Construction of new water well at Short Canyon loc

The Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management California Region seeks construction of a new water well at Short Canyon in Kern County, California, with quotations due May 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time. This procurement is a total small business set-aside; only small business concerns are eligible for award.

Place of performance is the Short Canyon site on Bureau of Land Management public land accessed via Kelso Creek Road near Weldon, Kern County, California. A mandatory site visit is scheduled for May 5, 2026, at 9:00 AM at the intersection of Highway 178 and Kelso Creek Road.

The contractor must drill and complete a new 6-inch non-potable livestock water well to specifications established by the Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Practice Specification 642, properly abandon the existing 250-foot-deep well in strict accordance with Kern County and California Department of Water Resources requirements, and deliver all necessary labor, materials, and equipment. Work must be completed within one year of award, with well abandonment required within six months of contract award. The performance period spans 90 calendar days from Notice to Proceed, with an overall project timeline from June 15, 2026, to June 14, 2027. The independent government estimate is $80,300.

Technical requirements include obtaining well drilling and demolition permits from Kern County Environmental Health Division; installing 6-inch steel casing per ASTM A589 (unless drill method limitations apply) to full well depth with at least 12 inches above ground; conducting step-drawdown and 24-hour constant-rate pump tests to establish sustainable yield of 2–4 gallons per minute; performing water quality analysis complying with California Code of Regulations Title 22; and submitting a comprehensive Well Completion Report. The system will be solar-powered. Offerors must address protective measures against vandalism, including bollards and potential fencing for solar panels. Offerors must hold a valid California C-57 Well Drilling License and documented experience with deep agricultural or livestock well drilling at 200–500 feet depth and legal well abandonment compliant with Kern County standards.

Award will be made to the responsible vendor offering the lowest price, provided technical capability and past performance are acceptable. Offerors must submit up to three past performance references completed within the past five years involving similar scope—agricultural or livestock water well drilling, rehabilitation, or abandonment. Each reference must include project title and location, contract number, period of performance, total contract value, and client point of contact information. Davis-Bacon wage determinations and Buy American construction materials requirements apply. Quotations must be submitted via email to michael_anson@ios.doi.gov and include a cover letter with company information, signed Standard Form 18 with lump-sum pricing, acknowledgment of amendments, and a bid guarantee of 20 percent of the proposal price. Awardees receiving contracts exceeding $35,000 but not exceeding $150,000 must submit either a payment bond or irrevocable letter of credit equal to 100 percent of the contract price within 10 days of award. The NAICS code is 221310, Water Supply and Irrigation Systems.