Government Answers of QA questions_01-24-20.pdf

1243ZP20Q0008 La Mina/Big Tree Question and Answers

# VENDOR QUESTIONS GOVT RESPONSE

The submission instructions indicate that all information shall be submitted through FBO. However, the betaSAM.gov system does not provide for user upload of information.Can you please advise how the questions and proposals can be submitted to you?

All responsive proposals shall be emailed to christopher.ford@usda.gov by the solicitation closing date and time

Can the list of participants to the two (2) site visits be made available?

We may be able to make this avaliable

Will reports and plans (30%, 60%, 90%) be submitted electronically or printed, or both? Page 20 of the

Solicitation package indicates it will be electronic, but it appears under 100% submittal.

All A-E deliverables (30%, 60%, 90%, and 100%) shall be via emailed electronically to the Contracting Officer and designated COR.

Can additional site visits be programmed prior to submitting our proposal?

Forest Recommends additional site access is available by request.

Item 1.1.I indicates that a breakdown of proposed estimate is to be provided. Will the Brooks Act tab included in Attachment 1 be used for said breakdown or is there any other particular format required?

As noted in the Statement of Work, the A-E shall submit a breakdown of their proposed estimate to support the attached A-E Contract Package per Schedule of Items

Will all line items included in the Brooks Act tab of

Attachment 1 be required? If so, what is the expected extent of work to be provided by Electrical and Mechanical engineers in the project?

The A-E is to only fill in the desired engineering disciplines as see fit to complete the services requested as required in the Statement of Work.

Will electronic files of the survey and topographic work be provided? Who will be the professional signing and stamping these documents?

An electronic survey and topographic dwg drawings (2018

Autocad Civil 3D) will be government furnished. The A-E will be responsible for all 100% deliverable signing and P.E.

Stamp drawings.

If additional survey and topographic work is required during the design process, will it be provided by the

Government?

NO. The government will not be responsible for any additional topographic or survey work.

9 Does the USFS have reports of accidents and incidents that have happened on the trails?

No Report is available. Antidotaly most common accident shared is slipping on the trail.

Does the USFS have a report with comments and suggestions made by visitors of the trails?

No report available

Will archaeological and environmental work be furnished by the Government?

That is the agency responsibilty to faciliate SHPO and NEPA.

Forest can provide specialist input in design.

What are the constructability and work limitations established by USFS for El Yunque? Will material removed from the trail, other than concrete, be able to be deposited on-site or will all materials have to be removed and disposed off-site?

As noted in Section 1.1F of the Statement of Work: The A-E is to determine the best economical method of importing materials to project site and utilizing existing suitable material.

There is no Attachment 3 included in the list of attachments presented in the Solicitation. Is there an Attachment 3 or was the number omitted?

Attachment 3 was the Suggested Contract Timeline. As noted in Section M 1. B2 of the solicitation: The A-E shall confirm if the timeline is reasonable or propose a new timeline based on the requirements of the Deliveries of

Performance. A suggested contract timeline will be provided.

Do you have a specific Past Performance Questionnaire format? Will past performance questionnaires be included with the proposal documents or be sent directly to the Contracting

Officer?

We will make the past performance questionnaire avaliable in the amendment.

Considering the site conditions, it will be necessary to make access rails to transport the drilling equipment

(i.e. drill rig, portable cathead, sampler, drilling rods, etc..) along the project route. In the normal course of the work, some site preparation may be required for equipment set-up and drilling. Is there any restriction in regard to the preparation of access trails (i.e. cutting

(partial or completely) of shrubs, trees, etc..) to the drill locations or will the area will be cleared by the USFS prior to the commencement of the project?

Clearance and/or restriction would be dependent on proposed action. You will need to propose specific actions for review and approval.

16 Should a waiver to make an access trail be granted, what limitations, if any, will the waiver include?

Clearance and/or restriction (waiver) would be dependent on proposed action

Will the Hydrologic - Hydraulic (H-H) Study include an analysis of the effects produced by

Hurricane Maria?

A-E shall conform to the requirements of the Statement of

Work Section 2.3 2 - Hydrologic and Hydraulic (H&H)

Analysis -- (Use the HEC-RAS, “Hydrologic Engineering

Center – River Analysis System” or a similar program that may be available to model the water surface profile through the trail bridge opening. Trail Bridge openings should be sized to pass the 100-year flood event with an appropriate freeboard of 3-ft and considering debris and sediment passage and blocking. Refer to attachment FSH

7709.56b - Transportation Structures handbook – Chapter

60 – Hydraulics and Watershed Protection)

Will the survey work (cross sections, topography and as-built of bridges and drainage works) required for the development of the H-H study be provided by the US Forest Service?

A-E will be reponsbile for their own H-H analysis. A-E should be able to run cross sections utilizing the government furnished topographic survey. Survey data was verified.

What will be the design frequencies for minor drainage works?

Any trail bridge for replacement as recommended in A-E report per 30% edliverable shall conform to the requirements of the Statement of Work Section 2.3 2 -

Hydrologic and Hydraulic (H&H) Analysis

Will the H-H study require endorsement by local agencies?

The H&H analysis will be reviewed by the government. A-E is reponsible for their own quality control of their design package. Final bridge design shall be P.E. stamped by A-E qualified designer.

Does the US Forest Service have in its database information of precipitation (rain depth) and streamflow from stations in the El Yunque area for evaluation of H-H analysis for this project?

All data is available from USGS and NOAA for the analysis

The solicitation requests that the A/E professional also provides design for the means and methods of construction; which in general is only applicable if the

A/E professional works for the Contractor in a Design-

Build project.

Is our understanding that this is a solicitation for A/E services and that the project will be bid after the design is completed. The wording of the solicitation places the burden of the means of construction in the A/E design firm.

Could you please clarify if this is the case?

This is a solicitation for A/E Design Services Only.