[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 36, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 36CFR228.58]

[Page 152-153]
 
              TITLE 36--PARKS, FORESTS, AND PUBLIC PROPERTY
 
          CHAPTER II--FOREST SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 228_MINERALS--Table of Contents
 
                 Subpart C_Disposal of Mineral Materials
 
Sec.  228.58  Competitive sales.

    (a) Invitation for bid. Sales must be conducted as described below 
after inviting competitive bids through publication and posting. The 
authorized officer may not offer a competitive sale unless there is a 
right-of-way or other access to the sale area which is available to 
anyone qualified to bid.
    (b) Advertising--(1) Sales over 25,000 cubic yards. Mineral material 
sales offered by competitive bidding and which exceed 25,000 cubic yards 
must be advertised on the same day once a week for two consecutive weeks 
in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where the material is 
located, and in a trade or industrial newspaper when considered 
appropriate. Notice of the sale must be posted in a conspicuous place in 
the office where bids are to be submitted. In addition, the authorized 
officer may send the advertisement directly to known interested persons. 
Bids may be received but not evaluated before the end of the advertising 
period, which may be extended at the discretion of the authorized 
officer.
    (2) Content of advertising. The advertisement of sale must specify 
the location by legal description of the tract or tracts or by any other 
means identify the location of the mineral material deposit being 
offered, the kind of material, estimated quantities, the unit of 
measurement, appraised price (which sets the minimum acceptable bid), 
time and place for receiving and opening of bids, minimum deposit 
required, major special constraints due to environmental considerations, 
available access, maintenance required over haul routes, traffic 
controls, required use permits, required qualifications of bidders, the 
method of bidding, bonding requirement, notice of the right to reject 
any or all bids, the office where a copy of the contract and additional 
information may be obtained, and additional information the authorized 
officer deems necessary.
    (3) Advertising smaller sales. Advertisement of mineral materials 
amounting to 25,000 cubic yards in volume (or weight equivalent) or less 
must be published and/or posted. The methods of advertisement are at the 
discretion of the authorized officer.
    (c) Conduct of sales. (1) Bidding at competitive sales may be 
conducted by the submission of written sealed bids, oral bids, or a 
combination of both as directed by the authorized officer. In the event 
of a tie in high sealed bids, the highest bidder will be determined by 
oral auction among those tied bidders; when no oral bid is higher that 
the sealed bids, the selected bidder will be determined by lot, the 
purchase price being the amount of the tied bid. For all oral auctions, 
including those used to break sealed-bid ties, the high bidder must 
confirm the bid in writing immediately upon being declared the high 
bidder. The authorized officer must mail notification of the bidding 
results to all bidders within 10 days.
    (2) The authorized officer may require bidders to furnish evidence 
of qualification at the time of award or, if such evidence has already 
been furnished and is still valid, make appropriate reference to the 
record containing it.
    (3) When it is in the interest of the United States to do so, the 
authorized officer may reject any or all bids.

[[Page 153]]

    (d) Bid deposits and award of contract. Sealed bids must be 
accompanied by a deposit. For mineral materials offered at oral auction, 
bidders must make the deposit before opening of the bidding.
    (1) Bid deposits must be equal to 10 percent of the appraised value 
but not less than $100.00.
    (2) Bid deposits must be in the form of cash, money order, bank 
drafts, cashier's or certified checks made payable to the Forest 
Service, or bonds acceptable to the Forest Service (Sec.  228.51(b)).
    (3) Upon conclusion of the bidding, the authorized officer will 
return the deposits of all unsuccessful bidders. The successful bidder's 
deposit will be applied toward the purchase price. If the contract is 
not awarded to the high bidder due to an inability to perform the 
obligations of the contract, the deposit, less expenses and damages 
incurred by the United States, may be returned. The return of a deposit 
does not prejudice any other rights or remedies of the United States. 
The contract may be offered and awarded to the next successive qualified 
high bidder, or, at the discretion of the authorized officer, the sale 
may be either readvertised or negotiated if it is determined that a 
competitive sale is impracticable.
    (4) Within 30 days after receipt of the contract, the successful 
bidder must sign and return the contract, together with any required 
bond, unless the authorized officer has granted an extension for an 
additional 30 days. The bidder must apply for the extension in writing 
within the first 30-day period. If the successful bidder fails to return 
the contract within the first 30-day period or within an approved 
extension, the bid deposit, less the costs of readvertising and damages, 
may be returned without prejudice to any other rights or remedies of the 
United States.
    (5) All sales must be processed on Forest Service-approved contract 
forms. The authorized officer may add provisions to the contract to 
cover conditions peculiar to the sale area. Such additional provisions 
must be made available for inspection by prospective bidders during the 
advertising period.