260317 FR154 Farnsworth Bridge RFI log for Q and A.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 13 KB Posted
- Attached to
- ANF FR154 Bridge Replacement
- Solicitation number
- 12445526B0005
- Issued by
-
Department of Agriculture Forest Service
About this file
This is a Request for Information (RFI) log and Questions and Answers document for solicitation 12445526B0005, issued by the USDA Forest Service for the ANF FR154 Farnsworth Bridge Replacement project in Warren County, Pennsylvania. As of March 17, 2026, the log documents inquiries from potential bidders regarding project feasibility, schedule, and technical specifications.
The primary concern raised by an inquirer addresses the compressed timeline for project completion. With bids due April 7, 2026, a potential award date in mid to late April, and a final completion date of September 30, 2026, the inquirer contends there is insufficient time for fabrication and construction activities, which typically require 12 to 14 weeks for shop drawings, rebar fabrication, bridge beam fabrication, and bearing pad fabrication, plus an additional 12 weeks for construction and concrete cure time. The inquirer requested moving the completion date to end of November 2026; however, the Forest Service declined, stating the September 30, 2026 completion date remains firm while indicating the 90-day bid hold period is standard precaution and anticipating award by mid to late April. Additional clarifications provided include correction of the bid opening date from March 31, 2026 to April 7, 2026 at 1:00 pm Eastern; confirmation that no separate Project Manual will be provided, with bid items referring to Federal Highway Project FP-14 and Forest Service Supplemental Specifications; and technical specification that 14-inch steel pipe pile shells have a wall thickness of 0.375 inches, considered standard for cast-in-place piles.
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Sheet1
| RFI log | As of 3/17/2026 | gov or FS = Forest Service | |
| Sol No. 12445526B0005 ANF FR154 Farnsworth Bridge Replacment | |||
| No. | Inquiry | Answer | Posted Supporting Documents If Applicable |
| 1 | We note the following: |
| 1) | The solicitation documents indicate a bid opening date of April 7, 2026. |
| 2) | The solicitation documents indicate that the bids may be held up to 90 days prior to award. |
| 3) | The solicitation documents indicate the final completion date including all site cleanup/restoration is September 30,2026. |
| 4) | With items 1 through 3 above taken into consideration, it appears that the construction contract may not be signed and a notice to procced issued until sometime in August 2026. This only allows between 4 to 8 weeks for shop drawings, rebar fabrication, beam fabrication, bearing pad fabrication and all of the construction to be completed. |
Once a notice to proceed is issued for this project, the rebar, bridge beams and bearing fabricators require at least 12 to 14 weeks for shop drawings and fabrication. Our cursory review of the plans reveals that the actual construction of the project will be at least 12 weeks. Recognizing that fabrication of beams and bearing pads can overlap some with the start of construction, the notice to proceed date would need to be no later than May 18, 2026 to meet the September 30, 2026 completion date. Also, the cure time on concrete placed for the abutments is an additional consideration regarding the completion date.
Understanding that the bid opening date is April 7, 2026, it seems highly unlikely that an award would be made, contracts executed and the notice to proceed issued by May 18, 2026. Will the USDA Forest Service consider moving the completion date to the end of November? Even with a completion date at the end of November, the contract award will need to made, contract executed and the Notice to Proceed issued no later than the end of June, 2026. The in-stream restriction dates could still be adhered to for the construction of the abutments. At this time the gov will not be moving the completion date. In the event there is a delay in award we would consider it, all of it dependent upon when the award can be executed.
The 90 days to hold bids is a standard language because sometimes things happen causing a delay in award. This is not the standard length of time for getting the award completed especially with IFB’s. We anticipate awarding as soon as possible after the April 7 date and it is quite possible to have it awarded by the middle to end of April.
| 2 | The advertisement says the job bids on 4/7/26 at 1:00 pm. When we review the documents, page 13 of 16 says the job bids on 3/31/26 at 1:00. | That was an administrative oversight. The gov will correct the dates. The bids are due 4/7/2026 at 1 pm eastern |
| 3 | In the attachments posted to SAM.gov for this project, we are not seeing the project manual with bid item descriptions outlined. Will you be providing that or can you direct us to where that located? | There is not a Project Manual for this project. The Item numbers in the bid generally refer to the Federal Highway Projects FP-14 and the Forest Service Supplemental Specifications to the FP-14 (FSSS). |
Here is a link to FP-14.
| https://highways.dot.gov/sites/fhwa.dot.gov/files/docs/federal-lands/specs/12851/fp14.pdf | https://highways.dot.gov/sites/fhwa.dot.gov/files/docs/federal-lands/specs/12851/fp14.pdf | ||
| 4 | The plans seem to be missing the required wall thickness of the pipe piles. Could you please provide this information? | The steel shell thickness for the 14-inch pile shells are 0.375". This is considered as standard for 14 inch CIP piles. | |
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