Prebid questions1 - Answers.pdf

Bald River Bridge Replacement Questions

1.) The NTB SF1442 and Section F shows the project is 450 calendar days (mandatory). J1 says 540 calendar days. Please advise.

540 days is correct.

2.) The bid schedule is not correct in the Bridge Construction Section. The beams and bearing devices are missing and the quantities and units are not lined up with the correct bid items.

A correct schedule is attached.

3.) When is the anticipated Notice of Award and Notice to Proceed? If any of the asphalt paving in the schedule is during winter shut downs or inappropriate temperatures will the contractor be given additional time to accommodate this?

It is desirable to meet the project schedule. However, given the potential dates for award of the project, paving on NFSR 35 maybe impacted. We will work with the contractor to deal with weather related delays. If contractor is working diligently to complete the work, but weather becomes an issue adding necessary days to the completion timeframe maybe warranted. The bottom line is the government is not going to force paving to occur in adverse conditions and therefore will work with the contractor to ensure end product meets objectives of both parties.

4.) Please provide information/map where 216 is. We see 217 on the bridge map, but do not see 216.

See attached map from on going contract. Work indicated on this new attachment is not a requirement of this contract. This attachment is only being used to convey the answer to the question.

5.) At what locations do the maintenance start and end on 216 and 217?

Maintenance will begin at NFSR 217 MP 0.00 (intersection Tellico River Rd.) and end at MP 12.5 (Intersection Cherohala Skyway). Maintenance will begin at NFSR 216 MP 0.00 (intersection Tellico River Rd.) and end at MP 0.98 (Intersection NFSR 217).

6.) Please provide the KMZ files for 216, 217 and 35.

KMZ’s are attached. Since SAM.GOV does not allow upload of kmz files. You can find the kmz embedded in the PDF file called ‘How_to_use_KMZ_files’. Simply, drag the attachment out of the pdf and it becomes usable.

7.) Soil and Erosion Control is bid by the Lump Sum. The plans state to provide a Soil and Erosion

Control Plan. Will the Contractor be required to design the erosion control, obtain permitting, develop SWPPP, etc.? Will this be required for temporary and permanent erosion control? If so, I’m assuming this will have to be performed by a licensed professional in the state?

There are no permits required to be obtained by the contractor. The plan does not need to be designed/signed by an engineer. The Soil and Erosion Control plan will need to show/state what products the contractor intends to employ, how and when those erosion control devices will be installed and removed. What permanent measures will be put in place. For Reconditioning on 35, Erosion Control is only required at the culvert replacements and deep patches.

I would typically expect culvert replacements to utilize seed, straw, and potentially waddles to stabilize excavation after installation. Temporary erosion control for the replacement of culverts on NFSR should be very short term as I would expect these culverts to be removed and installed in a day. I would be looking for permanent measures to be utilized for stabilization of the excavation.

For deep patches on NFSR 35. I would expect silt fence or some similar solution below the excavation while the work is taking place, Silt fence surrounding the disposal area and a permanent seeding stabilization solution when work item is complete.

During Bald River Falls Bridge Replacement, there will need to be erosion control solutions provided for the area around the abutments and fill slopes at bridge approaches. The Erosion Control plan would cover these items.

8.) What permits will the contractor be required to obtain?

No permits are required to be obtained by the contractor.

9.) Has the time for the Soil and Erosion Plan development and permits been factored into the milestones and completion dates?

Yes

10.) According to the Tennessee Contractor’s Licensing Board the prime contractor will be required to have the appropriate contractors license at bid time and all subcontractors will have to hold a contractor’s license prior to their work. Will the prime contractor be required to have the Tennessee Contractor’s License per the Tennessee Licensing Board prior to bid and subcontractor’s prior to start of their respective work?

These regulations do not apply to federal contracts.

11.) Are there any existing utilities in conflict with any of the work and who is responsible for relocating them if they are in conflict with the work?

A locate is always the responsibility of the contractor. That being said there are no known utilities in Tellico River Road at the project site. No utilities are hung on the existing bridge or need to be hung on the proposed structure.

12.) Is the Contractor required to develop the Quality Control Program, perform all testing and maintain a full time Quality Control Manager on site?

The Quality Control Manager can have other duties on site. The contractor is responsible for performing all required testing and adhering to the specifications of the contract. A quality control plan should outline the steps the contractor is going to take to adhere to the requirements. The required Quality Control Plan is less rigorous than a full quality control program required by other agencies.

13.) Can the Quality Control Manager have any other duties?

Yes.

14.) Specification Section 155 says “Delete Section 155 in its entirety.” Does this mean that no schedule is required?

No. A schedule is required by FAR52.236-15(a) and is listed as a submittal on page 3 of the SOW document.

15.) Can the Superintendent be a working Superintendent?

Yes

16.) Will 2 Superintendents be required (1 for bridge work and 1 for ongoing detour maintenance)?

There is not a requirement for 2 -superintendents. Since the work on the bridge cannot to be concurrent with work on NFSR 35 (except for non grounding disturbing project initialization activities), there shouldn’t be 2 active sites on this project. Regardless, the contractor is responsible for Superintendence of their work and staffing the project appropriately.

17.) Can either the QCM or the Superintendent also be the Traffic Control Supervisor?

A Traffic Control Supervisor is not required by FSSS 156. The person in charge of traffic control can have other duties on the project. Since the road is going to be closed, the primary responsibility of the contractor for traffic control is to develop a traffic control plan, install the gates and signage and maintain the signage throughout the project term.

18.) Please confirm there are no office trailers required.

No office trailers are required.

19.) Please confirm snow plowing, removal, salting, etc. are not to be included in the bid.

Snow plowing is not to be included in the bid for Detour Route Maintenance.

