POCs:

Laura Egli Contracting Officer legli@blm.gov

Tyson Sackett Contracting Officer Representative (COR) tsackett@blm.gov

6. Instructions

An award may be made to the responsible Quoter, whose Quotation, in conforming to this RFQ, provides an overall best value to the Government, technical evaluation factors, and price considered. The Government will use a trade-off process to make award decisions and may make an award to other than the lowest priced Quoter or other than the highest technically rated Quoter.

In performing this comparative evaluation all evaluation factors, including price, will be considered.

Award to a higher priced quote may be made when the benefits of such a quote merit the additional price to the Government. Between quotations that are evaluated as technically equal in quality, price will become a major consideration in selecting the successful Quoter. The following two (2) factors shall be used to evaluate all quotations:

a. Factor 1 - Technical

The following criteria will be used to evaluate each vendor's quote, determining their ability to meet the requirements outlined within the SOW. Each vendor’s technical quote will be evaluated to determine if the vendor provides a sound, compliant approach that meets the requirements in this request for quote and demonstrates a thorough knowledge and understanding of the requirements. An overall evaluation rating will be assigned upon completion of the technical quote evaluations. If a vendor receives a technical rating of unacceptable, they will not be considered for this award.

Area 1 –Evidence of the ability to provide Mine and Mill Cost Data.

Area 2 -Evidence of the ability to provide Reclamation Bond Cost Programs.

Area 2- Provide curriculum of Online Technical Training and demonstrate ability to offer logins and training as required by the SOW within 30 days to include a project plan and milestones.

The ratings of Acceptable or Unacceptable will be used to evaluate Factor 1.

b. Factor 2 - Price

Price must be determined complete and reasonable, and will be evaluated as follows:

Price will be evaluated to determine if it is complete and reasonable. For price to be reasonable, it must also represent a price to the Government that a prudent person would pay in the conduct of competitive business for the level of effort required.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is requesting FFP quote for the services required in the SOW.

FFP quotes shall cover all services, deliverables and acceptable levels of quality required in the attached

SOW.

The contractor(s) shall furnish all personnel, facilities, equipment, materials, supplies and services, and otherwise do all things necessary for, or incidental to, the satisfactory performance of this order at a FFP.

7. Basis of Award

All quotes will be evaluated based on the evaluation factors above using comparative evaluation to achieve best value. All items under factor 1 will be considered together for purposes of assigning a rating.

Non-Price Factor 1 are weighted above Price Factor 2. If capabilities supporting the Non-Price Factors is determined similar, price may be the deciding factor.

The Best Value comparative evaluation process will be accomplished as follows: Upon receipt, quotes will be reviewed for completeness and compliance with RFQ instructions. Determination of complete and accurate quotes that are eligible for award will be achieved through a process of evaluating each quote against the Evaluation Factors prior to further consideration.

a. Factor 1 – Technical

Your Quote will be evaluated for the extent to which it meets stated requirements and demonstrates an acceptable approach.

b. Factor 2 – Price

Total Price, derived from your quote will be evaluated to determine if it is fair and reasonable. All quotes will be compared equally with one and other to determine the best value.

8. Award and selection

In accordance with FAR 13.106-2(b)(3), the government will evaluate quotations using a comparative evaluation process.

a. Award will be based on a determination of best value to the government, price, and other factors considered. This method does not use any aspects of FAR subpart 15.3.

b. Following receipt of responses, the government may perform a comparative analysis (comparing quotes to one another). This method supports the selection of the contractor that is best suited to fulfill the requirements, based on their responses to the factors outlined in this request.

c. The government anticipates selecting the best suited contractor from initial responses, without engaging in exchanges. Contractors are strongly encouraged to submit their best solutions and prices in response to this request.

d. Once the government determines a contractor is the best-suited (i.e., the apparent successful contractor), the government reserves the right to communicate with only that contractor to address any remaining issues, if necessary, and finalize a purchase order with that company. These issues may include issues with technical, pricing and terms and conditions. If the parties cannot successfully address any remaining issues, as determined pertinent at the sole discretion of the government, the government reserves the right to communicate with the next best-suited contractor based on the original analysis and address any remaining issues. Once the government has begun communications with the next best-suited contract holder, no further communications with the previous contract holder will be entertained until after the task order has been awarded. This process shall continue until an award has been made.

Statement of Work Mine and Mill Cost Estimation Data

Mine and Mill Reclamation Bond Cost Estimation Software Mining, Geology, Milling, Metallurgy and Cost Estimation Training

Prepared, July 2025

Regularly Updated Source for Information to Be Used in Mining Claim Patent and Validity Examinations, Training and Other Mineral Related Public Land Administration Actions.

1.0 Background

In the conduct of business operations, the U. S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is required to undertake examinations of mining claims to determine compliance with the Mining Laws of the United States (30 USC 22, et seq). The BLM also undertakes analyses of mines and proposed mines under the United States Mineral Leasing Act (30 USC 181) and Material Sales Laws (30 USC 601). In such cases, the costs of mining, milling, processing and reclamation must often be estimated. In related work, BLM is required to estimate the costs of performance and/or reclamation to confirm that bonds filed pursuant to 43 CFR 3470, 3504, 3602, 3809 are adequate. BLM must maintain a qualified, certified, professional, and highly competent workforce that can evaluate mining claims, mineral deposits, mineral properties and estimating capital, operating and reclamation costs as well as performing other land management functions requiring scarce mining-related skills.

