North Slope Borough Seeks Bids for Point Hope Search and Rescue Renovation

The North Slope Borough has opened a formal bidding process for a complete renovation of the Point Hope Search & Rescue building, a project designated Point Hope Search & Rescue Building Upgrade - Construction Phase Project No. 18-127. The work will cover a full renovation of the existing facility and is intended to modernize a key hub for emergency response in the community.

Contractors seeking to submit bids must deliver sealed proposals to the Borough's CIPM office in Barrow. The CIPM office is located upstairs in the Public Works Building at 1689 Okpik Street, Barrow, AK 99723. Marilyn Pico is listed as the assistant contract administrator for bid submissions and the office can be reached at 907-852-0489 Ext. 6205. Bid documents are available at no cost and can be downloaded from the North Slope Procurement website at north-slope-procurement.com.

A non-mandatory pre-bid conference is scheduled for January 29, 2026 at 3:00 p.m., with an addendum to follow that will include the agenda and call-in information for those who cannot attend in person. Questions about the project are to be submitted by email to CIP Project Administrator Heidi Ahsoak at Heidi.ahsoak@north-slope.org. Bids must be submitted on the prescribed proposal forms included in the contract documents.

The deadline for bid submittal is on or before February 17, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. Bids will be opened and publicly read aloud at 4:00 p.m. in the upstairs CIPM conference room at 1689 Okpik Street in Barrow; bidders are responsible for ensuring their submissions are timely received at the physical address. Late bids will not be considered unless the Borough specifies otherwise.

For residents of Point Hope and surrounding communities, the renovation could strengthen local search-and-rescue capacity at a time when reliable facilities are central to responding to maritime, wildlife, and weather-related incidents that affect subsistence travel and village safety. A renovated building can improve equipment storage, crew readiness, and coordination with regional responders, and the construction phase may create short-term contracting and labor opportunities for local businesses and workers.

The Borough retains the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive irregularities or informalities in proposals. Awards may be made in accordance with the Borough's preference policy; a copy of that policy is available upon request. Interested contractors should take note of the specified procedures and form requirements to ensure their bids are considered.

Next steps for the community include the pre-bid conference on January 29 and the bid submission deadline on February 17. If the project proceeds, residents should expect updates on contractor selection and a construction timeline from the Borough as work moves from procurement to the field.