Contractor questions 1.docx

12445124Q0024, Albert Pike Loop B, SST Relocation Pre-Bid RFI’s –

1. What is the correct bid due date for this requirement? SAM.gov and the Solicitation Cover Page indicate 9/19/24 at 12:00pm EDT, and the SF 1442 indicates 9/20/24 at 1700 local time. Will the government please clarify the intended bid due date, time and time zone? Offers are due 1200 EST

2. Section L.2 of the Solicitation, paragraph 2), subparagraph b) states that offerors “complete the attached Past Performance questionnaire.” Will the government please provide the Past Performance Questionnaire that is required to be submitted with this response? Please disregard, there is no Past Performance Questionnaire.

3. Will the government extend the bid due date by at least 1 week, to allow offerors adequate time to disseminate the RFI’s responses and price accordingly? Offer deadline will be extended to 1700 EST 20 September 2024.

4. Will the government contract a pumper to remove the entire contents of the vault before the contractor starts work removing it or should the contractor include emptying the contents of the vault in our pricing? The Forest can pump it after October 1.

5. Attachment 3 of the specifications paragraph C., subparagraph 1. states, "Southern exposure for the vent stack is ideal, as this allows for heating of the vent stack. Heating of the vent stack aids in the venting of the building. Whenever possible, the placement of the building should be chosen with this in mind." The current site plan shows the vault toilet location with the vent stack facing Northwest. Will the government confirm if the contractor is to follow the placement identified in the site plan rather than the recommended southern exposure? The orientation on the plans is correct. The vent pipe will be to the northwest direction. We will add a solar vent cap separate from this contract.

6. Will the government provide photos showing the four lifting plates, eight coil bolts, and four lifting rings that are recommend/approved by the vault manufacturer that will be provided to the contractor? I won’t be back to the office until after the bid is due. We have the lifting plates, eight coil bolts and four lifting rings purchased from the manufacturer. The lifting rings and bolts have not been used. The lifting plates have been used to move two vault toilets previously and are undamaged. The contractor will be loaned the plates, bolts and rings.

7. During the site visit, it was observed that isolated boulders were present in the area where the new vault will be located. It is anticipated that rock may be encountered during excavation. Industry standards suggest providing an additional CLIN for rock removal if necessary. Will the government consider including a standardized quantity and a CLIN UoM for rock removal? The vault toilet is being installed in an area of fill that previously had a bathhouse located on it. Rock excavation is not anticipated.

8. For CLIN 002, the site plan shows that a 150 foot long ADA compliant sidewalk needs to be built from the vault toilet to the entrance of Loop B. Based on site conditions, it could be necessary to extend the sidewalk to meet ADA slope requirements. As such, will the government add a CLIN for each additional linear foot of sidewalk required if necessary to meet ADA sloop requirements? The sidewalk is estimated to be 135 feet. 15 feet extra is already built into the plans. The 5x6 landing is a separate quantity. The concrete is to be 5 inches thick minimum.

9. Will the government please provide a topographic plan of the entire Albert Pike Recreation Area Loop B? Attached.

10. Will the government please confirm when it intends for the contractor to start the project? CO question? The Forest is fine with the date of the notice to proceed. The contractor will have to arrange for pumping of the vault if he wants to remove the vault before October 1.

11. Will the government allow the contractor to park the crane at the entrance of Shirley Creek Lane the day before the vault is removed? The crane may be parked at the intersection of Shirley Creek Road and Hwy 88 the day before removing the vault.

12. Could the USDA Forest Service provide information on the maximum weight capacity for the two bridges leading to the Albert Pike Recreation Area? This includes the bridge on Highway 369 and the one connecting to Area B. We are concerned because the crane weighs approximately 100,000 lbs. This information is needed to minimize potential damage to the bridges. Please see the plan marked below. We will need to know more specifics about the crane. The bridges can carry highway legal loads. If the crane meets the federal bridge formula, it should be ok. We would need to know the axle configuration to know for sure. You will have to submit the loaded axle weights and axle spacing.