2.0 Objectives

2.1 Preparation of adequate and reliable cost estimates requires an accurate, timely, and reliable source of cost information as a product that can be cited, that is regionally applicable, accepted by the mining industry and regularly updated. For simplicity, the content of this Objective may be referred to herein as “Mine Cost Data.”

2.2 Preparation of adequate and reliable bond value confirmations or estimates similarly requires an accurate, timely, and reliable means of calculating and confirming bond amounts, in the form of software product that can be cited, that is regionally applicable, accepted by the mining industry, and regularly updated. The reclamation bond cost software must use the same form and content of data as in Objective 2.1. For simplicity, the content of this Objective may be referred to herein as “Reclamation Bond Cost Program.”

2.3 Work that has created the need for Objectives 2.1 and 2.2 requires that BLM be able to recruit, train and maintain highly skilled professional staff. To do so, the products that support Objectives 2.1 and 2.2 and meet this Objective must be supported by a robust curriculum of online technical training that is available to BLM staff without the need for travel costs. The best such training curriculum will consist of online computer-based courses that may be supplemented or augmented from time to time by in-person courses at selected locations, satellite broadcasts, webinars or other means, and all must be supported by a vendor that is capable of working with BLM to create new training or modify existing training to meet BLM’s needs. For simplicity, the content of this Objective may be referred to herein as “Online Training.”

The three above objectives thus become the three Basic Content Requirements in Section 4.0 of this Statement of Work. The successful quoter will be awarded a one-year contract.

3.0 Specific Definitions

Terms not herein defined are to be construed within the normal, scientific, and industry-accepted usage of the mining, milling, and refining industry.

3.1 “North America” includes the United States and Canada, but not Mexico. For purposes of this contract, “United States” includes Alaska, but excludes Hawaii, the Marshall Islands, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other United States Possessions.

3.2 “Quarterly Update” means that cost information shall be current as of the calendar quarter preceding the one in which the update is made. For example, a quarterly update dated June 30, 2020, will present cost information current through March 31, 2020.

3.3 “Cost Information” includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the specific requirements listed in section 4.1.

3.4 “Reclamation Bond Cost Estimation Software” includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the specific requirements listed in section 4.2.

3.5 “Professional mining, milling, geology, mineral processing and reclamation training” includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the specific requirements listed in section 4.3.

3.6 “Website” means a location on the worldwide web, using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) system, hosted by the contractor, that BLM users may access to use the specified products, once they have created a user profile.

3.7 “Compliant with BLM’s computer system” means a program that has been tested and approved by the appropriate staff of the Bureau’s Information Technology offices, if the program is to be installed on a BLM computer.

3.8 “Ton” means one U.S. ton of 2,000 avoirdupois pounds.

3.9 “Tonne” means one metric ton of 1,000 kilograms, or approximately 2,200 avoirdupois pounds.

3.10 “Burden” means costs of Workers’ Compensation and Unemployment Insurances, Social Security (FICA) and other necessary employment costs beyond wages paid to employees.

3.11 Within this Statement of Work and any accompanying documents, the words “indexes” and “indices” may be used interchangeably and will carry the same meaning.

3.12 Within this statement of work, “non-credit access” means that the user of online training may log into and browse any online class for personal or professional enrichment, but in so doing, will not be able to take the final examination or obtain credit for completion. “Non-credit access” is roughly comparable to “auditing” a college course, and BLM may use the term “auditing” from time to time to assist employees in understanding the concept. Browsing or “auditing” an online class must not prevent a user from later undertaking the online class for credit.

3.14 As may be used in this Statement of Work and in any related documents, an Optional Item means goods or services that are not Basic Content Requirements, but are goods or services that the Government may desire to obtain, at its sole discretion.

4.0 Specific Requirements

4.1 First Basic Content Requirement: Mine and Mill Cost Data.

4.1.1 Cost indexes and updated cost indices data shall include, but are not limited to:

• Consumer Price Index,

• Producer Price Index,

• Mining and Milling Cost Indices, applicable to the United States and Canada, and

• Such proprietary or composite indices as are appropriate to adequately index prices normally associated with typical mining and milling operations in North America.

4.1.2 Labor and benefit costs for the United States and Canada data shall include, but are not limited to:

• Metal and industrial mineral surface and underground labor and benefit summary rates for eastern and western United States,

• Metal and industrial mineral surface and underground mine labor and benefit summary rates for all of the United States,

• Metal and industrial mineral mine wage scales and benefits organized by States,

• Federal employment taxes for mine labor in the United States and Canada,

• State and Provincial employment taxes for mine labor in the United States and

Canada.

• State and Provincial equivalent Workers’ Compensation Rates,

• State and Provincial equivalent Unemployment Insurance Rates, and

• Wage scales and benefit plans for Canadian mines, organized by Province.

