Window replacement at the Cold Water Ridge Visitor's Center.

https://www.fbo.gov/...1c71f99e&_cview=0

This purpose of this announcement is to make notice that the Forest Service contemplates releasing a solicitation number AG-0489-S-10-0151 on or about February 16, 2010, for the Design and Replacement of the Window Wall at the Coldwater Ridge Visitors Center in the Mt Saint Helens Ranger District. If the solicitation is released it will be posted through FedBizOps website and prospective differs should visit this site from time to time on or after Feb 16, 2010 to obtain a copy of the solicitation, This notice meets the requirements of FAR 5.201. However the Forest Service reserves the right not to release a solicitation.

Project Description - The US Forest Service has a requirement for the design and construction of a replacement window wall system. It also includes removing the skylight roofing system located in the three individual pavilions and designing and constructing a new metal roof system for the three pavilions to match existing metal roof system. This work is located at the Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center in the Mt Saint Helens Ranger District.

The replacement window wall and roof system is to be designed to withstand conditions at this site. The design is to take into account all site conditions including but not limited to: high wind loads, positive and negative air pressure, temperature changes, site elevation, heating and cooling loads, and glass color and thickness.

They got 5 bids and contemplated awarding $500k - $1M for the work. The award was $554,763.00 and was awarded on June 7, 2010.

Here's a picture of it - http://www.fs.fed.us...water-ridge.shtml It seems to be a fairly modern facility that should not be allowed to deteriorate.

Looks to me like the taxpayer got a pretty good deal.

Yes, it says "permanently closed after November 5, 2007." Recall that was before Obama took office.

Let's see what else the Forest Service says: http://www.fs.fed.us...hnvm/attractions/

Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center

* Closed
* Limited resources are being focused on serving the public at the Johnston Ridge Observatory.

Doesn't sound like they've got an excess of resources, does it?

Coburn and McCain say, on p.5:

Officials are hoping to maintain the facility so that another use can be found, such as a lodge or educational facility.8 But the Forest Service has been criticized in the past for poor facilities management, especially within the Mount St. Helens National Monument, and there is no sign that an economically viable use for the center is close to being found.9

1) Having poor management in times past is no argument for letting facilities decay now.
2) Since when have we demanded that national parks be "economically viable"?

If that's one of the "worst" examples that Coburn and McCain can find, well...

Cheers,
Scott.
(Who isn't surprised that Coburn and McCain continue to spend more time posturing than addressing real issues.)

Coburn and McCain need to make their case, not me.

http://www.komonews....cal/10718831.html

From October 2007:

[...]

Stubblefield, who retired eight years ago as the supervisor of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and now lives in the Ridgefield area, served as master of ceremonies for the grand opening on May 15, 1993. He's disappointed that the Forest Service, now strapped for cash, has chosen to permanently close the center after the last visitor leaves on Nov. 5.

"It's such an incredible spot," he said, gazing out toward the cloud-shrouded volcano. "I feel privileged and honored to have spent some time here."

Stubblefield laments the closure as another symptom of a throwaway society, arguing that the state's congressional delegation hasn't done enough to protect the public's investment. He contends that if it was important enough for Congress to establish the 110,000-acre national volcanic monument, as it did in 1982, it deserves a stable source of funding every year.

Once considered world-class, Coldwater is now showing signs of age.

Stubblefield noticed frost forming within several window panes, which were failing to withstand the cold, windy environment in the volcano's blast zone. Forest Service officials figure fixing the windows would cost up to $1 million, and that's not the only maintenance issue plaguing the center.

Yellow caution tape blocked one door, where a hydraulic door closer hangs loosely. Stubblefield noticed cracks in the concrete outside, along with technological problems inside. Visitors used to watch a 6½-minute overview of the eruption and landscape's recovery, but the Forest Service can't find replacements for the 32 videodisc projectors that are now wearing out.

"Where do you find projectors with trays anymore?" Stubblefield said. "It's all CDs."

Rather than pouring money into the center, the Forest Service has opted to shut it down.

Monument Manager Tom Mulder, who in April announced the Forest Service's decision to permanently close Coldwater Ridge, said the agency intends to focus on a lower-key approach rather than "wowing people with infrastructure and visitor centers."

[...]

They didn't budget for park maintenance, then made post-hoc justifications.

One wouldn't expect any less from a Republican administration, and their enablers in the Senate...

Cheers,
Scott.

Hint: The administration runs the US Forest Service - not the Congress. Bush's people closed the visitor's center.

I'm about done.

Cheers,
Scott.

http://www.washingto...010_08/025030.php

I'm sure you won't find him persuasive either.

Cheers,
Scott.