GAOA Blanchard Springs Caverns Tunnel Rehabilitation in Ozark-St. Francis NF
Closed Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- 1240BH26R0013
- Agency
-
Forest Service
Department of Agriculture
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- Total Small Business
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 238990 All Other Specialty Trade Contractors
- Place of performance
- Fifty Six, Arkansas 72533, United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The USDA Forest Service seeks firm-fixed-price proposals for the GAOA Blanchard Springs Caverns Tunnel Rehabilitation and Safety Improvements under Solicitation 1240BH26R0013, with proposals due October 29, 2026. The procurement is a Total Small Business set-aside, and the Government accepts proposals only from prime contractors, with no pre-approved general contractors for the project. Amendment 0005, posted October 26, 2026, releases the final RFI Q&A and states that no further RFI Q&A will be forthcoming. Offerors must acknowledge all amendments with their proposals.
Work is performed at Blanchard Springs Caverns in Fifty-Six, Arkansas, within the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest's Sylamore Ranger District. Scope covers structural stabilization of Dripstone and Discovery tunnel entrances and exits, masonry repairs, rockbolt and shotcrete ground support, replacement of airlock, security, and bypass tunnel doors, suspended ceilings and ductwork, lighting and distribution systems, safety handrails, and the mine phone system. Pricing is lump sum across 11 base bid items and 5 optional handrail items. Work must be performed by qualified, licensed contractors in all applicable trades.
Davis-Bacon wage requirements apply, and performance and payment bonds are required. The bid guarantee is 20% of bid price. Minimum insurance is $500,000 general liability and $1,000,000 property damage. A mandatory site visit was scheduled for September 9, 2026. Forest Service personnel must be present during all underground work, and personnel must complete four-hour environmental and archaeological training. Contractors must follow White-nose Syndrome decontamination protocols and a 65 dB maximum noise limit. Dripstone entrance work is restricted to winter months, Dripstone exit and Discovery Trail work to May through August per the SOW, and Discovery Trail work to May 1 through September 1 annually per Attachment 8 due to bat species constraints.
The contractor must commence work within 10 calendar days of notice to proceed and complete all work, including final cleanup, within 426 calendar days. The Golder geotechnical report (Attachment 7) lists a preliminary construction cost estimate of approximately $3.8 million with a 25% contingency factor.
Proposals are evaluated through a tradeoff under FAR 15.103-1 considering technical approach, past performance, and price, with non-price factors approximately equal in importance. The solicitation does not state numerical weights. The due date moved from September 30 to October 14, 2026 under amendment 0003, then to October 29, 2026 under amendment 0004.
Notice text
6 versions
Update #6 · Latest ·
On October 26, 2026, amendment 0004 to solicitation 1240BH26R0013 - GAOA Blanchard Springs Caverns Tunnel Rehabilitation in Ozark-St. Francis National Forest has been posted to SAM.gov and accomplished the following:
1. Post the final RFI Q&A.
This amendment must be acknowledged and submitted with your proposal.
**************************************************************************************************************************************
On October 13, 2026, amendment 0004 to solicitation 1240BH26R0013 - GAOA Blanchard Springs Caverns Tunnel Rehabilitation in Ozark-St. Francis National Forest has been posted to SAM.gov and accomplished the following:
1. Extends the proposal due date from 10/14/2026 to 10/29/2026.
This amendment must be acknowledged and submitted with your proposal.
***************************************************************************************************************************************
On September 30, 2026, amendment 0003 to solicitation 1240BH26R0013 - GAOA Blanchard Springs Caverns Tunnel Rehabilitation in Ozark-St. Francis National Forest has been posted to SAM.gov and accomplished the following:
1. Extends the proposal due date from 09/30/2026 to 10/14/2026.
This amendment must be acknowledged and submitted with your proposal.
***************************************************************************************************************************************
On September 17, 2026, amendment 0002 to solicitation 1240BH26R0013 - GAOA Blanchard Springs Caverns Tunnel Rehabilitation in Ozark-St. Francis National Forest has been posted to SAM.gov and accomplished the following:
1. Post RFI questions and answers labeled C05a RFI QA 1240BH26R0013.
2. Post pre-bid sign in sheet labeled C05b Site Visit Sign In 1240BH26R0013.
This amendment must be acknowledged and submitted with your proposal.
***********************************************************************************************************************************************
On August 12, 2026, amendment 0001 to solicitation 1240BH26R0013 - GAOA Blanchard Springs Caverns Tunnel Rehabilitation in Ozark-St. Francis National Forest has been posted to SAM.gov and accomplished the following:
1. Post Golder Specifications labeled “C04m Attachment 11 Golder 1240BH26R0013.”
This SF30 must be acknowledged and submitted with your proposal.
