C08_QAmemo2-12445526Q0073.pdf

UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE

PROCUREMENT OPERATIONS (PROPS)

EAST ZONE (EZ) TEAM 3 CONSTRUCTION (CONS)

10 July 2026

MEMORANDUM FOR RFQ 12445526Q0073

FROM USFS PROPS EZ 3 CONS

SUBJECT: RFQ 12445526Q0073 Questions & Answers

1. Question: “Would [the Government] accept variations of barrel and wing wall shapes as equal?”

Answer: “Variations of culvert shape (i.e. radiused corners) may be acceptable only if the fabricator can meet the clear cover requirements, steel reinforcing size, and steel reinforcing spacing detailed in the FS drawings. Variations of wing wall shape may be acceptable only if the fabricator can meet the height and width requirements detailed in the FS drawings. The minimum dimensions for the wing wall footing toe (river side) and heel (road side) must be met.”

2. Question: “The SOW designates the Little Isabella as a trout stream and restricts in-stream work to June 30 – September 15, and Section 157.10 addresses stream diversion, dewatering, and downstream-to-upstream excavation sequencing. Please confirm whether a fish salvage or relocation (e.g., netting/electrofishing of the isolated work reach by a permitted biologist prior to dewatering) is required, and if so, whether that work and any associated permits/biologist are the responsibility and cost of the Contractor or are Government-furnished.”

Answer: “No fish salvaging or relocation is required as part of this contract.”

3. Question: “Sheet C-04 shows a schematic dewatering plan (sandbag cofferdams, pump/hoses, temporary diversion channel), while Section 208.07 requires the Contractor to submit a dewatering plan for approval. Please confirm whether the Sheet C-04 method is required, a minimum requirement, or a conceptual plan subject to Contractor design; and please confirm required submittal timing, acceptable discharge locations, and any turbidity limits.”

Answer: “The dewatering plan on Sheet C-04 is conceptual, so variations may be acceptable, subject to Government review and approval. The Contractor must submit a dewatering plan to the Forest Service Contracting Officer Representative (COR) a minimum of 14 days prior to construction. The discharge location is not specified but is intended to allow sufficient setback to complete the required project work with the least impact on the adjoining resources.”

4. Question: “The plans provide a Q100 of 1,090 CFS but no ordinary or seasonal flow. For sizing the temporary diversion and cofferdams during the summer work window, does the Government have an ordinary summer / design flow for the Little Isabella River at this crossing, or a reference stream gage the Contractor should use?”

Answer: “There is no stream gage on the Little Isabella River at this crossing. The 1.5-year return period flow (67% annual exceedance probability) is less than 200 CFS, and the 1.5-year return period flow should be considered the minimum design capacity for sizing the temporary river diversion. The Contractor will determine the level of risk they are willing to take on with the design of the temporary stream diversion.”

12445526Q0073 - SUF FR912 Little Isabella River Culvert Replacement Question & Answer Memoranum #2

5. Question: “Supplemental Section 156.05 / Table 156-1 limits closure of FR912 (0.0–0.25) to a maximum of 60 consecutive days with a minimum 20 consecutive days open. Given that culvert removal, structure excavation, dewatering, box installation, backfill, and approach reconstruction require continuous closure over a dewatered streambed, please confirm whether the Contractor may maintain a continuous full closure for the duration of the in-stream work if reopening mid-construction would be unsafe or impractical, and confirm that the detour route shown on the plans is approved for public use during the closure.”

Answer: “Due to the trout stream restrictions, the on-site construction period is estimated to be between June 30, 2027 and September 30, 2027 (92 days). It is permissible to keep the road closed for the full construction period with the intention of completing the project in a timely manner.

Starting the project in 2026 prior to the trout stream restrictions going into effect and only completing a portion of the construction, which keeps the road closed until summer/fall of 2027, will not be permitted.”

6. Question: “The soil borings (Sheet C-11) indicate wet, medium-dense coarse alluvium with possible cobbles and boulders and variable organic material near foundation elevation, with refusal noted in at least one boring. Please confirm the required hold point for CO approval of foundation grade prior to placing the foundation gravel pad/geotextile. If unsuitable material, cobbles/boulders, groundwater instability, or over-excavation beyond plan limits is encountered, please confirm how removal, disposal, additional foundation fill, added dewatering, and time impacts will be measured and paid.”

Answer: “The contractor shall give the COR at least 48-hour notice of when the excavation is ready for inspection, prior to constructing the foundation gravel pad.

General information regarding quantity adjustments may be found in the solicitation material (including attachments). Quoters are advised that this solicitation and any resulting award is for a Firm Fixed Price Purchase Order. Quotations should be prepared accurately, in accordance with the solicitation specifications, terms, and conditions. Requests for equitable adjustments and/or extensions, post-award, shall be addressed on a case-by-case basis only, and are not guaranteed.

Dewatering is a lump sum line item – no additional payment should be expected due to an increase in excavation area.”

