RFI Official Responses - 1.pdf

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) OFFICIAL RESPONSES

127EAW22R0025 - Stanislaus Multi CG Well Water System

RFI responses will be responded to as necessary in amendment format which will be posted to the solicitation via beta.SAM.gov

Telephone requests for information will not be accepted or returned.

RFI #1 – Sam.gov recently changed the filters in "Contract Opportunities" and had Kathryn not sent me the solicitation, I wouldn't have seen it. Consequently, I don't have much time to put a bid together. Can the due date be extended by a week or so?

USFS Response – After consideration the FS is will to extend the proposal due date from April

5th, 1:00 PM PST to April 12th, 1:00 PM PST.

RFI #2 – The solicitation states that the contractor have a C-57 license. I hold an a license, can I subcontract out the well drilling to a C-57 contractor and bid the job?

USFS Response – Per CA Water Board and Environmental Health guidelines, the drilling and well development must be performed by a contractor with a C-57 License. A subcontractor may be used to fulfill this requirement if all other contract requirements pertaining to subcontracting are met. If this is the case, please include information about the subcontractor and their licensing in the technical proposal.

RFI #3 – Cottonwood Road should be free from snow, are the gates open to Cherry Campground or do we need to drive there on Cherry Oil?

USFS Response – Yes, all gates are open until the gate on 2N09Y, from which the well site is a short walk. Though Cottonwood Road is closed to vehicular traffic until April 15th, a pre-bid site visit is considered an administrative use and bidders shall be permitted to use the road. Please bring a copy of this RFI response for permission when driving on Cottonwood Road before April

15th (dated 3/23/2022, Kathryn Baker, Civil Engineer, 209-916-5178).

RFI #4 – When do you anticipate the road to Utica/Union will be free of snow? Maybe it already is?

USFS Response – It is unlikely that the road to Utica/Union is free of snow. Anticipated opening of this road is April 15th, 2022.

RFI #5 – Utica/Union is a 2.5-hour drive to our shop. The solicitation states "no camping on FS land". Would it be permissible to camp outside the campground- disperse camping?

USFS Response – Yes, the Government will allow dispersed camping, provided camping is in an established dispersed site and follows all rules for establishment of campsites, including distances

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

from watercourses and roads, as well as Pack-In Pack-Out and Leave No Trace guidelines. If the

Contractor would like to dispersed camp, a permit will need to be obtained from the District. This can be coordinated by the Government with advance notice. Note that this only includes conventional camping – if the Contractor’s camp exceeds the capacity of the dispersed site and an equipment staging area is needed as well, this will need to be coordinated with the

Government.

RFI #6 – Please confirm if period of performance is mandatory at 90 days. Given the current drought situation and limitation of well drilling companies, it may prove extremely difficult to meet this time frame. Is it possible to change the contract duration to 180 days?

USFS Response – After consideration the FS is will to extend the PoP from 90 days to 180 days.

The FS’s intention is to make an award and for the NTP & period of performance to begin when

“boots on the ground” work is to commence.

RFI #7 – Please confirm that the “Cottonwood Meadow, and Cherry Valley” well site locations are in close proximity to each other as shown on the proximity maps. (Cherry Lake area, via 1N04)

USFS Response – Yes, the two sites are approximately 4,000 feet apart as the crow flies, approximately 2 miles by road.

RFI #8 – The contract documents reference demolition and removal of building materials off forest. Please confirm that this is in regard to new building materials for the contract, NOT existing buildings/materials that are to be removed in addition to the new construction.

USFS Response – No demolition of existing buildings is required, and no existing materials will be required to be hauled offsite.

RFI #9 – Does the USFS have an existing contract with a local propane company that the contractor should utilize for the new tank and propane line? It makes sense to use the same company that will fill the tank with propane and service the site.

USFS Response – Other Forest Service facilities in the area are serviced by Kamps Propane. The

Contractor shall be responsible for the initial filling of the propane tank to ensure all system components are functioning as intended. After the initial filling of the tank, propane will be the responsibility of the campground concessionaire.

RFI #10 – Please confirm the “Cherry Valley” site is in fact a NEW will drill location and only the existing tank is to be used at that location.

USFS Response – Yes, all three sites will consist of new wells being drilled and developed. At the

Cherry Valley site, the NEW well will be connected as a new source to the existing tank and water distribution system.