(Webmaster's note: a contributor has extracted several comments from companies bidding on the reconstruction of the Creeper Trail. These comments are important since they provide a realistic view of the time it will take for rebuilding. A bottom line is these bidders think it will take two or three years to rebuild the trail.

If you read the detailed comments/questions submitted by the interested contractors there are multiple ones stating that completing a 200-300 million dollar project in the stated timeframe is completely unrealistic.

Here are some examples:

Bidder Comment: Attachment 08, multiple sections. In order to evaluate the overall program, please describe how the Government established that the completion of field investigations, survey, analysis, design, permitting, and construction of $200M-$300M worth of infrastructure can be completed within the Period of Performance (10/01/2025 to 09/30/2026). The anticipated timeframe results in a productivity rate of approximately $650K per day and more importantly does not appear to account for appropriate timeframes necessary to complete the stated scope of work. For example, upon debris removal and obtaining access, survey, investigations, establishment of the trail alignment, geotechnical exploration, testing, reporting, and engineering; hydraulic analysis; 30%, 85%, and 100% design preparation; submission; and review along with necessary permitting will utilize most, if not all, of the Period of Performance. Certain initial construction efforts could potentially occur during this period, after debris clean-up; however, major infrastructure construction could not begin until after plan approval and permit acquisition, even while considering advanced construction packages. Please consider extending the Period of Performance from 12 months to 36 months, which provides a more realistic timeframe to complete the stated scope of work, or relax/reduce/modify the stated scope of work to ensure the project can be completed within the currently identified Period of Performance

Bidder Comment: One year to design, fabricate, and deliver a $200-$300 million project is not possible. Time will be needed on the front end for the Lidar surveys and geotechnical investigations. Conventional surveys will be required to create the HEC-RAS models for most of the bridge replacement sites. Structural evaluations along with reports and mitigation plans will need to be approved by the USFS before plans can be fully developed. Each structure will require the preparation of three plan submittals (30%, 85% and 100%) and review and comment resolution for each submittal. Time will be needed for the fabrication of beams/trusses after plan approval. All of these activities could easily take a year to complete leaving no time for construction. Although the RFP does allow the contractor the ability to submit an alternate schedule it also states that this schedule could be grounds for rejection of the contractor's Phase II submittal.

Bidder Comment: Project timeline: Completing design, permitting, and full construction within a single year is not feasible for a project of this scope - particularly given the absence of bridging documents and existing survey data. To ensure a realistic and achievable delivery schedule, we recommend incorporating a phased approach with clear milestones for design, permitting, and procurement. We encourage the USFS to either adopt a progressive design-build procurement method or extend the project completion date to September 30, 2027. This would allow for a more deliberate process while still enabling early delivery through performance incentives. To support accountability, we also recommend implementing early completion incentives and increasing LDs so they are proportionate to the project's total installed cost, ensuring meaningful alignment between risk and schedule performance.