Cover at Site Showing.pdf

TO BE USED AS TEMPLATE MUST BE CUSTOMIZED TO SPECIFIC PROJECT

Site Showing WRE – Prince’s Point – Jefferson County, Wisconsin

Work is being contracted by the federal government and will be done through a federal contract with USDA.

The items discussed at this pre-bid conference and site visit are intended to highlight certain items. Not all items are covered. Those in the solicitation that are not covered are just as important and binding as those that are. Also, any statements that are made during this meeting which conflict with or are not stated in the solicitation are not binding. Any discrepancies between information provided during the site showing and the solicitation should be raised by a prospective bidder to the contracting officer immediately for resolution. Only the contents of the solicitation (including amendments thereto) are binding upon submission of a bid and award of a contract.

A Firm Fixed Price Construction Contract (FAR Part 36) will be awarded under sealed bidding procedures (FAR Part 14). A bid bond is required to be submitted with the bid in the amount of 20% of the bid price or $3 Million, whichever is less. Bid and bid bond must be received via email – by 2:30 pm Central Time on August 2, 2024 to the email address amber.maestri@usda.gov. Instructions for submitting and electronic bid and participate in the virtual bid opening can be found starting on page 50 of the solicitation package.

Please be sure that all required representations and certifications in Section K are completed and submitted with the bid and to keep an eye on the solicitation on SAM.gov all the way through the due date for bids to see if any additional amendments have been issued which may affect the bid. Bidders must provide a 60 day acceptance period – anything less is render bid non-responsive and it will have to be rejected. Award will be made to the lowest priced, responsive bid, from a responsible bidder. See FAR clauses 52.214-18 and 52.214-19 for more detailed information on the preparation of bids and contract award.

Must return:

SF1442 – pages 1-2

• Complete Blocks 14-20c. MUST complete enter total bid amount in block 17, acknowledge any amendments in block 19, and enter name and title of authorized representative, their sign and date in block 20a, 20b, 20c. DO NOT complete anything below block 20c.

Bid Schedule – pages 7-8

• Enter an amount for each line item, unit price, extended price and total quote amount. Do Not round numbers. Check math!

• Enter Name of Company submitting quote and Unique Entity ID (UEI).

Section K – pages 36-46

• Be sure to check appropriate option in FAR clause 52.204-8 (page 36) indicating whether paragraph D applies or completing individual certifications; and certification in FAR clause 52.204-24 on page 39; and 52.209-11 on page 37; and 52.209-13 on page 44.

Perspective Awardee MUST be registered in the SAM prior to award and maintain as Active throughout contract performance.

Work is set aside for Small Business - under NAICS Code 237990 - Size Standard is $45 million average annual gross receipts averaged over 3 years.

Magnitude of work is between $1-5 million.

Department of Labor, Construction Wage Rates Apply – FAR Clause 52.222-6 and must be paid to all employees working under the contract (attachment to solicitation) – Must submit weekly certified payrolls – thru COR. Employees will be interviewed to verify wages being paid.

Performance Time is 457 calendar days. This time includes the entire time between the start date which is the date of the notice to proceed and all the way through completion of the work and site cleanup. The maximum workweek that will be approved is 8 hours per day, Monday through Friday.

If the Contractor fails to complete the work within the time specified, without an excusable delay, liquidated damages may be assessed in the amount of $715.00 for each calendar day of delay until the work is completed or accepted.

Upon contract award, the successful offeror will have 7 calendar days to provide a payment bond (SF-25) and performance bond (SF-25A) – for 100% of the contract price.

As well as a construction schedule, safety program and Safety officer, first aid certifications, COI, designation of Superintendent, and Quality Control personnel.

Variation in Estimated Quantities – FAR Clause 52.211-18 in included in this solicitation. For quantities that vary more than 15% more or less than the estimated quantity, the contractor or government can request an equitable adjustment in the contract price upon demand. Otherwise, accepted unit prices will be used to calculate final cost.

Buy American Act-Construction – This solicitation includes the provision 52.225-10 and clause 52.225-9 - all construction materials used by the contractor shall be domestic (U.S.).

