Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Trail Standards & Humpback Rocks Trail Redesign

This is not the entire RFP. Please see complete RFP at https://brpfoundation.org/trail-rfp/.

Answers to questions submitted by potential applicants have been posted below at the end of the original RFP.

RFP No.: BRPF-2025-004

Location: Parkwide and Milepost 6

KEY MILESTONES

RFP Issue Date: November 12, 2025

Site Visit Date: Not required, vendors encouraged to visit independently

Deadline for Questions: November 20, 2025, 4:00 p.m. ET

Response to Questions: November 25, 2025, 4:00 p.m. ET

RFP/Bid Response Due: December 12, 2025, 4:00 p.m. ET

Award Notification: On or about December 19, 2025

Notice to Proceed: On or about January 5, 2026

Completion: 230 calendar days from Notice to Proceed

Introduction & Background

The Blue Ridge Parkway (Park or Parkway) manages its 370 miles of official trails as well as an undocumented number of social trails. Recently, the Parkway adopted the USFS trails planning, design, and construction standards (found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/trails/trail-management-tools/trailplans). Those standards address the most common resource conditions, as well as some unique resource conditions. The park staff desires a supplement to these standards that addresses two resource types unique to the Blue Ridge Parkway: high-elevation sites and proximity to wetlands, lakes, creeks, and rivers.

(Please see the complete RFP at https://brpfoundation.org/trail-rfp/ for additional background information.)

1.0 Scope of Work

The scope of work is (1) to create a document detailing the trail design construction standards for high-elevation and wetland-proximate trails; and (2) to evaluate the existing Humpback Rocks trail and fully redesign sections that do not meet current USFS trail design standards and the newly developed high-elevation standards in component one. The Blue Ridge Parkway utilizes the USFS trail standards as presented in USFS SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF TRAILS AND TRAIL BRIDGES ON FOREST SERVICE PROJECTS dated 10/30/2014 (USFS Trail Standards). The work of this project is to be presented similarly.

2.0 Work to be Performed

Task 1: Post Award Meeting

The Contractor is required to attend a virtual Pre-Performance conference. Contractor and all the principal team members shall meet with Parkway and Foundation representatives to clarify tasks, review the Contractor's proposal, identify aspects that need minor refinement, discuss special use permitting requirements and logistics, and adopt a specific schedule. This will also provide an opportunity for Parkway staff to provide background on Parkway trails, the intent of standards development, and to clarify any natural/cultural resource issues associated with trail design in the locations specified.

Deliverables:

• Project meeting.
• Establish a delivery date for Task 2.

Task 2: Work Plan, Project Schedule

Based on the outcome of Task 1, within 10 calendar days, the Contractor shall submit a work plan and project schedule for developing a resource-based trail standards document and a full redesign for the Humpback Rocks Trail.

Deliverables:

Blue Ridge Parkway Trail Standards Document

• Prepare a resource-specific trail standards document that is consistent and compatible with USFS Trail Standards in level of detail and presentation, and considers the following two resource types requiring particular treatments to preserve inherent and critical natural resources:
  • High-elevation sites (>4,500′)
    • Characterized by steep slopes, rockier substrate, and thinner soils. Harsh winters with high snowfall/melt contribute to erosion potential. Provides habitat for several rare species.
    • Rock outcrops: Lichens sensitive to footsteps, little to no soil, plants generally rare (because habitat is rare), so a barrier is generally needed for safety and protection of plants growing there.
  • Proximity to wetlands, lakes, creeks, rivers, regardless of elevation
    • Primary consideration for natural water flow, minimize erosion and resultant sediment flow/release potential, and sustainability for tread condition in wet conditions.
• Present a draft document of plans and specifications in Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF formats to the Foundation for a 15 calendar-day review. The Parkway will coordinate and provide written comments within those 15 days to the Foundation, which will convey them to the contractor, who will have 15 calendar days to incorporate comments and resubmit as described below for a second-round review. The same 15 calendar-day duration will apply for review and comment incorporation.
• Present a final document to the Foundation in both Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF versions, with the Adobe PDF document meeting 508 Accessibility requirements for internal NPS publishing and sharing with partners. Final content will be the property of the Foundation and NPS.

