RFIs for 12405B22Q0070 with responses.pdf

12405B22Q0070 - Organic Hay Barn Erection- USDA-ARS, Booneville, Arkansas

Request for Information (RFI)

1. Since there was no “RFI Form” as referenced on page 36 of the attachment titled “12405B22Q0070+Solicitation+Construction+Clauses+and+Provisions”, does the government accept these RFI’s submitted via email? Response: Yes

2. Will the government please confirm the “PROJECT INFORMATION” provided on page 36 of the Solicitation Construction Clauses and Provisions attachment? Response: Confirmed and Correct

3. Will the government please clarify if the wage determination referenced on page 36 of the attachment titled “12405B22Q0070+Solicitation+Construction+Clauses+and+Provisions” prevails (MS20200046)? Or if the wage determination provided in the attachment titled “WAGE+DETERMINATION-+LOGAN+COUNTY” prevails (AR20210019)? Response: The attached Wage Determination (AR20210019) is the correct version to use.

4. Will the government please provide the referenced “attached EMR information and certification form”, as mentioned on page 37 of the attachment titled “12405B22Q0070+Solicitation+Construction+Clauses+and+Provisions”? Response: This form is not provided by the government.

5. Several of the Representation and Certification FAR Clauses have been revised/ updated compared to the FAR Clauses that have been provided with the Solicitation (52.208-8, and 52- 204-24). Does the government want offerors to include the provided versions of those FAR Clauses or the most current version of those FAR Clauses within their proposals? Response:

Use clauses provided.

6. Section L.3.A.1-4 requests a breakdown of labor. Material, equipment, subcontractor categories. Will the government please clarify what categories are applicable and provide a list of categories? Response: The government will not provide a list of categories. This can vary per contractor.

7. If no categories will be provided, can the contractor provide a breakdown of price based on the applicable construction divisions that a project of this nature would ordinarily encompass?

Response: Yes

8. During the site visit, it was mentioned that there was the possibility that some of the metal building panels and / or pieces could potentially be missing from the pile of materials. What is the anticipated protocol if it is discovered during construction that some of the panels/ pieces are in-fact missing? Response: The occurrence of finding anything that may being missing, that cannot be purchased locally, is unlikely. The protocol would be to notify the Operations Manager of items needed. It would then be purchased and brought to the site.

9. It is recommended that concrete for piers have at least 4,000 psi compressive strength without a continuous perimeter foundation. Response: Concrete must meet or exceed the minimum specifications identified in the SOW.

10. If materials are missing which party of the contract will be responsible for procuring the missing or unusable materials? Response: The Government

11. If the contractor is responsible for procurement, will this be considered a differing site condition and will the contractor be afforded an RFP with modification for funding?Response:

Government responsible for procurement.

12. What will the protocol be for materials that are deemed unusable due to rust and corrosion?

Response: Notify COR of any questionable materials and arrangements will be made to procure and deliver materials to site.

13. Does the government have a material list from the supplier that the contractor can use to inventory the items onsite? This will ensure that the contractor can account for anything that might be missing and can get it ordered prior to getting too far into the erection. Response:

Building plans are have provided which can be used for item inventory.

14. During the site visit we took pictures to compare the existing building to the design intent of the new building. The pictures revealed that the existing buildings have a base “C” girt and the exterior liner panel is a full height liner panel (minus 1’ at the top). The engineered shop drawings identify a side-wall girt at 7’-4” and 11’-4”, and a base L channel along with a full-height liner panel, but they do not identify a base girt nor a base “C”. A base L channel is only suitable if you have a concrete slab, which is not the case in this project. If a base girt were to have been included with the building package, it would have been included in the drawing. It could be a detailing mistake, but unlikely. Can the government confirm if there should be a base girt included with the building package? Response: No Base C girt was included in the building package. The Government will provide the base girt material to fasten wall panels at the bottom.

15. Please refer to the Statement of Work, Paragraph 4.2.1a.7 preconstruction submittals. This paragraph states to provide resumes for a variety of roles. Please keep in mind that the budget range $25K - $100K will not support all three of these people onsite during the course of construction. Please clarify if the roles of Superintendent, Safety Officer, and QCM expected to be onsite at all times? Response: Key personnel and their roles are determined by contractor.

16. Will the Government please clarify which of the roles listed in 4.2.1.7 are expected to be onsite at all times during the course of construction? Response: See C.2.7 and C.2.8 of Clauses and Provisions.

17. Paragraph 3.0A states to provide and install all material to complete the project as per project requirements. However, we did not procure the material and we know there may be material missing. Please clarify how the contractor is to be held accountable to this paragraph when the circumstance arises? Response: The Contractor is not responsible for supplying any missing pieces, yet they are responsible for notifying the COR so they may be purchased in a timely manner to resume progress.

18. Will there be any government provided power available to the contractor in the vicinity of the hay barn or shall the contractor provide a generator? Response: The contractor shall provide a generator.

19. Attachment A identifies a dirt logging road running right through the middle of the red box where the building is outlined to be placed. The staff onsite informed us that the pad site had been built up with shale. Will the government please confirm if the area identified where the red box is located is in fact collocated with a dirt logging road and if there is also a shale build up in that spot? Response: There is not a "dirt logging road" running through the middle of building area. The photo abnormality is due to minimal UTV operations accessing the livestock barn across from this area from this field. There is a shale pad in place for the size of the building. There is no abnormal build up in the pad area.

20. The government should consider using galvanized corrosion resistant anchor bolts. Will the Government please confirm if galvanized is to be required? Response: Anchor bolts should meet specifications as noted in SOW and building plans.

21. Paragraph 5.11.b discusses the warranty period. The building is currently out of warranty and if there was an extended warranty, it would be void due to the building being on the ground and left out in the elements. What type of warranty will the government require from the contractor upon completion of this project? Response: A workmanship warranty will be required. See 5.11.a of the SOW.