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Message ʔaq̓am(ʔaq̓am Community)Department of Lands and Natural ResourcesRequest For QuoteWetland Restoration Heavy Equipment Operation on ʔaq̓am LandJuly 2025Issue Date: July 10, 2025Closing Date: August 8, 2025Closing Location: ʔaq ̓ am, 7470 Mission Road, Cranbrook BC V1C 7E5 Telephone: 236-361-8323Email: pgravelle@aqam.net

INTRODUCTIONʔaq̓am is a First Nations community government organization that services 374 Band Members and otheraboriginal peoples within the Ktunaxa Nation. Geographically, the community is located 8 km north ofCranbrook in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia.ʔaq̓am is planning a Wetland Restoration Project. You are invited to submit a proposal for providing the heavyequipment and heavy equipment operators needed to complete the project. The project will involve wetlandexcavation and habitat enhancement using coarse woody debris on the Kootenay IR 1. Work is planned for up to4 consecutive weeks, starting no earlier than September 15th, 2025, and is subject to weather conditions and firerisk.A service agreement will be issued to the successful bidder in compliance with its terms, specifications, andprovisions, which includes the provision of skilled labor, heavy equipment, transportation, supplies, andincidentals. Contractors will be responsible for their own equipment, insurance, and transportation. A designatedContract Representative and Contracted Archeologist will be onsite directing the work. The ʔaq̓am ContractRepresentative and Contracted Archeologist will mark project work areas, monitor elevations, and direct theContractor in the completion of the project.BACKGROUNDIn 2021, the ʔaq̓am Lands Department began planning the Wetland (ʔakaq̓ⱡaʔhaⱡ) Restoration Project.Community consultation was conducted, and six wetlands located throughout ʔaq̓am lands were chosen to beapart of the project. In October 2024, one of the six wetlands was excavated and we are looking to do similarwork at Twin Lakes (Figure 1) this year. Archeology assessments, wildlife surveys, plant monitoring andtraditional ecological knowledge research has been conducted and will assist in the wetland restoration design.Construction will be supervised by the ʔaq̓am Contract Representative and Contracted Archeologist who willdelineate the areas where excavation will occur, where soil will be spread and direct heavy equipment operators.The project is anticipated to be up to 312 hours of construction and is tentatively scheduled to occur betweenSeptember 15th – October 17th, 2025. The project will require two excavators. All excavators on this projectmust be equipped with FOPS (falling-object protective structure) and a working thumb attachment.HEAVY EQUIPMENTThe following lists the type and size of heavy equipment needed to complete the project, along with theestimated number of hours that piece of heavy equipment will be used. If the listed equipment is not available,the prospective Contractor is asked to list the heavy equipment available that is closest in size and capability tothe following:

Heavy Equipment Type Estimated Hours ofWorkExcavator (1) Cat 336F or equivalent303HP Net or greater88,400 lbs or greaterMinimum 60-inch wide bucket (1.0yd³) or largerDigging bucket with teethClean-up bucket without teethWorking Thumb attachmentEquipped with FOPS312Excavator (2)Cat 330C L or equivalent244HP Net or greater77,400 lbs or greaterMinimum 60-inch wide bucket (1.0yd³) or largerDigging bucket with teethClean-up bucket without teethWorking Thumb attachmentEquipped with FOPS312 This estimate may be adjusted when the contract is awarded based on rates and project budget The heavy equipment provided must be equivalent or larger than the types and sizes described Equipment must be in good operating condition and free of leaks, excess oil and grease All heavy equipment must be cleaned prior to delivery to avoid introducing non-native plants The ʔaq̓am Contract Representative will confirm with the Contractor that the heavy equipment issufficiently cleaned of soil and plant material before it is unloaded at the worksite. Work may not beginunless the heavy equipment is clean of soil and plant material The persons operating heavy equipment on this contract shall be the same as those listed on the operatorexperience questionnaire forms. Request for changes in person(s) operating equipment will be reviewedand approved by the ʔaq̓am Contract Representative in writing in advance before any change inpersonnel is made by the Contractor Specifications listed by the manufacture and/or www.ritchiespecs.com will be used to confirmhorsepower and weight for the heavy equipment listed by the OfferorREGULATORY APPROVALS The Contractor is responsible for complying with all Federal, Provincial, and Municipal legal regulatoryrequirements and all applicable environmental legislation. The Contractor shall comply with the province of British Columbia’s requirements for spill preventionand response.