Humpback Rocks Trail Redesign

• Prepare a technical redesign plan for the Humpback Rocks Trail from the trailhead to the summit using USFS trail program standards and, as applicable, the approved Blue Ridge Parkway Trail Standards Document (first part of task 2).
  • Coordinate an initial site visit with Parkway, Foundation, and Contractor staff to review and document current trail conditions/issues and discuss potential solutions.
  • Present a preliminary redesign plan for a 21 calendar-day review. Presentation shall use the format and presentation formats used in the USFS Trails Standards. One week after submission, the contractor shall coordinate an on-site walk-through of the redesign with the Parkway, Foundation, and Contractor. The Parkway will coordinate and provide written comments within 14 calendar days to the Foundation, which will convey them to the Contractor, who will have 15 calendar days to incorporate comments and produce the draft final redesign plan. The review of the draft final redesign plan will include a 15 calendar-day Parkway/Foundation review period and a 15 calendar-day comment incorporation period. After which, a final plan will be submitted as noted below.
  • Present a final technical redesign plan for the Humpback Rocks trail, prepared to NPS drawings standards that provides all necessary drawings and descriptions to complete compliance reviews and pursue a trail contract/project.

3.0 Proposal Submission Requirements

Proposals shall include at a minimum:

• Cover Letter: Acknowledging receipt of RFP.
• Company Information to Include: Legal name, Address, email address, Main Point of Contact, DUNS/UEI, and an ACH number
• Statement of Compliance: confirming Contractor shall:
  • Provide all labor, materials, supervision, and equipment.
  • Comply with all NPS/Blue Ridge Parkway Special Use Permit terms and conditions.
• Examples of Similar Projects: minimum of 2 within the last 5 years
• Past Performance References: minimum of 3 within the last 5 years
• Capacity: Provide details of company resourcing to demonstrate an ability to execute the project within the prescribed period of performance (POP)
• Key Personnel & Resumes
• Valid license to do business and in good standing in Virginia and North Carolina
• Proposed Schedule of Work
• Cost Proposal to include completed and signed Bid Schedule

4.0 Submission Instructions for Questions and Proposals

Questions must be submitted by the date and time noted above to:

• projects@brpfoundation.org
• Subject line to state: "RFP Questions for BRPF-2025-004"
• Questions and answers will be emailed to all parties who email projects@brpfoundation.org to request the complete list of asked questions and their answers.

Proposals to be provided by email in PDF format to:

• projects@brpfoundation.org
• Subject line to state: "RFP Response for BRPF-2025-004"

Submissions received after the due date/time will not be considered. Please refer to the Key Milestones table at the top of this document for the due date/time.

5.0 Evaluation Criteria

• Qualifications & Technical Expertise – 40%
• Past/Relevant Experience/References – 40%
• Price – 20%

6.0 Additional Requirements to be Evidenced Before Notice to Proceed

6.1 Safety Requirements

Please see the complete RFP at https://brpfoundation.org/trail-rfp/ for Safety Requirements.

6.2 Accident Reporting

Please see the complete RFP at https://brpfoundation.org/trail-rfp/ for Accident Reporting Requirements.

6.3 Physical Security

Please see the complete RFP at https://brpfoundation.org/trail-rfp/ for Physical Security Requirements.

6.4 Environmental Program

• The Contractor shall comply with all Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and standards regarding environmental protection.

7.0 Conduct of Contractor Employees

Please see the complete RFP at https://brpfoundation.org/trail-rfp/ for Conduct of Contractor Employees Requirements.

8.0 Project Closeout – Requirements

• Provide, on a USB drive, digital files of all photographs taken as part of the project with all metadata preserved on each file.

END OF RFP

Questions and Answers for Trails RFP

1. What kind of license is being requested for the submittal? Business or Landscape architecture? Both?

Applicants would be required to have a business license.

2. We are aware of the BRPF viewshed analysis RFP that is also out right now and we are interested in pursuing IT, as well; Is there a concern with one firm pursuing both proposals?

No

3. Has a budget been developed for the project that you can share? If so, what percentage of the funding is in hand?

Funds have been secured for the work outlined in the RFP. To encourage competitive pricing and the efficient use of grant funds, no financial data for the project will be shared at this time.

4. Has NPS conducted NEPA-related assessments for the Humpback Rocks redesign project? If so, are there findings that would affect the trail redesign?

A NEPA document has not yet been prepared. Resource findings will be shared with the selected contractor at the onset of the project, allowing the contractor to be responsive to resource constraints.

5. For the technical redesign plan of Humpback Rocks, can you indicate what NPS would require in these drawings? In our work across National Park Units' expectations can vary on level of detail needed.

The level of detail should match the level of detail in USFS trail standards for other types of terrain.

6. Is it assumed that all permitting would be done by the Client/NPS and would not be the responsibility of the contractor?

This is correct.

7. Are there expectations on what would be required for erosion and sediment design requirements that would go into the plan set above and beyond typical sustainable trail guidelines standards?

There are no specific expectations.