Columbine Gravel Pit Crushing and Development

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service seeks excavation, embankment, drainage, dewatering, and crushing of aggregate materials at the Columbine Gravel Pit located on the Ouray Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, with quotes due June 10, 2026, and questions due May 21, 2026. This is a 100% small business set-aside under NAICS 212319 with a size standard of 550 employees.

Place of performance is Montrose County, Colorado (coordinates 38.428403, -108.373571). The contractor must provide all equipment, tools, personnel, and labor for site development including excavation and embankment of variable-depth overburden, drainage and dewatering sloped at 2–4 percent from north-northeast to west-southwest, and crushing and stockpiling of 16,000 tons of aggregate materials designated Grade G (1.0 inch minus) per Forest Service Supplemental Specifications. Work must commence within 10 calendar days of notice to proceed and complete within 466 calendar days. The operating season is restricted to May 15 through November 15, with no work permitted on federal holidays unless written Contracting Officer approval is obtained. All heavy equipment except service vehicles must pass Forest Service weed inspection with a minimum 5 working days lead notice. The contractor must install three state-certified belt scales and perform 15 sampling and testing activities per AASHTO standards and three unmanned aerial vehicle surveys conducted by an FAA Part 107 Certified Remote Pilot. Brush and topsoil must be stockpiled to the north-northwest, north, or north-northeast and scattered on excavated slopes upon completion; no brush burning is permitted. The contractor must comply with biobased product procurement requirements under FAR 52.223-1 and 52.223-2 for designated operations and construction items.

The projected magnitude is between $250,000 and $500,000. A 20% bid guarantee (Standard Form 24) is required at offer; 100% performance and payment bonds (Standard Forms 25 and 25A) must be submitted within 10 calendar days after award. Evaluation will assess technical approach (2–4 pages with construction schedule), past performance (3 pages maximum documenting similar work in the last 5 years with customer references), and price, using comparative best-value methodology. Quotations remain firm for 60 calendar days from receipt. Amendment 0001, posted May 21, includes site visit agenda, questions and answers, and attendee sign-in (Attachments 9 and 10); the period of performance is July 6, 2026 through October 15, 2027. A site visit is scheduled for May 15, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time.