Response to questions.pdf

1. Acquisition status: Please confirm whether this acquisition is unrestricted or a total small-business set-aside, whether FAR 52.219-14 applies, and the correct size standard shown as “$47” on the SF 1449.

a. Government Response: This is a 100% total small business set-aside.

2. Missing documents: Please provide Exhibit 1, including existing and intended buoy coordinates, coordinate datum, and repositioning tolerance.

a. Government response: See “Attachment 9 - Exhibit 1 – SRD Buoy Details” for existing buoy coordinates. See Task 6 of the PWS for intended buoy locations and repositioning tolerance. Coordinate datum is unknown. Note on Attachments: Precedence is given to the numbering and names/titles on page 15 of the Solicitation.

3. Existing conditions: Please provide available anchor depths and tidal references, chain lengths, anchor dimensions/weights, and previous inspection reports, photographs, or videos. Please identify known burial, obstructions, inaccessible bails, or damaged components.

a. Government response: See “Attachment 9 - Exhibit 1 – SRD Buoy Details” for approximate anchor depths, approximate chain lengths, anchor material and estimated weights. Tidal reference is unknown, assume low tide. See “Attachment 10 – 2024 State of the Buoys” and “Attachment 11 – 2022 Contractor Report” for most recent inspection reports. Photos and videos are available, but file sizes are too large to share on Sam.gov. Can be shared after award via Box.

4. Performance schedule: Which completion date governs—September 30 or October 11, 2027? Please confirm the start date, any intermediate milestones, and whether weekend, holiday, and after-hours operations are permitted with advance approval.

a. Government response: 11 Oct 2027 is the correct completion date. Start date depends on award date, issuance of Notice to Proceed and acceptance of submittals. There are no intermediate milestones, but the Forest Service’s preference (not a requirement) is the following locations be performed first:

Piper Island, Brent’s Beach, Silver Bay (if awarded) and Redoubt Bay (if awarded). The Forest Service does not have constraints on weekend, holiday, or after-hours operations.

5. Base scope and quantities: Please confirm that base CLINs cover only the locations assigned in the PWS matrix; Redoubt Bay is solely optional, and each assigned task is performed once rather than on a recurring basis. When an option replaces equipment, must the corresponding base inspection/maintenance still be performed before removal?

a. Government response: Base CLINs cover only the locations and tasks shown on the matrix on page 4 of the PWS. Redoubt Bay work is not required under the Base tasks – Option Item only. If Redoubt Bay work is awarded, then it is required to document the work after completion, per the Deliverables Schedule (section 29 of the PWS). Each awarded task is to be performed once. If equipment has been replaced the base inspection/maintenance need not be performed. Once work is complete video/picture requirements remain.

6. Subcontractor qualifications and vessels: May the proposed diving subcontractor’s qualifying previous Dive Operations Plan, vessel documents, and past performance satisfy the evaluation requirements? Please identify required commitment documentation and the specific “USCG inspection” document, including acceptable evidence for vessels not requiring a Certificate of Inspection and requirements for chartered or multiple vessels.

a. Government response: Recency requirements for submittals required for offeror evaluation are found in Solicitation Section III, Part B. Exceptions will not be made for the entity who performed the previous version of this contract. The USCG inspection documents is a record of inspection performed by the USCG on the vessel that is provided to the vessel owner.

“Acceptable evidence for vessels not requiring a Certificate of Inspection and requirements for chartered or multiple vessels”: Comply with all applicable local, State, and Federal laws and regulations.

7. Options and pricing: Please confirm option exercise deadlines, completion periods, and whether option prices should assume combined or separate mobilization. Please clarify the six-month extension’s evaluation calculation and potential services/rates, since the options are work packages rather than option years. Are supporting unit rates required for quantity changes?

a. Government response: Any option on the solicitation will be exercised with in 90 calendar days of award. Option pricing is separate from clause 52.217-

8. The clause allows the government to extend the service being performed up to 6 months based on discussions between the government and the contractor.

8. Fred’s Creek: Please reconcile seven feet of bridle chain with five links per leg and confirm the installed configuration, shackle quantity, and two-anode requirement.

For Option 1003, please confirm wet welding versus anchor recovery, available anchor/padeye material information, angle lengths, welding/inspection requirements, and the process if existing material is unsuitable. Please confirm chain/bridle replacement is base work and angle/anode modifications are optional.

a. Government response: Provide bridle chain length as needed to comply with “Attachment 4 FredsCreekAnchorDrawing.” Installation configuration, shackle quantity, and anode requirements are shown on “Attachment 4 FredsCreekAnchorDrawing.” Wet welding and anchor recovery are acceptable. Anchor is thought to be cast iron. Padeye material is unknown.

Existing angle lengths are unknown, see Attachment 5 photo for reference.

Proposed angle lengths are shown on Attachment 4. Welding/inspection requirements: Visual observation of contractor-provided photos/video to confirm compliance with general industry standards. If existing padeye material is unsuitable for welding onto, provide options for alternate anode attachment method. Evaluation and selection of alternate method is subject to Contracting Officer’s determination. Chain/bridle replacement is Base work and angle/anode modifications are Optional Item work.

