Gate rehab at cabo rojo NWR

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service is soliciting proposals for the rehabilitation of the main entrance gate at Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge in Puerto Rico. This construction project involves converting the existing gate system to an automated solar-powered gate to address power reliability issues following Hurricane Fiona, including the installation of two solar panel kits with 30-watt solar panels, batteries, universal solar harness, and battery tray components. The work requires specialized skills in historic restoration and preservation, traditional carpentry and roofing, and early twentieth-century construction methods, as the project involves both repairing the existing gate structure and implementing modern solar automation technology. Proposals will be evaluated on a best value basis considering past experience and price, with the government retaining flexibility to award to contractors other than the lowest-priced or highest-technically rated submission. Offerors must submit quotes including Standard Form 1442, pricing schedules, and documentation of three similar projects completed within the last five years, with questions accepted until July 23, 2025, and proposals due by July 30, 2025.

This solicitation is set aside for total small business concerns under NAICS code 236220 for Commercial and Institutional Building Construction. The estimated project cost ranges between $25,000 and $100,000, with a firm fixed-price contract structure and a 60-day performance period following notice to proceed. The work will be performed at Road 301, Km. 5.1 Corozo Ward, Boqueron, Puerto Rico, at the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge. The contractor will be responsible for disconnecting and disposing of the existing gate system, installing solar panels at least 10 feet off the ground capable of withstanding Category 5 hurricane wind loads, and providing training to local U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service staff on system operation and maintenance. The project must comply with Davis-Bacon wage determination requirements for Puerto Rico, with minimum wage rates established for various construction classifications ranging from $7.25 to $39.81 per hour depending on the job classification.