Great Slave Lake Mine Sites RFI

Trade Agreement: NONE
Tendering Procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid
Attachment: None
Competitive Procurement Strategy: N/A - P&A/LOI Only
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Nature of Requirements: 
EW699-140611/A
Anthony (NCS), Mary
Telephone No. - (780) 497-3588 
Fax No. - (780) 497-3510


REMEDIATION OF THREE ABANDONED MINE SITES IN THE SOUTHEAST AREA
OF GREAT SLAVE LAKE, NT
EW699-140611/A
PROJECT #: R.041648.001

LETTER OF INTEREST(LOI)
ADVANCE NOTICE TO INDUSTRY 
PRE-TENDER OPTIONAL SITE VISIT 

1. 	REQUIREMENT:

	Prior to posting the Request for Proposal (RFP), Public Works
and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) and Aboriginal Affairs
and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) is conducting an
Optional Pre-tender Site Visit for interested firms who are
interested in the upcoming remediation project for three
abandoned mine sites in the southeast area of Great Slave Lake,
NT. It is anticipated the Request For Proposal (RFP) documents
will be available on www.Buyandsell.gc.ca/tenders by January
2014 (estimated).  

2.  	BACKGROUND: 

	The site tour is for a project relating to three sites,
Blanchet Mine, Outpost Mine, and Copper Pass 	Mine. 

The Blanchet Island mine site is located approximately 115 km
southeast of Yellowknife, NT on the southern shore of Blanchet
Island in Great Slave Lake.  The mine area is located
approximately 1.5 km northeast of the camp and beach areas of
the site.  The coordinates for the site are approximately 61°
59' 45" N, 112° 23' 45" W. Blanchet Island has been an area of
interest for cobalt nickel mining since the staking of the LUX
claims in 1968, which resulted from the discovery of a high
grade showing of nickel, cobalt, and bismuth. The property was
explored and mined until 1970, when the end of the mineralized
lense was reached, and the grade of ore remaining was too low to
warrant further operations. A number of claims were staked
between the 1970 and 2005, though no works were reported, and
all equipment was reportedly removed in 1971. The LUX1 claim is
currently under mineral lease by Trevor Teed of Yellowknife, NT,
and while numerous other claims have existed, they are now
lapsed or expired. There are three main areas to the Site: the
beach area, a former camp and former mine. The main concerns at
the beach area are metal impacted soils, drums, and ore
contained within overpacks. The concern at the former camp area
is primarily due to non-hazardous debris. The former mine has
metal impacted soil, hazardous and non-hazardous debris, waste
rock, and a mine opening.

The Outpost Island mine site is located approximately 94 km
southeast of Yellowknife, NT and occupies two islands, Outpost
Island (West Island) and East Island in Great Slave Lake.  The
coordinates for the site are approximately 61° 44' 17" N, 113°
27' 30" W. Outpost Island Mine lies on the western margin of the
Canadian Shield. The maximum elevation of the mine site is
approximately 167 metres above sea level (masl). Much of the
terrain around the Outpost Island Mine site consists primarily
of undulating and bare bedrock outcrops with steep ridges
running in an east-west direction. Outpost Island and the
surrounding islands are largely barren of trees and vegetation.
The ground generally slopes towards Great Slave Lake on all
sides. Mining operations took place on the site from 1941 to
1942 and 1951 to 1952. Gold, copper, and tungsten were mined at
the site and gold was extracted using an amalgam mercury
extraction process. The majority of the mining operation was
located on Outpost Island including the main camp, mill and
service buildings. Remediation activities were conducted at the
site during the 1990's. Overall, the main chemical issues at the
Outpost Island Mine are petroleum hydrocarbon impacted soil and
metal impacts to soil and sediment.

