PKAA, 1000, Morning Star Mine Closure Project

This sealed bid procurement issued by the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety seeks qualified contractors to execute the Morning Star Mine Closure Project (PKA-16-761), a comprehensive mine remediation and closure initiative for 15 hazardous mine openings (13 adits and 2 shafts) located on U.S. Forest Service lands near Telluride in San Miguel County, Colorado. The project encompasses multiple closure methods including rock bulkheads with bat access provisions, grated shaft closures, hand backfill closures, and corrugated HDPE pipe installations, with work to be completed within a strict 63-calendar-day timeline from the Notice to Proceed, anticipated between July 5 and September 1, 2016. Key deliverables include a comprehensive Project Safety, Health and Environmental Action Plan (SHEAP) submitted within five working days of contract award, detailed closure plans, engineering reports, environmental compliance documentation, and operational manuals. Successful bidders must demonstrate specialized expertise in mine reclamation, hydrogeological assessment, environmental engineering, and regulatory compliance, with proven experience on large-scale mining closure projects and necessary certifications for environmental remediation work. The bid structure requires lump sum pricing for mobilization/demobilization, SHEAP preparation, installation of mine closures across all 15 features, and optional equipment rental (excavator hours at specified rates for up to 5 hours). Evaluation will be based on the lowest responsive and responsible bid price submitted. A mandatory pre-bid meeting and site showing was held on May 3, 2016, at 10:15 a.m. in Telluride, Colorado, with attendance required for bid eligibility; sealed bids were originally due by 4:00 p.m. on May 10, 2016, though Amendment #1 revised the deadline to 4:00 p.m. on May 17, 2016, with bid opening scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on May 18, 2016.

The procurement is funded through federal grant money from the U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (CFDA 15.252) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service (CFDA 10.693), with allocations distributed across the 15 features for phased closure work. Contractors must comply with Colorado labor requirements mandating 80 percent Colorado labor, Davis-Bacon wage provisions, and must obtain a Temporary Special Use Permit from the U.S. Forest Service ($140.27 potential fee). No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were noted in the documentation; however, significant operational constraints apply, including a prohibition on helicopter access to features 2 through 8 within the Lizard Head Wilderness area, with access limited to pack animals or hiking. Insurance requirements include $1,000,000 general liability and commercial auto coverage, with a bid bond equal to 5 percent of total bid price required at submission. Performance and payment bonds equal to 100 percent of the contract price are mandated for awards exceeding $50,000, with retainage of 10 percent for bids between $50,000 and $149,999.99, and 5 percent for bids of $150,000 or greater. Liquidated damages of $400 per day apply for failure to meet the 63-calendar-day completion deadline, and contractors must comply with equipment decontamination procedures for White-Nose Syndrome and noxious weed control protocols. While specific budget amounts were not disclosed in the available documentation, the project is structured on a phase-by-phase basis with costs tied to specific deliverables and measurable outcomes, with pricing expected to fall within ranges typical for multi-feature mine closure operations of this scope and complexity.