SLED Opportunity · ALASKA · KETCHIKAN GATEWAY BOROUGH
AI Summary
Ketchikan Gateway Borough seeks bids for construction services to restore Rainbird Trail by building a 50-foot wood staircase and a 16'x16' viewing platform. The project includes site preparation and timber structure construction with a bid deadline of June 23, 2026.
Ketchikan Gateway Borough is seeking the services of a qualified company or individual to conduct upgrades on Rainbird Trail. The improvements include the construction of a new staircase and a viewing platform, per attached drawings by R&M Engineering. Please see attached map and site photos for the improvement locations and site conditions.
The Rainbird Trail offers a convenient and immersive rainforest experience within a 20-minute walk from the city center and cruise ship docks. This trail is moderately difficult and traverses some 1.25 - miles of steep terrain above the UAS Ketchikan Campus, the Jefferson Reservoir, and Third Ave. bypass. The terrain is a mixture of site-sourced rock and gravel walking surfaces, log tread stairs, bridges and cut rock walkways.
This project will accomplish two restoration projects:
Before execution of a contract, and during the entire period of the project, the contractor shall provide the types of insurance listed below. All policies shall have a mandatory 30-day cancellation clause. The Borough shall be named as additional insured on all insurance policies except professional liability policies. Insurance certificates will be required to be submitted for review by the Borough’s Risk Manager before the Borough will issue a notice to proceed.
| Release Project Date: | June 3, 2026 |
| Pre-Bid Meeting (Non-Mandatory): | June 12, 2026, 2:00pm UAS Parking Lot (2600 7th Ave, Ketchikan, AK 99901) at the Rainbird Trailhead |
| Question Submission Deadline: | June 16, 2026, 5:00pm |
| Bid Opening: | June 23, 2026, 3:00pm |
Ketchikan Gateway Borough is seeking the services of a qualified company or individual to conduct upgrades on Rainbird Trail. The improvements include the construction of a new staircase and a viewing platform, per attached drawings by R&M Engineering. Please see attached map and site photos for the improvement locations and site conditions.
Restore the North Rainbird Trail route by constructing a wood-framed staircase of 50-lineal feet on the Northeast side and separately construct a 16'x16' Platform on the southwest section of the trail.
USS 1378, Tract A-4-A and USS 1378 Tract A-5-A-1, City of Ketchikan, Alaska, 99901
Workers’ compensation as required by law and employer’s liability coverage at a minimum of $1,000,000. The Workers’ compensation policy shall include a Waiver of Subrogation in favor of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough.
The Rainbird Trail offers a convenient and immersive rainforest experience within a 20-minute walk from the city center and cruise ship docks. This trail is moderately difficult and traverses some 1.25 - miles of steep terrain above the UAS Ketchikan Campus, the Jefferson Reservoir, and Third Ave. bypass. The terrain is a mixture of site-sourced rock and gravel walking surfaces, log tread stairs, bridges and cut rock walkways.
This project will accomplish two restoration projects:
Commercial general liability insurance, contractual liability, or product/completed operation liability insurance - $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate.
All Bids must be received by the Borough no later than 3:00 pm on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
The Rainbird Trail is a .75-mile trail lying above the Third Avenue Bypass in Ketchikan's West End, proceeding from a point uphill from Gorge Street to the University of Alaska Southeast Campus, containing three access points, the southerly stair access from the Third Avenue Bypass, the northerly stair access from the parking lot on the Third Avenue Bypass, and at the University of Alaska Southeast Campus.
Work under this project will take place in two locations:
Site 1: North Rainbird Trail: This location was rendered inaccessible due to a destabillized tree adjoining a steep rock face dislodging supports soils on which the trail was located.
Site 2: South Rainbird Trail: This location is a widened lookout area near the south Third Avenue Bypass entry to the trail. g trail inaccessible.
The Rainbird Trail is a Class 1 or 2 Trail per the USFS matrix classification (UFS 2353), characterized by intermittent tread, with an often indistinct trail surface of predominantly native materials that impacts wayfinding. The trail is predominantly single lane, with few allowances for passing. Obstacles are common and naturally occurring. Route markers are present, but wayfinding is complicated by trail surfacing that has washed out and settled into downhill locations.
Comprehensive automobile liability, bodily injury, and property damage, including all owned, hired and non-owned, automobile - $1,000,000 per accident.
Questions, objections, or protests relating to defects, errors, omissions regarding the project or this IFB should be submitted through the procurement portal by 5:00 pm on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
Ketchikan Gateway Borough is seeking to restore the use of Rainbird trail. The restoration effort includes two new structures: a new wood framed staircase approximately 50-feet in length and a 16'x16' viewing platform, of post and beam construction. Sitework will need to be conducted at both the stair and platform location, with improvements to the transition areas in the immediate vicinity of the stair and platform.
The site work includes, but is not limited to, clearing and grubbing for all footings, plinths, and to provide sufficient space for construction; subgrade preparation as noted on the plans; and construction of all associated timber structures.
The scope of work will include the provisions of all materials, labor, transportation and the mobilization necessary to complete the work components.
Work will take place in two separate locations along the Rainbird Trail:
Wood Stair Location: The northerly section of the Rainbird Trail, traversing City of Ketchikan and UAS lands contained in the easement at DNR Document # 2022-002758, KRD and in the City of Ketchikan Encroachment Permit, and proceeding from the north trailhead at the Third Avenue Bypass to the University of Alaska Southeast Campus. Per the City of Ketchikan Revocable Encroachment Permit, the staircase location is on or about trail segment 33 of USS 1378 Tract A-4-A.
