Kane Creek Abandoned Mine Inventory and Surveys

The State of Utah's Division of Oil, Gas and Mining issued a Request for Statement of Qualifications (RFSQ) for the Kane Creek Abandoned Mine Inventory and Surveys project, solicitation #JH22-15, seeking professional engineering and related services for the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program. The project targets abandoned mine areas in Grand and San Juan Counties, with specific focus on uranium, vanadium, and copper mining districts. Required services include comprehensive inventorying of abandoned mine sites, conducting cultural/historical and environmental surveys, performing biological and bat surveys, providing mapping and GIS services, researching landowners, identifying mining properties, and analyzing abandoned mine public safety risks. The project scope encompasses surveying 57 adits, two shafts, one subsidence area, and 28 prospects primarily on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, with additional sites on SITLA and Forest Service lands. The solicitation opened on August 2, 2021, with a submission deadline of August 16, 2021, and an anticipated contract duration of up to three years or until project completion. Evaluation will follow Utah Procurement Code guidelines, with vendor selection based on comprehensive qualifications and an objective scoring process.

The procurement did not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Spectrum Engineering and Environmental, LLC was ultimately awarded the contract on September 21, 2021, following a comprehensive evaluation process that ranked submissions based on qualifications. While specific budget ranges were not explicitly detailed in the documentation, the project's comprehensive nature and multi-year potential suggests a significant investment in abandoned mine reclamation and survey efforts. The procurement officer retained discretion to determine fair and reasonable compensation based on the project's scope, complexity, and professional service requirements. The contract's approach emphasizes a thorough, methodical assessment of historical mining sites, with potential for additional legislative funding to support the broader reclamation program. Vendor selection was predicated on demonstrated expertise in engineering, environmental assessment, cultural survey, and geological mapping technologies, with a focus on public safety and environmental restoration in Utah's mining regions.