24 July 2026 Questions Questions and Answers.pdf
PDF 106 KB Posted
- Attached to
- GAOA Accessible Upgrades Toilet Replacement
- Solicitation number
- 127EAX26Q0051
- Issued by
-
Department of Agriculture Forest Service
About this file
This is a Questions and Answers (Q&A) document clarifying contract requirements for toilet facility installation and renovation work at multiple sites, including Silver Valley locations.
The Q&A addresses nine key inquiries regarding project execution and specifications. Payment is authorized for contractor attempts to move existing rim toilets even if structural failure occurs, provided the contractor exercises caution and empties vaults beforehand. No separate mobilization line items are included for optional work. Unforeseen site conditions, such as rock or bedrock requiring equipment beyond an 18,000-pound machine, are the Government's responsibility and may be treated as extras; contractors may also request installation location adjustments to accommodate subsurface obstacles if grade requirements and Government approval are met. The 10% maximum asphalt slope requirement is mandatory in the direction of travel, with path routes to be staked by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) in locations where required grades are achievable; at Silver Valley site #7, a 10% maximum slope is permitted rather than the 5% shown on drawings. At Silver Valley site #6, the COR will stake a different path location than indicated, not exceeding 40 total feet in length, to address the culvert inlet issue. Compaction testing per Specification 01 50 00 is required only for aggregate base and finished grade surrounding new toilet installations; vault excavation bottoms, bedding, and backfill lifts require compaction by specified methods but not testing. Native excavated material must be used for vault backfill rather than clean drain rock. Warning lights are not required at construction sites. Asphalt headers must be 2"x6" redwood, and pressure-treated alternatives are not permitted.
View the file
Other files
Show all 13
On GovTribe
Work with this file
- Download the original file
- Contacts named in this file
- Similar government files
- Ask GovTribe AI about this file
Text version
1) If while lifting or moving the Rim Toilet, it decides to fall apart, does the contractor still get paid for attempting to move it?
Answer: Yes, The contractor must take measures to reduce the likelihood of damage to the building and exercise caution when excavating adjacent to and lifting the building.
The vault shall be emptied prior to removing the structure.
2) Shouldn’t there be a separate line item for mobilization for the options?
Answer: No separate line item is included.
3) If rock is encountered while digging the vault holes that can’t be removed with an 18,000lb machine and a close substitute location can’t be found and additional equipment is necessary to remove the rock, is this cost on the contractor or is it considered unforeseen circumstances, and will be considered an extra?
Answer: Unforeseen conditions will be addressed when found. The Government doesn’t expect the contractor to pay for unforeseen site conditions.
Specifications 31 20 00 3.4 (E) requires the Contractor to take required steps to remove and excavate rocks, boulders, granite or concrete as necessary to proceed with the work.
Where new toilets are not being installed in the approximate footprint of the existing toilet, changes of installation location to adjust for large rocks or bedrock can be considered upon request, provided that the required minimum or maximum grades for sitework can be met and that the location is acceptable to the Government.
4) Is the 10% maximum asphalt slope a requirement or a guideline? At Silver Valley site #7 and site #6, there is no way to achieve this-the toilets were installed too high.
Answer: 10% maximum slope in the direction of travel is a requirement (note: at Silver Valley #7 a maximum of 10% slope is permitted, not 5% as indicated on the drawings).
See Work Notes 3 and 4. Layouts shown are approximate and path routes will be staked by the COR. Paths will be staked in locations where it is possible to meet the required grades, but grading will be required to provide uniform slopes along the path route.
5) Also, at Silver Valley site #6 the drawing shows the walkway meeting the roadway where there is a culvert inlet. How should this be addressed?
Answer: See previous response. At Silver Valley #6 the path location staked by the COR will be different than indicated on the drawing but will not exceed 40 total feet in length.
6) Page #33 under specifications it states compaction testing is required at the bottom of the vault hole, and on page #28 it requires compaction testing at each 8” lift, as well it states the base rock under the asphalt be 95%. Will the contractor be required to hire a compaction testing company to satisfy this requirement?
Compaction testing per Specification 01 50 00 will be required for aggregate base, as well as finished grade surrounding new toilet installation. The bottom of the vault excavation, bedding, and backfill lifts do not require testing but must be compacted per the specified methods on page #28.
7) Can ¾” clean drain rock be used to backfill the vaults?
Answer: Native excavated material shall be used to backfill the vaults.
8) Page #31 under specifications calls for lights to be running dusk to dawn at each site that’s under construction. Is this correct?
Answer: Warning lights will not be required.
9) Page #41 calls for a redwood header to be installed at the outside edges of the asphalt.
What are the dimensions of the lumber and can pressure treated material be used instead?
Answer: Headers shall be 2”x6” redwood.
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .