Custer Gallatin NF Fairy Lake Phase 2 Road & Recreation Improvements

The USDA Forest Service has issued a Special Notice regarding planned improvements to Fairy Lake Road #74 and associated recreation infrastructure on the Custer Gallatin National Forest. The project encompasses excavation, drainage work, road reconditioning, surface stabilization, trail reconditioning and surfacing, along with installation of new turnouts, a vault toilet, aggregate materials, and two large culverts. This notice serves as advance notification to potential contractors rather than an actual solicitation for bids. The Forest Service emphasizes that this announcement does not constitute a commitment to award any contracts and that no costs incurred in response will be reimbursed. The project location is situated approximately 20 miles north of Bozeman, Montana, where Fairy Lake Road intersects with Highway 86 Bridger Canyon Road.

The primary purpose of this Special Notice is to alert prospective vendors about the upcoming solicitation opportunity and encourage site visits during fall 2025 before heavy snowfall restricts access to the project area. The Forest Service anticipates issuing the formal solicitation on or before March 2026, with project implementation scheduled to begin after completion of Phase 1 work, which is expected to finish no later than October 15, 2026. Phase 1 activities include earthwork, minor drainage feature replacements, and sub-base aggregate placement, which are separate from this Phase 2 project scope. No formal site visit is planned by the government, but potential bidders are strongly encouraged to conduct their own site assessments during the accessible fall period. The notice does not specify particular eligibility criteria for contractors, suggesting this will be an open competition when the formal solicitation is released.