Date: October 28, 2026 To: SAM Federal Business Opportunities From: Rachel Dyer, Contracting Officer, National Park Service, Denver Service Center Subject: Sources Sought Notice Reference: GRSM 321788 - Oconaluftee River Trail This is a Sources Sought Notice (SSN) for the purpose of conducting market research. Proposals are NOT being requested, nor accepted at this time. Responses are being requested from both large and small businesses. Purpose: The purpose of this notice is to gain knowledge regarding the type of interested businesses and their qualifications. The National Park Service (NPS) will use information obtained through this notice to develop an acquisition strategy. The Government anticipates conducting a competitive acquisition for this requirement. The amount of interest or lack thereof will determine the possibility of a small business or other socio-economical small business set-aside for the solicitation. Analysis of the quality of responses to this source sought announcement will be considered in the market research being conducted, and in the making of any small business set-aside determination for this requirement. Additional Information: No proposal package, solicitation, specification or drawings are available with this notice. Cost Reimbursement: Response to this announcement is strictly voluntary; no reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this sources sought announcement or any follow-up information requests. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code: 237310 Small Business Size Standard: $45,000,000.00 Solicitation: The NPS anticipates issuing a request for proposals in the Spring 2027. Bonding: The NPS anticipates bid, performance and payment bonds will be required. Project Description: The National Park Service (NPS) proposes to improve the multi-use Oconaluftee River Trail, that links the gateway community of Cherokee to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Oconaluftee River Trail is approximately 8,400 feet, or 1.6 miles, in length and extends from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center to the park boundary with Cherokee, North Carolina. The project corridor is within and/or adjacent to sensitive natural and cultural resources. Preventing or limiting disturbance to and respecting these resources is of high importance to the park. The scope of the work includes, but is not limited to, the following: ¿ Cutting and removal of between 250 to 300 hundred mixed hardwood trees of varying size. Trees can only be felled between November 16 through March 31 of any calendar year. ¿ Widening the trail to approximately 8¿ in width, adding new aggregate subgrade and paving approximately 8,200 feet of trail with bituminous concrete pavement. ¿ Construction of a new single span steel pedestrian bridge approximately 60 feet in length and 10 feet in clear width, including new stone-faced abutments. ¿ Construction of a new integrally colored concrete multi-use recreational plaza approximately 2800 SF in area, including the construction of stone seating walls and wooden benches. ¿ Construction of approximately 200 linear feet of riverbank erosion utilizing locally harvested vegetation to create a bioengineered fill structure. ¿ Construction of a new "spur" trail to connect the Oconaluftee River Trail to the Saunooke Bridge located on the Big Cove Connector Road. This trail consists primarily of earth cuts and fills and is approximately 250 feet in length. Submittal Contents: Interested (small and large) businesses should submit the following information: (1) Company name, UEI number, address, point of contact, telephone number, and email address. (2) Business type: Classification as a Large or Small Business under the above listed NAICS, Small Business Administration (SBA) certified Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone), Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB), SBA certified Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned Small Business (EDWOSB). The size of a small business firm includes all parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, etc.¿see 13 CFR 121.108.) Misrepresentation of size status can result in penalties. (3) Statement regarding your company¿s bonding capacity. Letters from bonding companies are not required at this time. (4) Information demonstrating experience and capability on projects of same or similar size, scope and magnitude, and constructed under similar conditions. (5) In addition businesses may submit existing marketing materials such as capability statements and brochures. (6) UEI Number Only Submittal Due Date/Time: Thursday, November 12, 2026 no later than 9:00am Mountain Time Submit To: Rachel_dyer@ios.doi.gov