4.1.3 Modeled costs for representative surface and underground mines and mills data shall include, but are not limited to:

• All labor, supplies, materials, and operation costs, including costs of on-site management, administration, and supervision,

• Salaries and wages organized by job or profession and mine or mill size, including burden with burden percent,

• Benefits and employment taxes,

• Development costs on the site,

• Applicable sales taxes for purchased supplies and equipment, but no other taxes,

• Purchase and installation or construction of mine and mill equipment and facilities,

• Necessary haul road construction, assuming a compact facility footprint,

• Construction and engineering management fees,

• Tailings disposal,

• Working capital as a clearly identified factor,

• General climate (annual weather), and

• Mine operations, including but not necessarily limited to:

--Drilling & blasting, --Excavation of waste, overburden and ore, --Haulage of ore and waste from pit or shaft collar to processing facility or waste dump, and --Installation, construction, operation, maintenance, and repair of all systems including water, electrical, fuel, drainage, sanitation, laboratories, offices, parts and supply warehousing, and storage of explosives.

• The costs and other factors considered in each model shall be clearly listed.

4.1.3.1 Surface mine facilities to be modeled in the data shall include, but are not limited to:

• Surface mines of approximate daily production in tonnes and stripping ratios:

Tonnes produced daily: 250; 500; 1,000; 2,000; 5,000; 10,000; 20,000;

40,000; 80,000, and

• At stripping ratios of: 1:1, 2:1, 4:1 and 8:1.

4.1.3.2 Underground mine facilities for data purposes shall be modeled, calculated separately as adit entry and shaft entry at three different production rates based on each method’s normal productivity. Categories for this underground mine facilities data are listed below in roughly increasing order of productive potential. Underground mine facilities data shall include, but are not limited to:

• Cut and Fill,

• Shrinkage,

• End Slice,

• Vertical Crater Retreat, also known as VCR,

• Sublevel Longhole,

• Room and Pillar,

• Sublevel Caving, and

• Block Caving.

4.1.3.3 For data purposes, mill facilities to be modeled shall include, but are not necessarily limited to: Flotation, cyanide leach through agitation, and carbon-in pulp leach. Each mill facility shall be calculated for at least three daily production rates, appropriate to their productive potential, and in tonnes per day. Mill operations and facilities data shall include, but are not limited to:

• Flotation, in one, two, or three concentrate product designs, to include conditioners, pumps, launders, pulp distribution, and self-aerating flotation devices,

• Cyanide leach operations, through agitation and Merrill-Crowe zinc precipitation, including countercurrent decantation, clarification, zinc precipitation and precious metal filtration, carbon scavenger recovery, bullion refining and casting, and acid pretreatment of precipitates,

• Carbon-in-pulp (CIP) operations, including stripping, acid treatment and carbon reactivation, electrowinning, scavenger recovery, bullion refining and casting, and countercurrent transfer,

• Each method, mill cost information shall include as appropriate: concentrate thickening, including slurry feed estimated at 35% solids at -200 mesh, thickened to 60% solids, applicable settling areas,

• Tailings thickening, including slurry feed of about 40% solids thickened to 60% solids, with applicable settling area,

• Tailings disposal via dry stacking which may include addition of Portland cement, or another additive intended to provide physical stabilization and/or control pH,

• Tailings disposal via paste backfill which may include addition of Portland cement, or another additive intended to provide physical stabilization and/or control pH,

• Crushing and grinding of medium to hard ore from mine-run size to approximately 80% passing -200 mesh, including primary crushers, ball and/or semi-autogenous grinding mills, pumps, cyclones, screens, conveyors, and feeders,

• Concentrate filtering and drying involving, as applicable, rotary disk filters, pumps, pipes, blowers, and a filtering rate appropriate to the throughput; and moisture reduction from about 15% to 1% using natural gas, propane, or fuel oil, or a combination, and

• Tailings transport and disposal, involving pumps, cyclones, pipes, of about 90 to 100 feet of head over about ½ mile.

4.1.4 Data for electric power costs for North America shall be broken out by State and Province, and shall include regional information and costs and any applicable discounts from electric power suppliers.

4.1.5 Data for natural gas costs for North America shall be broken out by State and Province, and include regional information and costs and any applicable discounts from suppliers.

4.1.6 Data for Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) costs, where available, for North America shall be broken out by State and Province, and include regional information and costs and any applicable discounts from suppliers.

