99SWC-S2513 Bat Gates and AML Programs~3.docx

STATE OF NEVADA

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION

Purchasing Division 515 East Musser Street, Suite 300 │ Carson City, NV 89701 Phone: 775-684-0170 │ Fax: 775-684-0188

Solicitation: 99SWC-S2513 For

ABANDONED MINE LANDS & BAT GATE INSTALLATION SERVICES

Release Date: 10/18/2023 Deadline for Submission and Opening Date and Time: 11/15/2023 @ 2:00 pm

Single point of contact for the solicitation:

Nancy Feser, Purchasing Officer II Phone, 775-684-0175 Email Address, nfeser@admin.nv.gov

(TTY for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 800-326-6868 Ask the relay agent to dial, 1-775-515-5173/V.)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

APPLICABLE REGULATIONS GOVERNING PROCUREMENT

All applicable Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) and Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) documentation can be found at: www.leg.state.nv.us/law1.cfm.

SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT. Vendors and/or their representatives shall only contact the single point of contract or use the electronic procurement system regarding this solicitation until after a notice of award (NOA) has been issued. Failure to observe this restriction may result in disqualification of a proposal per NAC 333.155(3).

Prospective vendors are advised to review Nevada’s ethical standards requirements, including but not limited to NRS 281A, NRS 333.800, and NAC 333.155.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The State of Nevada Purchasing Division is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to provide Abandoned Mine Lands and Bate Gate installation services statewide. The intent of this RFQ is to qualify vendors in which agencies will request bids on an as needed basis from the list of qualified vendors. The RFQ does not hold awarded vendors to any prices, nor does it obligate the State to purchase goods or services from all awarded vendors. The purchase amount will be controlled by the individual using agencies through a purchase order submitted or specific scope of work and accepted by the vendor once an individual project has been bid and awarded and the vendor enters into a Services Agreement with the using Agency.

The State may award one (1) or more contracts in conjunction with this RFQ, as determined in the best interests of the State. It is the intention of the State to award contract(s) on a statewide basis; however, proposals may be considered regionally (Northern, Southern, Rural). The vendor’s proposal must identify the geographic region(s) in which services are being offered.

These contract(s) will be mandatory for State agencies located in geographic regions serviced by the contract. The University and Community College System, the Court System, the Legislative Counsel Bureau, and Political Subdivisions (i.e., cities, counties, school districts, etc.) may use the contract(s) resulting from this RFQ; however, they are not required to do so.

The State Purchasing Division will administer contract(s) resulting from this RFQ. The resulting contract(s) will be for an initial contract term of four (4) years, subject to the Board of Examiners’ approval.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this RFQ is to ensure the availability of qualified professionals on an “as needed” basis for the upcoming years for the entire geographical area of the State. Contracts may be awarded to multiple vendors to meet the needs of the state.

This RFQ covers eight (8) separate but related scopes of work.

Bat Gate Construction and Installation Abandoned Mine Lands Cultural Surveys Abandoned Mine Lands Safeguarding and Permanent Closure Abandoned Mine Lands Inventory and Revisit Program Abandoned Mine Lands Environmental Remediation Abandoned Mine Lands Geological Analysis Abandoned Mine Lands Wildlife Surveys Abandoned Mine Lands Database Research and Data Entry

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

RFQ PROCESS

The process by which RFQ Responses shall be considered for award under this RFQ consists of two (2) distinct stages.

First Stage

The first stage is a determination of whether the vendor qualifies under the set of General Minimum Qualifications. If a vendor is determined to not meet any one of the General Minimum Qualifications, the RFQ response in its entirety shall not be considered for award.

Second Stage

If the vendor meets all the General and Technical Minimum Qualifications, and is awarded a contract under this RFQ, Vendors will be required to follow the guidelines under Sections 3.4 and 3.5 regarding the bidding process.

GENERAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

It is mandatory that each component listed below in the Minimum Qualifications be addressed. Failure to address each component will result in disqualification of the RFQ response. Vendors proposing to receive an award through this RFQ must provide a detailed description of their SOQ, which must include, at a minimum, the following information.

Vendors will be required to have appropriate license(s) and insurance to qualify for all work in this RFQ. Copy of appropriate license(s) must be submitted with proposal; and

Vendors may also be required to provide a Performance Security in the form of a Surety Bond, Certificate of Deposit or Treasury Note. This requirement will be on a project-by-project basis and will be in an amount up to 100% of the project total.

TECHNICAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

It is mandatory that each component listed below in the Technical Minimum Qualifications be addressed. Failure to address each component shall result in disqualification of the RFQ response.

Vendors proposing to receive an award through this RFQ shall provide a detailed description of their SOQ, which shall include, at a minimum, the following information.