FAR Clause 52.222-37 requires Bidders of contracts awarded over $150K to submit annually a VETS4212 report. This verification will be required before award will be made.

Preconstruction meeting will be held with contractor prior to issuing notice to proceed to review equipment, permit requirements, and all submittals - safety plan, first aid certifications, construction schedule, contractors superintendent, etc.

Site of Performance

- Safety Requirements, Including Underground Utilities

Safety is #1 priority. OSHA Regulations and in addition NRCS Supplement to OSHA is found in Section H of contract package – beginning on page 15. Please review and pay careful attention.

• Must demonstration you have a safety program commensurate with the work to be performed. Required to submit written safety plan for approval prior to starting work.

• MUST have on site at all times an employee who has a current first aid certificate from the Red Cross, the Mine Safety & Health Administration or any other state approved organization. Copies of certification must be supplied by successful contractor prior to issuance of Notice to Proceed.

COR TAKES OVER FROM HERE AND ADDRESSES SITE SPECIFIC

INFORMATION:

- Items of Work for Selected Specifications (COR) (There is no need to discuss all items of work. The COR should determine what items of work should be discussed while on site.)

- Contractor Quality Control (COR) (Highlight any contractor quality control requirements in the solicitation and/or specifications. Refer bidders to solicitation clause 52.246-12 Inspection of Construction, if it is included, which includes requirements for contractors to maintain adequate inspection systems and documentation.)

- NRCS Quality Assurance (COR) (Describe in general terms the type of quality assurance the NRCS will conduct.

Refer bidders to solicitation clause 52.246-12 Inspection of Construction, if it is included, which describes the types of inspections the NRCS may make during contract performance. Also, make at least a general reference to the location of material submittal requirements, testing, and inspections that may be called out in the specifications. There is no need to discuss all such requirements, just to familiarize prospective bidders with the type and location of information in the specifications. While not required, consider informing bidders that NRCS intends to contract out quality assurance activities to a third party if this is the case.)

- Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control Requirements (COR) (Inform bidders of pollution control permitting requirements and who will be responsible for obtaining the required permits. Describe the required erosion control features and site maintenance.)

- Surveying/Site Layout (COR) (Describe who will be responsible for surveys related to original site layout, quantity determinations, construction control and final completion. Identify the reference markers that will be used to establish line and grade for the work.

Describe any qualifications required for the contractor’s surveying personnel.

Identify if clause 52.236-17 Layout of Work, is listed in the solicitation which makes the contractor responsible for layout of the work. If the NRCS is laying out the work, the clause is not used. Also, Construction Specification 7- Construction Surveys, is used to define the contractor’s and NRCS responsibilities regarding the layout of work.)

- Ingress/Egress Roads (COR) (Identify the official ingress/egress roads and the condition of these roads expected on completion of the project. If the contract does not contain any specific language, it is expected that the contractor would leave the ingress/egress roads in “as good or better” condition than they found them.)

- Work Limits (COR) (Show the approximate work limits for construction and explain that they are to confine all work, storage and parking to the identified work limits.)

- Clearing Limits (COR) (Identify how the clearing limits will be marked in the field. Identify any specific areas that are not to be cleared and how they will be protected.)

- Borrow Areas (COR) (Identify the location of the borrow areas and any notable requirements for borrowing material.)

- Waste Areas (COR) (Identify the designated waste area and any special requirements.)

- Utilities (COR) (Point out any known underground or overhead utilities within the work area and point out any contractual or state/local requirements for contacting utility owners or a one-call notification system.)

- Any Other Site Specific Concerns (COR)

Payment will be made within 14 days - upon completion and final inspection/acceptance of work by Government, submission of all weekly certified payrolls and proper invoice.

It is anticipated that work will start on or about September 1, 2024.

All questions are due by Friday, July 19, 2024 at 3:00 pm Central Standard Time, and should be submitted to Amber Maestri at amber.maestri@usda.gov.

Remarks and explanations at this conference SHALL NOT qualify the terms of the solicitation.

mailto:amber.maestri@usda.gov