4.1.7 Cost information for mine and mill supplies, and related routine services (such as assaying and analysis) data shall include, but are not limited to:

• Asphalt; bags (paper, fabric, and plastic lined); bearings and assemblies; brattice material; carbon [generally for Carbon-In-Pulp (CIP) systems]; portland cement; flotation and other appropriate chemicals; concrete, steel, timber and lumber materials for construction; electrical conduit; conveyor belts, belting, idlers, mine-duty pulleys or sheaves; liners for crushers; diamond drilling supplies; dragline mats and rigging;

drainage matting; drill bits and drill steel for large diameter blast holes and small diameter percussion holes; general drilling supplies including drill fluid additives; dust retardants; explosives and related accessories; erosion control materials for slopes; fuels and lubricants, balls, and mill liners; hand tools, disposal of hazardous wastes; heavy media and jig bed material (“ragging”); ladders; liner materials including synthetic membrane and steel plate; mine roof jacks and roof bolts, roof and rock bolt mats, and resin capsules; liquid nitrogen and oxygen; pallets; general personal items; piping and pressure regulators; railway materials; raise bore bits and cutters; polyurethane and steel mats; additives for shotcrete; sprinklers; tires and tire chains; tunnel support; ventilation tubing; wire mesh and wire rope; and zinc dust, and

• Assay and testing services, to include, but not be limited to, sample preparation; fire assay; ore grade and concentrate grade for metals normally anticipated to occur in metal mines in ores and wastes; whole rock analyses; coal testing, including proximate; ash, total sulfur; volatile matter, British thermal unit (BTU) content, and carbon; coal froth flotation, washability and grindability; metallurgical tests including cyanide bottle roll, shake testing, column, and bulk leach tests; agglomeration, screen analysis; grindability;

spiral and jig concentration; and diamond bulk testing.

4.1.8 Cost information for reclamation supplies and related services data shall include, but not be limited to:

• Bacteriacides; calcium compounds as appropriate; dolomite, lime, soda ash, sodium hypochlorite and gypsum; erosion control blankets and soil stabilizers; fertilizer and seed inoculants; mulch and mulching machines; rock stain; sample containers; native plant seed and seeders; silt fences; tree mats and shelters; wildlife control and exclusion devices; plants, including grasses (warm and cool climates), shrubs and trees (plants and seeds), legumes and wildflowers.

4.1.9 Surface mining equipment data shall include, but are not limited to:

• Backhoes; dragline and dredge blocks; excavators; railroad cars and covers; compactors;

continuous miners; hydraulic cranes; crawler transporters; dredges and cutterheads;

walking and crawling draglines; drills (rotary and percussion crawlers, truck-mounted rotary); graders, haulage dispatch systems; hydraulic mining systems; mobile impact hammers; loaders (crawler, skid steer and wheel); locomotives; scrapers (coal, elevating, standard, tandem and towed); cable and hydraulic shovels; tractors (off highway haulers and wheel); trailers (bottom and rear dump haulers; side tilt and utility tilt); wheeled transporters; dump trucks (mechanical bottom-dump and bottom-dump coal haulers;

flatbed; four wheel drive; rear dump articulated, highway and rigid frame); service trucks; shot loader trucks; and water trucks,

• Capital costs for the above items, and

• Operating costs for the above items, by type, breaking out costs for parts, maintenance labor, fuel and/or power, lubricants, tires, and other factors as applicable.

4.1.10 Underground mining equipment data shall include, but are not limited to:

• Bulk explosive chargers, electrical chargers for cap lamps and locomotives; cap lamps (also known as mine lamps); railcars and dumpers; data and voice communication systems; low profile compressors; concrete pumps; continuous haulage systems (bridge and mobile bridge conveyors; belt storage; chain transfer conveyors; complete systems;

feeder-breakers); contiguous miners (dintheaders, roadheaders); light rock drills (airleg, sinker, stoper); drifters (pneumatic, hydraulic); drifter feeds including telescoping jumbos; blasthole drilling systems and components; load-haul-dump (LHD) and coal scoop tractors; loaders (continuous, overhead shovel and autoloader); coal and noncoal locomotives (diesel, battery and trolley); longwall mining systems (shearers, face shields and retrievers, armored conveyors, mobile roof supports); mine hoists; raise and tunnel borers and climbers; respirators (self-rescuer); rock dusters and roof bolters; scalers, scraper hoists; shaft cutters, shotcreters; shuttle cars; slushier blocks and buckets;

underground ore and coal hauler trucks; tuggers; underground utility vehicles (service, scissors and lube trucks, personnel carriers, cranes, and ANFO loaders); ventilation fans,

• Capital costs for the above items, and

• Operating costs for the above items, by type, breaking out costs for parts, maintenance labor, fuel and/or power, lubricants, tires, and other factors as applicable.

4.1.11 Milling equipment data shall include but not limited to:

• Bag fillers, packers, placers and palletizers; air separators; alluvial material treatment plants; blowers, briquetters; carbon stripping systems; centrifuges; centrifugal gold concentrators; compactors; crushers (for coal and noncoal: roll and double roll, gyratory, hammermill, toggle jaw, cone, impact, and portable screening plants); cyanide analyzers;

wet cyclones (coal and noncoal); density and electrostatic separators; dryers;

electrowinning cells; feeders and distributors (apron, vibrating, wobbler); filters (belt, plate, disk, drum, tube press); flotation machines (column, self-aerating, standard); melt furnaces; grinding mills (rod and ball, rod, semi-autogenous, tower, plus liner cranes and rod chargers); grizzlies; heavy media vessels; jigs (baum, bendelari, circular, duplex, fine coal, shot separator); direct and indirect fired rotary kilns; magnetic separators; mixers (large and small); disk and drum pelletizers; placer gold washing (concentration) units, sluices and tables; pug mills; reagent feeders; retorts; scalpers; screens (dewatering, trommel, vibrating horizontal and inclined); screw classifiers, wet scrubbers; sieves;

solution heaters; spirals; steel cyanidation tanks; thickeners; and vacuum pumps,

• Capital costs for the above items, and

4.1.12 Miscellaneous equipment data shall include, but not be limited to:

• Automatic samplers (belt and slurry); buildings; catalytic diesel filters; compressors (booster, centrifugal, shop, rotary screw); conveyors (in-pit, over-land, process plant, stacking); cranes; diamond drill equipment (drills, pumps, barrels); diesel engines; dust collectors (bag, bin, wet); electrical equipment and transmission lines; alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) electric motors (standard, totally enclosed, explosion proof, crusher duty, Totally Enclosed Fan-Cooled (TEFC), variable speed); tailings evaporators;

explosives storage bins; generators (gasoline and diesel), grinders; personal protective and first aid equipment; laboratory equipment; portable lighting; lime slaking plants;

pumps (trash, fuel, metering, process and slurry, submersible, vertical, water well);

reducers (geared, shaft, worm); tanks (cone, cylindrical, fuel, steel, polyethylene) and truck scales,

• Capital costs for the above items, and

4.1.13 Smelting cost information data shall include but without limitation:

• General map showing locations of smelters in North America,

• Survey of North American smelters including capabilities and restrictions,

• General explanation of how smelter costs and returns are calculated,

• Smelter schedules and explanations for copper, lead, and zinc concentrates, and

• Gold refining explanation and general procedures.

• Where information is available, locations of foreign smelters and other facilities outside of North America that may accept ores, including iron ores, and concentrates from U.S.

operations even if ocean shipping may be required.

• Where information is available, capabilities, payments, deductions and other data for smelters outside of North America.

4.1.14 Data for Federal, State and Provincial income, property, royalty, and other applicable tax information for North America shall include but are not limited to:

• Explanation of tax categories and their applications,

• Compendium of tax rate and application information, organized by State and Province,

• Glossary of tax terms, and

• Sample tax calculations.

4.1.15 Transportation cost information data shall include, but are not limited to:

• Truck shipments and costs,

• Rail shipments and costs,

• Ocean shipments and costs,

• Loading and unloading costs, and

• Commodity-specific costs.

4.1.16 Data shall include referrals to suppliers for budgetary cost information and equipment usage guidance by telephone or by e-mail. Suppliers shall be listed by equipment or service category. A contact person, with contact information shall be provided in each category.

Categories shall include products and services referenced in sections 4.1.1 through 4.1.14, above.

• Contact information is described, for budgetary quote usage advice from equipment and service suppliers sufficient to allow BLM employees to confirm and apply cost information.

• Telephone information and advice shall be limited to no fewer than one weekly topic per user and are to be available to BLM users at no additional cost.

4.2 Second Basic Content Requirement: Reclamation Bond Cost Estimation Program

4.2.1 The program must, at a minimum, be capable of performing all of the functions listed within Section 4.2 and be operable by BLM users logging onto a remote, or “cloud,” server.

o The software shall utilize the mine cost data specified in the Basic Content

Requirement 4.1. That mine cost data may be in any form or format that supports the software’s functionality.

4.2.2 Site work. Must support calculations including, but not limited to:

• Fencing.

• Slope Contouring.

• Soil Stabilization.

• Slope armor.

• Scarification.

4.2.3 Planting and Seeding. Must support calculations including, but not limited to:

• Seeding.

• Planting.

• Soil Amendment(s)

4.2.4 Closures. Must support calculations including, but not necessarily be limited to:

• Adits.

• Shafts.

• Drill holes.

• Leach pads.

• Ponds.

• Pumping.

• Roads.

4.2.5 In Situ Leach (ISL) Remediation, including but not limited to:

• Sweep calculations.

• Well field pumping.

• Well abandonment.

• Deep well excavation.

• Deep well injection.

• Water treatment.

• Acid wash.

• Sampling.

• Solids disposal.

4.2.6 Disposal. Must support calculations including, but not limited to:

• Machinery removal.

• Rubbish disposal.

• Vehicle removal.

4.2.7 Demolition. Must support calculations including, but not limited to:

• Building(s).

• Foundation(s).

• Fence removal.

• Pavement.

• Culvert pipe removal.

4.2.8 Monitoring. Must support calculations including, but not limited to:

• Wells.

• Water treatment

• Sampling.

4.2.9 Related supplies and services. Must support calculations including, but not limited to:

• Workforce requirements.

• Administrative costs.

• Job costs.

• Fleet requirements.

• Mobilization costs.

4.2.10 Flexibility in apportionment of costs. At a minimum, users must be able to utilize site-developed costs in the following areas (but not limited to them).

• Fuel costs.

• Electric costs.

• Personnel costs.

• Sizes of mine workings.

• Haul distances.

• Slopes and cuts.