Vendors will be required to have appropriate license(s) and insurance to qualify for all work in this RFQ. Copy of appropriate license(s) must be submitted with proposal; and

Vendors may also be required to provide a Performance Security in the form of a Surety Bond, Certificate of Deposit or Treasury Note. This requirement will be on a project-by-project basis and will be in an amount up to 100% of the project total.

BIDDING PROCESS

Using Agencies will utilize a bidding system on an as needed basis for each project, and the awarded vendors will be notified based on the project’s needs. The RFQ does not hold awarded vendors to any prices, nor does it obligate the State to purchase goods or services from all awarded vendors. The purchase amount will be controlled by the individual using agencies through a purchase order submitted to and accepted by the vendor once an individual project has been bid on and awarded.

PROJECT MEETINGS FOR ABANDONED MINE LANDS & BAT GATE INSTALLATION SERVICES

Pre-Work Conference:

A Pre-Work Conference may be held prior to the start of each project. The vendor will be notified in advance of the meeting time, date, and place. The purpose will be to review required work, project drawings and specifications, construction schedules, payments, and administrative provisions of the contract.

The vendor, subcontractors, and the persons responsible for coordination of the work shall be present at the meeting; and The vendor shall be prepared to summarize and explain procedures planned for the project.

SCOPES OF WORK BAT GATES

In accordance with NRS 624, technical responses that include any construction components must be submitted by a contractor licensed in the State of Nevada. Questions regarding this requirement should be addressed to the Nevada State Contractor’s Board at (775) 688-1141 or (702) 486-1100. Any response submitted by a non-licensed vendor, or vendor that has “applied for” license, will not be accepted. A copy of the license or the license number must be submitted in response.

Steel gates or grates will be constructed in adits, shafts, stopes, or any other AML feature as agreed to by the awarded vendor(s) and the State’s designee. The purpose of these gates or grates is to maintain airflow and wildlife access while preventing unauthorized human access into the mine.

Dimensions will be determined by the mine opening size and site preparation. The awarded vendor(s) will be required to make the necessary measurements to ensure that a competent gate or grate is constructed that will prevent unauthorized human access. Very large or irregularly shaped openings may require custom fitting and will be done in consultation with the State’s designee. The awarded vendor(s) may select a stable location for the bat gate, with the State’s designee’s approval.

Depending on the condition, configuration of mine portals and internal climate requirements, several variations of iron gating will be deployed, including, but not limited to, gates, cages, cupolas, steel mesh, and culvert/gate combinations.

The work will consist of, but not necessarily be limited to, fabricating, and installing steel bat gate and grate closures within specific mine adits and shafts. Work will include excavation of loose material and trimming of the mine opening; drilling, placing, and grouting anchors; installation of culverts and/or concrete footers; and fabrication, installation, and welding of steel gates or grates in accordance as agreed to by the awarded vendor(s) and the State’s designee.

All designs or modifications to a design to be used by the awarded vendor(s) must be approved by the State’s designee prior to any work commencing.

Gates must provide a permanent solution to human physical safety concerns.

Gates may utilize but are not restricted to 4-inch angle iron horizontal bars, 4-inch square stock, or 2-inch square stock with inserted and gapped 1-inch corrosion resistant rebar (CRRB) bars, 2-inch x 6-inch rectangle stock with inserted gapped 1-inch CRRB bars, or as instructed by the State’s designee.

Gates must be solidly secured with 1-inch round stock, or the type specified by the State’s designee, drilled, and anchored into the mountain. This may be solid rock, or it may be loose soil and will require culvert gates. The use of Polyurethane expansive foam plug may be used with culverts to anchor the culvert to the mountain. The final decision will be in conjunction with the State’s designee.

When a removable bar is implemented, the gate lock system will be in conjunction with the State’s designee.

Unless ground conditions are not suitable, gate placement must not result in appreciable changes to internal airflow and/or microclimate of wildlife roos.

Gate materials may include, but are not necessarily limited to:

3/8-inch x 4-inch x 4-inch angle (mild) 3/8-inch x 6-inch x 6-inch angle (mild) ¼-inch x 1 ½-inch x 1 ½-inch angle (mild) 1-inch CRRB 3/8-inch x 6-inch flat bar (mild) Steel Mesh (6-inch diamonds) ¼-inch x 4-inch flat bar (mild) 2-inch x 2ft x ¼-inch thick square stock 2-inch x 3/8-inch-thick flat bar 2-inch x 6-inch x ¼-inch thick rectangle stock Rebar Corrosion Resistant Rebar Polyurethane Foam (mine foam) Culvert

Materials that are furnished by the awarded vendor(s) will be at vendor’s cost plus a standard, fixed percentage mark-up. Proposals must identify the mark-up percentage (see Attachment E).

Other equipment/materials that awarded vendor(s) will be required to provide may include, but are not limited to:

Truck, trailer, fuel

ATV/UTV

Backhoe, crane, excavator, dozer, other heavy equipment Assorted Welding equipment and supplies (generator, welder, plasma arc cutter, tanks, cutting torch, welding hoods, etc.)