7. Question: “The plans note the Contractor must verify the bat survey has been completed prior to beginning construction. Please confirm the current status of the bat survey/environmental clearance, whether the Contractor may begin mobilization, clearing/grubbing, and erosion control prior to receipt of confirmation, and whether contract time will be adjusted if work is delayed after NTP pending clearance.”

Answer: “Environmental clearance has been completed by Forest staff. The Contractor will be able to start work after the NTP assuming in-stream work is within the trout stream work window.”

8. Question: “Please issue clarification or a revised Schedule of Items for the following apparent discrepancies between the bid schedule and the plan quantity summary: Structure Excavation (20901 in SOI vs. 20801 in plans); Aggregate Surface Course, Grading G (30101 in SOI vs. 30111 in plans);

Object Markers, Type 3 (63306 in SOI vs. 63307 in plans); and Flexible Baffle (64701 in SOI vs.

64703 in plans). Please confirm the governing item numbers.”

Answer: “See Amendment 0003 for revised Schedule of Items.”

12445526Q0073 - SUF FR912 Little Isabella River Culvert Replacement

9. Question: “Attachment 3 depicts site access via Highway 1 / Silver Bay from the south. For precast delivery (individual picks up to approximately 35,750 lbs) and heavy equipment, please confirm any Forest Service road or bridge/load restrictions, weight postings, turnarounds, or seasonal load limits along the approved haul route. Please also confirm whether the Contractor may establish crane and unloading pads within the shown construction limits, and the approval procedure and pay treatment if temporary access, matting, or staging outside the construction limits is required.”

Answer: “All state regulations regarding hauling (e.g. permitting, seasonal load limits, spring road restrictions, load postings, etc.) must be followed on state roads or Forest Service roads. The direct routes of travel to the project will not cross Forest Service bridges with load restrictions. Once a route of travel is determined for heavy hauling of supplies and equipment, the load limits of the route shall be confirmed with the state.

Staging areas may be set up within the construction limits shown in the engineering drawings. If a staging area outside of the construction limits is to be requested, such a request may be made to the COR upon the vendor’s submittal of the Proposed Project Plan, immediately following award. This request shall be subject to Government review and approval.

10. Question: “Please confirm that Item 60220, Precast Concrete Box Culvert, includes all precast box sections, precast wingwalls, headwalls, connection ties, lifting-hole repairs, butyl sealant, joint wrap/membrane, grout, hardware, and drainage-pipe openings shown in the plans and required by the manufacturer, and that unloading and setting of the precast are Contractor responsibilities incidental to this item.”

Answer: “All costs associated with the construction of the Precast Concrete Box Culvert, Headwalls and Wing Walls, including but not limited to materials, fabrication, transport, installation equipment, tools, and labor, shall be included under 60220 Precast Box Culvert.”

11. Question: “Please confirm whether Lake 18 Pit material is available for Contractor use for Aggregate Surface Course, Grading G (and Foundation Gravel Pad), and whether current gradation, quality, and weed-free documentation will be provided. Please also state any pit-development or restoration obligations that would be the Contractor's responsibility. If a Contractor-located commercial source is used instead, please confirm the source-approval timeline and whether the 14-day source notification / weed-free inspection period applies to commercial quarry material.”

Answer: “When using material from a FS pit, there is not a guarantee of material quantity or material suitability to meet the project specifications. Material crushed, screened, or stockpiled by other entities working in a pit is off limits for use on this project. If a Contractor has been paid by the FS to process material in a FS pit, that material is off limits for use by all Contractors quoting on this project. Lake 18 Pit has been reviewed and is free of invasive species.

If the Contractor chooses to use material from a government owned pit, the contractor shall be responsible for pit development when obtaining material as required, maintaining the access road in a condition to permit normal pit traffic, and for restoring banks to a 2:1 slope with rounded edges on top to blend with the natural ground line.

If a commercial material source is used, a 14-day source notification shall be required to perform the weed-free inspection.”

12445526Q0073 - SUF FR912 Little Isabella River Culvert Replacement

12. Question: “Salvaged timber panel bridging. The plans require existing timber panel bridging to be salvaged and delivered to the Isabella Storage Yard. Please confirm the acceptable condition at delivery, loading/unloading responsibility, and stockpile location at the yard, and confirm that all hauling and handling is incidental to Removal of Pipe Culverts unless otherwise paid.”

Answer: “The work related to the salvaging of the timber panel bridging material is incidental to Removal of Pipe Culverts. The contractor will be responsible for removal, loading, transport, and unloading the timber bridge panels and placing them at a location at the FS Isabella Storage Yard designated by the COR. The FS Isabella Storage Yard is across the road (HWY 1) from the USFS Isabella Work Station and is approximately 3.5 miles from the project site.

The FS is aware the timber panels are used and worn. Removal, handling, and transport should be done in a way to minimize resource damage.”

MATTHEW L KILLIAN

Contracting Officer

USFS PROPS EZ 3 CONS

12445526Q0073 - SUF FR912 Little Isabella River Culvert Replacement