RFQ #2026-09: S042, Rockfall Mitigation and Barrier Installation

The intent of this Request for Qualification (“RFQ”) is to solicit Submissions, in accordance with the requirements described in the RFQ document, from firms interested in providing construction services for:

The Project: 2026-09

S042, ROCKFALL MITIGATION AND BARRIER INSTALLATION

A “qualification based” selection process will be employed for evaluation of RFQ Submissions.

Submissions must receive a minimum score of equal to 65% or more of the maximum achievable total score for all evaluation categories in order to be considered for pre-qualification and invited to participate in the Tender process. Following an initial evaluation of Submissions, the Province will establish a list of successful Respondents.

Only those Respondents notified of being short-listed will be invited to participate in the Tender process.

The rockfall mitigation hazard S042 is located on the west side of Whiteman’s Pond, approximately 5 km southwest of Canmore, Alberta. The site is located at the southeast end of the Mount Rundle range and comprises the north side of Whiteman’s Gap, formed between Mount Rundle and Ha Ling Peak. Refer to Appendix I – Drawing RD-20723-01-P for more details. Hwy 25291:02 lies within Whiteman’s Gap, bounded by the toe of the site to the north and Whiteman’s Pond to the south. The site comprises two (2) rock faces with opposing slope aspects. The north portion of the site has an eastern facing slope aspect while the southern portion of the site has a southern facing slope aspect. The site is also within an uncontrolled avalanche area which is monitored and reported on by the Kananaskis Mountain Rescue program. The area which includes the site is denoted as the East End of Rundle Control Zone 7 (EEOR7). EEOR7 is subject to intermittent closure to the public and construction and maintenance activities from November through April unless regulatory consent is obtained by the Consultant.

The site involves a slope with rockfall activity; the general geometry of the site comprises a rock slope underlain by a talus deposit from the bottom of the rock slope to the edge of the highway. There is no ditch between the bottom edge of the accumulated talus and the highway surface. The width of the highway surface varies from approximately 6 m to 9 m along the alignment below the site. The total length of the site along the highway is approximately 350 m which is divided into three (3) sections: the northern section closest to the Whitemans Dam, which is approximately 200 m long; the southern section closest to the tail end of Whitemans pond, which is approximately 100 m long; and, a third section, 50 m long denoted as the “nose” of the slope where the north and south portions of the site intersect and where the rock slope is closest to the highway. Refer to Appendix I – Drawing RD-20723-02-P for more details. From visual observation, the southern portion has a poorer quality rock mass, i.e. more fractures, due to the slope and joint set geometry. The rock slope varies in height from approximately 90 m to 120 m from north to south. The talus deposit below the rock slope varies significantly in height from approximately 10 m to 80 m from south to north. Refer to Appendix I – Drawings RD-20723-03-P to RD-20723-08-P for more details. At the nose section of the slope, there is essentially no talus deposit below the rock outcrops in proximity to the highway. The depth of the talus deposit is not known and comprises material from boulder to sand sizes. Due to the high variability in material particle sizes, a high void content should be anticipated within the talus deposit.

The project construction involves rock scaling work, installation of spot bolts on rock, installation of barrier anchors in talus deposits and bedrock, installation of rockfall hybrid barriers, installation of dynamic rockfall barriers, installation of F-Shape barriers, and installation of survey prisms. Removal of trees will be completed prior to construction and is not included as part of this work.

The project delivery method will be Design-Bid-Build.