Description
This is a Sources Sought Notice. No Solicitation will be posted here at a later date. It is the intent of this agency to award a sole source contract under the statutory authority 10 USC 2304(c)(1), set forth in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other services will satisfy agency requirements. This agency intends to award to Aventurine Engineering, Inc., PO Box 321, 41310 North Collins Road, Elk, WA 99009. The contractor will create a logical and defendable resource estimate, mine and mill plan and operating and capital costs estimate for inclusion in a Forest Service Curtis Tungsten Mining Claim Validity Report for multiple tungsten mining claims in the Sheep Mountain Wilderness, Angeles National Forest, San Gabriel River Ranger District. (Maps will be uploaded separately). The mine plan and cost estimation must meet Bureau of Land Management (BLM) technical standards and will be included in a larger Forest Service (FS) Valid Existing Rights Mineral Report in accordance with BLM and FS policy. A Certified Review FS and BLM Mineral Examiner will technically review the contractor's report. Report must meet requirements listed in BLM Handbook 3809-3 - Validity Mineral Reports, Section 12, Economic Evaluation. (See attachment). The contractor must be available for FS review and follow-up comments/questions on his product. The contractor must also be available for future litigation if the mineral report goes to a mining claim contest action and would be required to qualify and testify as an expert witness in mine and mill cost estimating. The vendor must have training on the CostMine software, which is used at the BLM/FS mineral examiner training school and is used and purchased throughout the agencies as the standard mining and milling cost estimating program. The vendor must have the unique experience with the software, familiarity with agency and technical standards, and be able to furnish valid exam reports. Motorized access into the Wilderness will have to be authorized by the Forest Supervisor and will be dependent on road conditions. Access to the site will vary but may include hiking 8+ miles one way per day, 4 wheel drive vehicle furnished by the Forest Service, or ATV or some combination. The government will consider qualification statements addressing the above referenced information received by 2:00 P.M. on May 20, 2011. Respond to fax 530-478-6126. Market research was conducted for this project and the above mentioned person was the only source found to be able to supply this service. If no responses to this notice of intent are received by 2:00 P.M., May 20, 2011, the government will enter sole source negotiations and plans to award to Aventurine Engineering, Inc., PO Box 321, 41310 North Collins Road, ELK, WA 99009.