Questions and Answers.docx

Questions and Answers- 1240LP23Q0036 Aggregate Stock Pile 03/15/2023

I am inquiring about the aggregate supply bid with the following questions:

· To visit the site for a pre bid site visit, do we coordinate with you to meet there or just drive there ourselves? A pre bid site visit is not planned by the Forest Service. All contractors are welcome to visit the site before submitting their proposal. Please contact Nate Davis at nathaniel.davis@usda.gov to schedule a site visit.

· The wage rates provided do not seem to include a heavy equipment operator for this type of work. There is a heavy equipment operator under “Research Facility” but I am not sure that is applicable. Can you provide which rate would be expected to be used to operate the front end loader? Under the Wage Determination 23430- Heavy Equipment Operator

· There is a requirement on page 17 of 19 that discusses “telecommunications” equipment and whether we provide it or not. I am not familiar with what is being asked by the Government here, can you please provide a further explanation of what is being asked here? Telecommunications provision is part of the representation and certifications process that is required by all federal contracts. In the highlighted sections on page 17 need to be filled in saying you will or will not provide telecommunications for this project. The provision provides the explanation of the requirements.

· We interpret that this solicitation is asking for us to provide and deliver the aggregate to the location designated and then pile it up with a loader into one large stockpile in that same location, please confirm that is the accurate scope of the project? Yes, this contract is for delivery and stockpiling of aggregate at the same location.

· We interpret that we will only need 1 person onsite to receive the aggregate and then operate the loader. We most likely would have 2 personnel there for many reasons, but we want to make sure we understand the requirement, as it states we are required to have an Onsite Foreman. I was unable to find any Forest Service requirements on the number of personnel needed. It is up to the contractor to determine how to staff the project to meet the contract requirements.

· Can the onsite foreman also be the operator of the loader? I wasn’t able to find anything in the requirements that would prohibit this.

· Is there a local quarry or supply company the Government has used in the past to supply this type of aggregate in the area, if so, who? There are a couple pits close to the work area, the forest has used Redmond Brothers in the past.

· Typically permanent materials are tax exempt on projects in the state of Colorado. Please confirm we will receive a tax exemption for all the aggregate supplied on this contract? All federal government contracts are tax exempt, if there is a specific tax law for Colorado you will need to check with irs.gov.

· The solicitation requires us to provide a submittal/gradation report with the proposal. Can the Government provide an example of what they are looking for on this report? The gradation report will show the particle size distribution from the aggregate test sample in relation to the specified gradation range. It is a test to verify the material meets the requirements of the contract. For this project, the source aggregate should fall within the range for Grading Designation H from Table 703-3 of Attachment B.

· The last ~4 miles of road to the stockpile is a gravel/dirt road. This road will receive significant traffic when we haul the aggregate to site. Who will be responsible in maintaining this road to make it usable? If it’s the Contractor, wanted to confirm so we included money and equipment to maintain the road as needed. The US Forest Service will be responsible for the maintenance of the road.