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RFI LOG
| Project Name: | Fiber Optic Install Apache-Sitgreaves NF, AZ |
| Solicitation No. | 127EAX26Q0005 |
| Solicitation Date 26 May 2026 | RFI Close Date 18 June 2026 |
| RFI # |
| DESCRIPTION |
| RESPONSE |
| 001 |
| FAR 52.219-6 / 19.5; SAM.gov Synopsis, p.1,: This procurement is a Total Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS 238210. Please confirm whether the limitation on subcontracting at 13 CFR 125.6 / FAR 52.219-14 is applied at the 85% ceiling (general construction) or the 75% ceiling (specialty trade construction) for this acquisition. |
| FAR clause 52.219-14 does not apply to this solicitation. |
| 002 |
| FAR 52.219-14 / 13 CFR 125.6: Will the Government provide a preferred format or template for the prime contractor to document and report compliance with the subcontracting limitation and the use of similarly situated entities during contract performance? |
| FAR clause 52.219-14 does not apply to this solicitation. |
| 003 |
| Scope Clarification: Has anyone recently verified that the existing underground conduit at Alpine (300 ft), Black Mesa (185 ft), Clifton (150 ft), and Springerville (250 ft) is clear and unobstructed and can be used to pull new fiber? What is the conduit size at each location? |
| The underground conduits exist but are not guaranteed to be unobstructed. See table on last page for more info. |
| 004 |
| Scope Clarification: At Lakeside, the aerial fiber run references a 'power pole' between buildings. Has coordination with the utility company already occurred? What are the required clearances, and is any pole attachment permit needed? |
| Coordination with Navopache Electric Cooperative is ongoing. Assume vertical clearance is 13.5 feet. |
| 005 |
| Scope Clarification: For the Lakeside aerial fiber run, the SOW calls for 'Cat 5e' cabling for WAPs, but the rest of the project specifies Cat 6. Is the Cat 5e at Lakeside intentional, or should it also be Cat 6? Will the government accept Cat 6 at Lakeside as an upgrade? |
| All cabling for WAPs shell be Cat 6 at all locations. |
| 006 |
| Scope Clarification: How many Cat 6 drops (cables per WAP) are required at Black Mesa? The SOW says '(4) Cat 6 lines for each of the (5) WAP' which is 20 total. Is this correct? Is this the same 4-per-WAP standard used at other sites? |
| Change the number of Cat 6 drops (cables per WAP) to (2) for all sites, except at the Supervisor’s Office where only (1) per WAP is required. |
| 007 |
| Scope Clarification: Is the Supervisor's Office (Base Line Item B6.1) an existing large IT room installation where only ceiling cable drops are needed? Are there patch panels, racks, or additional cabling infrastructure needed beyond the 16 Cat 6 WAP drops? |
| Only ceiling cable drops are needed at the Supervisor’s Office. Provide (1) per WAP. There will be (6) future WAP’s. Provide a total of (6) Cat 6 dops instead of (16). |
| 008 |
| Scope Clarification: At the Alpine Engine Building (Option Line Item O1.1), the SOW specifies installing a 'plywood backboard, IT hardware cabinet, UPS, power and grounding' but does NOT mention Cat 6 drops or WAPs. Is any cabling required at this site beyond the basic IT room setup? |
| At the Alpine Engine Building, provide and install (3) Cat 6 drops in the building. One as a workstation, one for a future WAP and one near the tv that is used for training purposes. |
| 009 |
| Scope Clarification: Please confirm whether secure staging areas will be available at each project site for storing materials, equipment, and construction trailers. If such staging areas are not available, please confirm that the Contractor may procure suitable off-site staging and storage facilities and that the associated costs will be reimbursable by the Government or otherwise addressed through an equitable adjustment to the contract. |
| Secure staging areas will be available at each of the 4 Ranger Stations and at the Springerville Yard. |
| 010 |
| Historic Property: What is the current status of the historic clearance for the Pinedale Work Center (Option Line Item O4.1)? Has a Section 106 consultation been initiated with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)? What is the anticipated timeline for approval? Can we relocate the plywood backboard, IT hardware cabinet, UPS, power, and grounding to the east closet instead of the west closet, since it’s much closer to the service entrance section per section C.3.3? |
| For your bid, assume clearance will be approved. |
The plywood backboard, IT hardware cabinet, UPS, power and grounding shall be relocated to the other closet which is closer to panel box.