Personnel First aid equipment Assorted Personal safety equipment (hard hat, gloves, eye protection, safety harness, etc.)

Stands Exhaust fan Fire extinguishers and other fire suppression equipment Assorted Hand tools (hammer drill, screw guns, clamps, grinder, compressor and attachments, shovels, rakes, saws, etc.)

Survey tools (laser levels, scopes straightedges, lighting, power cords, etc.)

Site security Helicopter assisted mobilization of equipment, materials, and personnel.

T-Post remover Fence pliers Man basket.

Dump, utility, camp trailers Job Site/Camp Site equipment (Tents, bedding, food, water, heat, small building structures, etc.)

Awarded vendor(s) will be responsible for all equipment maintenance to perform construction of all wildlife-friendly gate closures.

Proof of experience in construction of BCI-approved bat gates is desirable, but not mandatory.

Provide with your response, a complete and detailed description of welding experience.

Provide with your response, complete and detailed description of bat gate construction experience, including any experience in construction of BCI approved gates.

Provide with your response, a complete and detailed description of experience in fabricating structures to fit odd shaped applications (i.e., mine shaft/adits).

Provide with your response, a complete and detailed description of the ability to transport all materials, unsecure or pre-constructed, to job sites.

Awarded vendor(s) must be able to work in remote locations and be completely self-contained. Camping on-site may be required.

Provide with your response, a complete and detailed description of experience in using polyurethane foam products for sealing vertical and horizontal mine workings.

Provide with your response, a complete and detailed description of experience in using earth moving equipment in uneven terrain with no road access.

Provide with your response, complete and detailed description of experience in working with the State and or Federal agencies.

This solicitation may result in awards to multiple vendors. Vendors must indicate in their response if they will provide service statewide or, if not, which region(s) of the State they are able to provide service to.

SCOPE OF WORK ABANDONED MINE LANDS CULTURAL SURVEYS

The vendor must be able to provide a registered professional archeologist with extensive knowledge of mining archeology to support work on Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) projects. Projects involving the closure of AML hazards on public lands require cultural (archeological) surveys to be completed prior to project approval.

These services, which may be required statewide, must include, but are not limited to:

Performing archeological background research on AML project areas and hazards identified by the State for closure projects.

Performing in-person field surveys around hazardous abandoned mine sites and determining, on a site-by-site basis, whether each hazard displays characteristics that may require National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Section 106 considerations.

Collaborating with BLM and U.S. Forest Service archeologists, and the State, to meet NEPA requirements for Categorical Exclusion (CX) or Environmental Analysis (EA); and, Prepare and provide a report for each project to the State and the appropriate federal agencies.

The State will work with the appropriate federal agencies to identify closure projects. Once projects have been identified, the State will provide project details and the locations of each AML hazard within project areas to the awarded vendor(s).

All project locations will be provided to the vendor(s) in shapefile or geodatabase file format.

The vendor must be able to perform preliminary research of an area to identify previous archeological studies of the area prior to travelling into the field and performing on-location cultural surveys.

The vendor must coordinate with the State and appropriate federal agency archeologists on a proposed plan for survey work, including dates of fieldwork and a projected timeline. The vendor must also submit an estimated project budget, inclusive of mileage and per diem.

During field work, the awarded vendor will be required to photograph and document the presence and condition of AML hazard safeguards, and collect other data required by the requirements of NHPA, Section 106.

Reports provided to the State and respective federal agency must include, but will not be limited in scope to:

Nevada State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) executive summary.

Project description.

A brief mining history of the area.

Research methods.

Previous archaeological studies in the area.

Anticipated findings.

Field data collection methods.

Survey results.

NHPA Section 106 eligibility recommendations; and, Survey management, closure recommendation, and areas of avoidance.

Additionally, awarded vendor(s) shall perform all necessary functions to fulfill the requirements of this scope of work as required by the State, federal land management agency, Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS), Nevada Administrative Codes (NAC), Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), NHPA Section 106 and any other applicable regulations or guidance.

All equipment and supplies required to perform field work must be provided by the awarded vendor(s); awarded vendor(s) will not receive reimbursement for any equipment or supplies.

Awarded vendors must provide a complete and detailed description of the following with their proposal:

Experience with NHPA Section 106.

Experience with mining archeology.

Experience with reporting to and collaborating with federal agencies.

Experience with field survey work.

Experience with archeological background research.

Experience with and examples of archeological report writing.

Experience with GIS software; and, Experience in Nevada or Western U.S. archeology.

All work will be on an as needed basis.

SCOPE OF WORK ABANDONED MINE LANDS SAFEGUARDING AND PERMANENT CLOSURE

In accordance with Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) 624, proposals that include any construction components must be submitted by a contractor licensed in the State.

Questions regarding this requirement should be addressed to the Nevada State Contractor’s Board at (775) 688-1141 or (702) 486-1100.

Any proposal submitted by a non-licensed vendor, or vendor that has applied for license but has not yet received a license, will not be accepted.

A copy of the license or the license number must be included in the proposal.

Vendor license classification must be one of the following: A – General Engineering; AB – General Engineering and General Building; or B – General Building.

Project work will consist of safeguarding against the physical-safety dangers of Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) hazards, such as adits, shafts, open pits, stopes, or any other AML feature, by constructing barbed wire and metal t-post fences, fabricating bat-compatible steel gates and enclosures, backfilling or filling with polyurethane expansive foam, and other methods approved by the State on a site-by-site basis.

The safeguarding or permanent closure method for each site within a project will be decided by the State in coordination with the appropriate federal land management agency and transmitted to the awarded vendor(s). The type of equipment used during earthwork will be determined by the State in coordination with awarded vendor(s).

Prior to performing AML hazard permanent closure, safeguarding, or repairs to existing safeguards, awarded vendor(s) must attend “Cultural Resource Avoidance Certification” training provided by a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) archeologist. This training will be coordinated by the State and will be provided at no cost.

If archeological artifacts are identified by a State or federal agency, awarded vendor(s) must perform field work without disturbing the artifacts. This may include modifications to earthwork or fencing plans that must be approved by the State.

The State will supply all necessary AML project hazard location and description data to awarded vendor(s) in a digital format.

Constructed fences must comply with NAC 513.390 and the Division of Minerals’ minimum standards for exclusion fences (refer to Attachment regarding, Standards for Fences). All fencing must be constructed to prevent a person from accidentally exposing themselves to dangerous conditions.

Awarded vendor(s) may be required to transport, at times by foot, all necessary fencing equipment and materials, over uneven terrain and at distances of a mile or more, to construct a fence.

The State will furnish all AML warning signs necessary for safeguarding AML hazards.

Permanent closure work may consist of backfilling/earthwork or polyurethane expansive foam (PUF) plugs.

The design, materials, and placement of the bulkhead on a PUF closure must be approved by the State. The amount of PUF and cover material used must follow manufacturer’s recommendations or have approval of the State. Placement of filling material may be done by hand if no equipment is available.

Long-lasting safeguards may include the installation of steel mesh, steel-fabricated Bat Compatible Closures (BCC), and others as approved on a site-by-site basis by the State.

Historic hard-rock mines have, over time, become significant roosting habitat for many wildlife species. In some cases, these artificial bat roosts serve as surrogate habitats where natural cave roosts are no longer available. Adits and shafts have expanded the range of some wildlife species. Hundreds of these underground habitats provide year-round shelter for congregations of birds and bats that sometimes number in the thousands per roost.

The design of long-lasting safeguards, or modifications to existing long-lasting safeguards, must be approved by the State prior commencing work.

The dimensions of fabricated steel closures are determined by mine opening size and site-specific details. Awarded vendor(s) will be required to make necessary measurements and record site-specific observations to ensure the ideal BCC gate or grate is constructed. Very large or irregularly shaped openings may require custom fitting and will be done in consultation with the State. Awarded vendor(s) may select a stable location for a bat gate, with approval from the State.

Depending on the condition, configuration of mine portals, and internal climate requirements, several variations of gating will be deployed, including, but not limited to gates, cages, cupolas, and culvert/gate combinations.

Work will consist of, but not necessarily be limited to fabricating and installing steel bat gates and grate closures within specific mine adits and shafts. Work may also include excavation of loose material and trimming of mine openings; drilling, placing, and grouting anchors; installation of culverts with or without concrete footers; and fabrication, installation, and welding of steel gates or grates as determined by the awarded vendor(s) and the State.

All BCCs will meet the current Bat Conservation International (BCI) standards or be approved by the State.

Awarded vendor(s) must provide all transportation, equipment, and materials necessary to complete AML safeguarding and permanent closure work.

Photographic documentation of all work, before and after, is required.

Awarded vendor(s) may be required to subcontract for the use of a helicopter to perform transportation of personnel and materials to remote locations.

Awarded vendor(s) may be required to provide or subcontract engineering designs, site security, traffic control, and be able to anticipate other considerations on projects with additional requirements. Engineering designs may consist of, but are not limited to:

Removal of highwalls and re-contouring of unstable slopes.

Remediation designs for backfilling of pits; and, Generic AML physical safety engineering designs that can be modified and re-used for future closures.

Equipment and tools required to perform safeguarding and permanent closures must be provided by the awarded vendor(s) without reimbursement (refer to Attachment - Cost Schedule).

Heavy equipment and aerial transportation are expected where rentals costs will be reimbursed. Awarded vendor(s) must provide an estimate of rental costs prior to starting a project where they will be used and provide receipts when claiming reimbursement if not in cost schedule already.

Consumable fencing materials furnished by awarded vendor(s) will be reimbursed at purchase price plus a fixed percentage mark-up. Vendor proposals must identify the mark-up percentage (refer to Attachment - Cost Schedule). Consumable materials, such as t-posts, barbed wire, fence clips, and others purchased by awarded vendor(s) must be reviewed and have prior approval of the State to ensure safeguard longevity. Receipts for consumable materials must be provided to the State for reimbursement. Awarded vendor(s) must be required to provide, but will be reimbursed for (refer to Attachment -, Cost Schedule), the following materials and/or equipment:

Truck (daily/weekly/monthly rate).

Trailer (daily/weekly/monthly rate).

ATV/UTV (daily/weekly/monthly rate).

Backhoe, crane, excavator, dozer, forklift, water truck, or other heavy construction equipment (daily/weekly/monthly rate).

Dump, utility, camp trailers (daily/weekly/monthly rate).

Materials used to build barbed wire fence (each or in bulk).

Polyurethane foam (each or in bulk).

Steel mesh (each or in bulk).

Consumable materials are used to build BCC (each or in bulk).

Consumable materials used to build bulkheads (each or in bulk).

Site Security (daily/weekly/monthly rate).

Helicopter assisted mobilization of equipment, materials, and personnel (as billed); and, Other materials or equipment if permitted by the State in writing prior to purchase.

Awarded vendor(s) will be responsible for inspecting and maintaining all equipment used in support of this contract.

Camping on-site may be required, at times, and personnel may claim a daily camping rate of $40/night.

Awarded vendor(s) will be required to:

Conduct themselves in a safe and responsible manner while performing work for the State of Nevada.

Understand that abandoned mines, non-maintained roads and trails, long driving distances, strenuous physical activity, long working days, barbed wire, the desert climate, distance from medical facilities, harmful plants, animals, and insects are only some of the unique dangers of this work.

Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) while performing work under this contract and abide by State and OSHA policies and directions relating to safe-working conditions. PPE requirements include but are not limited to: ANSI Z87.1 or better eye protection, hearing protection where necessary, closed-toed work boots, full-length pants, sturdy work gloves, sunscreen and/or sun protective clothing, seatbelts (when operating a motor vehicle), and any other, or equipment-specific protection identified by OSHA.

Transport all materials, supplies and equipment to a project area.

Document the status of abandoned mine hazards using a computer tablet and State approved GIS software.

Repair dilapidated or vandalized fencing and construct new fencing as necessary.

Back-up digital data at the end of each field day.

Perform quality control on field-captured data daily and at the end of each project.

Produce photographs, field notes and data captured from the computer tablet to State at the end of each project.

Be willing and able to work at remote project areas in Nevada that may require significant overnight travel.

Awarded vendor(s) will be required to attend 1-2 days of training, in both an office and field environment, provided by the State before the start of contracted work. Training will include, but is not limited to:

The dangers of abandoned mines

Digital data collection on tablets and GIS software.

Proposing vendors must provide with their proposal a complete and detailed description of the following:

Experience using PUF products for sealing vertical/horizontal mine workings.

Experience using earth moving equipment in uneven terrain with poor or no road access.

Experience building BCCs to Bat Conservation International standards.

Experience constructing barbed wire fences.

Experience working while being suspended by ropes and harnesses.

Experience with engineering designs and plans for AML closures or related work.

Ability to transport all materials, loose or pre-constructed, to remote job sites; and, Experience in working with the State and or Federal AML programs.

Vendors are also encouraged to showcase new closure methods and technologies to enhance the AML closure process.

SCOPE OF WORK ABANDONED MINE LANDS INVENTORY AND REVISIT PROGRAM

The contracted work includes, but may not be limited to, travelling to and within the contracted regions to locate and catalog dangerous Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) hazards, revisiting previously identified AML hazards, and performing repair work, if needed. Digital data collection at each site will be required using a field tablet and Geographic Information System (GIS) software to capture location data, photographs, and site-specific information.

The awarded vendor(s) shall never enter an abandoned mine hazard while performing work for the State.

Project areas within a defined region will be identified by the State. These areas may span only a few square miles or may cover one-hundred or more square miles. Each area may contain more than one-hundred confirmed or potential abandoned mine hazards to visit. Access to AML sites will vary and four-wheel drive vehicle(s) will be required. Project areas may, at times, include sites that are located outside of, though proximal to, the contracted region.

Logging (cataloging) work will consist of locating new hazards, collecting site-specific data, creating a written description of the site, and ranking hazards in compliance with Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) 513.330 and NAC 513.340; the rating of the hazards will follow NAC 513.360.

If the abandoned mine feature does not meet the minimum requirements of a hazard, the feature will be digitally captured as a “non-hazard” in a separate dataset.

Revisit work will consist of visiting previously logged hazards, documenting the current securing (fencing) status, updating the GPS location, and possible repair of existing fencing, or constructing new fencing to secure the feature.

