Drilling Up To 6 Wells Near Wisdom Montana

The University of Montana - Montana Technological University is seeking a qualified drilling contractor through an Invitation For Bid (UOM-IFB-2025-3303) to drill up to 6 wells near Wisdom, Montana. The primary objective of this project is to identify a site with suitable hydrogeologic characteristics for aquifer storage and recovery (ASR), which involves injecting and extracting water. The procurement is categorized under Commodity Code 1606 for Environmental Services - Drilling and requires vendors to submit a total cost for all services. The bid opens on March 31, 2025, at 2:00 PM MDT and closes on April 25, 2025, at 2:00 PM MDT, with Jody Parrow serving as the primary contact. Vendors must submit comprehensive proposals that demonstrate technical capability to conduct the well drilling, and they must comply with specific requirements, including a stipulation that they do not have policies discriminating against firearm entities or trade associations. The project will be conducted in Deer Lodge County and is governed by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, with payment terms set at net 30 days.

The solicitation includes a detailed "Prevailing Wage Rates for Nonconstruction Services 2025" document that outlines mandatory wage and benefit rates for service occupations, which will be applicable to this project. While no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are explicitly mentioned, the prevailing wage document indicates that these rates are mandatory for public works contracts exceeding $25,000. Contractors must pay at least the specified wage and benefit amounts, with flexibility in how fringe benefits are provided. The document also stipulates an automatic 3% wage increase every 12 months for multi-year contracts exceeding 30 months. Although a specific budget range is not disclosed, the comprehensive nature of drilling up to 6 wells suggests a potentially significant project value. The bid requires vendors to demonstrate not only technical proficiency in drilling but also compliance with state wage regulations and non-discriminatory business practices.