| 011 |
| Historic Property: Given the Pinedale building's historic designation, will the government require a specific preservation specialist to oversee or inspect the work? Are there restrictions on the type of wall anchors, conduits, or finishes that can be used? |
| No. |
| 012 |
| Labor / Davis-Bacon: Does the government expect the Clifton Ranger Station work (Base Line Item B3.1) to be performed under the Greenlee County wage determination? Clifton Ranger Station's address is in Duncan, AZ (Greenlee County), but the nearby area might also trigger Apache County rates for some workers. |
| Refer to Wage Determination attachments 4,5,6,7. |
| 013 |
| Labor / Davis-Bacon: Are there any anticipated classifications of workers for this project that are NOT currently listed in the applicable Wage Determinations (e.g., fiber optic splicer, low-voltage technician)? If so, does the government intend to submit a conformance request, or will the contractor be responsible? |
| The contractor is responsible. |
| 014 |
| Schedule: Please confirm whether weekend work will be permitted under this contract. If weekend work is allowed, please advise whether site access will be available on Saturdays and Sundays and identify any restrictions or coordination requirements associated with weekend operations |
| Weekend work will be permitted, both Saturday and Sunday. The contractor shall submit a project work schedule for approval. Coordination details will be reviewed after award during the Pre-Work meeting. |
| 015 |
| Schedule: Please provide the Government’s anticipated contract award date and expected Notice to Proceed (NTP) date. |
| See SF1442, blocks 11,12,13. |
| 016 |
| Schedule: Given that the 90-day performance period covers all 10 sites (plus 4 option sites if exercised simultaneously), does the government have a preferred sequencing of sites? Are there any blackout dates or periods when specific ranger stations are inaccessible? |
| Black Mesa and Lakeside are preferred to be completed soonest. There are no blackout dates. |
| 017 |
| Schedule: If Option items are awarded at the same time as the Base contract, must all 10 sites (6 base + 4 options) be completed within the same 90-day period? Or do Option items have a separate period of performance? |
| See SF1442, block 11 is for all items on the Schedule of Items. |
| 018 |
| Schedule: Are there any fire restriction periods or forest closure dates that historically affect access to the Hannagan Helibase Hall, Blue Camp Cabin, or Alpine Engine Building during summer months? |
| No. |
| 019 |
| Technical / IT: Will the government's Lumen/USDANet contractor be on-site at the same time as the telecommunications contractor? How is coordination between the two contractors managed? Who is the primary point of contact for IT room access at each site? |
| Most of the Lumen/USDANet work is already complete. There may be other contractors on site, but they typically let us know in advance. The COR will coordinate. Primary point of contact for IT room access at each site will be given after award during the pre-work meeting.. |
| 020 |
| Technical / IT: Will the COR be available to perform interim inspections at each site as work is completed, or will all inspections occur at the end of the project? |
Can a Contractor submit progress payment requests on a per-site basis as sites are completed?
-The COR will be available to perform interim inspections at each site as work is completed.
- Refer to AGAR 452.232-71 for progress payment.
| 021 |
| Technical / IT: The SOW specifies 'approved equal' substitutions for brand-name products (Kendall Howard cabinets, QuickTrex fiber, Tripp Lite UPS). What is the formal process for submitting and getting approval for approved equals prior to installation? How much lead time does the COR need? |
| Submit product data to the COR electronically. The COR needs 7 days lead time for review. |
| 022 |
| General Question: Is the government open to a contractor team providing a preliminary site assessment report (cable routing plans, conduit survey, rack elevation drawings) as part of the technical approach – going beyond the minimum SOW submittal requirements? |
| Yes. That would reflect positively for you when offers are being evaluated. |
| 023 |
| General Question: Does the government have a preference for a contractor that can self-manage permitting coordination with local jurisdictions (Apache, Navajo, Greenlee, Coconino counties), or does the COR handle this? |
| The COR will handle this. |
| 024 |
| General Question: Has the government previously considered or awarded contracts using a mentor-protégé or small-business teaming structure for this type of work? Is there any preference for teams that include veteran-owned, woman-owned, or other small business subcategories? |
| This is a Total Small Business set aside. |
| 025 |
| General Question: Is the government willing to share the Independent Government Estimate (IGE) for this project after award, consistent with FAR 15.506? And prior to the award, can the CO confirm whether the IGE is closer to $100K, $150K, or $200K (without disclosing the exact figure)? |
| FAR 15.506 is not applicable with this solicitation. Project magnitude is no longer a requirement. |
| 026 |
| Will electrical work be required to be performed by a licensed electrician in the State of Arizona? |
| Yes. |
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