260324 FR154 Farnsworth Bridge RFI log for Q and A.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 14 KB Posted
- Attached to
- ANF FR154 Bridge Replacement
- Solicitation number
- 12445526B0005
- Issued by
-
Department of Agriculture Forest Service
About this file
This is a Questions and Answers log documenting inquiries submitted by potential bidders regarding USDA Forest Service Solicitation No. 12445526B0005 for the ANF FR154 Farnsworth Bridge Replacement project located in Warren County, Pennsylvania. As of March 24, 2026, eight inquiries have been received and answered by the government.
Key clarifications provided include: (1) the corrected bid opening date is April 7, 2026 at 1:00 PM Eastern Time, with bids held up to 90 days prior to award and a final completion date of September 30, 2026; (2) the government declined to extend the completion date to November despite contractor concerns about insufficient time for fabrication and construction, though it indicated willingness to reconsider if award delays occur and anticipates award by mid-to-late April; (3) no separate project manual will be provided, with item numbers referencing the Federal Highway Projects FP-14 specification and Forest Service Supplemental Specifications (FSSS); (4) steel shell thickness for 14-inch cast-in-place pile shells is 0.375"; (5) the Forest Service will remove required trees by March 31; (6) in-stream work restrictions apply from June 1 to October 1, though the project may begin as early as May 15 pending contract execution; and (7) no phasing requirements exist, with a full detour planned allowing simultaneous work on multiple areas with a single mobilization. The log indicates this is a small business set-aside IFB for bridge demolition and replacement services.
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Sheet1
| RFI log | As of 3/24/2026 | 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. | |
| 5 | Will the Forest Service have all required trees cut down by the March 31 deadline for tree removal? | The Forest Service will remove the required trees by March 31. | |
| 6 | The SOW states the work restriction months essentially saying work must be completed from June 1-October 1. While the drawings state work must be completed May 15-September 15. Which one should we go with? | October 1 is the completion date for any work within the stream. The project may begin as early as May 15; the start date will likely be determined by administrative restraints on contract execution. | |
| 7 | Are there any other type of phasing requirements? We are local to the area and know the traffic in the summer months picks up, will we have full access and be able to complete multiple areas at a time and incur only one mobilization or will we only be allowed to work on one section at a time? | There are no phasing requirements. A detour is planned during construction. The bridge and the adjacent roadway will be closed during construction. | |
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