Questions and Answers 1232SA26Q0885.pdf

Amendment 3

Solicitation No. 1232SA26Q0885

Replace Greenhouse 3 and Renovate Headhouse Heating System (Stoneville, MS)

Questions and Answers

1. Could you please tell us what the expected magnitude is for this project?

ANSWER: Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO), magnitude of construction is no longer in FAR 36. https://www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul

2. Are funds are available for the work?

ANSWER: Yes

3. Will any further HAZMAT testing be required?

ANSWER: Asbestos and as specified.

4. Is a slope-flat-slope overhead shade systems acceptable?

ANSWER: If the proposed shade system is substantially similar to the shade system in Building 7 Greenhouse 2, then we are receptive to this alternative.

The proposed system will be considered acceptable if it meets all performance requirements and allows for proper ventilation with ridge vents.

5. Can the single-entry doors into each greenhouse zone be relocated closer to the ends/partition walls to accommodate for (1) large evaporative cooling system?

6. Should there be shutters with actuators placed on opposite side of CoolCell wall or will it be open and exposed to the corridor?

ANSWER: No shutters are required, just a wire screen similar to Greenhouse 2.

7. Would a greenhouse system with galvanized steel framing be acceptable instead of aluminum, provided it meets all performance and functional requirements?

ANSWER: No. Aluminum is mandatory.

8. Regarding C04 Attachment 1 - SF1442 Terms and Conditions

a. SOLICITATION, OFFER AND AWARD - RFQ 1232SA26Q0885,

i. reference top right of each page “page of page”, it references a 3-page solicitation. Please verify Solicitation is limited to these 3 pages?

ANSWER: The page numbering in top right is a typo. The PDF attachment is 26 pages.

ii. Regarding Solicitation page 2, sections 8, 13 & 28, Section 13 states

“original and 1 copies” which could be interpreted as 2 total. Please verify how many sets of the bid/proposals are to be submitted via email?

ANSWER: One

iii. Please verify that the bid sets are to be submitted only by email to the email address listed in item 8?

ANSWER: Correct

b. STATEMENT OF REQUIREMENTS

i. ☒ 52.228-5 Insurance-Work on Government Installation (Jan 1997) &

☒ 52.236-7 Permits and Responsibilities (Jul 2025)

1. Please verify insurance coverages and limits Contractor must furnish?

ANSWER: The amount in the price schedule

2. Will a Builders Risk policy be required during this project and if so, is the policy to be provided by the Contractor or Government?

ANSWER: Contractor is responsible for insurance and permits and licenses.

ii. ☒ 52.236-9 Protection of Existing Vegetation, Structures, Equipment, Utilities, and Improvements (Jul 2025)

1. Will Contractor be required to submit and implement a formal SWPPP / Environmental protection plan?

ANSWER: No

iii. ☒ 52.236-13 Accident Prevention (Jul 2025) - Item 3 - “Ensure that any additional measures the Contracting Officer determines to be reasonably necessary for the purposes are taken”

1. Does this site require any additional measures?

ANSWER: None stated

9. Regarding C04 Attachment 2 – Specifications

a. Section 01 01 00 Page 14, “Landfill- A discrete area of land or a land excavation in which solid waste is placed for permanent disposal and for which a current permit has been issued by Oklahoma DEQ.”

i. Is this Oklahoma DEQ a requirement or is a local landfill permitted for asbestos receipt acceptable?

ANSWER: Oklahoma is a typo. Should be Mississippi. The contractor is to dispose of ACM waste in accordance with all Local, State, and Federal regulations.

b. SECTION 01 01 00, Waste Management Plan – page 17

i. Does money paid for waste salvage/recycle belong to government or Contractor?

ANSWER: All demolished materials belong to the contractor except as noted in the plans (roof mounted and wall mounted fans)

c. Section 01 01 00 Page 18, “Coordinate Hot Work permits with New Mexico

State University”

i. Is this a typo or a requirement?

ANSWER: Typo

d. Section 03 01 00 Page 9,

i. Is this a typo or a requirement?

ANSWER: Question not specific enough to answer.

e. Section 04 20 00 page 18

i. Will testing per 3.6.1.1 be required on this project?

ANSWER: If referring to building a sample wall, that will not be needed for this project.

f. Section 13 34 13 page 7, 2.22.1 a. ..... “existing...”

i. Please clarify, drawings appear to show demo of existing and installation of new hot water heating system?

ANSWER: The building is currently being served by one new Laars boiler that will remain. It is in close proximity to 2 old boilers which are inoperable and will be replaced under this contract and incorporated into the building heating system.

