SC-bears bluff NFH-replc commun line

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking a contractor to replace an underground communications line at Bears Bluff National Fish Hatchery in Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina, as part of a Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) project. The project involves installing approximately 750 linear feet of multimode fiber optic communications cable between the Office Building and Laboratory Building using directional boring techniques, with the new system required to support a minimum of 1 Gbps ethernet speed. Contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) and provide comprehensive pricing that includes all materials, labor, equipment, and associated costs for the complete installation. Award will be made to the responsible offeror submitting the lowest evaluated price determined to be fair and reasonable under firm fixed-price terms. A mandatory site visit was scheduled for September 3, 2025, at 11:00 AM, with questions due by September 8, 2025, and final responses due by September 17, 2025, at 2:00 PM EST.

This procurement is designated as a 100% small business set-aside under NAICS code 237130 (Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction) with a size standard of $45 million. The project magnitude is estimated between $25,000 and $100,000, with a 30-day performance period following the Notice to Proceed and an anticipated completion date of November 7, 2025. Work must commence within 10 days of receiving the Notice to Proceed and will be performed at 7030 Bears Bluff Road in Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina. The contractor will be responsible for installing new fiber optic cable in conduit with a minimum burial depth of 24 inches, providing proper terminations with LC connectors, and ensuring the system meets all technical specifications including 6-strand OM4 multimode fiber requirements. No specific incumbent contractor information was provided in the solicitation documents.