Question and Answers 9 March 26.docx

AFD Visitor Center Questions and Answers 9 March 2026

1. Contract execution

0. Notice to proceed expected to be issued in the first half of June. This is for submittals and material ordering.

0. Construction to begin in early October when the Visitor Center is closed to the public. Completion to be March 31, 2027.

1. Exhibit room ceiling

1. Remove electrical channel and finish to maintain historic appearance

1. Can propose alternative in proposal – must maintain historic appearance

1. Is full asbestos report included in bid docs?

2. yes

1. Fire tower – it was determined to leave it SOI; the option item remains. Please bid accordingly.

3. History - it was removed, hauled, and reassembled in the visitor center by firefighters.

3. If the option item is awarded, the contractor will be required to disassemble it and store it in a semi-trailer in back as shown in the following image.

1. Will there be new wall base in basement?

4. Yes. See finish schedule

1. Is radon piping new or existing?

5. New – saw cutting required as part of basement bathroom addition/radon piping.

1. Almost all exterior walls in project to be furred out

6. See plans.

1. How to handle current basement ceiling finish?

7. Finish will be removed as necessary to attach hat channels for new Gypsum ceiling.

1. Is the new storefront an option item?

8. Yes, interior and exterior

1. Do we know where existing irrigation lines are located?

9. No – except for the lines currently above ground

9. Will require a backflow preventer at connection to source

1. Are stairs to be refinished?

10. Yes - New resilient flooring on stair treads shown on detail 8/A504.

1. Are all Glulam beams out front being stripped?

11. Per the drawings the Glulam beams and T&G soffit are to be stripped and prepped for staining. Existing columns to be prepared for repainting. Rotted bottoms of two columns to be replaced.

1. Is trench required for power to run to new poles?

12. Yes see C100

1. Is there a low voltage system preferred by FS? Will low voltage be part of whose scope?

13. Preferred system will meet the specifications listed.

13. GC to determine scope responsibility for each subcontractor

1. Whose scope will the T&G ceiling sand/stain/alt methods be in?

14. GC to determine scope responsibility for each subcontractor

1. As currently shown in drawings wiring on main floor ceiling to be exposed wire mold. All other wiring in project will be concealed in furr walls or under new furred gyp ceiling in basement.

1. MC vs EMT

16. EMT unless MC is necessary to preclude surface mounting conduit.

16. EMT is specified, MC specified for low-voltage

1. What is the last day for questions

17. The 11th of March

1. Are there locations on site to hook up to for temporary water and power?

18. Yes

1. ACT not shown on plans but included in Option #2 interiors, clarify?

19. Follow design – basement ceiling to be GWB

1. Schedule of items calls for (2) 32x7 doors and (8) 3x7 doors, only (6) doors shown on plans all 3x7-

20. There are 6 doors shown in the schedule (Flush and Vision Light) all 3x7. A502

1. Can hat channel in basement be replaced with 2x wood material?

21. Yes

1. Batt insulation not included in specifications. Can this be added?

22. See added specification

1. Approved manufacturer's included in specification for spray foam do not meet the compressive strength and dimensional stability listed in the spec. Do specs need to be revised or are approved manufacturer's assumed to be suitable for use?

23. GC may submit spray foam to match ASTM D1621 and D2126 standards based on project needs.

1. A101, detail 3 references bid alt 2 for patio concrete, there is no alt 2 on bid schedule. Should this be included on the price schedule?

24. Included in option #1.

1. Sheet C101 shows sidewalk and curb and gutter to be replaced as bid option #2 but is not included on the schedule of items. Should this be included on the price schedule?

25. Included in option #1.

1. A501 glazing legend calls for 1/4" safety glass. The specifications call for safety glass and insulated glass. Can you clarify/confirm the construction of the storefront?

26. Glass to be safety glass where indicated in the drawings. Where not indicated as safety glass, it is insulated.

1. Bid schedule includes walkway replacement at rear of building. There is no demo or new sidewalk shown. Should we include this in our bid? If so, please provide limits or quantities.

27. There is no walkway replacement at the rear of the building.

27. Refers to concrete on side of building.

1. Are storefront graphics surface applied after the storefront is installed or is it printed on the glass by the manufacturer?

28. Surface applied graphics see notes on 1/A501

1. Plans call for wire pulls on cabinets, specs call for Europa Top Knobs. Please clarify.

29. Specs take precedence

1. Storefront specs call for uniform size, plans call for varying size. Clarify mullion dimensions and/or detail how this is assembled with varying widths?

30. Mullion dimensions in the specifications take precedence for primary structure of storefront. Applied architectural mullions will be of a smaller size based on availability per manf.

