JELA 318919 - Barateria Trails

The Department of the Interior National Park Service is conducting market research for trail improvements at the Barataria Preserve within Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in Louisiana. The project involves comprehensive reconstruction of hurricane-damaged trails across five locations, including the Education Center Trail, Bayou Coquille Trail, Marsh Overlook Trail, Visitor Center Trail, and Palmetto Trail. Contractors must demonstrate capabilities in top-down construction methods, ABAAS compliance, and utility improvements while navigating challenging environmental conditions such as wildlife, poisonous plants, tidal influences, and extreme heat and humidity. The project requires specialized expertise in working within sensitive archaeological and swamp environments, with a focus on protecting cultural and natural resources. Responses are due by 2pm Mountain Time on January 9, 2025, with an anticipated Request for Proposal (RFP) release in early 2025.

The solicitation is currently not set aside for any specific business size category, with a small business size standard of $45 million. The estimated project cost exceeds $10 million, with a projected 22-month period of performance under NAICS code 237990 (Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction). Contractors will be required to provide bid, performance, and payment bonds as part of the contract requirements. The National Park Service is seeking capabilities information from both large and small businesses to determine potential set-aside status for the final solicitation. The project will involve complex boardwalk and trail reconstruction, utility improvements, and careful environmental management across multiple trail locations within the Barataria Preserve, representing a significant infrastructure rehabilitation effort in a challenging natural environment.