Amendment 0003 Revisions Q A.pdf

Clouse WRE Site Showing Comments and Q&A-

Items mentioned at the site showing-

1. The existing farm lane is the access to the site. Damage to the driveway during mobilization and demobilization shall be replaced in kind at no additional cost.

2. The contractor is responsible to compete the PA one call. There are no right away or setbacks for the overhead powerlines, but the contractor shall contact Adams Electric prior to the pre-construction meeting to discuss excavation activities under the overhead line.

3. NRCS is willing assist the contractor with site stake-out prior to construction. Such as the perimeter of the potholes/spoil area and the ditch plugs.

Questions and Answers-

1. Will there be flexibility in the timeline since we are getting into fall? By the time of award, grasses will be going dormant, and a kill spray will not be effective.

A. Yes, the completion date for all construction activities as well as seeding/planting items is April 15, 2023. The solicitation has been updated accordingly. The grass seeding and tree/shrub planting time frames outline in the Construction Specifications and Job Sheets are flexible with approval from the COR. This completion date does not include to the two years of maintenance.

2. Can substitutions to planting be made?

A. Yes, with approval from the COR

3. Will topsoil need to be brought into the site?

A. No topsoil is expected to be brought into or off site

4. Are there restrictions on equipment type, such as rubber tracks vs steel?

A. There are no limitations on equipment

5. Should fertilizer be applied to seeding areas that are outside of the construction disturbance? (Our concern is that fertilizing in these areas could provide nutrients to the invasive seed bank). If so at what rate is required and can it be broadcast spread?

A. No, only on critical area planting areas.

6. Is the maintenance period 2 or 3 years? (The solicitation discusses a two-year period

(2022 & 2023) but the conservation job plan sheets mention a year 3 (2024)).

A. Years 2 (2023) and 3 (2024) are planned to be solely maintenance years only. Year 1

(2022) referenced in the design documents is when seeding and tree/shrub planting is conducted.

7. Is there a threshold for invasive species cover to be met by the end of the maintenance period?

A. No, since maintenance only specifies mowing.

8. If there are no suppliers of trees/shrubs or if suppliers within a 75-mile radius do not have availability can we source planting stock from outside of that area?

A. Yes, with approval from the COR.

9. Is mulching and watering required when the initial planting of trees/shrubs is being installed? If so are there further specifications on what type of mulch to use that can be provided?

A. Trees and shrubs shall be watered in as part of the planting procedure. Root wads on containerized stock shall be broken up prior to placement in the ground. Mulching around planting’s is not required and has been removed from Construction Specification 6.

10. Is there a height requirement on tree and shrub stock?

A. Shrubs shall be 2-gallon containerized stock. Smaller containers will be considered for extenuating circumstances. No specific height requirement.

11. When is the shrub fencing expected to be removed? When the tree tubes are?

A. Wire fencing around the shrubs has been removed from the Job Sheet PA 612. A revised job sheet has been attached to the solicitation. Tree tubes shall be removed at the end of the Year 3 maintenance activities, based on NRCS assessment.

12. What specific wildlife reproductive windows will need to be taken into consideration when scheduling maintenance activities?

A. None at this time

13. Will E&S inspections need to be performed post-construction until disturbed areas reach 70% permanent vegetative cover by the contractor?

A. Yes. E&S controls may be removed after 70% cover is established on all disturbed soil.

14. Are the shrubs fenced individually or are the 5 shrub planting zones being fenced?

A. Fencing of shrubs has been removed from the PA615 Job Sheet.

15. If the shrubs are not fenced individually, will mowing/weed whacking need to occur inside the entirety of the shrub zones?

A. Fencing around shrubs is no longer required. Weed whacking must be done around all shrubs and trees.

16. Will the contractor be responsible for performing monitoring and submitting reports for the tree and shrub plantings, invasive species cover, etc.?

A. If bid will include extended maintenance line items; yes, contractor is responsible for monitoring mortality of tree and shrub plants. No formal report is required. NRCS may stop out occasionally to spot check tree and shrub performance through the contract period and will report progress to the contractor.

17. Is the contractor responsible to perform an “As-Built” survey?

A. The contractor does not need to provide a formal as built survey. It is advised that the contractor perform their own survey to show final pothole volumes for verification of quantities for payment

18. Is a mowing event required in 2021 pre or post herbicide burn down?

A. Mowing will be performed prior to initial herbicide burndown. Mow and allow for 4-6 inches of regrowth before applying second burn down herbicide.

19. For the installation of the ditch plugs, can you please confirm that the excavation runs east to west from the start of the ditch plug to the newly excavated potholes?

A. Refer to the drawing sheet 5 of 6. The drawing shows a centerline Profile which illustrates the center of the channel running upslope to downslope, and a channel Cross Section detail which runs across the channel side to side. The ditch plug parameters are defined by the characteristics of the channel.

20. Can you please advise if pay item 005 is 1 LS or 6 EA?

A. A revised bid sheet has been included in the solicitation. Bid item 005 shall be paid lump sum (LS) with a quantity of 1, but the bid item includes the installation of 6 total ditch plugs.

21. Can you please advise the length of existing N-12 culvert for removal?

A. There are two existing N-12 pipes to be removed as per the drawings. Each one is 20’ in length.

Revised Solicitation Documents-

1. Bid Sheet

2. Construction Specification 6

3. Job Sheet PA 315 – Herbaceous Week Treatment Implementation Requirements

4. Job Sheet PA 612a – Shrub Establishment Implementation Requirements