NPS seeks boom lift for Kotzebue parklands, barge deadline looms

Maintenance crews at Western Arctic National Parklands need a towable articulating boom lift to work safely on government housing, administrative buildings, and utility infrastructure in Kotzebue, and the National Park Service has set a contract delivery deadline of September 15. The solicitation says the timeline should be coordinated to use available seasonal barge service where practical.

The NPS Alaska Regional Office issued a request for quotation on June 30 for the equipment, with quotes due July 5 and a contract period running July 20 through September 15. Kotzebue has no road connection to the rest of the country, so heavy equipment must arrive by barge during the summer open-water season. Sen. Lisa Murkowski has described the rhythm plainly: "There's two fuel barges that come twice a year in June, right about now, and then in September."

The solicitation, RFQ 140P9726Q0052, is a 100% total small-business set-aside, though the form header also carries a Women-Owned Small Business label. The boom lift must have a minimum 35-foot platform height, a 500-pound platform capacity, and must run on an electric, battery-powered, or hybrid power system. The unit must be new and unused, with no refurbished or used equipment accepted. Its transport weight cannot exceed roughly 4,500 pounds, and the charging system must be compatible with standard 120V electrical service. The contractor must provide at least a one-year manufacturer warranty. Delivery is to 171 3rd Ave. in Kotzebue. Vendors with questions have until July 13 at 5 p.m. Alaska Standard Time to submit them. Quotes must be emailed as a single PDF to contracting specialist Francisco Velasco at [email protected].

Velasco described the need in the solicitation: "The requested equipment will improve employee safety, reduce reliance on ladders and scaffolding, and increase operational efficiency for park maintenance activities."

Western Arctic National Parklands manages Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Kobuk Valley National Park, and Noatak National Preserve from the Northwest Arctic Heritage Center in Kotzebue. Siikauraq Whiting serves as superintendent.