Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway Project NC NP BLRI 5140-091P, Solicitation Number 693C73-26-B-000005, seeks sealed bids from certified Small Business Concerns for the rehabilitation of the U.S. 421 Bridge at Deep Gap in Watauga County, North Carolina. The work involves concrete repair, joint resealing, stone masonry repointing, pavement removal, asphalt work, waterproofing, and other miscellaneous tasks. The estimated project cost is between $2,000,000 and $5,000,000. Bid documents will be available around December 18, 2025, on sam.gov. Interested vendors must register on sam.gov for document access, notifications, and to be included in the Interested Vendors List. All questions should be directed to eflhd.contracts@dot.gov. Contractors must have an active SAM registration (https://www.sam.gov) for submitting offers and payment, and complete the annual Form VETS-4212 (http://www.dol.gov/vets/vets4212.htm). For security, visitors attending bid openings at Quantum Park must present valid photo ID, arrive early, and be escorted by a Government employee.

The VETS-4212 Report is a mandatory annual filing for federal contractors and subcontractors holding contracts of $150,000 or more. It requires reporting on the employment of protected veterans, including total employees, new hires, and the maximum and minimum number of employees, broken down by job category. The report helps monitor compliance with affirmative action provisions under 38 U.S.C. § 4212(d). Contractors must file by September 30th, preferably electronically via the VETS web-based system, though paper and electronic data file submissions are also accepted. Multi-establishment employers have specific filing requirements for headquarters and hiring locations, with options for consolidated state reports. The document defines key terms like 'protected veteran' and outlines record-keeping requirements for three years.

The Federal Highway Administration, Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division, held a bid opening on January 20, 2026, for Solicitation No. 693C73-26-B-000005, Project NC NP BLRI 5140-091P, related to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The performance period for Schedule A is 355 calendar days. Multiple bidders submitted proposals, with Yorkshire Industries offering the lowest bid at $1,831,386.02 for Schedule A. Other bidders included Bryant's Land & Development Industries, Inc. ($5,267,388.00), McKenzie Construction & Site Development, LLC ($3,956,877.09), Eclipse Co., LLC ($3,989,890.00), Kovilic Construction Company, Inc. ($3,779,100.00), Enfield Enterprises, LLC ($3,964,129.60), and MC3 Solutions ($4,997,870.00). The Engineer's Estimate for Schedule A was $4,190,000.00. The Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division is currently reviewing all information, and the low bidder will be contacted after a thorough review is completed.

IFB No. 693C73-26-B-000005 outlines a federal contract for the rehabilitation of the U.S. 421 Bridge at Deep Gap on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Watauga County, North Carolina. This project, set aside for small business concerns, involves concrete repair, joint resealing, masonry repointing, pavement milling, and asphalt work, with an estimated cost between $2,000,000 and $5,000,000. The performance period is 355 calendar days. Bidders must adhere to Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), and submit a bid guarantee. Electronic bids are accepted via email. The contract emphasizes compliance with labor standards, environmental regulations, and various federal clauses. Key submittals include SF-1442, a bid schedule, and a bid bond.

The Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division's Bidder's Qualifications form is a mandatory document for prospective bidders on projects like the NC NP BLRI BR 5140-091P. It requires detailed information about the bidding entity, including business name, address, SAM Unique Entity ID, DUNS #, EIN, and contact information. Bidders must specify their organization type (e.g., individual, corporation, joint venture) and business size (e.g., large, small, disadvantaged, veteran-owned). For joint ventures, separate forms are needed for each participant, along with details about the project's principal. The form also requests the business establishment date, years of experience as a general contractor and subcontractor, and information on owners, partners, officers, and directors, including resumes of key personnel. Bidders must list active and completed contracts, disclose any unresolved claims or lawsuits, and report any contract terminations, debarments, or suspensions. Finally, the form asks for the types of work performed as a general contractor and subcontractor, and work typically subcontracted, concluding with a certification of the accuracy of all provided information.

The U.S. Route 421 Bridge project on the Blue Ridge Parkway involves comprehensive repair and rehabilitation work. Key tasks include micro-milling existing concrete, repairing concrete cracks and deteriorated sections on abutments and piers, installing spray-applied waterproofing membrane, and placing a new 3-inch asphalt overlay. The project also addresses joint replacement on the deck and stone masonry parapets, cleaning and repointing existing stone masonry, and resetting loose stones at the southwest wingwall. Erosion and sediment control measures are detailed, outlining a three-phase construction sequence for perimeter control, intermediate controls, and final stabilization. Temporary traffic control plans for single-lane closures are also provided, ensuring safety and efficiency throughout the construction process. The overall project aims to restore and enhance the bridge's structural integrity and extend its service life.

The Federal Highway Administration's FP-24 Standard Specifications for Construction of Roads and Bridges on Federal Highway Projects outlines comprehensive guidelines for federal highway projects. This document, effective 2024, integrates with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Transportation Acquisition Regulation (TAR). It details contract requirements, project execution, quality control, and payment procedures. The FP-24 uses U.S. Customary units with metric conversions for testing, covering general requirements, project-specific tasks, earthwork, retaining systems, aggregate courses, asphalt and rigid pavements, bridge construction, incidental construction, and material specifications. It defines terms, outlines electronic documentation, and specifies drawing submittal processes, emphasizing the roles of the Contracting Officer and the importance of professional engineering seals for complex structures. The document ensures standardized, safe, and efficient construction practices for roads and bridges.

The U.S. Route 421 Bridge (Structure No. 5140-091P) underwent a routine inspection on July 20, 2023, by the Federal Highway Administration. The report identifies several critical issues, including cracking and delamination of the concrete overlay, fractured joint armor, leakage into the approach span causing erosion, and wide cracking of the south abutment breastwall. The bridge, built in 2001, is a two-span prestressed concrete box beam/girder bridge with a length of 267 feet. Its inventory rating is 36 tons, and it is open to normal traffic. The report recommends corrective actions to prevent further deterioration and notes that a major rehabilitation project (NC NP BLRI BR 5140-091P) is planned under FHWA direction. Ongoing monitoring of the masonry retaining wall and settlement at the north end of the structure is also recommended.

The Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division (FHWA) and the National Park Service (NPS) are proposing to rehabilitate the Deep Gap Bridge over Highway 421 in Watauga County, NC. The project, designated BLRI 5140-091P, addresses deficiencies like water damage, efflorescence, concrete cracking, and alkali-silica reaction. Improvements include cleaning, masonry repair, concrete replacement, waterproofing, and expansion joint installation, requiring a temporary bridge closure. The project has been categorically excluded from further NEPA analysis. Environmental commitments include seasonal restrictions on tree removal and bat inspections by qualified biologists to avoid impacting endangered species like the Northern Long-eared Bat and Indiana Bat. The USFWS concurred with the "may affect, not likely to adversely affect" determination for these bat species and "no effect" for other listed species, including the Gray Bat and Rock Gnome Lichen. The project will have no adverse effect on historic properties, adhering to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act by using in-kind materials due to the Blue Ridge Parkway's National Historic Landmark status. No additional agency coordination or permits are required.