Federal Highway Administration, 610 East Fifth Street, Vancouver, WA 98661-3893

Y -- HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION SOL DTFH70-98-B-00002 DUE 010698 POC Julee K. McTaggart, Contract Specialist, (360) 696-7520; Barbara A. Allen, Program Assistant, (360) 696-7520 OR FS ERFO 97-12(6), Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, FDR 4680500 CACHE CREEK ROAD, Wallowa County, Oregon. This solicitation consists of grading, excavation, riprap, and culverts at four sites. This project includes: 0.93 hectare clearing/grubbing; 12 meter 2,400 millimeter by 1,720 millimeter pipe arch; 860 meters silt fence; 4,089 cubic meter excavation; 270 cubic meters select topping; 720 cubic meter riprap; 11 slurry units seeding/mulching; and other smaller items of work. This project is located approximately 72 kilometers south of Clarkston, Washington. Work shall be completed by 05/01/98. Estimated price range is between $100,000 and $250,000. Presolicitation Notices are being provided to firms on this agency's mailing list concurrently with the publication of this synopsis. -- -- The following applies only to Minority, Women-Owned and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises: The Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), has programs to assist minority, women-owned and disadvantaged business enterprises to acquire short-term working capital and bonding assistance for transportation-related contracts. This is applicable to any eligible prime or subcontract at any tier. The DOT Bonding Assistance Program enables firms to apply for bid, performance and payment bonds up to $1.0 million per contract. The DOT provides an 80% guaranty on the bond amount to a surety against losses. Loans are also available under the DOT Short Term Lending Program (STLP) at prime interest rates to provide accounts receivable financing. The maximum line of credit is $500,000. For further information and applicable forms concerning the Bonding Assistance Program and/or the STLP, please call OSDBU at (800) 532-1169. (0301)

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