C05_QAmemo-12445526Q0061_22May2026.pdf

UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE

PROCUREMENT OPERATIONS (PROPS)

CONSTRUCTION (CONS) EAST ZONE (EZ) TEAM 3

22 May 2026

MEMORANDUM FOR RFQ 12445526Q0061

FROM USFS PROPS CONS EZ 3

SUBJECT: RFQ 12445526Q0061 Questions & Answers

1. Question: “Does each phase need to be completed 100% prior to advancing to the next phase?

Answer: “Phasing may be accomplished at the awardee’s discretion, within the terms and conditions of the contract, and with COR approval.”

2. Question: “Will the Government support price escalation post-award, due to oil/material prices?”

Answer: “Any award resulting from the solicitation will be Firm-Fixed-Price. Although an awardee may have the right to request an economic price adjustment (EPA) at any time during performance, approval of any such request is not guaranteed. Quotation pricing based on an assumption of post-award price increase is discouraged.”

3. Question: “Is a 2” pump on site required?”

Answer: “Yes, a 2” pump will be required to be on site during all excavation activities.”

4. Question: “Is the road entirely public access?”

Answer: “Yes, the road is open to the public.”

5. Question: “Which bridge(s) is/are low posted?”

Answer: “The bridge accessing FR 101 (area where millings are to be placed) as well as the bridge located at station 795+62-795+98 are load posted.”

6. Question: “Who is responsible for establishing a temporary bridge, if necessary?”

Answer: "Awardee is responsible for establishing a temporary bridge, if necessary.”

7. Question: “Will Google Maps pull site locations for traffic control purposes?”

Answer: “Yes.”

12445526Q0061 MOF FR86 Base Repair and Resurfacing Question & Answer Memorandum

8. Question: “How is milling for tie-ins to be handled (i.e. incidental, etc.)?”

Answer: “All milling for tie-ins is incidental to construction activities. These locations include but are not limited to bridge locations, breaks in mainline paving which will not receive paving due to future construction activities, and tie-ins to adjacent paved routes.

Milling associated for base repair, as indicated on the plans, will be paid for under item 415- 05.”

9. Question: “Are there hydrants available for use on-site?”

Answer: “No, Awardee must supply own water.”

10. Question: “Can the Government provide milling specs?”

Answer: “Specifications for milling are provided in the 2023 WVDOH Standard Specifications attached to the solicitation and further defined in plan notes associated with item 415-05.”

11. Question: “Can the Government provide direction/clarification regarding under-draining??”

Answer: “There is no pipe associated with the drainage being constructed for base repairs.

“Under-drainage” will be constructed using fabric wrapped, clean aggregate as shown on the plan typical sections.”

12. Question: “Can the Government provide direction/clarification regarding permanent and temporary signage and traffic control in general?”

Answer: “Signage should follow the manual of uniform traffic control devices. Permanent warning devices should be used at each end of project and at the FR 150 intersection to show road closure and work area. Temporary signing can be used at each closure site and can be moved as the work progresses from work section to the next. Sign plan should be submitted prior to beginning construction and will be reviewed and approved by the COR prior to implementation.”

13. Question: “Are cores required? Are proctors required?”

Answer: “No pavement cores will be required. Proctors should not be necessary if work is performed as designed in the project plans. All fill within the road prism is designed to be clean or crushed aggregate which would not require proctor testing. Random material outside of the roadway will be accepted based on visual inspection and a proctor will not be needed. Methods of performing and documenting Quality assurance testing should be submitted in the Quality assurance plan prior to beginning construction and will be reviewed and approved by the COR.”

14. Question: “Is compost sock okay to use?”

Answer: “Compost sock may be used. Type should be identified in E&S plan and approved by COR.”

15. Question: “Will the plans be uploaded to the solicitation?”

Answer: “Project plans were uploaded to SAM.gov on 20 May 2026, via Solicitation Amendment 0001.”

16. Question: “[May the Government] please provide a KMZ file for this project?”

Answer: “There is a project location map in the plan set, and the area can be readily identified on Google Earth.”

17. Question: “Do the Superintendent, SSHO and QC Manager need to be 3 separate individuals?”

Answer: “No, the Superintendent, SSHO and QC Manager do not need to be 3 separate individuals.”

18. Question: “Can the period of performance be extended after award once the material/equipment lead times are confirmed due to current market conditions for the equipment for this project?”

Answer: “No, this project has a set completion date of October 12, 2026. The contractor will submit a project schedule prior to the start of construction which will detail how work will be achieved and completed prior to this date. This schedule should include type and number of pieces of equipment to be used, make-up and size of crews to be used, order to which work will be performed while maintaining key access sites, and anticipated completion of key items for each stage. This schedule will be monitored by the COR during construction activities to ensure the contractor stays on schedule. If delays occur, the contractor will modify work hours, crew, or equipment as necessary to ensure that the project is completed on time, and will submit the new work schedule for approval.”

19. Question: “[May the Government] please provide the site visit attendee sign in sheet?”

Answer: “To ensure the privacy of all interested vendors’ personal information, the Government does not intend to publicize the site visit attendee sign-in sheet.”

20. Question: “Are there any phasing requirements?”

Answer: “Yes, several areas along the route must have access maintained at all times. See plan notes associated with Sequence of Operations in the general note section.”

