A7_Q_A_07052024_0001.pdf

Q&A for Solicitation 12970224Q0021 – Soldier Creek Boardwalk

1) Q: Is clearing the trees part of the project? I noted several trees blocking access of the trail or will that be cleared by Forest Service prior to the start of the project?

A: Currently clearing the trees is not part of the project. Trail access for this project was intended for personnel. Material delivery is planned to be via the access road from the cabin area where a corral is noted on the drawings, please see sheet 3 of 8. The access road is poorly defined near corral shown on the drawings. The lower approx. 1/3 of the trail access was flooded when the initial tree removal was conducted by USFS. The lower approximately 1/3 of the trail access is currently fouled by trees and alternate trail access is accomplished by skirting the flooded area to the east a short distance down to the access road.

2) Q: I went down took a look at this project today, it appears that the span is 63’ over up to 3.5 feet of water. Has dewatering been figured for this project? Would diverting half of the water at a time be an acceptable method, and also would there be turbidity testing done by USFS for nuisance water?

A: The drawings do not explicitly show a bridge length but inspection reports prior to the Dixie Fire show a 64’ long bridge. It is our intention to construct this project when the water is low. We plan to issue a Suspension of Work notice with concurrence of the Contracting Officer if the continuation of work is impractical until the water recedes such that construction may occur. Turbidity testing is currently not planned as part of the project but could be conducted for resource protection if activities at the site would cause testing to be necessary.

3) Water was very high during my visit and spanned the entire boardwalk construction site. All of the access trails/roads were completely flooded as well. Is the intent to construct this when the water levels are low? It does not seem feasible to construct anything at this site until the water recedes significantly. When the water is high, and continuation of work is impractical will the Contracting Officer authorize a total suspension until work can proceed?

A: It is the government’s intention for the contractor to construct this project when the water is low.

Q: Item No. 911 “tread and prism excavation” lists 16 CY. Please clarify where this excavation is taking place. Is this the excavation for the footers?

A: The excavation is for the footings. The boardwalk can be however long it needs to be (in this case approx. 65 feet). It just needs to be continuous with the construction configuration as shown on the standard plans. Therefore, more than the four piers shown on the standard plans. Yes, three 3” X 12” stringers along the whole length of the boardwalk.

In looking at the Table of Estimated Bridge Quantities on sheet 7 of 8 it is. observed that the Table above it entitled “Standard boardwalk” has a clerical error in that the dimensions in this table are labeled X”-Y”. not X’-Y” and are wrong as they are shown, the format is feet and inches not inches and inches as shown.

4) Q: This boardwalk is approximately 65’ long with a handrail on both sides. The primary construction method is shown on sheet 6 of 8 as “C”. Will you please confirm that this is a correct statement? And if it is incorrect please clarify.

A: The boardwalk does not have handrails on both sides. The boardwalk is designed with a handrail on one side of the elevated sections and a curb on the other of the elevated sections; detail C is used on the side with the handrail and detail B is used on the side with no handrail. Details B and C are shown “as one” since they are used adjacent to each other in the same cross section, but they are not the same.

5) Q: Regarding item No. 995. Does this item include all lumber except for the 2”x X” railing material?

A: Yes, this item includes all of the lumber except for the 2x railing material.

6) Q: Regarding Item 961.00.09 “Curbs (Log Curbs)”. Is this referring to replacing the existing log curbs/turnpike that exists? Is the 410 LF a single sided measurement or is it both sides?

A:1st question: Yes, there are curbs on both sides of the approaches to the elevated structure (bridge). 961.00.09 Curbs is the specification section that refers to placement of the curb.

A: 2nd question: The 410 LF is a measurement of both sides of the trail length, the actual lengths are 205 feet of trail and 64 feet of elevated boardwalk (bridge) to comprise the Boardwalk crossing the meadow. 125 feet of trail on the south side of the bridge and 80 feet on the north side of the bridge is delineated by these curbs.

7) Q: The solicitation says that approximately 50% of the boardwalk was burned/damaged. I did not see any evidence of the old boardwalk except for a few pieces downstream. It may be completely submerged, or all washed away. I did see a few pieces of old lumber downstream. Will it be expected to retrieve all the old material, even if it has been washed away?

A: Approximately 50 % of the burned boardwalk assembly was still on the site prior to the flooding and what remains needs to be completely removed from the area. It will be expected that this old material will be picked up and removed by the contractor and disposed of properly and elsewhere, not placed on the host ranch or USFS property.

Currently there is too deep of water to access the site safely on foot when alone, will examine the site for what remains of the old boardwalk when water has receded, likely is now much less than 50% of the old boardwalk remains to be removed. The contractor is not expected to pick up all the old materials as they may not be found or observed when the water recedes.

8) Q: On page 2 of the SOW, it talks about providing drawings with an engineer seal. When referring to “All bridge forms” please clarify. Will the Forest Service provide engineered Drawings in the contract to be sufficient for the bridge forms.

A: The Forest Service will not provide the engineered drawings for this contract. The contractor is responsible for providing any engineered drawings for the bridge forms to be used.