Attachment 8 - Q and A to Solicitation 12805B24R0013.docx

Questions and Answers to Solicitation 12805B24R0013 Greenhouse Renovation III, Fargo, ND Question Set #1.

1. Based on the solicitation document, “Sol_12805B24R0013” subsection L.6 Site Visit Construction, it states that the site visit is mandatory to provide an offer on this solicitation for the prime contractor.

a. If the prime contractor was not present on the site walk and submits an offer to the USDA will the offer be thrown out?

RESPONSE: Attendance by the Prime Contractor was mandatory in order to be eligible to provide a proposal. Failure to attend the site visit by the Prime Contractor will result in the proposal receiving an unacceptable rating, thus not eligible for award.

b. In addition, do they forfeit any unforeseen conditions?

RESPONSE: See above response.

2. Based on the solicitation document, “Sol_12805B24R0013” the bid is due on 3/27/2024 at 0630, will the USDA please confirm if this time is accurate? Can it be extended to COB or 5:00PM CT on 3/27/2024?

RESPONSE: Proposals shall be provided NLT 0630 CST, on 3/29/24.

3. Requesting clarification on the 150-day LNTP to be given after award, please clarify that the LNTP will be separate from the NTP and will not use the overall period of performance days, correct?

RESPONSE: The 150-day LNTP is part of the overall 365-day period of performance and is for the purpose of processing submittals and ordering materials.

4. Specification section 00-31-26 Asbestos Containing Materials states under the section of ASBESTOS CONTAINING MATERIAL STATEMENT the following, “Further, the owner shall not be responsible for any extra cost to the bidder or contractor beyond that specified and included in the bid resulting directly or indirectly from handling of or proximity to these materials”

a. Will the USDA please clarify that if additional hazardous materials are found and deemed to be a hazardous such as asbestos that is beyond what is specified or shown on the plans that the USDA will in fact be liable for the additional cost required to remove and properly dispose of the materials?

RESPONSE: If additional hazardous materials not identified in the hazardous material report included with the specifications is found it is the government’s responsibility to determine the best way to remove and dispose of the materials. The contractor will not be held liable for the unknown hazardous materials.

5. Specification section 01-01-00-General Requirements section 1.01 item (B) states that the contractor is required to issue badges to all subcontractors on site and that all working on the site shall wear this badge in order to identify them.

a. Will the USDA please provide an example of an acceptable badge? Or please clarify if this is required.

RESPONSE: Contracted Site Superintendent will receive vendor badges from the USDA to be issued daily to workers.

6. Specification section 01-01-00-General Requirements subsection 1.04 Safety submittals item (C) states that, Contractor to provide continuous noise monitoring and at no time shall noise exposure to any ARS staff exceed 75 dB and that a written report shall be generated weekly of all noise testing results.

a. Will the USDA please clarify if we can strike this requirement from the specification book or adjust it to a much higher decibel as 75dB is equivalent to a vacuum cleaner and laughter is around 65dB, the issue with this is a lot of construction tasks will generate more than 75dB noise and it will be highly unlikely to keep the noise to below 75dB.

RESPONSE: Delete the requirement for continuous noise monitoring and the requirement to keep noise under 75 dB. Coordinate with the USDA when high noise producing activities are planned to be performed.

7. Specification section 01-01-00-General Requirements states the following in section 1.05 subsection (C) item 3, “No photography of ARS premises is allowed without written permission of the contracting officer or COR”.

a. Will the USDA grant this permission?

RESPONSE: Blanket permission will be granted to the winning Prime and Subcontractors for areas within the construction site for the purpose of documenting existing conditions and new construction. No photographs are to include any USDA staff or for marketing purposes without separate permission.

8. Specification section 01-01-00-General Requirements states the following in section 1.05 subsection (E) item 1, motor vehicle restrictions are restricted to dropping off materials.

a. Will the USDA please define the amount of parking spaces this project will have allocated to this specific project for both the prime contractor and the subcontractors?

RESPONSE: There will be a limited number of guest parking passes issued to the site superintendent prior to mobilization. Parking is on a first come, first served basis.