1. Is building sign part of "Option #4 Signage"?

31. The sign referenced in Option #4 refers to the landmark sign depicted on sheet A101A

1. Sheet A701 shows RF2 flooring in basement. Room finish schedule shows RF1 in basement electrical/data closet and bathroom. Clarify which floor should be used here.

32. Room Finish Schedule shows RF2 at basement bathroom, Elec Data closet shall be RF2 also. All of basement floor to be RF2.

1. i1c wall callout on sheet A104, with no wall detail. Provide wall detail or change wall type?

33. Wall type should be i2A

1. Removal and replacement of exhibits are bid items for Contractor in plans. During the site visit, it was noted the exhibits would be removed and replaced by USFS. Please update plans with items that should not be included in the Contractor's quote.

34. Exhibits will be removed by Forest Service

1. There is no line item for steel handrails. Where would you like to provide this cost in schedule of items?

35. In applicable item.

1. A801/3, 4 calls for wildfire decal , see CO for decal image. What does this mean? There are no specifications for wildfire decal.

36. Forest Service will supply decal image and contractor will install it.

1. The options don’t match the alternates on the plans. Are there options and alternates?

37. Option items are broken out in the SOI. Plans show the work, option items explain how the work is broken down. Alternatives are not applicable.

1. There is no line item for division 1 costs. How would you like us to line-item division 1 costs?

38. Can factor into bid as desired. Overhead and profit is listed.

1. AFD Visitor Center Missoula, will there be a Division 4 specifications for CMU for building and the sign CMU base course and the stone walls on the exterior sign?

39. Will be added week of March 9, 2026

1. When is the anticipated start date for this project?

40. Notice to proceed is expected to be issued in the first half of June for submittals and materials ordering. Construction will begin early October when the visitor center is closed to the public.

1. What is the liquidated damages per calendar day?

41. Liquidated damages do not apply to this project.

1. What is the expected general warranty period?

42. One year from acceptance date

1. In the “Combined Synopsis” section it is referenced that this project acquisition is set-aside for small business concerns. Please clarify, are General contractors only allowed to bid on this project’s acquisitions if they meet the Small Business Enterprise standard?

43. General contractors MUST BE a small business concern.

1. Are there any SBE, MBE, WBE, DVE, DVBE, or local hire requirements?

44. No

1. Section 52.228-5, found in the document ‘001100 Combined Synopsis_Solicitation’, seems to link to Acquisition.gov’s definition, which references how the contractor shall maintain at least the minimum amounts of insurance required in the schedule or elsewhere. However, there does not seem to be any insurance requirements made, nor any section to refer to, to find this information. Please advise/clarify what insurance requirements are required for this project.

a. Please see FAR 28.307- 28.307-2 Liability.

(a) Workers’ compensation and employer’s liability. Contractors are required to comply with applicable Federal and State workers’ compensation and occupational disease statutes. If occupational diseases are not compensable under those statutes, they shall be covered under the employer’s liability section of the insurance policy, except when contract operations are so commingled with a contractor’s commercial operations that it would not be practical to require this coverage. Employer’s liability coverage of at least $100,000 shall be required, except in States with exclusive or monopolistic funds that do not permit workers’ compensation to be written by private carriers. (See 28.305(c) for treatment of contracts subject to the Defense Base Act.)

(b) General liability.

(1) The contracting officer shall require bodily injury liability insurance coverage written on the comprehensive form of policy of at least $500,000 per occurrence.

(2) Property damage liability insurance shall be required only in special circumstances as determined by the agency.

(c) Automobile liability. The contracting officer shall require automobile liability insurance written on the comprehensive form of policy. The policy shall provide for bodily injury and property damage liability covering the operation of all automobiles used in connection with performing the contract. Policies covering automobiles operated in the United States shall provide coverage of at least $200,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and $20,000 per occurrence for property damage. The amount of liability coverage on other policies shall be commensurate with any legal requirements of the locality and sufficient to meet normal and customary claims.

1. An Excel sheet is included in the specs labeled, ‘004100 Schedule of Items’. Please clarify is this is meant to act as a bid form and required when a bid is submitted, or if there is any other bid form required with submissions for the project.

1. You can find submission requirements on page 9 of the Combined Synopsis/solicitation document.Our understanding is that this project is under the ownership of the Federal government. Please advise if Subcontractors must be listed with each General Contractor’s bid submission.

1. No, however, after award, the General Contractor is required to provide a SF 1413 for each sub contractor.

1. Are there locations on site to hook up to for temporary water and power?

49. Yes

1. What is the expected award period for this project?

50. No earlier than 30 days after quote due date, however, per solicitation requirements, quotes shall be good for 90 days.

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