INSURANCE The Contractor shall carry Comprehensive General Liability Insurance in the amount of a minimum of$5M for each and every occurrence and Workers Compensation Insurance in accordance with therequirements of the British Columbia Workers Compensation Act The Contractor shall carry Firefighting Insurance in the amount of a minimum of $1M If awarded the contract, each of these will need to be submitted to the ʔaq̓am Lands Department at thetime of signing the Service agreementMEASURMENT AND PAYMENT The Contractor will be paid for mobilization and demobilization of equipment. The Contractor will be paid for the time that heavy equipment and operators are completing productivework. The number of hours worked each day by each heavy equipment operator will be documenteddaily by the ʔaq̓am Contract Representative on a time sheet. Each heavy equipment operator will beasked to approve the entry for each day by initialing the entry on the time sheet at the end of the day.The time sheets will be used to review and approve invoices submitted by the Contractor for paymentunder this contract The Contractor shall be responsible for all repairs, maintenance, and operating supplies that are requiredin the use of his equipment. Should the need for repairs develop, such repairs shall be accomplishedwithout delay at no additional cost to ʔaq̓am or the ʔaq̓am Contract Representative. There will be nopayment for equipment that is stopped for repairs or maintenance. ʔaq̓am or ʔaq̓am Contract Representative are not responsible for down time on equipment that is not inservice due to repair or maintenance. Any work not being properly performed will be brought to the immediate attention of the Contractor bythe ʔaq̓am Contract Representative. The Contractor shall take prompt action for any deficiencies ordeviations that may occur under this contract. The ʔaq̓am Contract Representative will promptly advisethe Contractor of acceptance or rejection of work performed. Unacceptable work will need to becorrected by the Contractor before payment is made.TIMELINES There will be a site tour on July 24th starting at 2pm MT – if you are interested in joining pleaseemail Skylar Nikkel at snikkel@aqam.net by 12pm MT of July 23rd ʔaq̓am will award the contract resulting from this Request For Quote (RFQ) to the responsibleContractor whose offer conforming to the RFQ will be most advantageous to ʔaq̓am, based on priceand other factors considered. Heavy equipment and operators shall be located at the worksite and be ready to begin work by 8:00am MT on September 15th, 2025. The project is expected to be completed in up to 312 hours ormore. Due to potential fire risk, it is acknowledged that the work may be interrupted due tomandatory shutdowns, and dates may change. The ʔaq̓am Contract Representative will determine when conditions are suitable for work. Work willnot take place if soil or weather conditions are not suitable for productive, safe, or ecologicallysensitive work.

 Heavy equipment operators may work up to 10-hours per day, not including the time needed to driveto and from the worksite, and to maintain heavy equipment. Work may continue Monday-Friday or 7days per week (for a maximum of 21 days in a row) until the project is complete.HOW TO APPLYComplete the attached forms (RFQ Equipment Information and Site Form and Heavy Equipment OperatorExperience Questionnaire x2) and email to: Payton Gravelle, Lands Manager, pgravelle@aqam.net, by12:00pm Mountain Time of August 8th, 2025. If you have any technical questions please reach out to RobinAnnschild, Rewilding Water and Earth Inc. at robin@rewildingwater.ca or call 250-537-6999.The contract to be awarded from this RFQ will be made to the prospective Contractor whose offer conformsmost to this RFQ, being most advantageous to ʔaq̓am, price and other factors considered. The following factorswill be used to score each offer received, forming the basis for awarding this contract: Contractors/companies which are ʔaq̓amnik̓, Ktunaxa, or of other First Nations will be givenpreference. Experience working with ʔaq̓amnik̓, Ktunaxa, or of other First Nations on related projects. Demonstration of qualifications and experience of company/contractors working within thesouthern rocky mountain trench on wetland restoration projects (examples of past work should beprovided) Whether the heavy equipment requested meets and/or exceeds minimum specifications. Cost competitiveness.Inclusion of insurance and qualification certificates to complete the scope of work is required for bids. Pleaseinclude a copy of your WorkSafeBC (or equivalent) and Certificate of Liability Insurance (COI) with your bidalong with any other relevant certificates.*****Incomplete bids will not be accepted*******THE BAND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ANY OR ALL BIDS. THE LOWEST BID WILL NOT NECESSARILYBE ACCEPTED AS THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER.

Figure 1 – Twin Lakes

RFQ Equipment Informaon and Site FormContractor Name:Address:Phone:Email:Heavy Equipment Type Price1Excavator 1Make:Model:Year:HP Net:Weight:Bucket width/volume:Digging bucket with teeth? Yes/No:Clean-up bucket without teeth? Yes/No:Working Thumb attachment? Yes/No:Equipped with FOPS? Yes/No:Width of individual track:Length of track on ground:Price/hour with operator =Mobilization Cost =Demobilization Cost =Excavator 2Make:Model:Year:HP Net:Weight:Bucket width/volume:Digging bucket with teeth? Yes/No:Clean-up bucket without teeth? Yes/No:Working Thumb attachment? Yes/No:Equipped with FOPS? Yes/No:Width of individual track:Length of track on ground:Price/hour with operator =Mobilization Cost =Demobilization Cost =1Please exclude GST

Heavy Equipment Operator Experience Questionnaire Form 1 of 2Operator of Excavator #1Complete and email to: Payton Gravelle, Lands Manager, pgravelle@aqam.net, by 12:00pm Mountain Time on August8th, 2025.Contractor Name:Address:Phone:Email:Name of individual operang heavy equipment:Phone number:List the type of heavy equipment this person would be operang, and the number of years of experience they have operang that piece of heavy equipment:Describe in detail this person’s experience with wetland restoraon work:List 3-References we may contact concerning this individual:Name of reference 1:Phone Number:Email:Name of reference 2:Phone Number:Email:Name of reference 3:Phone Number:Email:

Heavy Equipment Operator Experience Questionnaire Form 2 of 2Operator of Excavator #2Complete and email to: Payton Gravelle, Lands Manager, pgravelle@aqam.net, by 12:00pm Mountain Time on August8th, 2025.Contractor Name:Address:Phone:Email:Name of individual operang heavy equipment:Phone number:List the type of heavy equipment this person would be operang, and the number of years of experience they have operang that piece of heavy equipment:Describe in detail this person’s experience with wetland restoraon:List 3-References we may contact concerning this individual:Name of reference 1:Phone Number:Email:Name of reference 2:Phone Number:Email:Name of reference 3:Phone Number:Email: