PKAA, Walsen Project

The Public Lands and Acquisition Authority of Colorado (PKAA) is requesting bids on the Walsen Project, a mine closure and maintenance initiative in Huerfano County near Walsenburg, Colorado, with bids due June 24, 2026. The work encompasses closure of eight primary mine features (including sinkholes, subsidence features, shafts, and air shafts) and maintenance of three secondary features across work zones W01 through W08, involving excavation, imported backfill installation (totaling up to 3,318 cubic yards per feature), erosion control with wattle installation, and one monolithic concrete plug. Davis Bacon prevailing wage requirements apply to all laborers and mechanics under Department of Labor wage determinations for Huerfano County.

Contractors must comply with the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety Standard Work Specifications Safety, Health, and Environmental Action Plan (SHEAP), which mandates weekly documented safety meetings, daily pre-job safety talks, ANSI-compliant personal protective equipment, MSHA 40-hour underground mine safety training certificates for underground work with self-rescuers, White-Nose Syndrome decontamination protocols for cave and mine entry, and EPA Prevention and Control Procedures for hazardous spill containment. All safety and environmental costs must be included within the bid schedule items, and employee signatures confirming SHEAP understanding are required before work commences.

The Model Construction Agreement incorporates federal provisions and establishes contract administration, change order, payment, insurance, bonding, and performance requirements. Work is located in Huerfano County with multiple distinct geographic zones mapped across the Walsen area. Special conditions documents and a revised bid schedule with line-item pricing and payment structures govern proposal preparation. A pre-bid meeting was held at Vantor prior to the June 24 deadline. Bid documents include project location maps, feature work lists with precise UTM coordinates and dimensional specifications, equipment-offer forms, and site-specific operational protocols.