F--CERCLA removal action at Mojave NP

A firm-fixed-price contract has been awarded for a non-time-critical removal action under CERCLA at the Hidden Hill Mine site within the Mojave National Preserve in southern California, with performance centered on the southeast slope of the Providence Mountains at coordinates 34.80613° N, 115.545029° W. The contractor is responsible for excavating, removing, stockpiling, transporting, and disposing of contaminated materials, including non-RCRA hazardous waste, California hazardous waste, and non-hazardous waste, using licensed off-site disposal facilities. All work must occur within a 400-calendar-day period following the Notice to Proceed, with field activities strictly limited to November 30 through March 1 to protect desert tortoise habitat and avoid extreme heat, and mobilization cannot begin before January 4, 2027. Access to the site is via Kelbaker Road and Hidden Hill Road, requiring four-wheel drive and high-clearance vehicles. The work is governed by the Statement of Work, Non-Time-Critical Removal Action Work Plan, and Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis, and must comply with NPS ecological screening values, California HAZ certification, EPA sample preservation protocols, and Section 508 accessibility standards. Sampling requires precise chain-of-custody documentation, with all containers labeled with date, time, sample ID, analyses, and matrix, and shipped using Pace containers with intact custody seals and tracking numbers; soils must be frozen within 48 hours unless exempted. The contractor must provide key personnel with current HAZWOPER certification and a California Professional Engineer or Geologist license with 15 years of experience, while all field staff must wear identifiable uniforms or badges. Compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act is required under wage determination CA20260026, and all archaeological findings are federal property requiring immediate work stoppage and notification. Options for additional services—such as collecting confirmation samples, performing archaeological monitoring, or removing hazardous and non-hazardous waste—are available at the government’s discretion and may be exercised unilaterally. The contracting officer, Sarah Welch, and contracting officer’s representative, Jenny Phillippe PG, retain full authority for inspection, acceptance, and approval of all deliverables, including final reports submitted electronically, with final acceptance contingent upon meeting Removal Action Objectives and NPS approval. Technical evaluation prioritizes relevant prior experience in similar CERCLA removal actions, past performance, proposed schedule feasibility, and key personnel