Contracting Officer, U.S. Coast Guard, Civil Engineering Unit Miami, 15608 S.W. 117th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33177-1630

Z -- DREDGE BOAT BASIN AT U.S. COAST GUARD STATION VENICE, LOUISIANA SOL DTCG82-98-B-3WCA04 DUE 121197 POC Shirley Clayton, (305) 278-6721. Furnish all labor, equipment and materials to dredge and dispose 9500 CUYDS of materials dredged in the boat basin, including boathouse area for the U. S. Coast Guard Station in Venice, Louisiana. Station Venice is located about 65 miles Southeast of New Orleans. It is near the mouth of the Mississippi River on the Northwest bank of Tiger Pass, 0.5 miles below Grand Pass at the City of Venice, Plaquemine Parish, Louisiana. The contractor will be required to coordinate, with Coast Guard, moving of moored vessels from one side of the boat basin to the other. The estimated range is between $25,000.00 and $100,000.00. Bid guarantee and payment bonds are required. This solicitation is being issued pursuant to the Small Business Competitiveness Demonstration Program and is open to both large and small business participation. All responsible sources may submit a bid which will be considered by this agency. Telephone requests will not be considered. Requests shall be in writing and may be faxed to (305) 278-6704. For Minority, Women-Owned and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises: The Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) 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 $500,000.00. For further information and applicable forms concerning Bonding Assistance Program and/or the STLP, please call the OSDBU at (800) 532-1169. (0304)

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