260827 Questions and Answers FR 78 Dogway Bridges Project.pdf

FR 78 DOGWAY BRIDGES PRE-BID QUESTION/COMMENTS

1. General note states that the crossing shall be passable during the winter shutdown period.

What does that mean? Why does it have to remain passable if road is closed? What is the winter shutdown season?

ANSWER: Clarification of this statement. The intent of the note was to allow pedestrians and bicyclists to pass through the closed section of FR 78 (MP 1.60-0.35) at times when the work zone is not active (i.e. after work hours, weekends, holidays, and during any weather shutdowns. No structures will need to be open or erected for this traƯic. Users will cross the streams or navigate the surrounding countryside as they see fit to utilize the area while construction proceeds. Areas will be safeguarded to prevent injury for this type of use. The full section of roadway will be closed to all automobiles during the term of construction.

2. Does full width planking have to be white or red oak?

ANSWER: Yes, planking shall extend full width & length of the structure and shall be red or white oak as per the project plans. Red or white Oak boards can be sourced at local mills with proper lead time.

3. What if there isn’t enough material generated from stream cleaning to construct the approaches? Is there a borrow site for the project? Will this be a change order?

ANSWER: If there isn’t enough material generated from stream work to complete the fill sections, material will have to be brought in from an outside source. There is no borrow site on this project. This material, both from the project site and brought in as borrow will be paid under the 20411 item “Embankment placement”, in accordance with section 204-10 of the FR 14 standard specifications. No change orders will be issued for additional material needed.

4. What is the bid range for this project?

ANSWER The anticipated bid range for this project is $1,000,000 - $4,000,000

5. Are there plans available for the existing structures?

ANSWER: Yes, existing structure plans are available and will be attached to the solicitation for each location.

6. During the pre-bid site visit, it was noted that the project site is accessed by a very long, single-lane roadway. Due to the length and configuration of the access, construction traƯic, deliveries, and equipment movement may require additional measures to facilitate access and maintain eƯicient construction operations.

Please clarify whether the Contractor will be permitted to make improvements or modifications to the access road, such as passing areas or other measures necessary to facilitate construction operations, and whether such work will be eligible for payment under a contract pay item or other provision.

ANSWER: Improvements outside the existing prism of the roadway are not approved.

Any such request for an improvement outside of the existing graveled feature would be individually reviewed by specialists and approved or denied based on their recommendations. This process will take time, and the outcome is not guaranteed. No payment will be made for any cost incurred for any such improvement that is proposed, approved, and performed by the contractor. Only areas within the limits of disturbance are eligible, through the existing contract, for soil disturbance as required by the project plans or approved by the COR.

7. Is FR 232 capable of transporting 70 ft long beams?

ANSWER: It is the COR’s opinion that beams can be trucked to this location with the proper equipment. However, it is up to each bidder to verify that access and delivery of the specified product to the site can be achieved.

8. Can beams be spliced?

ANSWER: Any change to the project planned specifications would require submitting new design data, review by the Forest Service, and prior approval for any deviation to the structure. Any change which would require a pier or other permanent structure within the stream channel would not be considered.

9. I was unable to attend today’s organized site visit for the FR 78 Dogway Bridge Replacements project. Would it be possible to arrange another opportunity for me to visit and inspect the three bridge sites before quotations are due?

ANSWER: I am unavailable to escort you to the site, but I will tell the district office that you intend to stop and get a key. Please stop by the Gauley office near Richwood for the key, and return it the same day.

10. Our company is still looking to quote the steel fabrication on this project, but are not able to procure the nail-laminated decking that is attached to the girders. Would the Forest Service accept alternates to the nail-laminated deck that is specified?

ANSWER: Glue laminated deck panels could be used as an alternative for the specified nail laminated decking.

11. The plans note: “DOWEL-LAM SLAB DECK, FULL WIDTH WEARING SURFACE, CURB, SCUPPERS, POSTS, AND ALL HARDWARE SHALL BE INCLUDED AND BID INCIDENTAL

WITH: TREATED STRUCTURAL TIMBER, DECK.”

Question a – Pay item scope. Are the approach rail, bridge rail, splice plates and posts all included in bid item 55704, Treated Structural Timber, Deck? The Terminal Details sheet shows the glu-lam curb continuing beyond the abutment on W6x15 steel posts with splice H-plate assemblies and gussets, and we would like to confirm that these oƯ-structure components fall within 55704.

ANSWER: Yes, all items associated with the extension of the timber curb to the ends of the wingwall are incidental to item 55704.

Question b – Finish. Are the splice plates, steel posts, and other steel items associated with the approach rail galvanized to A153? The general notes state “STEEL BEAMS AND DIAPHRAGMS TO BE GALVANIZED TO A153” and call out galvanized fasteners throughout, but we do not find a finish specified for the W6x15 posts, splice H-plate assemblies, gussets, or rail plates.

ANSWER: Yes, W6x15 posts, splice plate assemblies, gussets, or rail plates shall be galvanized to A153.

12. Question: Will the Forest Service accept a full width timber wearing surface of Douglas Fir- Larch treated with copper naphthenate (hydrocarbon solvent Type A) per AWPA UC4C, in lieu of untreated white or red oak?

ANSWER: No, Douglas Fir-Larch treated will not be used as the wearing surface.

Planking shall extend full width & length of the structure and shall be untreated red or white oak as per the project plans. Red or white Oak boards can be sourced at local mills with proper lead time.

13. The structural steel stringers are approximately 68'-5" long, which means an over-length load of roughly 70 feet must reach each bridge site, traveling approximately 8.4 to 9.0 miles north on Public Road 232 from WV-39 and then onto Forest Route 78.

Question: Is there suƯicient access to deliver 70 foot steel beams to each of the three bridge sites?

We recognize that route reconnaissance and over-length permitting are the contractor’s responsibility. We are asking whether the Forest Service is aware of any conditions that would restrict a load of this length, in particular: NO Question a: Curve radii, road width, or grade on Public Road 232 or Forest Route 78 that would restrict a 70 foot load.

ANSWER: It would depend on the type of vehicle being utilized to deliver the load. The contractor is advised to perform reconnaissance and form their own opinion as how to best deliver the beams to the work area.

Question b: The Statement of Work notes that “Forest Route 78 has a closed to traƯic bridge on the FR 76 side at MP 0.001.” Does this require all deliveries to approach from the Public Road 232 end, and is that approach unrestricted for this length? All deliveries must come via FR 232. The first mile of this road is open to public traƯic. The remaining section is gated and closed to public vehicles as this time. Pedestrian and bicycle traƯic is moderate.

Question c: Any posted or known length, width, or weight limits on the haul route.

ANSWER: There are no posted load limits on FR 232 or FR 78. No restrictions to loads under legal widths. Several small bridges with max width of approximately 13 ft.

14. Could you please provide the full geotech report.

ANSWER: Data is included in the project plans for all boring locations. See Sheet C-16 and C-17, and C-16 (3 plan sets respectively) of the plans sites for the data. A full geotechnical report is unavailable.

15. We have contacted multiple sawmills regarding the specified 3" x 12" white or red oak timber decking. Several mills have indicated that they are not willing to produce the 12" wide planks due to concerns that they will split during production. They are recommending 3" x 6" planks as an alternative.

Would the use of 3" x 6" untreated white or red oak planks for the wearing surface be acceptable in lieu of the specified 3" x 12" timber decking?

ANSWER: If specified 3”x12” material is proven to be unavailable, reasonable substitution of alternate widths of 3” thick red or white oak planks would be considered acceptable.