Black River Harbor Waterfall Overlook Reconstruction

The USDA Forest Service is soliciting bids for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of waterfall overlook platforms and access stairs at multiple sites within the Ottawa National Forest near Bessemer, Michigan. The project requires replacing approximately 200 linear feet of existing timber steps at Sandstone Falls with new elevated wood stair structures approximately 5 feet wide, along with localized pier foundation replacements and construction of new viewing platforms at Rainbow Falls, with additional optional work at Potawatomi/Gorge Falls and Great Conglomerate Falls. Key contract requirements include using helical or concrete piers for foundations with specific design parameters (minimum 18-inch diameter, 72-inch embedment depth for frost protection), implementing erosion control measures including Jute matting, adhering to Davis-Bacon wage rates for heavy construction work in Gogebic County Michigan, and complying with Buy American Act requirements for wood and steel components. The contract will be awarded to the lowest-priced, responsible offeror using a firm fixed-price procurement method, and the government reserves the right to award all, part, or none of the contract items. The deadline for submitting questions was September 24, 2025, and the original bid due date has been extended to December 2, 2025 at 1:00 PM Eastern Time, though the bid opening is currently on hold pending further notice.

This solicitation is designated as a Total Small Business set-aside, with no identified incumbent contractors referenced in the available documents. The estimated contract value ranges between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000, with the performance period extending from May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2027. The project encompasses reconstruction work at four waterfall locations—Sandstone Falls, Rainbow Falls, Potawatomi/Gorge Falls, and Great Conglomerate Falls—with base bid items for mobilization and work at Rainbow Falls and Potawatomi/Gorge Falls, and optional line items for work at Sandstone Falls and Great Conglomerate Falls. Work will be performed in the Ottawa National Forest in Bessemer, Michigan (Gogebic County), in a heavily forested terrain requiring careful environmental management, minimal site disturbance, and strict adherence to erosion control and restoration requirements as detailed in the comprehensive 33-sheet design document package.