Amendment No. 0002 Attachment 8 Responses to Questions_0002.pdf

Question 1:

This project has a very narrowly defined scope of work that involves several specialized subcontractors performing work in a fairly specific sequence. This means there will be very little simultaneous activities being performed at any given time. In light of this would it be possible to combine Superintendent duties with the Quality Control Manager duties or is a separate Superintendent and separate QC Manager required?

Response 1:

The Quality Control Manager and Superintendent duties can be combined and do not need to be separate.

Question 2:

Is a specific software required for project schedule?

Response 2:

There is not a specific software required for the project schedule as long as the information can be communicated effectively.

Question 3:

Are there liquidated damages on this project?

Response 3:

No liquidated damages, however, there is a specific timeframe for which construction will be performed. Refer to M.1 GS2335 Evaluation and Award – Negotiated Factor 1(c)

Question 4:

The bid form (page 3) shows item 00010 for the base bid and 00020 for Alternate 2 but does not show an item number for Alternate 1. Please advise where to show pricing for Alternate 1.

Response 4:

Item 00010 should include pricing for the base bid: no painting, A new Line Item (Item 00020) will be provided for Alternate 1 “Provide galvanized weldment, no paint”. See attached revised bid form providing space for Alternate 1 cost.

Question 5:

It appears field work is to be performed between 1/4/21 and 3/30/21 – Please confirm.

Response 5:

All in-water work must be completed between 01/01/21 and 03/15/21. Above water (on-land) work can occur any time from the time of Award (with USACE coordination) through April 30, 2020, but preference is to have all work completed by the end of March. See response 3 above.

Question 6:

We were told the lock is shut down during the period of construction – please verify.

Response 6:

This is confirmed. There will be no vessel traffic, other than USACE traffic for their construction work, from 01/01/2021 to 03/15/2021. A lock closure has been coordinated by USACE. See response for 3 and 5 above.

Question 7:

Is there a recent survey of the lock bottom conditions? Please provide if available. Is the contractor anticipated to perform dredging to complete installation?

Response 7:

Two surveys have been completed. Based on these surveys, dredging will not be required. The data and metadata for the surveys can be found here:

ftp://ftpext.usgs.gov/pub/er/wi/la.crosse/Brey/

Please note: these data are being shared to supply the best available science and have not yet been published by USGS (in review now). Do not share outside of this project.

Question 8:

What is the weight of the job box to be installed on the east side of the lock? Are there pick points installed on the job box? What type of rigging is required to lift the job box?

Response 8:

The job box/deck box weight is approximately 660lbs. The box can be rolled across the lock or moved via boat to the upper lock. There will not be pick points on the box. Equipment will be installed once in location. One of these two boxes will be purchased:

JOBOX 63 in. Long Extra Heavy-Duty Rugged Field Office and Work Center

-or-

Knaack 82 1/2 in x 44 in x 60 in Jobsite Field Office, 120.7 cu ft, Tan

Question 9:

Please provide all necessary product data for speaker, hydrophone, ADCP, cable, etc. Current drawings are vague and a complete sense of how items will be installed is not completely understood.

Response 9:

All product spec sheets can be found here (in equipment specs folder):

ftp://ftpext.usgs.gov/pub/er/wi/la.crosse/Brey/

Question 10:

Where can we find the speaker and hydrophone wire/cable specification, cable jacket type/thickness, tail lengths, number of cables per hydrophone, etc.?

Response 10:

See response to question 9. Sizes of telemetry hydrophone cables are shown in the Design

Drawings on S-903-A (1/2” diameter cables). In addition, all equipment (speakers, hydrophones, telemetry hydrophones, and ADCP) only have ONE cable per device attached to them. All equipment has specific plugs for each device.

Question 11:

Please provide termination arrangement and procedures for all government furnished equipment/cable connections.

Response 11:

USGS will have expert personnel onsite to direct the connection process. The connections are simple plug connections. The contractor shall plug the correct cable into the device either under water or before installed. USGS should have all cables labeled prior to installation (for hydrophones).

Question 12:

Are there temperature or environmental considerations involved with the cable connections to be performed on site – i.e. is a temporary environmentally controlled enclosure required on site for field assembly of any components?

Response 12:

Speakers can only be operated in water and not below 32 deg F (not in ice). The speaker cable connectors are not “wet connect” and need to be connected “in the dry.” No other requirements exist.

Question 13:

What is the size and quantity of cables to be pulled through the 8” vertical borehole?

Response 13:

There are 16 speakers (transducers) and one hydrophone (, and one ADCP (water discharge monitoring device) located in the weldment. See attached information for wiring sizes. All cables are sensitive and cannot be pulled tight. All wiring from the speaker and hydrophones is continuous without any splices/connections back to the trailer and connection point at the amplifier inside the trailer.

Question 14:

Please verify testing of government furnished equipment is by supplier of such equipment. If so, please indicate the anticipated duration of testing.

Response 14:

Initial testing of speakers was conducted by the speaker manufacturer. A second test (before shipment) was conducted by the USGS and USACE (prior to sending to the contractor). Testing of government equipment after construction (contractor to prepare means for in-water testing) and installation shall be provided by the contractor. The procedure for testing speakers by USGS and

USACE can be found here: ftp://ftpext.usgs.gov/pub/er/wi/la.crosse/Brey/. A Testing schedule will be developed through joint coordination with the contractor, USGS, and the Commissioning Agent.

Testing at the site can be conducted with assistance from and coordination with USGS/USACE, if desired.

Question 15:

At the pre-bid meeting we were told that the USGS has contracted a commissioning agent to prepare and administer the commissioning plan outlined in specification 27 08 00 – Please verify this is correct. In addition, what is the anticipated duration to startup and commission?

Response 15:

This is correct. IMEG will be the Cx agent for the project. The duration/schedule will be developed through joint coordination with the contractor, USGS, USACE, and Commissioning Agent. An estimation would be 1 week to start-up and commission.

Question 16:

At the pre-bid meeting we were told snow plowing of the maintenance parking lot would be performed by USACE lock personnel – please verify.

Response 16:

Confirmed.

Question 17:

In reviewing the drawings, we have questions regarding the provided speak wire.

Could a cut sheet be provided of the speaker type so to ascertain the thickness of the bundle that will be pulled through the conduit. Additionally, what length will be provided on a roll of speaker wire?

Response 17:

See Response 9. All documents can be accessed here:

Question 18:

Could hydrosurveys or inspection videos of the chamber be provided so to confirm the cleanliness of the area in which the weldment is to be placed?

Response 18:

See response 7. All surveys can be found here: ftp://ftpext.usgs.gov/pub/er/wi/la.crosse/Brey/

Question 19:

Is it a safe assumption that the weldment is to be a airtight water free environment, If so, please provide details of sealing openings, including but not limited to, speaker covers, weldment splices, wire outlets, hydrophone attachments, etc.

Response 19

No. The weldment should not be airtight. Water needs to flow through this area for the speakers, hydrophones, and ADCP to operate correctly. The only things that are NOT waterproof are the insides of the speaker connectors (Seacon connectors). These need to be connected in “the dry” before being lowered into the water. The speakers may never be operated out of water.