10. Which, if any, rolls listed below and in the bid documents can the Contractor on site Superintendent also have:

a. project-site fire prevention program manager section (01 01 00, 1.7 N)?

b. OSHA certified Competent Person(s)?

c. Qualified Person for Fall Protection (QP for FP)

d. Quality Control Manager?

e. Site Safey and Health Officer SSHO?

f. Transportation and Disposal Coordinator (TDC)?

g. Contractor abatement supervisor?

h. Special Inspector?

ANSWER: One person can wear multiple hats if qualified, formally designated and named, however that person would have to fulfill all the requirements and responsibilities of each assigned “hat” or the duties must be split up.

11. Is it required that the QC Manager, Project Superintendent and Project Manager be 3 different individuals? Can all of these individuals be Contractor employees and if not, which are required to be separate entities?

ANSWER: See Q 10.

12. Asbestos Abatement requires independent 3rd party testing. Is there any other trade testing that will demand independent 3rd party testing rather testing by Contractor personnel?

ANSWER: Concrete sampling and testing will be required for concrete used to fill the 2 sumps located between plant rooms.

13. The specifications contain many concrete surface repair procedures. The plans seem to only require power washing the existing slab and applying the coating.

Could you please clarify the intent and level of repair and surface prep desired for the existing slab and the existing slab to receive the coating? Is the intent to prep the slab in a manner acceptable to the coating manufacturer to accept its coating?

ANSWER: The slab does need to be prepped for the coating but also if the contract identifies any damage while removing existing structure or causes any damage during that process, the slab will need to be repaired.

14. In executing this project, can one superintendent fulfill the supervision, safety, and QAQC roles?

ANSWER: See Question 10.

15. Are contractors required to issue a contract specific QA/QC Plan?

ANSWER: Yes per section 01 45 00 of the specifications

16. Are contractors required to issue a contract specific Safety Plan?

17. Is this project tax exempt?

ANSWER: See Mississippi Department of Revenue for information regarding contractor tax responsibilities for work on a federal project.

https://www.dor.ms.gov/

18. Can the period of RFI’s be extended until Monday as we still have subcontractors reviewing plans?

19. The drawings do not depict the fuel gas piping for the boilers. What the limits of demolition for the fuel gas piping? Is the existing gas regulator to remain or be replaced? Are any additional valves and/or inline items (i.e. strainers) required?

ANSWER: Demolish gas piping to include but not surpass the existing regulator. Provide regulator and piping to match existing and allow for proper function of the boilers.

20. Drawing MD600, Pump Schedule, Note 3: wording is concerned with boiler installation, please clarify.

ANSWER: Sheet M600, note 3 should read as follows: “CONNECT PUMP TO EXISTING BOILER CONTROL PANEL IN MECHANICAL ROOM.” The mechanical room contains an existing control panel that served the existing boilers and pumps, and the intent is to reuse the existing control panels.

21. Greenhouse structural columns which are to remain are mounted to top of concrete foundation. Drawings do not have a detail which shows how new CMU knee wall is to be worked around columns. Please provide a detail for this feature along walls and at building corners.

ANSWER: See Attachment 5 CMU Column Wrap Detail.

22. Can we have access to the site to bring subcontractors to do a walkthrough?

ANSWER: The only organized site visit was conducted on July 9, 2026. Site visit was mandatory to submit quote. No additional site visits are planned.

23. Can the USDA provide the asbestos/HAZMAT/lead-based paint survey that may have been utilized to determine solid panels were asbestos containing? This will help determine the amount of lead that is in paint to better quantify and accurately quote the job. Environmental General Note #4 on HM101 notes that we are to assume all paint coatings contain some level of lead but a survey or report would help determine the amount of lead detected which would classify material as being wasted in a C&D landfill or differently.

ANSWER: See Attachment 6 Asbestos Report.

24. If an asbestos/HAZMAT/lead-based paint survey is not available, should the contractor include costs to test and sample materials for asbestos/HAZMAT/lead?

ANSWER: See Attachment 6 Asbestos Report.

25. Outside of the three listed approved manufacturers within specification section 13 34 13, it appears Ludy Greenhouses may no longer be in business. Would Winandy Greenhouse Co. Inc. out of Richmond, IN or others be acceptable equals?

ANSWER: Yes, equals will be acceptable.

26. Will silt fence or other erosion control measures be required to be installed around the perimeter of the working site and contractor’s lay down area? Specification section 01 57 00-1.3 appears to call out for the contractor to provide environmental protective measures.

ANSWER: If no turf or ground cover is disturbed, no silt fence will be required.

If ground cover is disturbed, silt fence will be required.

27. Is temporary construction fencing with wind screen required around the perimeter of Greenhouse 3 and the contractor’s lay down area?

