Amendment 0001 Pre Bid Questions and Answers Fenwick Site Improvements.pdf

12445523Q0128 Monongahela NF Fenwick Site Improvements – Pre-Bid Questions and Answers As of 8/4/23.

This Q+A Document contains the official answers to questions received during the solicitation period.

Any perceived answers or other interpretations are not valid if conflicting with these answers.

Also included in this document are important notes that may not have been mentioned at the meeting and additional photos of the site.

All requirements in the contract plans, specifications, and statement of work still apply.

All Items:

• Q: Were large boulders encountered in prior excavations at the site?

o A: See notes in plans. “SUBSURFACE CONDITIONS HAVEN'T BEEN

CHARACTERIZED FOR THIS SITE. PRIOR EXCAVATION IN THE AREA HAS

ENCOUNTERED LARGE BOULDERS. EXCAVATE TO DESIGN GRADE

REGARDLESS OF SUBSURFACE CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED AT NO

ADDITIONAL COST TO THE GOVERNMENT.”

• Q: How will the government provide access to the site?

o A: A combination lock may be placed on the gate, or a key provided to a Forest Service lock. Access shall be provided Monday-Friday 8am-5pm as described in the contract documents, but the government shall determine the method to provide access through the gate at the time work starts.

• Q: Will the contract plans, specifications, and other documents be enforced?

o A: Yes. Changes may be requested, but there are no guarantees that any changes will be granted.

• Q: Is there potential for the Period of Performance to be extended if materials are unavailable for construction?

o A: The final decision for any contract extension comes from the Forest Service

Contracting Officer. Extension requests may be considered based on material lead times, but evidence would have to be given that no acceptable alternative methods or sources exist.

• Q: How long has the existing storage structure been in place?

o A: Work was completed for the installation in November of 2022.

• Q: Does equipment have to be washed/cleaned before it is unloaded at the project site?

o A: Yes, no exceptions. The cleanliness of the equipment will need to be inspected and approved by the government representative prior to unloading the equipment at the project site. All cleaning shall take place off National Forest System lands unless the requirements for catching wash debris are met.

• Q: Please confirm if equipment washing is for incoming equipment, the spec. shown below is ambiguous and is ambiguous to whether it applies to incoming and outgoing equipment.

o A: It depends, If the equipment is being taken to another location on National Forest System Lands, it must be cleaned and approved prior to unloading at the new location.

Otherwise, it is up to the contractor whether to clean the machine prior to leaving the project site, and not a requirement of the contract.

• Q: What is the intent of this project?

o A: To provide a more secure and usable site at the Fenwick Storage Area.

• Q: What are the requirements for mixing concrete?

o A: There are separate specification sections for if the concrete is delivered or if it is mixed on-site. Follow the correct specification section for the method used.

Item 0002 Steel Tube Gate:

• Q: Should the existing red gate be removed prior to the installation of the new tube gate?

o A: No, the existing red gate should be left in place until the new tube gate is operational to provide continuity of security.

• Q: Does the existing red gate, posts, and hardware become property of the contractor after removal?

o A: No, the gate, posts, and hardware are property of the WVDOH and are to remain at the site and shall be placed in a storage location on-site approved by the COR. See the Statement of Work Description of the requirement.

• Q: Where will the new tube gate be installed?

o A: The new gate location shall be marked in the field by the government, and in general shall be further up the driveway than the existing red gate.

• Q: Is there a color or paint specified for the new tube gate?

o A: See plan notes on gate sheets. Color and quality requirements are provided for the paint and primer.

Item 0003 Chain Link Fence & Gate:

• Q: What is the required height of the new chain link fence?

o A: The chain link fence shall be 8’ tall, minimum. See plans and specifications for more information.

• Q: Is the fence required to be grounded?

o A: No, the chain link fence is not required to be grounded unless the NEC or other applicable building code would otherwise require the fence to be grounded and bonded.

Item 0004 Outdoor Lighting and Outlets:

• Q: What kind of breakers are needed for this project?

o A: Breakers shall meet the requirements of the NEC, specifications, and fit the existing panel box where they are to be installed. The existing panel on the storage building is Square D.

• Q: How many GFCI Outlets are required to be placed on each new utility pole?

o A: The requirement is 1 outlet per pole provided and installed in accordance with the contract documents.

• Q: Instead of running the new circuits from the panel existing on the storage building, can the conduit and circuits instead be run from the meter pole panel box?

o A: Yes, the new circuits may be run alternatively from the meter panel.

o The conduit run to the farthest of the new poles is still required to be routed around the back side of the storage building per the plans.

o The meter pole panel box is a Milbank Type 3R Enclosure.

o Photos of the meter panel have been added to the end of this document.

• Q: What size utility poles are required for the light poles?

o A: See the specification requirements. The minimum sizing is a 20’ pole with a minimum

6” tip at the small end. The size should be adjusted up if necessary.

Item 0005 Lock Upgrades:

• Q: Would installing new security screws or epoxying the existing screws in place be an acceptable alternative to welding in place the existing screws that hold the door latch mechanism?

o A: No, the existing screws shall be welded in place in a neat manner, and the welds coated to match existing conditions per the contract plans. At a minimum all welds shall be coated to prevent corrosion.

Item 1001 ¾” Crusher Run:

• Q: Can stone purchased as part of the optional item be used to backfill the utility and post holes?

o A: No, stone for backfilling the utility poles and post holes is incidental to those items and is separate from item 1001.

• Q: Does item 1001 for the ¾” Crusher Run include delivery and contractor placement at the

Fenwick site?

o A: Yes. See the Statement of Work description of the item. The contractor shall use appropriate methods to place the stone in a manner approved by the COR in writing. To clarify, the stone placement will require earth moving equipment to be accomplished easily. The stone will be placed in the vicinity of the existing storage building.

• Q: How will the placement of the ¾” Crusher Run from item 1001 be determined?

o A: The ¾” Crusher Run shall be placed in a manner that is approved by the COR in writing. See the Statement of Work description of the item.

• Q: If awarded, when would item 1001 be required to be completed?

o A: If awarded, item 1001 would be required to be completed prior to the installation of the Chain Link Fence (item 0003).

• Q: In the alternate gravel item, is there to be a separation fabric installed under the gravel to preserve it? If so should that be included incidental to the gravel item?

o No separation fabric is required as part of item 1001 or any other part of this project.

Meter Panel Photos:

Figure 1: Meter Panel Placement (Panel at Right on Utility Pole)

Figure 2: Meter Panel Cover

Figure 3: Meter Panel Spaces and Existing Breakers