Amend 0004_SUMMARY OF CHANGES.pdf

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

PROJECT: VETERANS POINT TRAIL REHABILIATION PROJECT

Black Hills National Forest, Pennington County, South Dakota

Solicitation Number: 1240LT26Q0015 – A0004

Please read this Amendment in its entirety.

The purpose of Amendment Four (A0004) is as follows:

1) To provide responses to contractor’s question(s).

2) To provide the Sign in Sheet for the additional Site Visit on February 25, 2026.

3) To update the estimated Period of Performance from March 1, 2026 - May 20, 2027, to

April 15, 2026 - May 20, 2027. (The worksite is expected to be completed prior to the

Memorial Day holiday of 2027.)

4) To incorporate Updated Specifications dated 26FEB2026.

5) To incorporate an updated SOI which omits the Period of Performance (POP) language.

(The estimated POP has been updated in this amendment per #3 above from March 1, 2026 – May 20, 2027, to April 15, 2026 - May 20, 2027.)

6) To incorporate FAR Clause 52.219-14, Limitation on Subcontracting.

7) All other terms and conditions remain the same.

The additional site visit was held on February 25th, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Mountain Time

Location for the Veterans Point Trail Rehabilitation Project site visit:

Coordinates: 44°04'56.2"N 103°29'36.9"W

1.6 miles south on US385 from the Jct. of US385 and SD44 to Custer Gulch Road.

Note: US385 is closed to through traffic from Taylor Ranch Road to Pactola Lake Dam.

The due date for questions remains March 3rd, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Mountain

Time.

The due date for quotes/responses remains March 24th, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

Mountain Time.

Email addresses for submission of questions and quotes by the respective due dates to following:

Janice King, Contract Specialist, at janice.king@usda.gov and Lucas Dahlman, Contracting Officer, at lucas.dahlman@usda.gov.

In the submission of your questions and/or quotes, include in the email’s subject line:

Veterans Point Trail Rehabilitation Question/Quote (which ever applies) – 1240LT26Q0015.

QUESTIONS and ANSWERS:

1. Are detailed quantity takeoffs available for the segmental retaining walls, asphalt rehabilitation areas, and gabion work, or should contractors rely solely on measurements from the drawings? See tables in the Final Drawings sheet 5 of 7.

2. What equipment access routes are approved for construction activities, and are there any restrictions on staging or material delivery paths? Equipment access is on the existing trail and the Path to Parking Lot shown in the Final Drawings sheet 2 of 7 and in Part 1.5.B: SITE

ACCESS of the General Requirements in the Final Specs, Attach 4. Equipment is not to cross the existing pedestrian wooden bridge.

3. Will the trail remain open to the public during construction, and if so, what level of traffic control is expected from the contractor? See Part 1.7.C: STAGING AREA of the General

Requirements in the Final Specs, Attach 4. See Part 1.11.A: PROTECTION OF PUBLIC of the

General Requirements in the Final Specs, Attach 4.

4. Are there designated staging and material storage areas available on site, and are there limits on temporary laydown zones? See Part 1.7.C: STAGING AREA of the General Requirements in the Final Specs, Attach 4.

5. Are there restrictions on working hours or seasonal limitations beyond those noted in the solicitation? See Part 1.10.A and Part 1.10.B: SCHEDULE of the General Requirements in the

Final Specs, Attach 4.

6. On the Veterans Point trail project you have specified that the blocks are to be Keystone. I am wondering if Redi-Rock could be used as an approved equal for this project? The blocks are 1.5’ tall and 4’ wide. The profile appears to match either a 1 or 2 block tall layout for redi-rock.

(More information on the blocks can be sent to you if you need to make a decision.) Contractors have found the basis of design block for the retaining wall is no longer available. The basis for design is Versa-Lok Retaining Wall Systems – Standard Unit. See Amended Specifications Page

84, Section 323223.2.1B. Approved equals will be considered.

mailto:janice.king@usda.gov mailto:lucas.dahlman@usda.gov

7. Since the area was impacted by severe wind storm in December 2025, verify that the quantity of railing to be repaired is correct and accurately reflects railing damage from that storm.

See Amended Specifications Section 010250.3.2.A.9.c

Table of Quantities plan drawing sheet 5 of 7 is accurate.

8. Confirm that tree removal will be performed by Forest Service prior to start of contract and

Contractor is not required to remove trees. Contractor is not responsible for tree removal.

9. Will Veterans Point be open to public throughout the project? Section 010150, part 1.8 Work

Restrictions states:

a. Keep existing trails that are undergoing improvements open and maintained in such a condition as to safely accommodate traffic unless directed otherwise by Contracting Officer.

b. Provide and maintain temporary detours, approaches, or crossings and intersections with trails, roads, businesses, parking lots, and campgrounds in a safe and passable condition. C.

