Contracting Officer, USCG CEU, 1240 E. Ninth St., Rm. 2179, Attn: P. J. Korenchen, Cleveland, OH 44199-2060

Z -- REPLACE STEEL AND TIMBER BOAT RAMP SOL DTCG83-97-B-3WF019 DUE 103196. POC P. J. Korenchen 216-522-3954 ext. 745. Provide all labor, material, equipment, transportation and supervision required to perform the following work at U. S. Coast Guard Station St. Joseph, MI: Replace timber boatramp deck (above and below water), replace timber boatramp longitudinal stringers (above and below water), replace 1'' diameter connection rods between existing timber piles and boat ramp floor beams (above and below water - shoring and under pinning of floor beams may be required), construct new steel frame marine railway (above and below water), clean and reset existing 60 lb./yd crane rails and provide new rail clamps and connection hardware (above and below water), replace and paint timber floor inside boathouse, and provide new steel channel bracing system for longitudinal stringers inside of the boathouse. This procurement is estimated between $100K and $250K and is open to large and small businesses under the Small Business Competitiveness Demonstration Program. The applicable SIC code is 1629. Bid opening is on/or about 31 October 1996. Completion time is 180 DANTP. The bid opening is an approximate date only. NO TELEPHONE REQUESTS. Written requests will be accepted until supply is exhausted. A non-refundable deposit of $10.00 is required in the form of a cashier's check, certified check, or money order made payable to the ``U. S. Coast Guard.'' Cash WILL NOT be accepted. All responsible sources may submit a bid which will be considered by the agency. For Minority, Women-Owned, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises: The Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization 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 Bonding Assistance Program and/or the STLP, please call the OSDBU at (800) 532-1169. (253)

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