PKAA-1000-Wise Hill Mine Coal Seam Excavation Project

The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety is issuing a sealed bid solicitation (PKA-17-773) for the Wise Hill Mine Coal Seam Excavation Project located four miles south of Craig in Moffat County, Colorado. The primary scope of work includes excavation of approximately 200,000 cubic yards of burning and non-burning coal and overburden materials from an inactive mine site, with additional deliverables encompassing topsoil salvage and stockpiling, blending of coal with overburden at a minimum 5:1 ratio, backfilling, final grading, topsoil replacement, and revegetation across approximately three acres. Key requirements mandate that all contractor personnel possess MSHA certification prior to mobilization, a minimum CAT D8 bulldozer (235 FWP) or equivalent is required for earthmoving operations, and contractors must provide MSHA Part 48 training with a certified on-site trainer. Supplemental bid items include optional excavation and blending work totaling up to 15,000 cubic yards (not guaranteed), hydraulic hammer rental (16 hours estimated on hourly rate basis), removal of approximately 1,400 feet of powerlines and two poles by a licensed electrical contractor (lump sum, not guaranteed), and survey services for volume control. Bidders must demonstrate pre-qualification by completing at least two large excavation projects exceeding 50,000 cubic yards within the past five years (note: the five-year prequalification time limit was removed by Amendment 2). The mandatory pre-bid meeting and site showing was held on July 27, 2016, with subsequent deadline amendments extending the sealed bid submission deadline to August 16, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. at the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, 1313 Sherman Street, Suite 215, Denver, Colorado 80203, with bid opening rescheduled to August 17, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. Sealed bids must include the bid form, bid schedule with all line items priced, 5% bid guaranty, equipment list, and pre-qualification documentation, with bids submitted in single copy only via mail, hand delivery, or courier service (electronic submission via VSS System was temporarily unavailable). The project timeline allows 292 calendar days for completion from the Notice to Proceed, with construction anticipated between September 12, 2016, and June 30, 2017. Award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with contract signing scheduled fourteen days after bid award.

The procurement includes a set-aside requirement mandating that eighty percent of laborers employed must be Colorado residents. Performance and payment bonds equal to 100% of the contract price are required, and retainage of 10% applies to contracts between $50,000 and $149,999.99. Liquidated damages are assessed at $400 per day for work not completed by the specified deadline. The project is funded through federal grant money from the U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. The contractor must comply with OSHA and MSHA regulations, maintain comprehensive insurance coverage, and execute a detailed Project Safety Plan addressing hazardous mine conditions including burning coal seams, toxic gas venting, and overhead power lines. Additionally, drill casing encountered during excavation must be disposed of at licensed facilities only, and backfill work requires moisture content between 10-15% with field testing methods rather than laboratory analysis. The specific budget or award value is not explicitly stated in the solicitation documents provided; however, based on the scope of work involving approximately 200,000 cubic yards of excavation, the project likely represents a substantial contract value in the range typical for federal surface mining reclamation projects.