AFTC__Questions_and_Responses__Amend_7__10-12-2022_0007.pdf

Initial Questions and Responses 12-Oct-22 Amendment No. 7 to Solicitation

No. Question and/or Notes Response Date of Posting

(Firmed

Up Answer)

Statement of work states NTP will not occur until 12 months after award.

If award is end of September 2022, then NTP will be issued in September of 2023. This is past the in-water work window of July 15 – September 15 for 2023, so this project is expected to go to construction in July of 2024.

Please confirm that construction will occur in 2024 as I inferred from today’s site visit that construction was expected during the 2023 in-water work season.

If the Floodplain Management Permit is processed and Conditionally Approved by Cowlitz County and FEMA before July 15, 2023, there is potential for the Contractor to mobilize to the project site and start work on or before July 15, 2023.

However, if the Floodplain Management Permit is processed and Conditionally Approved by Cowlitz County and FEMA on or after July 15, 2023, the In-Water Work Construction is recommended to start in July 2024.

The Statement of Work includes flexibility in the event the necessary permit is not obtained in time for a Construction Start during the In-Water Work Window of July 15 - September 15 in 2023.

The USFWS is currently working with KPFF and the Permitting Consultant. The Permitting Consultant has already preapred and submitted the Floodplain Management Permit to Cowlitz County.

TBD.

(Firmed

Up Anwser)

Sheet C-200 states “US Fish & Wildlife to Coordinate with Property Owner Regarding Demolition & Relocation/Relocation of Existing Wood Shed.”

Please confirm that US Fish & Wildlife will perform this activity and nothing is expected from the Contractor. I will note that the shed is behind the existing fence and not how it is depicted on this plan sheet.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Abernathy Fish Technology Center (AFTC) will coordinate with the private landowner on the Existing Shed and potential relocation.

The incorrect depiction on Drawing Page C-200 is noted.

TBD.

(Initial

Answer)

Sheet C-200, South side of the page, states “Save & Protect Existing Fence”. The actual existing fence connects to 2 corners of the existing screen structure fence and runs along the existing retaining wall and not how it is depicted on the plan sheet. The new 72” manhole is behind this fence. Please clarify the property boundary lines as it appears some of the new construction is on the residential property. Also, clarify if any of the existing fence may be removed and if so, type and lineal feet of new fence required. Photos attached.

Refer to other Drawing Pages in the Construction Document Package. The fencing is correctly shown on other Drawing Pages excluding C-200. The Intake Structure, Below Grade Intake Pipe, Fish Ladder Structure, and Screen Structure are located on Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife / Washington State Land. The USFWS has an Easement in Perpetuity to construct, operate, and maintain these Existing Structures.

It is thought the Residential Property Boundary is not denoted by the location of the Existing Fence.

I will confirm with the AFTC on whether or not the Existing Fence could be Removed and Replaced.

If the Fence can be removed and replaced, the requirement would be to Replace the Fence In-Kind.

If it is determined, the Fence is owned by WDFW and/or the Private Property Owner, then the USFWS and Contractor will be required to Request Permission and Authorization from the Owner of the Fence to Remove and Replace Sections of Fence and to request Access (if required) to the portion of the Facility, which maybe outside of the Permanent USFWS Easement. However, at this time, it is expected the Facility (Intake, Fish Ladder, Screen Chamber, and Below Grade Pipeline) is within the Permanent USFWS Easement.

TBD.

No. Question and/or Notes Response Date of Posting

(Firmed

Up Answer)

Will the GOV'T. be responsible for fish salvage and the qualified biologist as stated in the Biological Opinion?

The answer to this question is, yes, the Government will be responsible for fish salvaging and for providing a qualified biologist to oversee the fish salvaging activity and the required crew. TBD.

(Firmed

Up Answer)

Drawing C-403, Section B, states “Stainless Steel Planking”.

Specifications state galvanized planking. Please confirm what grating should be used, galvanized or stainless.

All Planking to be Stainless Steel to match All Stainless Steel Ledger Angles and Bolts. TBD.

(Firmed

Up Answer)

For the 5 projects we intend to utilize for past experience, we have CPARS and Past Performance Questionnaires available. Do you want these included in the proposal as there is no page limit shown for Tab D, Factor 4, Past Performance?

As there is no noted page limitation, the Offeror may include CPARS and Past Performance Questionnaires and at the discrection of the Offeror. TBD.

(Firmed

Up Answer)

Specification section 33 41 00, Para 2.2 Water Supply Piping, states two types of materials are required: HDPE DR 21 and Push-on-Joint, Ductile- Iron Pipe. Note that the first paragraph under this specification states “System shall include stainless steel and HDPE water supply systems”. It is not clear from the contract plans on what materials are for each pipe shown. Please clarify the materials required for the following areas:

a. 30” diameter pipe under conical screens (C-403)

b. 15” diameter fish discharge pipe (C-403). Plan sheet C-402 states this material is PVC but this is not listed in specifications.

c. 30” diameter water supply pipe from manhole to manhole (C-300).

d. Drain pipe shown under water meter vault, type and diameter (C- 502).

a. 30” diameter pipe under conical screens (C-403) Pipe material should be DIP Class 52 with cement lining.

b. 15” diameter fish discharge pipe (C-403). Plan sheet C-402 states this material is PVC but this is not listed in specifications. Pipe material should be PVC C-900.

c. 30” diameter water supply pipe from manhole to manhole (C-300). Pipe material should be DIP Class 52 with cement lining.

d. Drain pipe shown under water meter vault, type and diameter (C-502). The drain pipe out of the vault can be 2” PVC Sch 40.

No. Question and/or Notes Response Date of Posting

Can work hours be extended to 12 hours per day 7 days per week? There simply is not enough time to complete the work in 60 calendar days especially working five days a week 8 hours per day (see 01 11 40)?

Yes, USFWS may consider allowing the option to extend Work Hours. This is at the discretion of the AFTC.

Weekend Work could be allowed too and as necessary. TBD.

Is the contractor required to maintain water supply to the hatchery through the existing 30” supply pipeline? We anticipate diversion of river flows bypassing the work area entirely and no water being supplied to the hatchery through the 30” pipeline as its laid out currently in the plans and specs but a pump could be setup and maintained 24 hours a day 7 days a week to put water back into the 30” pipe downstream of the existing screen structure if needed?

It was confirmed, the AFTC will not require a Contractor's temporary water supply from the Intake. It was decided the AFTC plans to use the Well Water temporarily. TBD.

Can the language at 01 11 40 be changed to state the “The portion of work below Ordinary High Water must be constructed during the established in-water work period” rather than stating “the project must be completed during the established in-water work period”?

Yes, consider the text in the General Requirement Specifications revised. This will be considered to be acceptable to USFWS. TBD.

11 Is there a Bid Bond for this project?

Yes, there is a Bid Bond required for this project.

Refer to Page 35 of 59 of the Solicitation Document and as follows:

"(c) The amount of the bid guarantee shall be _20_ percent of the bid price or $2,000.000.00, whichever is less."

TBD.

Will a Notice-To-Proceed (NTP) be issued shortly after award for procurement items (Intake Screen, misc. metals, etc.) and planning or will all work need to wait for the NTP issued after 12 months? Will payments be made for completed products not yet incorporated into the work (i.e.

materials on hand payments)?

The On-Site Work NTP will not be granted until all permits authorizing the work have been secured and construction authorization has been provided by the permitting agencies. The 12-months was estimated, but time for securing the permits may vary. However, that is not to say an Administrative NTP would not be granted to allow for initiating procurement items and planning items. Typically, the USFWS would not pay for items or pay down payments for items unless the product or material has been delivered to the project site and is in a secure location on the site. However, allowing for down payments would be at the discretion of the Contracting Officer (CO) as well as storage of products / materials at the Contractor's storage facility unless noted otherwise in the Solicitation / Contract Documents.

No. Question and/or Notes Response Date of Posting

13 What is the timeline for accepting or rejecting the optional bid items?

Typically for USFWS Projects, Option Bids / Option Tasks could be exercised at anytime during the Contract Performance Period and if additional funds become available. However, if there is a significant time delay from when the Option Tasks were quoted and when the Option Tasks are being considered for Award, the pricing previously quoted, maybe re-negotiated because of price volatility. For price volatility, this would be considered an Economic Price Adjustment. Note, Economic Price Adjustment is "not a provision" in this Contract Solicitation.

Reference FAR Part 17.207 Exercise of options.

TBD.

Are bid items such as Task 5 Erosion Control Measures to include work necessary to perform the optional items (i.e. where do costs for erosion control measures for 5A belong)?

How the Costs for Site, Sediment, and Erosion Control Measures are structured in the Proposal Schedule is not defined by the USFWS at this point in time. Because there is no defined method for structuring the cost for Site, Sediment, and Erosion Control Measures, it is recommended the Contractor determine a method for structuring this cost and at the Contractor's discretion. Carefully, structure the Erosion Control Measures cost because there is no guarantee Option Task Work will be exercised and awarded after Contract Award. How this cost is inserted into the Proposal Schedule could be listed as a Contractor Assumption in the Contractor's Proposal.

TBD.

15 Has funding been secured for this project? Because this project is being advertised under a Construction Solicitation, there is funding secured for this project. However, the question is does the funding / budget align with actual estimated project costs. TBD.