***********************************************************************************************************************************************
This project includes all labor, equipment, supplies, testing & inspections, and incidentals necessary for the Blanchard Springs Caverns (BSC) Dripstone and Discovery Trail Infrastructure repairs and safety upgrades. All work shall conform to the attached Drawings and Specifications. All work shall be performed by qualified and licensed contractors for all trades applicable. Work includes but is not limited to structural stabilization of tunnel entrance and exits, disposal and removal of existing supports, masonry repairs, Installation of Instrumentation & monitoring equipment, replacement of existing air lock doors at entrance and exits, replacement of existing security doors at entrance and exits, replacement of existing suspended ceiling system, components, and associated ductwork, replacement of existing bypass tunnel door, replacement of existing lighting and distribution system components, replacement of existing safety handrails, and replacement of the existing mine phone system and components.
Update #5 ·
On October 13, 2026, amendment 0004 to solicitation 1240BH26R0013 - GAOA Blanchard Springs Caverns Tunnel Rehabilitation in Ozark-St. Francis National Forest has been posted to SAM.gov and accomplished the following:
1. Extends the proposal due date from 10/14/2026 to 10/29/2026.
This amendment must be acknowledged and submitted with your proposal.
***************************************************************************************************************************************
On September 30, 2026, amendment 0003 to solicitation 1240BH26R0013 - GAOA Blanchard Springs Caverns Tunnel Rehabilitation in Ozark-St. Francis National Forest has been posted to SAM.gov and accomplished the following:
1. Extends the proposal due date from 09/30/2026 to 10/14/2026.
This amendment must be acknowledged and submitted with your proposal.
***************************************************************************************************************************************
On September 17, 2026, amendment 0002 to solicitation 1240BH26R0013 - GAOA Blanchard Springs Caverns Tunnel Rehabilitation in Ozark-St. Francis National Forest has been posted to SAM.gov and accomplished the following:
1. Post RFI questions and answers labeled C05a RFI QA 1240BH26R0013.
2. Post pre-bid sign in sheet labeled C05b Site Visit Sign In 1240BH26R0013.
This amendment must be acknowledged and submitted with your proposal.
***********************************************************************************************************************************************
On August 12, 2026, amendment 0001 to solicitation 1240BH26R0013 - GAOA Blanchard Springs Caverns Tunnel Rehabilitation in Ozark-St. Francis National Forest has been posted to SAM.gov and accomplished the following:
1. Post Golder Specifications labeled “C04m Attachment 11 Golder 1240BH26R0013.”
This SF30 must be acknowledged and submitted with your proposal.
***********************************************************************************************************************************************
This project includes all labor, equipment, supplies, testing & inspections, and incidentals necessary for the Blanchard Springs Caverns (BSC) Dripstone and Discovery Trail Infrastructure repairs and safety upgrades. All work shall conform to the attached Drawings and Specifications. All work shall be performed by qualified and licensed contractors for all trades applicable. Work includes but is not limited to structural stabilization of tunnel entrance and exits, disposal and removal of existing supports, masonry repairs, Installation of Instrumentation & monitoring equipment, replacement of existing air lock doors at entrance and exits, replacement of existing security doors at entrance and exits, replacement of existing suspended ceiling system, components, and associated ductwork, replacement of existing bypass tunnel door, replacement of existing lighting and distribution system components, replacement of existing safety handrails, and replacement of the existing mine phone system and components.
Update #4 ·
On September 30, 2026, amendment 0003 to solicitation 1240BH26R0013 - GAOA Blanchard Springs Caverns Tunnel Rehabilitation in Ozark-St. Francis National Forest has been posted to SAM.gov and accomplished the following:
1. Extends the proposal due date from 09/30/2026 to 10/14/2026.
This amendment must be acknowledged and submitted with your quote.
***************************************************************************************************************************************
On September 17, 2026, amendment 0002 to solicitation 1240BH26R0013 - GAOA Blanchard Springs Caverns Tunnel Rehabilitation in Ozark-St. Francis National Forest has been posted to SAM.gov and accomplished the following:
1. Post RFI questions and answers labeled C05a RFI QA 1240BH26R0013.
2. Post pre-bid sign in sheet labeled C05b Site Visit Sign In 1240BH26R0013.
This amendment must be acknowledged and submitted with your proposal.
***********************************************************************************************************************************************
On August 12, 2026, amendment 0001 to solicitation 1240BH26R0013 - GAOA Blanchard Springs Caverns Tunnel Rehabilitation in Ozark-St. Francis National Forest has been posted to SAM.gov and accomplished the following:
1. Post Golder Specifications labeled “C04m Attachment 11 Golder 1240BH26R0013.”
This SF30 must be acknowledged and submitted with your proposal.