The State will supply awarded vendor(s) with certain task-specific training to complete this work. However, awarded vendor(s) must have experience with AML, the use of a GPS device, digital data collection, off-road driving, land navigation on rural routes and trails in Nevada, construction of t-post and barbed wire fencing, and travel to and within the defined regions or other similar areas in the western U.S.

Awarded vendor(s) will be required to:

Conduct themselves in a safe and responsible manner while performing work for the State of Nevada.

Understand that abandoned mines, non-maintained roads and trails, long driving distances, strenuous physical activity, long working days, barbed wire, the desert climate, distance from medical facilities, harmful plants, animals, and insects are only some of the unique dangers of this work.

Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) while performing work under this contract and abide by State and OSHA policies and directions relating to safe-working conditions. PPE requirements include but are not limited to: ANSI Z87.1 or better eye protection, hearing protection where necessary, closed-toed work boots, full-length pants, sturdy work gloves, sunscreen and/or sun protective clothing, seatbelts (when operating a motor vehicle), and any other, or equipment-specific protection identified by OSHA.

Transport all materials, supplies and equipment to a project area.

Document the status of abandoned mine hazards using a computer tablet and State approved GIS software.

Repair dilapidated or vandalized fencing and construct new fencing as necessary.

Back-up digital data at the end of each field day.

Perform quality control on field-captured data daily and at the end of each project.

Produce photographs, field notes and data captured from the computer tablet to State at the end of each project.

Be willing and able to work at remote project areas in Nevada that may require significant overnight travel.

Awarded vendor(s) will be required to attend 1-2 days of training, in both an office and field environment, provided by the State before the start of contracted work. Training will include, but is not limited to:

The dangers of abandoned mines Digital data collection on tablets and GIS software.

The awarded vendor is expected to have general knowledge of these systems, and some level of demonstrated experience with their use.

Nomenclature of various abandoned mine hazard types.

Fencing standards.

Abandoned mine ranking criteria and other aspects of NAC 513; and, Writing proper descriptions of abandoned mine hazards.

Vendor(s) will be required to prepare and submit all data to the State at the conclusion of each State-defined project containing information requested by the State. The following information will be required:

Photographs of each AML hazard documenting before and after work taken using a computer tablet and named according to NDOM specifications.

Digital GIS data collected on the tablet that has been quality-control verified by awarded vendor(s).

A scan of any field notes and any other information directed by the State; and, An electronic report detailing the work completed by day, consumables used during the project, number of hazards visited, repaired, fenced, or newly inventoried, and other information identified by the State.

The State will provide information on the use of specific software for field-data collection.

Vendors must provide with their proposal a complete and detailed description of experience performing similar work and working with other State or Federal AML programs.

SCOPE OF WORK ABANDONED MINE LANDS ENVIORNMENTAL REMEDIATION

Services provided under this scope of work shall address environmental contamination from all potential sources related to Abandoned Mine Lands. Due to the broad nature of services that may be required under this contract, a specific scope of work with well-defined tasks, objectives, activities, and deliverables cannot be provided. Instead, services will be on an “as needed” basis, at the discretion and direction of the Division. The particulars of required services shall be dependent upon the conditions under which suspected or existing physical and/or environmental contamination may occur. The following capabilities are anticipated to be required under the contract; however, this is not to be considered a comprehensive description of all required services.

Services which may be performed as a part of mitigation activities shall include, but are not limited to:

Buildings and/or structure removal and disposal Spill/leak stabilization Waste characterization Interim fluid management Removal and proper containerization of impacted media or waste Coordination of waste/impacted media transport for disposal/treatment Implementation of engineering controls to prevent ongoing exposure to releases.

SITE ASSESSMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION SERVICES

The selected vendor will act as a consultant to the Division in matters relating to the assessment and characterization of hazardous and regulated substance contamination of air, soil, groundwater, and surface water occurring as the result of releases that represent an imminent threat to public health or that otherwise require action under the governing authorities of the contract funding.

Services that may be performed as a part of assessment/characterization activities shall include, but are not limited to:

Soil borings Monitoring well installation Soil, air, or water analysis Waste characterization Soil gas surveys Identification of responsible parties Securing site access and rights of way Public information dissemination Development of monitoring and health and safety plans Risk assessment, statistical analysis, and toxicology Data interpretation, report preparation, and recommendations for further work Disposal of contaminated media generated during the assessment.

REMEDIATION SERVICES

The selected vendor will act as a consultant to the Division in matters relating to remediation of air, soil, groundwater, and surface water contamination throughout the State. Services that may be performed as a part of remediation activities include, but are not limited to:

Development of remediation plan Remedial system design Statistical risk analysis and toxicology Soil excavation, treatment, and disposal Water, vapor extraction or sparge well installation Air emission evaluation Water treatment and disposal Hazardous waste characterization and coordination of manifesting, treatment and disposal requirements Coordination of work activities with State and local agencies Securing right-of-way Public information dissemination Development of monitoring and health and safety plans Acquisition of all necessary permits for remediation systems Implementation of approved remediation plans Operation & Maintenance (O&M) of remediation systems; an Preparation of monitoring and data reports.

