2017, PKAA, 1000, Centennial & Sun Cup Mine Remediation

The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) solicited bids for the Centennial & Sun Cup Mine Remediation Project (Bid Number PKA-16-770), a uranium mine remediation initiative located in Disappointment Valley, San Miguel County, approximately 12 miles southeast of Slick Rock and 42 miles southwest of Naturita. The project scope encompasses stabilization of severely eroding uranium mine waste rock piles through multiple integrated services: relocation of approximately 46,500 cubic yards of mine waste across multiple sites, installation of approximately 2,200 linear feet of erosion control silt fence, excavation of approximately 4,250 cubic yards of borrow material, construction of drainage channels with in-stream structures, placement of approximately 6,540 cubic yards of plant growth media, and revegetation of approximately 9.1 acres. Contractors were required to demonstrate successful completion of at least three stream channel construction projects utilizing design documents and totaling a minimum of 3,000 linear feet, with detailed documentation of project details, personnel qualifications, equipment used, and verification of work performed, and must have demonstrated ability to execute the Centennial and Sun Cup tasks concurrently within an 82-calendar-day completion schedule. A mandatory pre-bid meeting and site showing occurred on June 21, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 141 and San Miguel County Road 16R; bids were due by 4:00 p.m. on July 6, 2016, with bid opening on July 7, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. The anticipated construction period extended from August 29, 2016, through November 18, 2016, with award made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder meeting all requirements. Evaluation criteria included responsiveness to bid requirements, contractor qualifications, ability to meet the accelerated schedule, and compliance with all technical specifications.

The project was funded through a Cooperative Agreement between DRMS and Freeport-McMoRan, an Interagency Agreement between the Colorado Water Conservation Board and DRMS, and Federal grant money from the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management (CFDA 15.236), though specific budget ranges were not disclosed in the procurement documents. Contractors were required to comply with Colorado labor requirements mandating 80 percent Colorado labor, OSHA safety standards, and Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, and were required to develop and submit a comprehensive Project Safety, Health, and Environmental Action Plan addressing radiological hazards associated with abandoned uranium mines, including dust control, personal dosimetry monitoring, and exposure limitations not to exceed 2 rem annually. Bid guarantees of five percent of the total bid price were required for all bids over $50,000, with performance and payment bonds mandated at 100 percent of the original contract price; retainage terms provided for ten percent withholding on bids between $50,000 and $149,999 and five percent retainage for bids of $150,000 or over. Liquidated damages were assessed at $400 per day for delays beyond the contract completion date. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or minority-owned businesses were indicated in the available procurement materials, and no incumbent vendors or existing infrastructure integration requirements were identified.