PKAA, Wandering Prospector Project

The Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety is requesting documented quotations for mine closure and reclamation work on the Wandering Prospector Project across Lake, Chaffee, and Pitkin counties, with bids due July 2, 2026 (extended from June 23 by Amendment No. 1). Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) may receive a 5% preference on bid price.

The scope involves closing 23 abandoned mine features — shafts, stopes, and adits — using reinforced polyurethane foam plugs (5–15 cubic yards per feature), concrete monolithic plugs (up to 10 cubic yards), native rock bulkheads (1–4 cubic yards), hand backfill, and grated adit closures with bat gates. Features are distributed across Lake, Chaffee, and Pitkin counties with depths ranging from 8 feet to over 100 feet and excavated dimensions from 4×4 feet to 10×8 feet. Work locations span U.S. Forest Service and privately owned parcels, with access varying from foot-only (some in Collegiate Peaks Wilderness) to mini-equipment capable sites. The contractor must comply with a mandatory Site Health and Environmental Action Plan (SHEAP) addressing hazard controls, personal protective equipment, excavation shoring, underground mine safety training (MSHA 40-hour certification), hantavirus mitigation, White-Nose Syndrome decontamination protocols, and spill prevention. Davis-Bacon Act wage requirements apply; prevailing wage rates (effective May 18, 2026) vary by county and trade classification from $11.11 to $61.36 per hour plus fringe benefits. The Buy America Act and Build America, Buy America Act compliance is mandatory; all iron, steel, and construction materials must be produced in the United States unless a waiver is approved. Buy Clean Colorado Act requirements apply to eligible materials.

Bid pricing is lump-sum for mobilization/demobilization, SHEAP, and mine closure installation, with unit pricing for additional polyurethane foam (per cubic yard) and mini-excavator equipment rental (per hour). Performance Bonds and Labor and Material Bonds are required if the bid amount exceeds $150,000. Construction is scheduled July 27 through September 4, 2026, with a 40-calendar-day completion allowance including 10 days for mobilization. A 5% retainage applies if the project exceeds $150,000; liquidated damages are set at $400 per day for delays. The mandatory pre-bid meeting and site inspection were held June 4, 2026; fourteen features were not visited but driving directions, travel times, photographs, maps, and GIS files are provided via shared Google Drive. Bids must be submitted electronically via Colorado Vendor Self Service (ColoradoVSS) and must include completed Revised Bid Schedule, List of Equipment Offered form, and SDVOSB certification if applicable. Insurance requirements include workers' compensation, commercial general liability ($1 million per occurrence), automobile liability ($1 million), pollution liability ($1 million), and aircraft liability ($5 million) if drones are used. The project is funded by the Department of the Interior/Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, and Colorado Severance Tax revenue.