4.2.11 Program support. The contractor will provide web site, e-mail or telephone technical support to registered users.

• Contractor, at Contractor’s discretion, may limit technical support to ten hours per month from any one office.

4.2.12 For the purposes of the Reclamation Bond Cost Estimation Software, a nomenclature of versions must be followed. The nomenclature should consist of the word “Version” followed by a numerical code that indicates (a) updates or changes to the software or executable file, (b) updates or changes to the embedded tax calculation algorithms, and

(c) updates or changes to the embedded mine cost data. Using “Version 2.4.8” as an example, the first digit (2) would signify the second revision of the software since its initial development. The second digit (4) would signify the fourth revision of the algorithms used to calculate taxes since Version 2 of the software was released. The third digit (8) would signify the fourth update of the embedded Mine Cost Data since Version 2 of the software was released.

• The contractor may develop a different nomenclature of versions that will also meet the needs of BLM, after consultation with and approval of the COR.

4.3 Third Basic Content Requirement: Curriculum of Online Technical Training

4.3.1 Online Training or Distance Learning (also known as Technology-Enhanced Learning) permits BLM employees to obtain training to improve performance in their jobs without leaving their homes or offices. Such training is often delivered through computer-based methods, or others that affect the same end. The BLM requires a wide selection of online technical and professional training for its employees, in subjects that are inherently nongovernmental, in mining engineering, geology, mining geology, ore deposits, metallurgy, metallurgical engineering, mineral processing, social license to mine, and multiple topics related to the products provided under Statement of Work Sections 4.1 and 4.2. The BLM also requests options for BLM professionals to obtain Continuing Education credits. These CEUs would be in the same subjects as listed above.

The nature of distance learning lends itself to flexibility. Therefore, this Statement of Work proposes different means of acquiring professional training by that method.

Creativity by proposed contractors is encouraged. The following subsections suggest different methods of accomplishing this requirement. Proposed contractors are to price the methods specified in 4.3.2.

4.3.2 Plan of Online Training. This plan calls for 50, 75, or 100 online training users per contract year. The users would have professional-enrichment, non-credit access to any online class. This plan would include an unlimited number of verifiable certifications of successful course completion that a user could retain, and that BLM could confirm in the event of an audit. Such access would be controlled via logon(s), user ID(s) and/or password(s) which would be assigned by the contractor. Users will be selected by BLM.

4.3.3 Notification of upcoming webinars, satellite broadcasts, face-to-face classes and other training opportunities that are not included in the online training contract should be placed on the contractor’s website and kept updated. The listing should also show costs and any applicable discounts.

4.4 Optional Items.

4.4.1 Optional Item 1.

The BLM may require access by more users of the deliverable product than the number of users of the Mine Cost Data specified in Section 5.1.5 (below). This Optional Item 1 provides for additional users under the following scenarios:

• One user, authorized for one or two calendar quarters, on a one-time basis,

• Each additional user, on a continuing basis, priced by year or by quarter, and

• Two or more additional users, on a continuing basis, priced by year or by quarter.

4.4.2 Optional Item 2.

The BLM may require access by more users of the Reclamation Bond Cost Program than the number specified in Section 5.1.6. This Optional Item 2 provides for access by additional users under the following scenarios:

• One quarterly or semiannual updated product, on a one-time basis,

• Each additional quarterly or semiannual updated product, on a continuing basis, priced by year or by quarter, and

• Packages of two or more additional quarterly or semiannual updated products, on a continuing basis, priced by year, quarter or by half-year.

4.4.3 Optional Item 3.

BLM may need to add additional online training users during the Base Year or an Option Year.

The users would be in addition to the quantity selected in paragraph 4.3.2, above.

4.4.3.1 Provide one or more additional online training users.

• Price per each user, and

• Price per package of users; suggested package is 10 additional users.

4.4.4 Optional Item 4.

BLM personnel needs training on the use of the Reclamation Bond Cost Program specified in the Second Basic Content Requirement, 4.2. BLM prefers that the training be conducted via Online Training, as specified in the Third Basic Content Requirement, 4.3. If the Bond Cost Program provided under paragraph 4.2 is a product made available to the public, then BLM does not object to the Online Training being made available similarly.

Provide a bid for each of the following design and delivery methods.

4.4.4.1 Design and delivery of Online Training for the Reclamation Bond Cost Program solely for BLM users.

4.4.4.2 Design and delivery of Online Training for the Reclamation Bond Cost Program, for which BLM may pay a portion of the development cost, but would be subsequently open to any user, including BLM users.

4.4.5 Optional Item 5. Coal Cost Data.

The BLM may require cost estimation data analogous to that in the First Basic Content Requirement, Section 4.1, but instead for Coal. This Optional Item would consist of:

4.4.5.1 Cost Indexes, including but not limited to

• Current inflation indices.

• Historic inflation indices.

• Current price references by coal rank and region.

• Historic price references by coal rank and region.

4.4.5.2 Mining wages, including but not limited to

• Wage surveys by mine in the United States.

• Updated at least annually.

• Wage scales, employee benefits and costs of employment.

4.4.5.3 Utility Costs, including but not limited to

• Costs of electric power.