21. Question: “Is a SWPPP required?”

Answer: “Vendors are advised to refer to the Solicitation material for any/all applicable requirements. The awardee is not accountable for any requirements not included and/or referenced in the Solicitation and its attachments.”

22. Question: “Should [quoters] account for silt fencing the full length of the road on both sides?”

Answer: “Straw waddles will be needed at the end of each excavated outlet drain, until work within the excavated area is completed, as per plan notes. Additional E&S measures will only be placed as needed to prevent erosion and sedimentation. Use of and types of items used will depend on the contractor’s individual method and means. An Erosion and sediment control plan must be submitted prior to beginning construction and will be reviewed by the COR to ensure BMPs are being utilized, prior to approving the plan.”

23. Question: “Can [the awardee] shut down the roadway for the duration of construction or must we maintain one lane of traffic?”

Answer: “Sections in which work is occurring can be closed, other sections will be left open for public use and access. See plan notes, ‘sequence of operations/road closure operations.’”

24. Question: “Is this project to follow FP-14 or FP-24 specs in addition to the specifications provided?”

Answer: “No. The project is under the WVDOH 2023 Standard Specifications for Construction of Roads and Bridges, and associated special project specifications, as indicated in the plan notes.”

25. Question: “Are soil boring reports available? If not, it will be assumed that excavation will be clear of rocks and obstructions?”

Answer: “No, soil boring reports are not available. Material within the excavated area is not defined. The new road is constructed on top of a previous railroad grade and materials used in that construction are unknown. While it is assumed that the majority of the material in the failing areas will be fill material, the type of fill is not defined. No adjustment for type of material excavated will be made. The contractors are advised to prepare quotations accordingly.”

26. Question: “Is there a bulk water fill i.e. a hydrant or water source we can pump from for grading operations in close proximity?”

Answer: “No. There are no hydrants in the area. There are streams in the area, but they would have to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for pumping water, and their use is not guaranteed. Water for milling will most likely need to be brought in.”

27. Question: “Is any landscaping restoration required for this project? For example: topsoil, seeding, and fertilizer?”

12445526Q0061 MOF FR86 Base Repair and Resurfacing

Answer: “Yes, see plan notes under ‘Temporary Pollution Control.’”

28. Question: “[May the Government] please provide staking data points for the project?”

Answer: “Project location is defined on plans and is stationed in the field. Start and stop points are clearly identified and stationing is marked with flagging and painted on the road in 100 ft intervals. This will be maintained by the Forest Service until such time as the contract is awarded and will be the responsibility of the contractor once award is made.”

29. Question: “Are red, yellow, and blue tops required?”

requirements. The awardee is not accountable for any requirements not included and/or referenced in the Solicitation and its attachments.”

30. Question: “Is this project tax exempt?”

Answer: “No, the project is not tax exempt.”

31. Question: “When do you anticipate on site work starting?”

Answer: “As soon as practicable, following award. Per the Solicitation, the projected Period of Performance is 15 June 2026 through 12 October 2026. These dates are estimates only and may vary slightly, depending on the actual date of award and the awardee’s timely provision of all required pre-work submittals, to include Performance & Payment Bonds.”

32. Question: “Are third party inspections required?”

Answer: “No. Third part inspections are not required.”

33. Question: “Is permitting required?”

requirements. Any permits required by the Federal Government or the State of WV for the purposes of completing this project are the responsibility of the Contractor.”

34. Question: “Which pay item(s) are measured for payment using Pay Factors on this project?”

Answer: “Vendors are advised to refer to the project specifications for any/all applicable materials requirements.”

35. Question: “Are the pay factors, (if any) based on statistical evaluation to determine the Pay Within Limits (PWL) for this project?”

Answer: “Vendors are advised to refer to the project specifications for any/all applicable materials requirements.”

36. Question: “Can the FHWA confirm the testing characteristics that are considered for the statistical analysis/PWL pay items?”

Answer: “This is not a Federal Highways Project. Vendors are advised to refer to the project specifications for any/all applicable materials requirements.”

37. Question: “[May the Government] please confirm the Pay Factor reduction tables to be referenced on this project?”

Answer: “Reduction tables as associated with items of this project are available in the ‘WVDOH 2023 Standard Specifications for the Construction of Roads and Bridges.’ A copy of this document is attached to the solicitation.”

38. Question: “If it is determined that the proposed gradation values do not align with materials commonly used locally for highway construction and maintenance by Federal or state agencies, would FHWA eliminate the pay-factor requirement?”

Answer: “Local source aggregated from state certified quarries, meeting the WVDOH requirement for similar sized aggregate can be utilized on the project site. Substituted stone gradations must be approved by the COR prior to use.”

39. Question: “If the proposed gradation values are found to differ from materials typically used locally for highway construction and maintenance by Federal or state agencies, would FHWA consider using a state DOT’s gradation instead?”

Answer: “Local source aggregated from state certified quarries, meeting the WVDOH requirement for similar sized aggregate can be utilized on the project site. Substituted stone gradations must be approved by the COR prior to use.”

40. Question: “Does the QCM and Tester have to be 2 separate individuals?”

Answer: “No. The QCM and Tester do not have to be 2 separate individuals.”

MATTHEW L KILLIAN

Contracting Officer

USFS PROPS CONS EZ 3

12445526Q0061 MOF FR86 Base Repair and Resurfacing