Description
The Forest Service contemplates releasing a solicitation numbered AG-0109-S-07-0005 on or about April 20, 2007, for the Tuxekan Island Roads project. Whether it does so may depend on the outcome of the appeals process for the Tuxekan Island Timber Sale Record of Decision. As a matter of prudent planning to meet acquisition timelines and other concerns such as fish timing windows, the agency is posturing itself to proceed with the solicitation release as described here. If the solicitation is released, it will be released through the Juneau FedBizOpps website (see explanation below), and prospective bidders should visit that FedBizOpps website from time to time on or after April 20, 2007, to obtain a copy of the solicitation. This notice meets the requirements of FAR 5.201. However, the Forest Service reserves the right not to release a solicitation. NOTE REGARDING FEDBIZOPPS LISTINGS. The FebBizOpps website has three separate listings for the Forest Service in Alaska. These are (1) R-10 Alaska Region, Juneau, AK; (2) R-10 Chugach National Forest, Anchorage, AK; and (3) R-10 Tongass National Forest, Ketchikan, AK. Prospective bidders are advised that these three listings are not purely geographic and that a requirement on either the Chugach (Anchorage) or Tongass (Ketchikan) National Forest may be posted under the Regional Office (Juneau) listing. Thus, prospective bidders seeking Forest Service opportunities in Alaska should visit both the appropriate Forest listing (Anchorage or Ketchikan) as well as the Regional listing (Juneau). The solicitation contemplated by this notice will appear under the Juneau listing. PROJECT DESCRIPTION. The Tuxekan Island Roads project consists of 4.02 miles of new road construction using the Linear Grading method. This includes clearing and grubbing, excavation and embankment, bridge and culvert installation, pit development, end haul, seeding and fertilization, and erosion control. This project also includes of reconditioning activities on 0.97 miles of existing National Forest System Roads 14600030 and 147110, plus reconditioning an existing Marine Access Facility, all on Tuxekan Island. The road reconditioning consists of cleaning culverts, ditches, and reconditioning of roadbed. The MAF reconditioning includes the construction of three log storage areas, improvement of the existing settling basin, and installation of a pipe culvert. This project also includes four option items consisting of 3.07 miles of road reconditioning on existing roads NFSR 1470000 and 1470500, including bridge repair and transport and installation, and 4.0 miles of new road construction (Linear Grading). PROJECT LOCATION. This project is located on Tuxekan Island in Southeast Alaska's Alexander Archipelago, to the west of Prince of Wales Island, in the Tongass National Forest's Thorne Bay Ranger District. The project begins near the Marine Access Facility at Nichin Cove. There is no highway access to Tuxekan Island. Prospective bidders are urged and expected to inspect the site where the work will be performed. SOLICITATION DETAILS. The following preliminary details are provided for the benefit of prospective bidders, but are subject to change in the actual solicitation. Estimated price range (including base plus options): between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000. Contract type: firm-fixed-price. Period of performance: 365 days after issuance of notice to proceed. Solicitation type: Invitation for Bids, posted on this FedBizOpps website for viewing and printing on or after April 20, 2007. Bid opening date: 30 days after solicitation issuance. Contract award date: within 60 days after bid opening. Notice to Proceed date: within 90 days after contract award. Required bonds: bid bond with the bid and performance and payment bonds after award of a contract. OBTAINING A SOLICITATION. Prospective bidders are expected to obtain the solicitation from the Internet. However, a prospective bidder may request a paper copy by faxing a note to 907.228.6254 specifically requesting a paper copy of solicitation AG-0109-S-07-0005. In such a case, a copy will be put in the mail. Telephone requests cannot be honored. PARTICIPATION. All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered. The Small Business Competitiveness Demonstration Program (see FAR Subpart 19.10) applies, and a HUBZone set-aside (see FAR Subpart 19.13) is contemplated. Prospective bidders who wish to provide comments on the set-aside matter should provide these comments to the contracting officer on or before April 10, 2007. Indeed, all prospective bidders are invited to notify the contracting officer of their interest in the acquisition. FOR MORE INFORMATION. The point of contact for this acquisition is John Inman, 907.228.6231 (fax .6254), U. S. Forest Service, Alaska Region, Acquisition Management, 648 Mission Street, Ketchikan AK 99901. AUTOMATIC NOTIFICATION. By registering to receive notification on posted synopses, the reader will be automatically notified via email of any changes to this project. To register, select /Register to Receive Notification/ and follow the steps. Follow the same procedure for each project. PLAN HOLDERS LISTS: The Interested Vendors List (IVL) has replaced the plan holders lists that were previously available with solicitation packages. Access the IVL for all projects through this FedBizOpps website. To register as an interested vendor, select /Register as an Interested Vendor/ and follow the steps. Follow this procedure for EACH project of interest. Use the /Register as an Interested Vendor/ option to add a firm's name to the IVL and then view or print the IVL by selecting /View List of Interested Vendors/ for each project. REGISTRATIONS. In order to receive any contract award, a vendor must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA). To register a firm in the CCR system, visit http://www.bpn.gov or call 888.227.2423 or 269.961.5757. To register a firm in the ORCA system, visit http://www.bpn.gov. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.