• Costs of natural gas

4.4.5.4 Transportation Costs, including but not limited to

• Costs of truck transportation.

• Costs of rail transportation.

• Costs of ship transportation.

4.4.5.5 Costs of mining and preparation plants, including but not limited to

• Costs of surface mines.

• Costs of underground mines.

• Costs of preparation plants.

4.4.5.6 Production Costs, including but not limited to

• Current production cost data by coal rank and region.

• Historical production cost data by coal rank and region.

4.4.5.7 Equipment Costs for Mining and Processing, including but not limited to

• The content of this requirement would be substantially similar, but not necessarily identical, to the requirements of sections 4.1.8 and 4.1.9 of this Statement of Work.

4.4.5.8 Costs of supplies, including but not limited to

• Mining supplies in general.

• Drill bits, rock bolts, tires, fuel.

• Reagents.

• Reclamation materials such as geotextiles.

• Safety equipment such as hard hats and respirators.

4.4.5.9 Taxes, including but not limited to

• Sales taxes.

• Severance taxes.

• Property taxes.

• Income taxes.

4.4.5.10 The preferred product deliverable of Optional Item 5 (paragraph 4.4.5) is the same the deliverable in paragraph 5.1.2 for Mine Cost Data.

4.4.5.11 The content of Optional Item 5 is to be updated at least annually.

4.4.5.12 Quantity of purchase of Optional Item 5. If this Optional Item is exercised by BLM, then, BLM anticipates purchase of this optional item as follows:

• BLM will provide the names of up to 15 users to the contractor.

4.4.5.13 The BLM may require access by more than 15 users of Optional Item 5. This provides for additional users under the following scenarios, and bids are requested for each:

• One user, on a one-time basis, granted website,

• Each additional user, on a continuing basis, priced by year, granted website access, and

4.4.6 Optional Item 6. Training in The Use of Optional Item 5.

4.4.6.1 Form of the training. BLM anticipates that the training, although unlikely, would require one of the two following formats, and bids are requested for each:

4.4.6.1 Design and delivery of Online Training solely for BLM users.

4.4.6.2 Design and delivery of Online Training for which BLM may pay a portion of the development cost, but would be subsequently open to any user, including BLM users.

4.4.7 Optional Item 7. Historical Mine Cost Data.

From time to time, BLM must perform forensic cost estimates, as well as economic analyses.

This work requires that BLM professional employees estimate and analyze costs and determine economic viability at certain dates in the past. As a result, BLM may desire to obtain mine cost data for prior years, as such information may be available, and in such form as it may be available.

4.4.7.1 To the extent possible, the Historical Mine Cost Data content should substantially meet the format and access requirements within Section 4.1 of this Statement of Work.

4.4.7.2 The preferred formats for presentation of the data under Optional Item 7 would be, in priority order:

4.4.7.2.1 Searchable Adobe Acrobat PDF or HTML.

4.4.7.2.2 Adobe Acrobat PDF, scanned from a paper original.

4.4.7.2.3 Paper copies.

4.4.7.2.4 Other formats as may be deemed useful and acceptable by the Government.

4.4.7.3 The most likely years for which the historical Mine Cost Data may be needed are 1985 through1994.

• The Mine Cost Data, where available, may be priced as an annual compendium, a semiannual compendium, or a quarterly compendium.

• If Mine Cost Data that substantially meets the requirements of Section 4.1 of this Statement of Work is available for years prior to 1985, prices are also requested.

5.0 Schedule and Deliverables.

5.1 Deliverable Product Delivery Schedule

5.1.1 Contractor will maintain one or more secure websites to host the deliverables.

5.1.2 Within 30 days of award, the Contractor shall notify Contracting Officer, COR and

Technical Contact that access to the secure website(s) is available. At a minimum, the notification shall include the following items:

• For Mine Cost Data, o The means through which users will obtain access to the website that contains the Mine Cost Data, including how to set up a user profile, username, password, pass code, etc.

o The means through which users may print excerpts for reports, litigation, training and other important matters.

• For the Reclamation Bond Cost Program, o The means through which users will obtain access to the website that contains the Reclamation Bond Software, including how to set up a user profile, username, password, pass code, etc.

o The means through which users may print excerpts for reports, training and other important matters.

• For Online Training, o The means through which employees will obtain access to the online training for noncredit use.

o The means through which employees will obtain access to the online training for verifiable course completion credit purposes.

o How the employees will obtain certificates of credit.

o How the BLM officials designated by the COR will track completion of each online class.

5.1.3 The contractor will provide quarterly updates to the contents of the Mine Cost Data and quarterly or semiannual updates to the Reclamation Bond Cost Program, including the embedded cost information.

5.1.3.1 The contractor will notify users by email when quarterly or semiannual updates become available.

5.1.5 In the interest of economy, pricing is requested for both quarterly and semiannual updates to the Reclamation Bond Cost Program. The Government will select one or the other.

5.1.6 BLM will authorize and provide names and contact information to the successful bidder of users of the Mine Cost Data specified in Section 4.1 of this Statement of Work.