ANSWER: No wind screening is required. Generally, no construction security fencing is required, however the contractor will be required to maintain a safe environment for their workers and our employees. If that involves a safety type fence, then that would be required.

28. Would permanent seeding of disturbed areas from construction related activities be acceptable with the USDA in lieu of sod? Specification section 01 57 00-2.3.3.2 calls out for seeding but we are unsure if this is meant for temporary measures or permanent stabilization.

ANSWER: Seeding is acceptable

29. Can the USDA confirm what type of seed or sod will be required to be spread/laid in areas disturbed from construction related activities?

ANSWER: Bermuda

30. It appears that the SSHO and QCM (Quality Control Manager) can be the same individual per specification section 01 35 26-1.6.1.2; however, can the SSHO, QCM, and superintendent be the same individual? Specification section 01 45 00-1.6.1.1 references that the QC manager may perform the duties of Project Superintendent.

ANSWER: Yes, see Q10.

31. Specification section 03 01 00 references rehabilitating concrete but in reviewing the drawings and information discussed during the site visit, it appears that the existing concrete slab and structure will remain in place. Is the intent for 03 01 00 to be for concrete damaged by the contractor during the demolition and reconstruction of the greenhouse or is the contractor to try and quantify existing cracks, imperfections, inconsistencies, etc. in the concrete to correct and include in the bid?

ANSWER: Yes. If Contractor damages existing slab, they will be responsible for repairs. If pre- existing cracks are tight and there are no trip hazards from uneven slabs, concrete rehabilitation won’t be required.

32. If the contractor is to repair and correct existing concrete cracks, imperfections, inconsistencies, etc. can the USDA please provide an allowance for how much remedial work will be required? It appears that there could be a lot of subjectivity to this matter and is difficult to quantity and price if an allowance is not provided.

ANSWER: See Q31

33. Can the USDA please confirm if any third party inspections are required?

ANSWER: Asbestos and as specified

34. Is the contractor to include costs for sampling and testing compressive strength of grout, mortar, concrete, epoxy, etc.?

ANSWER: Yes.

35. If the contractor is to include costs for the above referenced sampling and testing, shall this company be an independent third party?

36. Is the exterior side of the CMU knee wall to be coated with dampproofing/vapor barrier/waterproofing? Specification section 04 20 00-2.2.2.2.5 appears to call out that concrete masonry units are to receive a water-repellant admixture during the manufacturing process.

ANSWER: No coating required.

37. In lieu of a water-repellant being applied to sides of concrete masonry units being exposed to weather, would the USDA consider a field applied water-repellant be installed after the block is laid?

38. Are purlins and girts to remain? D100 Demolition Note references that wall girts / roof purlins are to be demolished but D200 Keyed Demolition Note 1 calls out that the main structural framing members (columns, trusses, purlins) are to remain as well as structural members. Considering the purlins and girts are structural it appears that they must stay in place.

ANSWER: Only the main structural frames are to remain. Any other structural elements are to be demolished.

39. Are glazing system extrusions, glazing bars, baes and caps, ride extrusion, etc. that are part of the glazing system to be demolished?

ANSWER: All elements of the glazing system are to be demolished.

40. Can the USDA confirm if doors and frames are to be steel/metal per the Door and Frame Schedule on A501 or aluminum per specification section 13 34 13-2.18?

During the site visit it appeared that the other greenhouses had aluminum doors and frames.

ANSWER: Doors and frames are to be aluminum.

41. Could ACME DC Style exhaust fans be utilized in lieu of Greenheck fans noted within the Fan Schedule on M600? It is our understanding that the existing greenhouses #1 and #2 have ACME fans and the cooling system is spec’d to be ACME.

ANSWER: Greenheck fans are to operate as a basis of design only and are not intended to limit or restrict the use of other equipment. Other fans may be used given they can meet the requirements of the design documents.

42. If additional framing members such as purlins, etc. are needed for the roof, cooling systems, possible verticals at divider walls, etc. would galvanized framing members be acceptable to be installed in lieu of aluminum? Section 1 on A500 appears to call out for the purlin shown to be aluminum along with the shaft hanger and specification section 13 34 13-2.2 and 2.4 appear to call out that aluminum framing members are required.

ANSWER: Aluminum required

43. On Sheet E100, at the location where the new panel LH is to be installed, there appears to be (3) existing light switches mounted in the wall. Please advise how the new panel is intended to be installed at this location. Are the switches to be relocated, or is another mounting arrangement required?

ANSWER Relocate the existing 3 switches to adjacent side wall and repair existing switch knockout location.

44. There also appears to be an existing safety cabinet at this location. Will the owner be responsible for relocating the cabinet?

ANSWER: Safety cabinet should be relocated. Coordinate with Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for new location.