Amend_5_-_Attach_5-_Answers_to__Questions_V9_0005.pdf

Amendment 0005

Sol. No. 140F0322B0001

Title: Construct Phase I Sucker Fish Facility at Klamath Falls NFH (Klamath County, Oregon)

RFI’s Responses:

1. Clarification: The USFWS has secured a long-term lease as outlined in the design documents at the proposed site, construction beyond the lease boundaries has not been approved by the landowner. The construction contractor shall assume that all construction shall be completed within the lease boundaries. In coordination with the USFWS, the construction contractor will obtain a short-term construction easement with the landowner if required by the construction contractors preferred construction approach. USFWS has unlimited site access, but some access is shared with the landowner. The contractor shall ensure the landowner is always provided access to operate their separate fish and farming operations. Other land adjacent to the project site is under lease agreement to a private entity not associated with the USFWS.

2. Clarification: a FONSI has been completed in support of this project and will be provided with the bid documents, contractors shall comply with FONSI requirements for all construction.

3. Clarification: Contractor shall be aware and ensure Erosion and Sediment Control does not exceed permitted limitations, if the contractor’s construction method does exceed permitted limitations, the contractor shall be responsible for obtaining any an all-required permit prior to exceeding the USFWS current permitted limitations.

Contractor shall be required to provided USFWS with their planned construction approach and notify the USFWS prior to exceeding permitting limitations. If permitting limitations are accidentally exceeded, the contractor shall notify the USFWS immediately (within 24-hours). Contractor shall develop a plan to determine if work needs to stop until the appropriate permitting agency is contacted, and the issues is resolved.

4. Question 1: Is this federal property or private property and who is responsible for obtaining permits.

Answer to Question #1: The proposed project site is located on private property that has been leased to the USFWS for 30 years. As a result, all state, county, and local construction codes, and standards apply. The contractor shall be responsible for obtaining all permits and approvals necessary to complete the construction project. The USFWS will provide the contractor copies of all permits and approvals already obtained in support of this project. USFWS has obtained the Land Use Compatibility Statement (LUCS) from Klamath County, Site Plan Review from Klamath County, and is currently working to obtain the NPDES 1200-C for construction stormwater discharge from DEQ. It has been determined this project is exempt from the Building Authorization from Klamath County.

5. Question 2: What is the status/requirement for “Bid Option No. 2 includes but is not limited to construction of 960 square foot pre-engineered metal building and concrete foundation, associated excavation, fill, grading and seeding.” In the drawings and specifications.

Answer to Question #2: This option has already been constructed through a separate project and is no longer part of this solicitation.

6. Question 3: Does the contractor need to de-conflict their construction plan with other activities on the hatchery?

Answer to Question #3: Yes, the hatchery will remain operational throughout the construction project. In addition, the private landowner will be operating their private hatchery operations during construction and will required access to their site/hatchery during construction. In addition, there are other construction projects occurring at the project site and the contractor shall be required to de-conflict construction activities with other contractors as required.

7. Question 4: Station 3+64.20 on the profile sheet for the Geothermal Supply Ph1A calls out an invert elevation of 4130.00 but the elevations on the vertical scale appear to be 2’ higher. Which elevation should be used the noted invert or the scale?

Answer to Question #4: Please see the amended drawings and specifications for updates to geothermal supply line plan and profile changes.

8. Question 5: Specification 33 10 00, 2.06 (page 33 10 00 -3) calls for 12-gauge solid copper tracer wire. The tracer wire detail on sheet C3.3 ph 1A shows Copperhead 14 ga tracer wire. Which will be required?

Answer to Question #5: Tracer wire shall be 12-gauge.

9. Question 6: Are there any valves required on the GS STUB AND CAP laterals?

Answer to Question #6: Each GS stub and cap lateral will need a valve in a valve box, for the purposes of bidding, assume that (7) 4 inch stainless steel gates valves and

(4) 6 inch stainless steel gate valves will be required.

10. Question 7: The Pond Drain shown on sheet C5.1 phase 1Bis that all supposed to be in the base bid or split up between the various pond options? If it is supposed to be split up between the options, how are we supposed to handle the piping to the

IRP?

Answer to Question #7: Option 3 of Phase 1B includes ponds B1-B4 as well as all road and utility work of the South IRP road. See G1.1

11. Question 8: The gate valve spec in spec section 33 10 00, 2.03 was the only specification I could find for gate valves. Do you want the gate valves on the RUD to be stainless or would an AWWA epoxy coated valve made with a ductile body work?

Answer to Question #8: Yes, stainless steel or epoxy coated ductile iron are acceptable for RUD. A valve specification for epoxy coated ductile iron gate valves has been added to Section 33 40 00, Article 2.09.

12. Question 9: I did not see any specification for flange gaskets. Can we use Red Rubber, it goes to about 180 degrees F or do you want something that will go higher on the GS lines?

Answer to Question #9: Please see the amended drawings and specifications for updates to geothermal supply line changes.

13. Question 10: Request a copy of the site walk sign in sheet.

Answer to Question #10: Provided under amendment 0001.

14. Question 11: Has a Pacific Power work order been started with the utility for this project?

Answer to Question #11: No, Pacific Power has been contacted, but it shall be the contractor’s responsibility to request, coordinate, and complete the installation of the new utility connections. Details provided in the solicitation regarding conduit size, pad size, etc. are notional. The contractor shall be responsible for determining and installing the utility approved equipment. Since this is a leased site, the project is not exempt from the local utility requirements.

The contractor shall determine and install those requirements.

15. Question 12: The electrical sheets contradict themselves on (4) sheets going back and forth between using 1.5" or 1" conduit.

Answer to Question #12: For consistency, conduit between DP1 up towards aeration fountain and through Phase 1 B area shall be 1 ½” conduit where currently called as either 1” or 1 ½”.

16. Question 13: Currently your electrical service is going to be a strut stand system that your CT can, meter, and panel will all have to mount to and interconnect with one another via exposed conduit. A switchboard would provide a better long-term solution. This is a two-section enclosure that would mount directly on top of the concrete pad. All the utility company's equipment is on the left, and the owners is on the right. It's a very clean look and nice to have everything in one box with no exposed conduit seen. Would this be an acceptable approach for the project?

Answer to Question #13: Contractor shall change the strut stand electrical service systems outlined in the drawings and specification to a consolidated switchboard that can enclose the CT can, meter, panel, etc. where the utility companies’ equipment is on the left and the USFWS system is on the right. This will eliminate exposed conduit and allow the cabinets to be locked and secured.

In addition, 2021 NEC applies to the enclosure, so ARC Flash calculations and markings are required.

17. Question 14: From the pole to the transformer vault and from transformer vault to CT metering cabinet will both be 1-4” conduit. Did anyone get a pole number off that existing pole? Want to make sure it is a bare tangent pole that we can use to build a 3-phase primary riser on, if not we will have to set a new pole somewhere inline nearby. So possibly a new pole will be required. A 4" conduit will be needed from the pole to the vault and to the CT cabinet. No wiring installed, the power company will do that and set the transformer. Recommend this be included into the bid documents or a change order from your electrician for upsizing 2" to 4" PVC for 600' and adding in the vault.

Answer to Question #14: Pole currently has a single-phase primary connection and fused cut-out. Coordinate with Pacific Power for installation of a new pole if required. A 4” conduit shall be provided from the pole to the service location. Coordinate cable installation and phasing with Pacific Power.

18. Question 15: First, on sheet 39, I see there are (3) future 100-amp loads for future project phases. Since this is a pad mounted service cabinet on a concrete slab, I would recommend having underground conduit stubs placed ahead of time. This would allow for the future provisions to enter the bottom of the cabinet and be out of sight. Otherwise, these conduits will have to come out of grade and through the side of the service cabinet exposed if these loads are added later. Might want to consider adding this to the drawings.

Answer to Question #15: Conduit stubs shall be provided. See amendment drawing E6.1.

19. Question 16: Utility requirements. Has a work order been started for this project, has the local utility company done a project review and estimate? Sheet 37 calls for the contractor to install a new pole, this is something the utility company does in Oregon.

It also calls for a 2" conduit for the utility service, our local utility does not allow 2".

This will have to be a 3" at the very minimum, probably 4", possibly (2) conduits required. I see that it is over 500', I'm guessing a pull vault will be required midway for the utility section. Sheet 39 shows (2) 2" with 3/0 conductors from the utility vault to the CT can, this is not how our local utility serves a 400-amp service. Additionally, the bidder needs to know what vault model and lid will be required by the utility so that we can quote the appropriate concrete structure.

Answer to Question #16: See response to question #11 and #17. In addition to the response in question #11, vault model, lid, pad, etc. are specific to the local utility and the winning contractor shall be responsible for coordinating and procuring these items.

Conduit sizing shall be determined by the contractor based on the utility company’s requirements. Contractors shall assume a minimum of 4” conduit is required or larger if the utility company allows the cables to be combined into one (1) larger conduit or based on material availability.

20. Question 17: 1Contract drawings D1.3 calls out for the contractor to have a plan for back up water. How much back up water would be required? Where would the backup water need to be supplied to?

Answer to Question #17: The hatchery must remain operational throughout the construction project. The water right for the well is 0.89 cubic feet per second (cfs) (i.e., 399 gallons per minute [gpm]) and the hatchery utilizes 1/8-acre cooling ponds to support day-to-day operations. Water usage varies throughout the year, if at any time the water supply becomes non-functional it must be repaired immediately to prevent loss / damage to hatchery operation. In an emergency setting where the cooling ponds are full, the well supply can be disrupted for a maximum of 24 hours. During May – September the hatchery utilizes the least amount of exchange water. This is the recommended time period to schedule water shut-offs where the well water can be re-directed, but the hatchery continues to have access to the cooling ponds during the scheduled well water outage. It is the contractor’s responsibility to ensure sufficient back-up water is maintained on the site during construction. The contractor’s “means and methods” as well as construction timing will determine the amount of back-up water required.

21. Question 18: Option 1 includes 5 catch basins. There are 8 catch basins. Where are the other three catch basins to be included?

Answer to Question #18: All Pond Drain structures shall be considered part of Phase 1A Option 1.

22. Question 19: The contract drawing Option 1 says there is 1035 LF of 24” pipe.

Adding all the dimension there is way more than 1035 LF plus the 24-inch pipe at the new ¼” acre and 1/8” ponds. Are we including all the 24” pipe into Option 1 or just the 1035 LF? If only the 1035 LF then where does the remainder of the piping, get priced?

Answer to Question #19: The entirety of the Pond Drain line shown on C4.2 shall be part of Option 1.

23. Question 20: Attachment 2 Bid Form, there is a DRAFT watermark. Is this the final version of the bid schedule?

Answer to Question #20: Please see attached updated Bid Form.

24. Question 21: Are the CAD files and existing grade surface file available to be distributed for use in preparing the bid? If so, can you please provide these.

Answer to Question #21: Yes, these will be provided with an amendment.

25. Question 22: We received the solicitation package but are having trouble determining the bird control scope for the project - would you have any insight as to measurements/what exactly is needed? If not, could you point us in the right direction?

Answer to Question #22: Paragraph 1.04C of specification section 01 41 00 will removed.

No bird control scope is included.

26. Question 23: Will the contractor be required to bring water to the site or will they be allowed to use water on the site.

Answer to Question #22: The contractor will be allowed to use any wastewater located in the two large earth ponds on the lease site. In addition, the contractor will be allowed to use excess well water if not required by the hatchery, the hatchery demand fluctuates below the water right during the year. Contractor shall be responsible for cooling and storing water. No contractor equipment, pumps, hoses, etc. may operate out of any of the current fishponds. There is too great a potential for contamination that could result in the loss of fish. If the contractor’s “means and methods” exceed the available water supply, they shall be responsible for securing and transporting water to the site and ensuring the water does not enter and possibly contaminate any of the existing ponds.

Question 24: Specification Section 01 71 23 appears to be calling for the contractor to have a field engineer on site at all times in addition to the site super. Is this the intent of this section?

Answer to Question #24: No, a field engineer is not required on site at all times. Refer to revised Article 1.04.A.1 of Specification Sections 01 71 23 issued with Addendum 05

27. Question 25: Specification Section 03 30 00 indicates that the inspection of concrete will be performed by the Owner, which is inconsistent from the requirements of Section 01 45 00, please clarify.:

Answer to Question #25: Concrete inspection and testing is the responsibility of the Contractor, refer to revised Article 2.02 of Specification Section 03 30 00 issued with Addendum 05. All 3rd party inspections are the responsibility of the construction contractor, USFWS reserves the right to conduct additional inspections and testing through other 3rd party vendors.

28. Question 26: Section 31 00 00 – Earthwork, Part 1.02B Quality Assurance states “All inspection and testing personnel shall be under the direct supervision of Professional Engineers registered in the State of Oregon. Technicians performing field sampling and testing for earthwork shall be Certified Embankment and Base Technicians (CEBT) by Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). ”Our laboratory is under the direct supervision of Professional Engineers in the State of Oregon, however our technicians are not Certified Embankment and Base Technicians (CEBT) by Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). By ODOT’s definition of a CEBT, they test soils and aggregates to establish the relative maximum density and optimum moisture for use in compaction testing of subgrade soils and aggregate bases,and determines the specific gravities of aggregate. ODOT has certified our laboratory to perform these tests (see attached) and our technicians routinely perform field sampling and testing for embankment of soils and aggregates (Standard and Modified proctors). Is this acceptable for the Earthwork Quality Assurance?

Answer to Question #26: Technicians and laboratories certified by ODOT for performance of test methods AASHTO T 84, AASHTO T 85, AASHTO T 99, AASHTO T 180 and AASTHO T 217 are acceptable for performance of the Earthwork Quality Assurance requirements of Specification Section 31 00 00, Part 1.02.B.

29. Question 24: What piping is acceptable for this project.

Answer to Question #24: As a result of the piping challenges that have been received by the USFWS we have added additional option items for various piping alternatives for to allow contractors to price just the furnishing and transporting. The installation of the piping is still included in the Bid items 1-6.