K-MtnPipeline-PreBid Qs and As.pdf

K-MTN PIPELINE RECONSTRUCT

PreBid Questions&Answers

Q1) Are the current line plastic or metal? The existing line is assumed to be both HDPE and metal in various sections. The line was built in multiple installations, beginning in the 1970s and being finished in the 1990s. Repairs have been made since then, so the actual pipe material varies.

Q2) Are we able to use 2inch instead of the requested 1.5 inch piping? 2 inch piping may be substituted as long as the pipe specifications meet 200 psi SDR11 standards.

1. 5.5 B.2. Daylight Drains – Are these part of the scope and where are the drawing that are referenced? Yes, please see K-Mountain Pipeline Reconstruction Attachment 1 – Maps Page 2 for proposed locations. Final locations to be determined on site with COR.

2. 6.3 A. Daylight Drains and Overflows

Suction Strainer and Insect Screens? Are these part of the scope? Yes, strainers and screens to be installed on daylight drain ends.

3. 6.3A.3. Rip Rap – Where is the Rip Rap to be placed? See attached daylight drain detail and spec section 7.2 DAYLIGHT DRAINS.

4. 7.1 Pipe Installation – G. Please identify any culvert crossings. There are no known culvert crossings.

a. J. Paying Pipe – 1. States that the COR needs to approve the trench and bedding.

Will native soil be acceptable for bedding or does this need to be brought in from another source? Native soil will be acceptable.

b. K. Branch Connections – It is assumed that Tees will be used at just the three trough locations? Tees will be used at the trough connections and daylight drains if necessary.

c. Paragraph e. calls for branch connections to be butt fused Polyethylene fittings.

Please confirm this is the approved method? Yes, this is an approved method, but other methods (compression, etc) will be allowable if pressure tests are successful afterwards.

d. It is assumed that a threaded end fitting will be used to allow for a plug for testing purposes? Yes, threaded end fittings will be acceptable for testing purposes.

e. M. Please identify any areas that will need pipe to be installed with a directional drill. The means and methods of installation are not specified, but the topography and slop of Section 1 of the pipe could be directional drilled if the contractor desires to. Differing methods of installation will not advantage nor disadvantage bids, as the award will be to the lowest acceptable proposal.

5. 7.3 Hydrostatic Testing

a. Is Potable water meant to be specified on a non drinking system? No, potable water is not required, spring fed water can be used.

6. 9.1 Select Backfill – It states that 6” and smaller native backfill will be acceptable. Is it anticipated that any backfill will need to be imported? It is not anticipated that backfill will need to be imported.

7. 10.2 What substructure is to be demolished? Is there something existing that needs to be removed other than the existing waterline? No, only the existing waterline is to be removed, if visible above ground or incidental to installing the new pipeline. See Section 10.2, as portions have been removed from the specification.

8. 10.3 Vault Toilet and Septic Pumping

a. Please provide more information on the Septic work that is to be completed.

Please also add a separate line item if this work exists. Section 10.3 has been removed. No septic work will be performed in this contract.

Q3. Will a road be built into the spring on grade so we can dig or plow down the road on grade? The Forest Service will not be installing a temporary road/path to the spring, but contractors are allowed to plow in a road/cleared area through the wooded section near the spring box if afterwards the ground is reestablished to natural appearance. The existing two track unmaintained road from the first trough partially up to the spring box is not to be further maintained. Essentially, the contractor is allowed to establish a temporary path along the hillslope coming out of the spring box to assist in maintaining negative gradient in the pipeline.

1. What will be done with the slash and mitigation of soils? Slash treatment is noted in Section 311000.13.4. Disturbed ground will be reestablished to natural appearance, but the contractor will not be required to reseed, as the Forest Service will complete seeding at a later date.

2. Who will provide and install silt fence? If it is determined that silt fence is necessary while disturbing the natural ground, the contractor will be responsible for providing and installing silt fence.

3. Is it possible to plow past all the tanks and the have the property owner dig into tanks?

The contractor will be required to install the main waterline then install tees to each of the tanks. From the tee, the contractor will install line to the troughs, stubbing out above ground near the trough, but not connecting to the trough. For testing purposes, plugs should be used to close of the system.

4. How do you suggest pressurizing the entire pipeline if total length exceeds 6,000’? See Section 221100.7.3. Disregard pipe length.

5. Can we deviate from the description of the plans that suggest to follow the contour, to instead plow to accommodate air vacs and drains by using a 3-way airvac? The new waterline is limited to following the path of the existing waterline. Small variances from the existing waterline will be allowed. Air vacuum breakers and drain valve locations have been indicated on K-Mountain Pipeline Reconstruction Attachment 1 – Maps Page 2.

6. We will plow on the downhill side of the tanks, so when the land owner hooks them up they will drain for the end of the season back into the main line below the tank sites. That will be permissible.

Q4. With this type of gravity water system, will pressure testing be required? Yes, see Section 221100.7.3. Disregard pipe length.

1. who installs the "T" at each trough? The contractor will be required to install the tees to each trough, pulling pipe stubs to the surface near the tanks so that the Forest Service can connect to the tanks at a later date.

2. would the USFS like drains installed? Yes, please see K-Mountain Pipeline Reconstruction Attachment 1 – Maps Page 2 for proposed locations. Final locations to be determined on site with COR.

3. route flagging would be a help in order to do a more accurate bid, however with the type of terrain would the USFS give some wriggle room with COR approval? The new waterline is limited to following the path of the existing waterline. Small variances from the existing waterline will be allowed.

Q5. Did everyone get off the mountain alright after the site visit? Yes

1. Will a larger capacity waterline or a pump be needed at the beginning and through to the first tank to ensure water flow? As another question asked, we are allowing larger diameter pipes to be installed, at no additional cost to the government. Pumps are not being considered in this project.

2. How many linear feet of clearing and road building will be assumed to gravity feed the waterline and maintain flow to the first tank? Assume that the majority of the first section of piping to involve significant clearing and grubbing to follow the existing pipeline route.

3. How often will access points be needed to the waterline for siphoning? We are not anticipating the need for siphoning access points due to the amount of elevation drop and the installation air vacuum valves. Please see K-Mountain Pipeline Reconstruction

Attachment 1 – Maps Page 2 for proposed locations. Final locations to be determined on site with COR.

Q6. Is a bid bond required? Yes a bid bond is required.