Wood Platform Location: The southerly section of the Rainbird Trail paralleling the Third Avenue Bypass near the staircase located adjacent USS 1378 Tract A-5-A-1, approximately across from 1626 Water Street (Parcel 011334000300).
Amy Briggs
Procurement & Contracts Officer
amyb@kgbak.us
(907) 228-6637
Excess liability coverage in the amount of $2,000,000.
Builder’s all risk (course of construction) in the amount of 100% of the total contract amount, including change orders, as well as materials in place and/or stored at the site, whether or not partial payment has been made by the Borough. Deductible to be no more than 10% of the total contract amount.
A non-mandatory pre-bid walkthrough will be held to provide proposers the opportunity to evaluate the job site in order to develop a thorough understanding of the site conditions. Proposers wishing to access the site separately are to be aware that access is currently limited to authorized entry only: authorization may be requested from the Public Works Department of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough.
All work will be conducted per the General and Special Conditions contained herein.
Professional liability insurance covering errors and omissions at $1,000,000 per claim.
Project Completion 60 days from notice to proceed. Trail opening dates for beneficial use by public, and completion of trail improvements contained in the price proposal.
All projects $25,000 and over are subject to surety requirements as outlined below.
Bidder shall submit with their bid or price bid component, a bid bond accompanied by Power of Attorney, or cashier’s check. Bids or price bids between $25,000 and $100,000 require a surety of 10% of the total bid or price bid. Bids or price bids greater than $100,000 require a surety of 5% of the bid or price bid.
Performance Bonds are required on any and all contracts over $100,000. All Performance Bonds will be in the amount of 100% of the contract.
Payment Bonds are required all construction contracts involving the use of subcontractors, where the total amount of the contract is $100,000 or more. Payment Bonds shall be in the amount of 100% of the contract amount.
The Bidder whose bid is accepted shall execute the Contract and furnish the required bonding insurance within ten working days after Notice of Award of the Contract is issued. The Contract shall be considered executed by the successful bidder when two copies of the Contract, signed by an authorized representative of the Contractor, the bond and required insurance are received by the Purchasing Officer. Failure or neglect of the Contractor to execute the Contract within the time specified may result in a forfeiture of the bid Guarantee and award of the Contract to the next lowest prosper.
Bidders must comply with all Federal and State of Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Labor Laws and Wage Rates as specified in AS 36.05.010 and AS 36.10 as applicable.
Before execution of a contract, the successful bidder must have a current State of Alaska business license; must have a current sales tax registration on file with the Borough, and must be in good standing in terms of sales tax, property tax, and all other taxes, fees, and monies due to the Borough.
The Contractor shall observe and abide by all applicable federal laws, regulations, ordinances and other rules of the State of Alaska and/or any political subdivisions thereof, or any other duly constituted public authority wherein work is done or services performed, and further agrees to indemnify and save the Borough harmless from any and all liability or penalty which may be imposed or asserted by reason of the Contractor’s failure or alleged failure to observe and abide thereby.
It is the responsibility of the Bidder to investigate and acquaint themselves with the conditions relating to the work and labor, including (if required) site visits, soil sampling, or other tests.
The Borough reserves the right to reject any or all bids. The Borough also reserves the right to reject any bid which is non-responsive, incomplete, obscure or irregular; any bid which omits any one or more items on which the bids are required; any bid in which unit prices are unbalanced in the opinion of the Borough; and any bidder who previously failed to perform properly or to complete on time contracts of any nature.
Addenda must be acknowledged through the procurement portal in order for the bid to be deemed responsive.
Bids may be withdrawn up until the submission deadline.
The Borough reserves the right to cancel the procurement, IFB, or award without liability to the Bidder, except return of the bid security, at any time before the Agreement has been fully signed by all parties, including the Borough.
An aggrieved bidder may file a bid protest within NO VALUE days after the Notice of Intent to Award the contract is emailed.
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
The bidder certifies that any and all prices which may be charged under the terms of this bid request do not and will not violate any existing federal, state, or municipal laws or regulations concerning price discrimination and/or price fixing. The bidder agrees to indemnify, exonerate, and hold harmless the Borough from liability for such violation now and throughout the term of the contract.
Bidders must submit their Subcontractors List indicating the name(s) of any anticipated subcontractors for the proposed project expected to perform more than 5% of the total project work.
Subcontractor Information Requirement
If you anticipate utilizing subcontractors for this project, you must provide a Subcontractor List using the format provided below. A separate entry must be completed for each subcontractor.
Subcontractor Details
Provide the following information for each subcontractor using the format below.
Fields:
Please select the applicable document, download the document, complete, and upload.
By checking the acknowledgment box provided, the Respondent certifies that it has reviewed the Pricing Table provided herein and confirms that all pricing submitted is accurate, complete, and valid. The Respondent further acknowledges that it is upholding the pricing submitted in the Pricing Table for the duration specified in this solicitation.
Failure to complete the required acknowledgment will be grounds for rejection of the Price Proposal.
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
By confirming below, the bidder acknowledges and certifies that they have read and understand the following:
Bidder’s Certification
Award of Project
The Borough shall have the right to reject this bid and such bid shall remain open and may not be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) days after the date prescribed for its closing.
Notice of Acceptance
Notice of acceptance and award of the project or requests for additional information may be addressed to the undersigned bidder at the business address set forth in this bid.
Minimum Standards
The required work and/or specifications attached herein shall be considered as the minimum standards acceptable to the Borough.
Pursuant to and in compliance with the Invitation for Bids, the undersigned bidder, being fully familiarized with all the terms of the specifications hereby proposes and agrees to deliver, within the time and in the manner stipulated in the bid for the following:
Example: 1234 Park Avenue, Ketchikan, AK 99901
SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.
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