5.1.7 BLM will authorize and provide names and contact information to the successful bidder of users of the Reclamation Bonding Software specified in Section 4.2 of this Statement of Work.

5.1.8 BLM will authorize and provide names and contact information to the successful bidder of users of the Curriculum of Online Technical Training specified in Section 4.3 of this Statement of Work.

5.1.9 BLM will authorize and provide names and contact information to the successful bidder of users of the Coal Cost Data specified in Section 4.4.5 of this Statement of Work, if this option is selected.

6 Data and/or software shall be updated on or about the end of calendar quarters.

7 Optional Items are to be priced and listed separately.

8 Optional Items shall be requested by BLM and provided by the contractor on an as-needed and as-requested basis.

6 Renewal. At the option of the BLM, this contract may be renewed annually for up to four years following the first year, for a total of five years, e.g., a base year and four option years.

7 Invoicing. The contractor may invoice quarterly on delivery of the product. Total invoices for the base year and each option year may not exceed the firm-fixed-price not-to-exceed amount agreed to by the parties for each period.

8 BLM Contacts

The BLM contract specialist for this contract is Laura Egli:

Phone: 680-290-0686

Email: legli@blm.gov

Address:

Bureau of Land Management

Denver Federal Center, Bldg. 85 Denver, CO 80225

The COR for this contract is Tyson Sackett.

Phone: 307-775-6487 Email: tsackett@blm.gov

Address:

Bureau of Land Management

5353 Yellowstone Road Cheyenne, WY 82009

The Technical Contact for this contract is Stuart Grange.

Phone: 202-507-0891 Email: sgrange@blm.gov Address:

1340 Financial Blvd.

Reno, NV 89502

The contractor will be notified when this changes.

52.252-1 Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998)

This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. The offeror is cautioned that the listed provisions may include mailto:tweaver@blm.gov blocks that must be completed by the offeror and submitted with its quotation or offer. In lieu of submitting the full text of those provisions, the offeror may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es):

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/

52.204-7 System for Award Management (Nov 2024)

52.204-16 Commercial and Government Entity Code Reporting (Aug 2020)

52.204-22 Alternative Line Item Proposal (Jan 2017)

52.209-2 Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations – Representation (Nov 2015)

52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Sep 2023)

52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998)

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address (es):

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/

52.203-12 Limitation on Payments to Influence Certain Federal Transactions (Jun 2020)

52.203-17 Contractor Employee Whistleblower Rights (Nov 2023)

52.204-13 System for Award Management Maintenance (Oct 2018)

52.204-18 Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance (Aug 2020)

52.203-12 Limitation on Payments to Influence Certain Federal Transactions (Jun 2020)

52.203-17 Contractor Employee Whistleblower Rights (Nov 2023)

52.204-13 System for Award Management Maintenance (Oct 2018)

52.204-18 Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance (Aug 2020)

52.204-19 Incorporation by Reference of Representations and Certifications (Dec 2014)

52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Nov 2023)

52.223-5 Pollution Prevention and Right-to-Know Information (May 2024)

52.226-7 Drug-Free Workplace (May 2024)

52.228-5 Insurance -- Work on a Government Installation (Jan 1997) REMOVE IF UNDER

SAT

52.237-2 Protection of Government Buildings, Equipment, and Vegetation (Apr 1984)

52.244-2 Subcontracts (Jun 2020)

52.253-1 Computer Generated Forms (Jan 1991)

PROVISIONS AND CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY FULL TEXT

52.201-1 Acquisition 360: Voluntary Survey (Sep 2023)

(a) All actual and potential offerors are encouraged to provide feedback on the pre-award and debriefing processes, as applicable. Feedback may be provided to agencies up to 45 days after award. The feedback is anonymous, unless the participant self-identifies in the survey. Actual and potential offerors can participate in the survey by selecting the following link:

https://www.acquisition.gov/360.

(b) The Contracting Officer will not review the information provided until after contract award and will not consider it in the award decision. The survey is voluntary and does not convey any protections, rights, or grounds for protest. It creates a way for actual and potential offerors to provide the Government constructive feedback about the pre-award and debriefing processes, as applicable, used for a specific acquisition.

(End of provision)

52.204-24 Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunication and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment (Nov 2021)

The Offeror shall not complete the representation at paragraph (d)(1) of this provision if the Offeror has represented that it "does not provide covered telecommunications equipment or services as a part of its offered products or services to the Government in the performance of any contract, subcontract, or other contractual instrument" in paragraph (c)(1) in the provision at 52.204-26, Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services—Representation, or in paragraph (v)(2)(i) of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications- Commercial Products or Commercial Services. The Offeror shall not complete the representation in paragraph (d)(2) of this provision if the Offeror has represented that it "does not use covered telecommunications equipment or services, or any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services" in paragraph (c)(2) of the provision at 52.204-26, or in paragraph (v)(2)(ii) of the provision at 52.212-3.

(a) Definitions. As used in this provision—

Backhaul, covered telecommunications equipment or services, critical technology, interconnection arrangements, reasonable inquiry, roaming, and substantial or essential component have the meanings provided in the clause 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or…