9. Specification section 01-01-00-General Requirements states the following in subsection 1.17 Construction Waste Management subsection (B) there is a minimum percentage of 40% to be diverted from landfill.

a. Given the nature of this project some items will not be able to divert and in addition or as a result this percentage may not be attainable, will the USDA please clarify the percentage or change this specification to the overall intent is to divert as much waste as possible from entering a landfill?

RESPONSE: The 40% diversion target will remain as written. The successful Contractor will collaborate with the Architect regarding landfilling and diversion strategies.

10. Specification section 01-30-00-Administrative Requirements states the following, in subsection 3.03 item (A) its states that the USDA only wants to meet on a BI-MONTHLY basis, please confirm this to be true.

RESPONSE: Contractor to plan for 1 hour bi-monthly virtual meetings with the USDA and AE during the Limited Notice to Proceed period and then weekly once mobilized to the site and through the end of the project.

11. Specification section 01-50-00-Temp Facilities and Controls states the following, in subsection 1.10 Field Offices item (B) “Provide space for Project Meetings”.

a. Will the USDA please clarify if the Prime Contractor is to provide a trailer big enough to provide a meeting space for both the Prime and the Owner on site?

RESPONSE: Spec section 01 50 00; 1.10.B calls for job trailer capable of holding 4 people. This will be used for on-site meetings by the Prime and Subs or Prime and government.

12. Specification section 04-20-00-Unit Masonry states the following in subsection 1.06 Mockups, construct a brick cavity wall as a mockup panel sized 8’ long by 3’ high include mortar, accessories, structural back up, and flashings.

a. Please clarify that the mockup can be the same work completed as work in place for construction?

RESPONSE: See section 04-20-00 subsection 1.06.C.

13. Can the USDA please clarify that both Greenhouses (G & E) are from the same manufacturer originally and are constructed the same?

a. This will effect demolition, saving and reusable parts given that the new materials will likely be coming from a different entity than what was originally built and if both Greenhouses were the same there would be some efficiencies in the area of manufacturing the same panels for both Greenhouses that both have the same supportive structure and connections.

RESPONSE: Range E was designed in 1981 and Range G was designed in 1983 by the same architect and engineers. We have no knowledge of who the prime and subcontractors were on either project, therefore cannot directly answer this question. It is the responsibility of the Contractors to derive similarities between the two ranges in the current solicitation drawings.

14. Is G101-1 only being replaced with Alt-1?

RESPONSE: Correct, Range G shown on sheet G101-1 and all other sheets which refer to Range G are only required if Alt 1 is awarded.

15. A234-E1 Note 7 states to clean all existing concrete floors of dirt build up and staining.

a. Will the USDA please define the standard that we are cleaning the concrete floors to and define cleaning of any concrete staining?

RESPONSE: There is no published standard for cleaning floors. See Range A and Range C for the expected end floor conditions.

16. Page A-532 Detail 7 has both 042000.C2 and 042000.C3 pointing at the same bonding and one of them is a new bonding and the other one is an existing bonding.

a. Will the USDA please clarify which is new bonding and which is existing bonding? 042000.C2 and 042000.C3 are pointing at the same item RESPONSE: This detail is used at both existing CMU walls and new CMU walls. Refer to plans for locations of detail references.

17. Will the Prime Contractor be responsible for bench storage?

RESPONSE: The general contractor shall work with the USDA to find adequate storage for existing benches within the space of the USDA campus.

18. Confirming there are no existing benches in range “G”?

RESPONSE: Range G has existing benches as shown on drawing Q231-G. Contractor to remove benches, move the benches to an unrenovated range per the USDA’s direction for the USDA’s future use. All new benches to be installed in range G.

19. During the site walk the COR stated there was a lessons learned document compiled over the past other two Greenhouse project phases, will this document please be released?

RESPONSE: USDA to Reply – The lessons learned document will not be released. This was used to modify this and future construction documents prior to bidding.

20. Range A and C had all new panels / glass and mullions, will range G & E receive the same?

RESPONSE: It is the bidding contractor’s responsibility to review the current drawings and specifications of this project.

21. Drawing M111/Note 1 states there are piping and mechanical equipment revised in M230 series drawings, can the USDA please define what was revised and what it was revised to? It is unclear as to what drawing this information is on.