The Copper Pass mine site is located approximately 129 kms east
of Yellowknife, NT on Sachowia Lake (7.5 kms northwest of
Sachowia Point on the Hearne Channel of Great Slave Lake).  The
coordinates for the site are approximately 62° 24' 30" N, 111°
51' 45" W. The main mining operation and camp sites, including
the waste rock piles, tailing disposal areas, trenches, and
buildings. Three major areas exist: the former camp area, the
main showing, and the west showing. The former camp area
consists of former camp buildings, non-hazardous and hazardous
debris. The main showings consists of two large trenches, waste
rock, impacted soil, and debris piles. The west showing consists
of a trench, waste rock, and metal impacted soil. 

It is anticipated that the remediation of the three sites will
require up to two construction seasons (summers of 2014 / 2015)
depending how the work is sequenced.  A typical construction
season for these locations normally starts in June and concludes
by late September, which allows approximately 90 days. Potential
hazards inherent with a remote northern location are wildlife
and arctic weather conditions.  Due to the logistical challenges
associated with this project, a number of the risks have been
identified, primarily those with mobilization and
demobilization; remediation and construction activities; work
schedules; weather delays; air charter; and replenishment of
food and materials have been identified.

3. 	OPTIONAL PRE-TENDER SITE VISIT: 

PWGSC on behalf of AANDC has scheduled an Optional Pre-tender
Site Visit on Tuesday September 17, 2013 for remediation
activities at three abandoned mine sites in the southeast area
of Great Slave Lake, NT.  If access to the sites is not achieved
on September 17 due to weather, a second attempt will be made
the following day on September 18.

Interested firms are strongly encouraged to attend; however,
those who do not attend will not be precluded from submitting a
bid when the Request for Proposal (RFP) is issued. 

It should be noted that interested firms who do not attend or
send a representative will not be given another opporortunity to
travel to the site.

4. 	LOGISTICS (LOCAL TIME) - SCHEDULE IS WEATHER AND AIRCRAFT
DEPENDENT:

Optional Pre-tender Site Visit - Tuesday September 17, 2013.

Yellowknife, NT to the first Project Site (charter aircraft) - 
7:00 AM departure from Yellowknife

Last Project Site to Yellowknife, NT (charter aircraft) - 7:30
PM arrival back in Yellowknife

 5.  	ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

Interested firms must communicate with the Contracting Authority
no later than 2:00 PM MDT, September 09, 2013, before the
scheduled visit to confirm attendance and provide the name of
the person who will attend. The first nine interested firms to
confirm attendance will be guaranteed a seat on the plane. 
Additional seats will be subject to availability.
Contracting Authority is Mary Anthony
E-mail: mary.anthony@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca or via telephone at
780-497-3588

PWGSC will provide and pay for return charter air transportation
for an employee of the interested firm (or authorized
representative) between Yellowknife, NT and the three abandoned
mine sites in the area of Great Slave Lake, NT as specified in
Section 4.

With the exception of the cost of the PWGSC charter air
transporation, all other travel & living costs incurred by the
employee of the interested firm (or authorized representative)
for the purpose of attending the Optional Pre-tender Site Visit
will be borne by the interested firm.

Due to limited availability of charter aircraft and seating
capacity, attendance to the Optional Pre-tender Site Visit will
be limited to one employee (or authorized representative) per
interested firm. 

This Optional Pre-tender Site Visit is intended for interested
firms that are Prime or Joint Venturing Contracting firms. 

All participants will be required to sign an attendance form
prior to boarding charter aircraft.

All participants must provide their own required Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE) consisting of clothing appropriate
for varying weather conditions, CSA approved safety boots, and a
high visibility vest. 

All participants must provide their own food and water.

The site visit will include walks/hikes in potentially
unfavorable weather conditions.  It is highly recommended that
firms take this into consideration when registering their
employee (or authorized representative).
 
6. 	SOURCING:  

When the RFP is posted on www.Buyandsell.gc.ca/tenders, the
requirements of the Tlicho Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement
will apply. 

When the RFP is posted on www.Buyandsell.gc.ca/tenders, the
provisions of the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) will apply
and, where applicable, the appropriate International Trade
Agreements will be determined.
Delivery Date: Above-mentioned

The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any
procurement.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.