McKinley Grove Requests for Information.pdf

McKinley Grove Requests for Information 31 May 2022

1. 1050.4.3 survey precision asphalt paving elevation +/- 0.02 feet. The nature of asphalt trails is such that the intent is to flow in both grade and alignment.

Being held to a set elevation within ¼” is next to impossible. FSORAG has exceptions on this. Can this requirement be removed as long as the trail is built to the required slope and thickness?

Answer: A new section on Accessibility Requirements has been added to sections 1050, 2340, and 2513. The accessibility requirements take precedents over the +/-0.02 feet elevation. See attached revised specifications.

2. The paver requirement states that auto grade control be used. For trail paving it is not common to have grade control on trail pavers Can this requirement be removed from the specs?

Answer: No – the requirement will not be removed. Is contractor proposing to use manual control in lieu of auto control? If so, have the contractor reference section

2513.3.3 and address in their proposal.

When the Forest Service deems that the automatic screed control operation is not practical under a particular set of conditions, he may order the use of manual control in lieu thereof. However, the machine shall be equipped with the automatic device.

3. The compaction requirements call for a 6-ton minimum vibratory roller. For trail paving this size of machine is too large. Can this requirement be removed?

Answer: No – the requirement will not be removed. What is the contractor proposing to be used in lieu of the 6-ton minimum vibratory roller for compaction? Please have the contractor address in their proposal.

4. The compaction requirement for asphalt density is minimum of 92% and average of 95%.

For trail work compaction sometimes is hard to achieve due to the maximum size of roller allowed and hauling and placing of asphalt in a timely manner. The forest service has STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF TRAILS AND TRAIL BRIDGES ON FOREST SERVICE PROJECTS, section 913.20 - Hot Asphalt Plant Mix Trail Surfacing has compaction guidelines for trail paving compaction. Can the designated compaction requirements be removed and use of the “STANDARD

SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF TRAILS AND TRAIL BRIDGES ON

FOREST SERVICE PROJECTS” be used on this project?

Answer: Forest Service needs more information. What is the minimum compaction requirement that can be achieved for asphalt density for trail work?

5. The bid quantity on line 006 shows only 810 sq. ft. Can this be adjusted to include all the asphalt paving sq. ft.?

Answer: Reference new amendment from contracting officer.

6. Line 11 of the solicitation states completion is within 10 days of notice to proceed. Is this the expectation for completion?

Answer: In block 11 of the solicitation, SF1442, it states “The Contractor shall begin performance 10 calendar days and complete it within 90 calendar days after receiving the notice to proceed”.

8 June 2022

7. Marshalling/ staging areas- Can the parking areas on both sides of the project be utilized as staging areas for equipment and materials?

Answer: Equipment and materials may be stored on site. The equipment and materials must remain on the paved surfaces.

8. After an onsite inspection, several areas of previous erosion were evident. Is there plans to utilize drainage culverts under the trail?

Answer: No

9. After an onsite inspection, it is apparent that the bid quantities of the trail length differ from actual. Can the Govt. verify actual length of new trail?

Answer: Please bid the project according to the schedule of items in Amendment 2

10. Can the parameters of the slash cleanup and stockpile locations be identified pre bid?

Answer: Possibly yes.

The Forest is still working on the slash cleanup parameter map and will try to provide pre bid.

Otherwise, the Forest will mark onsite the slash cleanup parameters prior to construction. The contractor shall implement the specifications listed in section 2100.2.2 Slash Cleanup of the specifications (see below).

2100.2.2 Slash Cleanup Specifications:

• At McKinley Grove around the interpretive trail and within the grove and picnic site, contractor shall remove all accumulated slash around the Sequoias, trail, grove, picnic site, and viewing area. Slash will be defined as all vegetative debris larger than 1 inch in diameter outside bark and at least 2 feet long. Measures to be taken by Contractor for treatment of slash are set forth below unless otherwise agreed in writing. Bark/chip accumulation in the work area after completion of will not exceed a depth of 6 inches in the overall footprint that is scattered about. It is anticipated that there will be fine small chip (wood, stems, bark) accumulation to occur as a result of this contract. Some material may remain as long as it does not exceed the above-mentioned depth and does not exceed the size specifications listed within the contract. Care shall be taken by the Contractor to avoid any and all young Sequoia trees during slash cleanup operations so that there is no damage to the saplings and or seedlings. Government will flag all Sequoia seedlings/saplings. Contractor shall remove all accumulated slash, in a manner that does not damage the standing root system of the trees and deliver the slash to burn piles on the forest for burning. The Forest Service shall inform the contractor of the parameter of the slash cleanup and of the burn pile locations.

Also, see attachment for the stockpile location map. The stockpile location is near Buck Meadows CG along the McKinley Grove Road, it is within 5 miles of the project site. The contractor shall implement the Pile specifications listed below for piling at the stockpile location.

Pile Specifications:

• Piles or any portion thereof shall be located in openings at least 15 feet from the nearest leave trees, drainages, Control Areas (CA), or unit boundaries, and 30 feet from snags.

Piling cannot occur inside designated Fisher Areas. There may be areas where pile placement is difficult because of the remaining crop trees. The contractor may have to push/carry the material a reasonable distance to a suitable pile location. A suitable location is one where the pile may be burned without damaging the crop trees or other protected vegetation or campground infrastructure or features.

• The size of the pile shall be adjusted to the size of the opening and the size of the surrounding trees. If the opening is large the pile may be large, if the opening is small the pile size must be adjusted. The size of the surrounding trees also is a consideration for the pile size. If the trees are large and the limbs are farther from the ground the pile may be a little larger but if the surrounding trees are smaller with the crown near the pile the pile must be smaller. More space is required above (uphill) or down wind of the pile than below or upwind. The piles should be worked from all sides.

• Piles shall be compact and be as free of dirt as possible. Piles that are not a minimum of 90 percent soil/in-organic material free shall be reworked. If, in the judgment of the Contracting Officer/COR, the piles contain excessive soil, the piles shall be broken apart, re-piled, and the soil dispersed over the area. To create a more compact pile, push large logs piled parallel in the base of the pile and continue to push additional slash on top.

• The length of the pile shall be approximately equal to its width, and the height shall be at least Twice of its diameter.

• Materials overhanging the pile’s edge that are greater than 6 feet (2 m) in length, shall be cut off and materials placed into piles.

• Piles that are too small, too flat or lack a good mixture of fuel classes will be combined with other piles. NO piles will be accepted that will not sustain combustion during a RX fire operation.

• Piles shall be a mixture of all fuel size classes. A relatively even combination of heavy logs and slash is preferred.

• When building piles with log like material care should be taken to build the pile so the logs will not roll down the hill both during the pile construction and as much as possible during burning.

• All materials partially pushed over, hung up, left in an unsafe position, shall be either reworked with the tractor or felled by hand.

• Grapple piling shall adhere to the same specifications as stated for tractor piles. In addition, in an effort to minimize ground disturbance the contractor shall try to operate in a fashion that maximizes the use of the boom and minimizes the amount of area the machine actually tracks over. The operator shall work the pile from all sides. This will help prevent fire from creeping out of the pile when burned. The pile shall not be connected with areas of un-piled material (example: non-work areas, areas with only small ground cover, snag patches streamside zones).

• It is preferred that the machine piles will be created using a skid steer loader, excavator or other similar equipment, with a log bucker present to buck cull logs into manageable pieces. Dozer piling is the least preferred method.

11. Can water be utilized from Dinkey Creek work center for asphalt rolling operations?

Answer: Yes. When the time is near, we will put the contractor in contact with the engine captain at the station.

12. Can equipment trailers be stored at the Dinkey Creek work center during the duration of the project?

Answer: Yes. When the time is near, we will put the contractor in contact with the engine captain at the station. The Forest Service will not be responsible for the security equipment.