Perform no work that interferes or conflicts with traffic until a plan for handling traffic has been submitted and approved. Specific requirements for detours or closures are shown on the plans or in the special contract requirements. Contractor is to leave trail open as much as possible. Contractor is to keep parking lot open to allow public access to trail and restroom.

Contractor is to keep restroom open for public use. Contractor shall secure work to allow safe public access after work hours and on weekends.

10. Provide seed mix for area to be rehabilitated and seeded – particularly access route from parking lot to lakeshore loop.

Specification Section 010150, part 1.12.F states

“All areas where the existing vegetation is removed or damaged or destroys due to construction activities shall be leveled and seeded. Contractor shall furnish and apply all seed in accordance with specifications.”

Annual Rye (Lolium multiflorum) 35%

Slender Wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus) 25%

Green Needlegrass (Nassella viridula) 15%

American Vetch (Vicia Americana) or 5%

Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea)

Warm season combination – any of the following: 20%

Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis)

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans)

Sideoats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula)

11. Clarify if toilet can be used by Contractor and what maintenance is expected to be performed by Contractor before, during, and at project completion. Specification Section 010150 Part

1.6.D remove and replace with following:

D. The single riser vault toilet will be available for Contractor use at the site during the project.

1. The Forest Service will have the toilet pumped at the beginning of Contractor’s planned work.

12. How does railing need to be cleaned before painting? Does railing need to be sanded or sand-blasted or power washed. Power washing to remove dust, dirt, and debris is acceptable. See

Specification Section 055213.3.4.A

13. Is certified welder required for railing repair. Certified Welders are required. Refer to

Specification Section 055213, Part 1.3 Welding Qualifications.

14. How much of project can be subcontracted? Refer to FAR Clause 52.219-14, Limitations on

Subcontracting (incorporated in this Amendment), which states in pertinent that for General construction, it will not pay more than 85 percent of the amount paid by the Government for contract performance, excluding the cost of materials, to subcontractors that are not similarly situated entities. Any work that a similarly situated entity further subcontracts will count towards the prime contractor's 85 percent subcontract amount that cannot be exceeded.

15. Contractors have found the basis of design block for the retaining wall is no longer available.

What are suitable alternatives? Versa-Lok Retaining Wall Systems – Standard Unit.

16. Is native material fill or select fill required backfill behind retaining wall? Detail “Segmental

Retaining Wall” on Details drawing (Sheet 6 of 7) shows native backfill behind retaining wall.

17. Does SF quantify of retaining wall listed on bid schedule include only exposed wall face does it include sub-grade depth as well as exposed?

Measurement is based on square feet of wall installed. Including both buried and exposed sections. Required cap block is not included in square foot measurement.

18. Rocks (bedrock) are exposed behind existing timber retaining wall. Existing trail width is too narrow for mini-excavator. How is wall to be constructed around the rocks. Rock excavation is not expected. Wall alignment will be adjusted to fit blocks at rocks without removing rocks.

19. Is retaining wall to be set level or follow natural slope? Set retaining wall to follow slope of adjacent trail. Leveling course is to be leveled front to back. Refer to Detail “Segmental

Retaining Wall” on Details drawing (Sheet 6 of 7). Bottom of retaining wall is to be set on minimum 6” thick granular leveling course.

20. Confirm pedestrian bridge shall not be used for construction equipment. See amended specification Section 010150.1.8.D. Bridge shall not be used for construction.

21. Does duff and debris need to be removed from bottom rail prior to painting Specification

Section 055213.3.4.A All duff, debris, and extraneous material shall be removed from all posts and railings prior to painting. Railings shall be cleaned prior to painting. Entire railing surface is to be painted.

22. How is asphalt to be patched along retaining walls? See plan drawing sheet 6 of 7 Segmental

Retaining Wall.

23. Which bid item covers Seeding and Site Restoration? Specification Section 010150, part

1.12.F states “All areas where the existing vegetation is removed or damaged or destroys due to construction activities shall be leveled and seeded. Contractor shall furnish and apply all seed in accordance with specifications.” See amended Specification Section 010250.3.A.10.b

24. Clarify the plus/minus (±) 15% bid quantities. See Specification Section 010250.2.1.C.1

25. Please provide updated Bid Schedule, with dates for both Base and Option Items. The SOI was updated to omit the dates of the initial POP dates. Refer to the updated estimated POP for the Base and Optional Items listed on page one, #3, of this Amendment or the subsequent contract’s date(s).

26. Will Government approve pieces of work as it progresses so Contractor can be paid and

Government can take possession of completed work? Concern is that a recreation site, open to public, may be vandalized.

Payments will be made in accordance with AGAR Clause 452.232-71 Progress Payments for

Commercial Construction Contracts (Dec 2025). Government acceptance of completed work will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Contracting Officer.

Contractors are reminded to verify that they are actively registered in www.sam.gov website when submitting quotes for this project.

http://www.sam.gov/

The following is the Site Visit Sign In Sheet from the February 25, 2026, site visit: