Tongass NF Helicopter Pad Replacement

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service seeks replacement of helicopter landing pads at three remote mountaintop sites on the Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska, with quotations due May 26 at 1700 Alaska Daylight Time. This procurement is a Total Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS 237990 with a $45 million size standard.

Place of performance comprises three locations: Etolin Island (elevation 2,907 feet, 22 miles southwest of Wrangell), Farragut (elevation 3,560 feet, 20 miles north of Petersburg), and Fools Peak (elevation 3,102 feet, 21 miles south of Wrangell), all within the Tongass National Forest in USFS Region 10 and accessible only by helicopter. The performance period runs June 15 through September 30, 2026, with a mandatory 10-calendar-day mobilization and 121-calendar-day completion timeline after notice to proceed.

Work scope includes PE-stamped design from an Alaska-licensed structural engineer, removal of existing 10-foot by 12-foot aluminum grate pads, installation of minimum 15-foot by 15-foot aluminum grate landing pads, concrete pier footings per approved drawings, two aluminum stairways per pad, vegetation brushing to create 60-foot by 60-foot landing clearances, and as-built documentation. Design must meet snow loads (250 psf without helicopter, 100 psf with helicopter) and helicopter design loads per FAA Advisory Circular 150/5390-2D and NWCG Standards. Contractor must comply with Alaska-specific environmental regulations including drinking water (18 AAC 80), wastewater (18 AAC 72), solid waste (18 AAC 60), and federal fuel storage requirements (40 CFR 112). The DOL Wage Decision (AK20260001) applies to on-site workers. A 20% bid bond is required for quotes exceeding $150,000. Evaluation criteria are pricing, past experience and performance, and approach to performing the work.