20.) What are the limits of the mowing?

7’ from bottom of ditchline, 7’ from edge of road and 14’ high over road. Initial clearing and brushing is currently being performed by another contract. The requirements of the Detour Maintenance are to maintain to the stated limits.

21.) Are there any materials and placement of materials incidental to the ongoing detour maintenance or will materials needed during that period be paid for, i.e. adding aggregate base, piece of pipe, rip rap, etc.?

No materials are required in the Detour Maintenance portion of the contract. Any material required due to an unforeseen issue will either be dealt with via a modification or separate contract.

22.) Will the Ongoing Road Maintenance be paid as a percentage of contract time elapsed each month?

The Detour Maintenance can be paid with progress payments with the final payment occurring with the final grading of the road once traffic is restored at the Bridge site.

23.) Reconstruction Staking for NFSR 35 Reconditioning: Is it measured for payment down the centerline of the road or each side of the road? Will we be paid plan quantity regardless of how many times it is staked? Should this be paid Contract Quantity?

Reconstruction staking does not require a surveyor. The road has not been surveyed and survey information is not required. Reconstruction staking is paid down the centerline one time. For NFSR 35, simply stake the work items found in the work summary according to the requirements of section 159.

Most contracts that I perform, staking is done one time and maintenance of the staking is not typically necessary.

24.) Clearing and Grubbing for NFSR 35 Reconditioning: How will this be measured and paid? Is it measured down the centerline of the road or each side of the road? Should this be paid Contract Quantity?

Clearing and Grubbing is measured down the centerline. 13 large trees will be cut and 0.78 miles will be mowed/brushed to the specification.

25.) Will there be disposal areas provided by the owner?

For NFSR 35 Reconditioning, a disposal area is identified near MP 0.342 for placing material from the deep patch excavations.

26.) Is Ditch Reconditioning measured for payment down the centerline of the road or along each ditch?

Ditch Reconditioning is measured down the centerline of the road.

27.) For Box Culverts item #60201 to #60203: Are headwalls required? If so, both ends? Are handrail/guardrails required? Are these expected to be precast? Will these have to be designed by a licensed professional engineer?

The contractor is free to use CIP or precast. However, Pre-cast is the intended product. Headwalls, curbs, rail are not required. The manufacturer that I talked to performed their own design services for the concrete box. There are no other improvements to the box culvert that require additional design.

28.) Are these items listed in the specifications 156.02 required, where are they required and how are they paid for: Concrete Barriers and Precast Guardwalls and Temporary Plastic Fence.

The items are not required.

29.) Note 10 on Sheet 17/68 of the bridge plans states that “No vehicular loading or heavy construction equipment loading shall be placed on approach fill between wingwalls and behind abutments until the approach slab has been constructed and achieved adequate strength.” Could you clarify this statement since cranes will be needed behind the abutments for pier construction and setting beams prior to the approach slab being poured? Will crane mats be acceptable over the approach fills to help spread out the crane and equipment loads?

The design was modified to include abutment tie rods and this note was not updated. Crane mats and construction equipment may be used behind abutments once tie-rods are installed and approved and upon approval of the compacted backfill. Monitor abutment and wingwalls for movement.

30.) Note 12 on Sheet 17/68 of the bridge plans shows that all formwork for the rail parapets and the substructure shall consist of 6” wide form board and that plywood formwork shall not be used. Could you clarify the following:

a. Are form boards required or can a form liner with a 6” form board pattern be used?

A form liner can be used.

b. Does the form boards need to be an exact 6” width or will 6” nominal lumber with a 5- 1/2” width be acceptable?

6” is preferred. Either way is acceptable.

c. Are the boards required to be used in any particular direction? i.e. should the form boards run vertical (top to bottom) or horizontal (side to side) or either way?

Vertical is preferred

d. Is the form board appearance only required on exposed surfaces? For example: the abutment footings and fill faces of the abutment and wing walls will be hidden, so can the form board requirement be waived for these areas of the substructure?

Yes, exposed surfaces and within 2’ of the exposure line.

31.) The double face rail sheet 34 shows a beam post as W6x15. There is no such thing as that in aluminum. A 6 x 6 aluminum beam weights 5.4 lbs/lf. I don’t understand the slots detailed in the lower half of the beam post!

The railing post shown on 34 can be either powder coated W6x16 steel or black anodized 6x6 aluminum. The railing on the parapet walls are not required to be crash worthy.

32.) The single rail system sheet 30 shows a special post. Would a beam post similar to the double face railing be allowed?

Yes, this is an allowable substitution. The same applies here as on the double railing center parapet. Since the railing is not a crash worthy railing, either aluminum or steel is suitable.

33.) The overlook railing is powder coated. Is the color black to match the bridge rails?

Yes, black powder coated.

34.) Question about rock anchors: What is the length of each rock anchor?

The rock anchor length is dependent on bed rock depth. The requirement of 37.5 degree angle from horizontal and an approximate attachment height of 20 feet results in anchor length of 33 if you assume bedrock is horizontal from bottom of footer (not including embedment depth). Geotech information provided indicates that rock will be encountered higher than the footing depth the further away from the abutment that you get.

Additional Question from a separate email.

1.) Please confirm that the Roadway Reconditioning, Roadway Pulverizing and Aggregate Base will be at the same width as the existing traveled way.

Roadway pulverizing will be at same width as existing pavement. Generally 14 ft wide. Skidsteer Mounted FAE or Ironwolf rock crusher is recommended.

Roadway reconditioning is a short turnout in a curve that is going to be reconditioned. About 10 feet wide. Listed as 0.1 mi.

Aggregate base will vary. Average width is shown in the Work Summary as 15.5 ft