Construction Environmental Services for Klamath River Rural Broadband Initiative

The Karuk Tribe is preparing to commence construction of the Klamath River Rural Broadband Initiative Project (KRRBI or Project). KRRBI is funded by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and in part by the California Department of Technology (CDT) for the portions of KRRBI that will provide installation services for California’s Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative (MMBI) within the KRRBI route. The CPUC is the lead state agency and will provide environmental compliance oversight through a third-party contractor, ESA. KRRBI will install about 75 miles of “middle mile” fiber optic cable along existing roads underground or along existing power and communications poles overhead from Orleans to the Yurok Reservation Boundary north of Weitchpec on Highway 96, from the western boundary of the Yurok Reservation on Bald Hills Road to Orick, and from Orick along Highway 101 and then along the PG&E Orick to Essex transmission line, then along county roads from Fieldbrook to the “meet-me” with AT&T in McKinleyville (Exhibit B). The project is entirely within Humboldt County, California. In addition to the fiber optic network, two wireless broadband towers will be constructed, one on Antenna Ridge above Orleans and one in south Orick. There will be two construction contracts: one for the underground and overhead installation of fiber optic cables and one for the two towers. The successful bidder will be responsible for environmental compliance for both middle mile installation and for the two towers. The Karuk Tribe solicits your Time and Materials proposal with a not-to-exceed amount specified to provide construction environmental services in support of KRRBI beginning in February 2026 and continuing through December 2027. Submitted proposals must follow the guidelines and requirements of this RFP to be considered. All information provided by the Karuk Tribe or its agents as part of this RFP is considered confidential and proprietary information. The Karuk Tribe expressly reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals submitted, or to negotiate with one or more bidders, as appropriate. The Karuk Tribe created a project file on the Karuk Tribe Active RFP website that contains folders for the RFP exhibits required to inform your bid. Please respond at your earliest opportunity with the name, title, and contact information for your personnel requiring access to the project file. A voluntary but strongly recommended pre-bid meeting with opportunity for field review is scheduled for Friday, 1/16/2026, beginning at 10 am, at the Tribal Council Chambers, 37960 Hwy 96 Bldg. B, Orleans, CA 95556.

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