RESPONSE: This drawing (M111) is the composite mechanical planning showing where work is being done for the base bid (Range E) and bid alternate 1 (Range G). See drawings M234-E and M236-G for work to be performed in these 2 ranges. Scope of work is shown on these 2 drawings.

22. Will Microsoft project be acceptable for project schedule?

RESPONSE: Yes, Microsoft project is software which can be used for scheduling.

23. Will Procore be acceptable for file sharing, for example, submittals, RFI’s, transmittals, etc.?

RESPONSE: Yes, Procore is software which can be used for project management.

24. Please clarify how many competent people are needed on site for supervision/QC from the Prime Contractor?

a. The specifications state a site superintendent, please clarify that this competent person must be an employee of the Prime Contractor.

b. Are there any other requirements for supervision?

RESPONSE: The site superintendent must be an employee of the Prime Contractor. The superintendent must meet the competent person and training requirements as listed in the specifications. Superintendent must be on site whenever Prime or subcontractor employees are working.

25. With the specifications of this project following the army corps of engineers (USACE), the submittal register is quite extensive. Typically, with the Army Corps projects of this size and magnitude there are between 200-300 submittals. Will you consider reducing any submittal requirements to help stay within the desired magnitude of construction?

a. If not, can you please provide an official submittal register that will be followed?

RESPONSE: This project will not be following the USACE process for submittals. Acknowledge some of the specification sections are created from the Unified Facilities Guide Specifications to provide the salient qualities for use when comparing alternate manufacturers. The expectations for handling submittals have been clearly explained in Section 01 30 00 Paragraph 3.09.

26. Will the contractor or the owner be responsible for moving all existing equipment out of the construction area?

a. For example, the tables and any other items/tools left behind in the greenhouse areas?

RESPONSE: The USDA will move all items they want out of the greenhouses prior to turning the space over to the contractor. Benches will be relocated, stored, or disposed of by the contractor per the contract drawings. Any remaining items in the greenhouse when turned over to the construction contractor will be the responsibility of the construction contractor to dispose of.

27. Will the owner please define where the laydown area will be located?

RESPONSE: The prime contractor shall create a laydown area plan on USDA or NDSU land and submit for approval during the submittal process.

28. Will the USDA be providing locates for the concrete slabs on site or will the be the responsibility of the Prime Contractor?

RESPONSE: The contractor is responsible for locating the concrete pads for the evaporative coolers based on the requirements for the duct work transition to the greenhouse.

29. Are we able to work federal holidays?

RESPONSE: The contractor will not be allowed to work on Saturdays, Sundays, or Federal Holidays unless requested and approved in order to make up for unplanned weather delays.

30. What are the acceptable working hours for the contractor?

a. Are we able to accelerate and work nights if needed?

RESPONSE: The contractor is limited to working Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm per specification section 01 10 00, section 1.05.D.

31. Is an OSHA 10 certification required for all employees on site?

RESPONSE: Yes, per specification section 01 01 00, section 1.01.D.1 all employees on site have to have a minimum of 10 hrs of OSHA training.

32. If patching a wall, is the requirement to paint from corner to corner on the affected wall or will spot painting be acceptable?

RESPONSE: These conditions are not expected because all CMU walls receive paint. See Section 09 91 23 Paragraph 3.07.

Question Set #2.

1. Do the Superintendent, SSHO and QC Manager need to be 3 Separate individuals?

RESPONSE: No, one person can fill all three roles if they meet the qualifications for each of the roles.

2. Can you confirm that the Ranges E & G will not need to be utilized during construction:

RESPONSE: Ranges E and G (if the alternate is awarded) will be completely turned over to the construction contractor when the NTP is issued for the duration of the project and do not need to be used by the USDA.

3. Can the period of performance be extended after award once the material/equipment lead times are confirmed due to current market conditions for the equipment for this project?

RESPONSE: The period of performance provided in the solicitation took into account the anticipated submittal approval and material acquisition time. The USDA will consider extending the period of performance if the contractor shows they made a good faith attempt to meet the contractual period of performance.

4. Who will be responsible for moving the existing benches that the USDA is going to store?

RESPONSE: The construction contractor. Storage will be on the Greenhouse complex site.