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

Z -- MOBILE SHIP CHANNEL LOWER REACH OUTER RANGE FRONT LIGHT, MOBILE ALABAMA SOL DTCG82-98-Q-WC033 DUE 121597 POC Pat Dixon, (305) 278-6725. This project includes the furnishing of all labor, supervision, materials and equipment necessary for fabrication and installation of a 36" diameter, steel, single-pile navigational structure at the south end of Mobile Ship Channel Lower Reach Outer Range. The water depth at the construction site is 15 feet. The structure must be installed by 15 January 1998. The estimated price range is between $25,000.00 and $100,000.00. A payment bond is required. This soliciation is being issued pursuant to SmalI Business Competitiveness Demonstration Program. All responsible sources may submit a bid, which will be considered by this agency. No telephone requests; only written requests received directly from the requester will be accepted. Requests 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 businessenterprises 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. (0337)

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