SCOPE OF WORK ABANDONED MINE LANDS GEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

Awarded vendor(s) will provide geological analysis of historic abandoned mine hazards and mine waste, including literature research to provide a brief geological summary of the desired locations within the State of Nevada. Awarded vendor(s) must have extensive knowledge of economic geology and historic mining in Nevada for work on this contract. A professional geologist certification is preferred, but not required.

The primary services include performing geological and mineral potential analysis at abandoned mines and AML features (e.g., shafts, and adits) that have been identified by the State for potential permanent closure. The analysis would include the collection, description, and assay of a limited number of diagnostic rock samples, documentation of geology and known structural controls, and the submission of a summary report to the State which will be made available to the public.

The State and appropriate federal agencies will collaborate to identify and prioritize AML closure projects within the State of Nevada. AML closure projects can vary in size from an individual hazard to more than 100 hazards. Closure projects on federal land follow National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Categorical Exclusion (CX) or Environmental Analysis (EA) protocols. Closure project methods consist of backfill/earthwork, bat-compatible closures (BCC), and polyurethane foam plugs.

All submitted reports shall be reviewed by the State before being considered complete.

These services, which are anticipated to occur at various project locations across the entire state, should include but are not limited to:

Performing economic, geological, and mining background research on AML hazards identified by the State for closure projects.

Conducting field surveys around hazardous abandoned mine sites and collecting geological data, information on mining methods, and rock samples.

Literature search to provide context on historic work performed in or near the project area.

Coordinate and work with a state designee-approved laboratory for the analysis of the rock samples; and, Prepare and provide a summary report of each project area to the State.

A secondary service of this contract could include the evaluation of mine waste in addition to the geologic analysis outlined above, to focus on identifying areas that may have the potential to contain mineral resources. This would include but is not limited to:

On an as needed basis, develop an inventory plan and initiate an above-ground survey of mine waste sites within Nevada.

Map, characterize, and assess the potential for critical minerals in mine waste.

Sampling, mapping, and quality control procedures will follow strict guidelines outlined by the State and/or USGS, depending on funding sources.

Coordination between multiple State and federal agencies, as well as owners and claimants of the mine wastes will be required; and, Reporting requirements will be outlined before the start of each project.

The State will work with the appropriate federal agencies to identify closure projects and mine waste studies. Once projects have been identified, the State will provide project details, including proposed timeframe for closure work, and the locations of each AML hazard within the project area(s) to the awarded vendor(s).

Project data will be provided to the awarded vendor(s) by shapefile or geodatabase file format. Awarded vendor(s) must have the equipment, knowledge, and ability to apply this information to navigate to the provided project and site locations.

Awarded vendor(s) must closely coordinate with the State on upcoming field-survey work plans including anticipated dates of fieldwork and completion timelines. During fieldwork, awarded vendor(s) will also be required to document the condition of AML hazards, their current safeguarding status, and other data as required by the State.

Reports provided to the State must include, but will not be limited in scope to:

Project overview.

Research methods.

A brief mining history of the area.

Brief written summary of the mine’s history.

Commodities mined.

Production time.

Production totals.

Historic mine documents.

Written summary of field analysis, including:

General geology of project area, Minerology, Alteration, and, Structural controls/Veining.

Digital photographs to support findings.

Sketches, maps, or marked-up photos in digital format.

Rock and mineral samples (approximately two or three individually enumerated per AML feature), including:

Descriptions, including unique sample numbers, Digital photograph of each rock sample, and, GPS coordinates of each sample location.

Brief geologic summary description of individual AML feature; and, Any other information as directed by the State.

Entering an abandoned mine hazard will be strictly prohibited unless pre-approved by the State designee. All geological analysis work will be completed outside the portal/collar, to include any exclusionary safety fencing, and the immediate surrounding area.

Awarded vendor(s) must be able to work in remote locations and be completely self-reliant.

Sample bags and identification tags will be provided by the State. Any other tools and supplies required to perform fieldwork will be provided by the awarded vendor(s); awarded vendor(s) will not receive reimbursement for equipment or supplies unless otherwise specifically noted herein.

Vendors must provide with their proposal a complete and detailed description of experience performing similar and any experience working with other state or federal programs.

SCOPE OF WORK ABANDONED MINE LANDS WILDLIFE SURVEYS

The Division, appropriate federal agencies, and landowners will collaborate to identify and prioritize AML closure projects within the State of Nevada. AML closure projects can vary from one (1) individual hazard to over 100 hazards. Closure projects on federal land follow National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Categorical Exclusion (CX), or Environmental Assessment (EA) protocols. Once projects have been identified, the Division will provide the awarded vendor(s) project details and locations of AML hazards within respective project areas.

