Mine site assessment, remediation planning, and support services for federal mining operations. Find active federal and state support activities for metal mining contracts — AI-scored against your profile across SAM.gov and 200+ portals.
Annual federal spend under NAICS 213114 is estimated at $200-400 million, driven by mine site remediation, reclamation planning, and environmental support for abandoned and active metal mines. Demand is steady due to regulatory requirements under CERCLA and SMCRA. Contracts are primarily competed as IDIQs and task orders (e.g., BLM's National Operations Center contracts, USGS Mineral Resources Program BPAs). Competition is moderate; about 30-50 firms actively bid, with a mix of small environmental consultancies and large engineering firms. Set-asides are common: 8(a), HUBZone, and SDVOSB preferences apply. Award sizes range from $500K to $25M.
These agencies are the largest buyers of support activities for metal mining services and products in the federal government. Each awards contracts under NAICS 213114 regularly — build relationships with their small business offices first.
Winning work in 213114 requires proven experience with mine waste characterization, water quality modeling, and reclamation design for federal land managers. The highest-leverage move is to secure a prime or subcontract on a BLM or USGS IDIQ (e.g., BLM's Abandoned Mine Lands program). Most contracts are awarded via best-value tradeoff (not LPTA), so past performance on similar sites (e.g., EPA Superfund mine sites) is critical. Small businesses should pursue 8(a) or HUBZone set-asides; teaming with a large firm for bonding capacity can also open opportunities.
Work is typically bought via best-value tradeoff IDIQs and BPAs under GSA Schedule 899 (Environmental Services) or directly through agency-specific vehicles (e.g., BLM's National Operations Center IDIQ, USGS Mineral Resources Program BPAs). LPTA is rare; technical factors like past performance on mine sites and key personnel qualifications dominate evaluations.
No single federal license is required, but firms often need state-specific professional engineering (PE) licenses for design work, and OSHA HAZWOPER certification for site work. For EPA or BLM contracts, a current SAM registration and active DUNS number are mandatory.
For task orders over $150K, performance and payment bonds are usually required (Miller Act). Large reclamation projects may require bonds up to 100% of contract value. Small businesses can use the SBA Surety Bond Guarantee program to obtain bonding.
Moderately competitive. There are fewer small businesses specializing in metal mining support vs. coal (NAICS 213113). Agencies often receive 5-15 bids per solicitation. Past performance and technical approach are key differentiators.
Task orders typically range from $500K to $5M, with occasional large-scale remediation contracts exceeding $20M. The average IDIQ ceiling is $50-100M over 5 years. Most awards are firm-fixed-price or cost-reimbursement.
Yes, subcontracting is common. Primes often seek subs with specific expertise in geochemistry, hydrology, or mine closure. Small businesses can register on Subcontracting.net and attend industry days for BLM and USGS IDIQs.