***********************************************************************************************************************************************
This project includes all labor, equipment, supplies, testing & inspections, and incidentals necessary for the Blanchard Springs Caverns (BSC) Dripstone and Discovery Trail Infrastructure repairs and safety upgrades. All work shall conform to the attached Drawings and Specifications. All work shall be performed by qualified and licensed contractors for all trades applicable. Work includes but is not limited to structural stabilization of tunnel entrance and exits, disposal and removal of existing supports, masonry repairs, Installation of Instrumentation & monitoring equipment, replacement of existing air lock doors at entrance and exits, replacement of existing security doors at entrance and exits, replacement of existing suspended ceiling system, components, and associated ductwork, replacement of existing bypass tunnel door, replacement of existing lighting and distribution system components, replacement of existing safety handrails, and replacement of the existing mine phone system and components.
Update #3 ·
On September 17, 2026, amendment 0002 to solicitation 1240BH26R0013 - GAOA Blanchard Springs Caverns Tunnel Rehabilitation in Ozark-St. Francis National Forest has been posted to SAM.gov and accomplished the following:
1. Post RFI questions and answers labeled C05a RFI QA 1240BH26R0013.
2. Post pre-bid sign in sheet labeled C05b Site Visit Sign In 1240BH26R0013.
This amendment must be acknowledged and submitted with your proposal.
***********************************************************************************************************************************************
On August 12, 2026, amendment 0001 to solicitation 1240BH26R0013 - GAOA Blanchard Springs Caverns Tunnel Rehabilitation in Ozark-St. Francis National Forest has been posted to SAM.gov and accomplished the following:
1. Post Golder Specifications labeled “C04m Attachment 11 Golder 1240BH26R0013.”
This SF30 must be acknowledged and submitted with your proposal.
***********************************************************************************************************************************************
This project includes all labor, equipment, supplies, testing & inspections, and incidentals necessary for the Blanchard Springs Caverns (BSC) Dripstone and Discovery Trail Infrastructure repairs and safety upgrades. All work shall conform to the attached Drawings and Specifications. All work shall be performed by qualified and licensed contractors for all trades applicable. Work includes but is not limited to structural stabilization of tunnel entrance and exits, disposal and removal of existing supports, masonry repairs, Installation of Instrumentation & monitoring equipment, replacement of existing air lock doors at entrance and exits, replacement of existing security doors at entrance and exits, replacement of existing suspended ceiling system, components, and associated ductwork, replacement of existing bypass tunnel door, replacement of existing lighting and distribution system components, replacement of existing safety handrails, and replacement of the existing mine phone system and components.
Update #2 ·
On August 12, 2026, amendment 0001 to solicitation 1240BH26R0013 - GAOA Blanchard Springs Caverns Tunnel Rehabilitation in Ozark-St. Francis National Forest has been posted to SAM.gov and accomplished the following:
1. Post Golder Specifications labeled “C04m Attachment 11 Golder 1240BH26R0013.”
This SF30 must be acknowledged and submitted with your proposal.
***********************************************************************************************************************************************
This project includes all labor, equipment, supplies, testing & inspections, and incidentals necessary for the Blanchard Springs Caverns (BSC) Dripstone and Discovery Trail Infrastructure repairs and safety upgrades. All work shall conform to the attached Drawings and Specifications. All work shall be performed by qualified and licensed contractors for all trades applicable. Work includes but is not limited to structural stabilization of tunnel entrance and exits, disposal and removal of existing supports, masonry repairs, Installation of Instrumentation & monitoring equipment, replacement of existing air lock doors at entrance and exits, replacement of existing security doors at entrance and exits, replacement of existing suspended ceiling system, components, and associated ductwork, replacement of existing bypass tunnel door, replacement of existing lighting and distribution system components, replacement of existing safety handrails, and replacement of the existing mine phone system and components.
Update #1 ·
This project includes all labor, equipment, supplies, testing & inspections, and incidentals necessary for the Blanchard Springs Caverns (BSC) Dripstone and Discovery Trail Infrastructure repairs and safety upgrades. All work shall conform to the attached Drawings and Specifications. All work shall be performed by qualified and licensed contractors for all trades applicable. Work includes but is not limited to structural stabilization of tunnel entrance and exits, disposal and removal of existing supports, masonry repairs, Installation of Instrumentation & monitoring equipment, replacement of existing air lock doors at entrance and exits, replacement of existing security doors at entrance and exits, replacement of existing suspended ceiling system, components, and associated ductwork, replacement of existing bypass tunnel door, replacement of existing lighting and distribution system components, replacement of existing safety handrails, and replacement of the existing mine phone system and components.
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