All wildlife survey projects will require on-site field visits by two or more qualified persons who are experts in western and Nevada-specific wildlife biology, specifically bats and their relationship with abandoned mines. Surveying will consist of both surface and underground surveys of abandoned mines that have been identified by the State for permanent closure. Awarded vendor(s) will provide a final report for each project consisting of findings for each abandoned mine which satisfies criteria outlined by the State and applicable federal agencies.

Project data will be provided to the awarded vendor(s) by shapefile or geodatabase file format. Awarded vendor(s) must have the equipment, knowledge, and ability to apply this information to navigate to the provided project and site locations.

SCOPE OF WORK ABANDONED MINE LANDS DATABASE RESEARCH AND DATA ENTRY

Under NRS 513.094, the Division of Minerals is required to identify and notify the potential owner(s) of all documented (inventoried) abandoned mine lands (AML) hazards. Awarded vendor(s) will be required to research the current or last known owner, owners and/or lessees of private or patented lands, or unpatented mining claims, where inventoried abandoned mine hazards exist. Research will be conducted using a variety of methods. Awarded vendor(s) will enter new data into the State’s AML database.

Awarded vendor(s) must have the equipment necessary to perform land research and ownership research for the State’s AML program.

All AML location data will be provided to the awarded vendor(s) by the State.

One to two days of training on the use of the State’s AML database will be provided to awarded vendor(s) at no cost.

Awarded vendor(s) will be required to conduct land research and update the State’s AML database to reflect this information. Research may include, but is not limited to:

Current land status, Current and past ownership, Historical information on an AML feature or district, Historical production data, Historical maps, Potentially responsible parties, Previous litigation research, Recent environmental studies or research, Mine waste repositories study, and, Other areas as directed by the State.

Awarded vendor(s) will be required to conduct research on the current or last known owner, owners, or lessee of private land, patented or unpatented mining claims. This research will be conducted by one or more of the following methods:

Online public research, County Recorders and Assessors Office research, BLM State and local office research, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Nevada State Library Archives and Public Records, University Libraries and Archives, and, Other methods as directed by the State.

Awarded vendor(s) be required to have:

General knowledge of U.S. and western mining history.

An understanding of patented and unpatented mining claims.

General understanding of mining claim staking and filing.

Applied knowledge of the Bureau of Land Management’s Mineral and Land Records System (MLRS);

General database management experience; and, Applied experience using ArcGIS Pro and ArcMap.

STATE AGENCY USE

Various State agencies may use the services of the contracted vendor(s) using a service agreement drafted between an awarded vendor and the state agency.

The service agreement document must include the following.

A defined scope of work for the project An appropriate state determined insurance schedule for the scope work.

The insurance schedule associated with the awarded statewide contract may not include all necessary requirements for specific scopes. Agency is required to ensure vendor provides appropriate insurance coverage for scopes not covered by the RFQ Insurance Schedule (i.e., helicopter/aviation coverage)

A quote for services using the vendor submitted cost schedule for the statewide contract.

And additional attachments related to the area of work (e.g., Regional Maps, Equipment lists)

COST

Cost items shall be provided by the vendor to accomplish specific related tasks of this RFQ on an as needed base during the bidding process.

ATTACHMENTS

ATTACHMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE. To be read and not returned.

Terms and Conditions for Services Terms and Conditions for Goods

ATTACHMENTS FOR REVIEW. To be read and not returned (unless redlining).

Contract Form Insurance Schedule (higher limits maybe required based on service agreement scope) Service Agreement

PROPOSAL ATTACHMENTS. To be completed and returned.

Proposed Staff Resume Reference Questionnaire Attachments for Signature

Vendor Information Response Vendor Certifications Certification Regarding Lobbying Confidentiality and Certification of Indemnification

TIMELINE

QUESTIONS. All questions regarding this solicitation shall be submitted using the Bid Q&A feature in NevadaEPro.

TIMELINE. The following represents the proposed timeline for this project.

All times stated are Pacific Time (PT).

These dates represent a tentative schedule of events.

The State reserves the right to modify these dates at any time.

EVALUATION

Evaluation and scoring are conducted in accordance with NRS 333.335 and NAC 333.160-333.165.

Proposals shall be kept confidential until a contract is awarded.

In the event the solicitation is withdrawn prior to award, proposals remain confidential.

The evaluation committee is an independent committee established to evaluate and score proposals submitted in response to the solicitation.

Financial stability shall be scored on a pass/fail basis.

Proposals shall be consistently evaluated and scored based upon the following factors and relative weights.

Cost items shall be provided by the vendor to accomplish specific related tasks on an as needed basis during the bidding process.

MANDATORY MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Pursuant to NRS 333.311 a contract cannot be…