9. Chain and replacement buoys: Please confirm Task 3.1 references Task 2.1 and clarify chain finish, grade, testing, and certification requirements, including the open-link bridle. Please identify the required Topper buoy model/configuration, whether equivalents are acceptable, their evaluation criteria, and when product data must be submitted.

a. Government response: Task 3.1 references Chain Replacement Specifications found in Task 2.1. Chain finish: Galvanized: Grade, testing and certification requirements, including open-link bridle chain: Per Task 2.1. See “Attachment 12 – Topper_buoy drawing” for details of Topper buoy. For reference, the Topper buoy’s approximate palletized size and weight is:

145”x49”x50”, 820 lbs. The Topper buoy is the basis of design, against which proposed substitutions will be evaluated. Proposed substitutions will be considered after award and will be evaluated for meeting or exceeding the Topper buoy with regard to the following salient characteristics: Designed for the marine environment where the buoys will be installed; similar appearance; similar size and weight; similar materials and hardware; similar durability and corrosion resistance; no plastic or foam components are acceptable. Proposed substitution requests shall be a formal submittal for COR review and approval, prior to ordering the buoy.

10. Replacement anchors: For Option 1002, please confirm that the three replacement anchors follow the supplied concrete-anchor drawing and Option 1001’s hardware, placement, inspection, and disposal requirements. Please identify the governing specifications referenced as Sections 552, 553A, and 717, including required fabrication and concrete-strength documentation.

a. Government response: The three replacement anchors shall comply with the supplied concrete anchor drawing, “Attachment 2 Buoy_Anchor_3pgs,” and comply with Option Item 1001 requirements. The referenced specifications 552, 553A, and 717 refer to sections of the Federal Highway Administration’s “Standard Specifications for the Construction of Roads and Bridges on Federal Highway Projects,” 2024 edition, also known as FP-24.

These specifications are available at https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/specs. Required fabrication and concrete strength documentation shall be in accordance with the FP-24.

11. Wage determination: Please confirm whether Wage Determination 1977-0079-82 or 2004-0047, Revision 26, applies, and provide the controlling document and any additional determination applicable to support work.

a. Government response: 2004-0047, Revision 26, applies to this requirement.

12. Unanticipated work: Beyond specified repositioning/replacement, is anchor up-righting or uncovering inaccessible bails included? Please identify applicable quantities and required immediate make-safe measures. Should other unforeseen repairs await written CO authorization and any necessary price/schedule adjustment?

a. Government response: Include anchor up righting for Piper Island only. At all locations, we expect significant marine growth on all underwater components, including the bails. Contractor is required to remove marine growth as needed to perform work. Contractor to provide a small quantity of same (or similar) size chain, shackles, and mousing wire to make minor unforeseen repairs as needed. Such repairs shall be incidental to the in-contract work and additional payment will not be made. When the need for unforeseen repairs is discovered, contact the Contracting Officer’s Representative immediately for further discussion and direction. Document minor repairs. Repairs affecting contract time and/or price req Contracting Officer authorization.

13. Planning and field coordination: Please clarify standalone Quality Control Plan requirements, submittal/approval timelines, and any additional diving requirements, including the referenced FSH Section 11. Please identify site-specific restrictions or existing permits, COR inspection locations/notice requirements, contractor transportation obligations for Government personnel, and procedures for occupied buoys and temporary closures.

a. Government response:

• Quality Control Plan requirements: See page 13 of the PWS for definition.

https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/specs https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/specs

• For all submittals, allow 10 working days for Forest Service review and response. If submittal is returned for resubmittal, clock is restarted with each resubmittal.

• In addition to the attached Forest Service Handbook Section 4209.11 requirements, comply with OSHA requirements, and with laws and regulations the Authority/Authorities Having Jurisdiction over buoy locations.

• The Forest Service does not have site-specific restrictions or permitting requirements.

• COR inspection is intended to occur in Sitka. COR inspection in other communities may be possible, with sufficient advanced notice, if the contractor is mobilizing from a different community.

• Notice requirements: Provide as much advanced notice as possible, minimum of three (3) working days.

• The contractor is not obligated to transport Forest Service personnel.

• Occupied buoys and temporary closures: See page 5 of the PWS. In addition:

• After receiving the contractor’s proposed work schedule, the Forest Service will issue a notice to the public to make the public aware of the planned work locations and days/times. This notice will not close the buoys.

• It is acceptable to work on an occupied buoy, if the work can be performed safely and without damaging the occupying vessel.

• If the occupying vessel owner is uncooperative, and returning later would affect contract time and/or price, contact the Contracting Officer’s Representative immediately to describe the issue and discuss solutions.

14. Acceptance and rework: Please reconcile the 98%, 95%, and zero-deviation performance thresholds. When does the 48-hour corrective-work period begin, and may the CO adjust it when documented unsafe weather, sea, or diving conditions prevent access?

a. Government response: In PWS Sections 31 – Acceptable Performance and 32 – Unacceptable Performance, replace “98% of the requirement is (successfully) satisfied” with “thresholds in the below table are met.” The 48-hour corrective-work period begins at a mutually-agreed upon time by the contractor and the Contracting Officer.