Questions_and_Answers_Round_2_0005.pdf

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Questions and Answers Round 2

Q1 – R2:

We understand that depending on the value of the task order, bonds or pricing protection may or may not be required. However, we don’t know where to input those bonds costs into the Pricing Table shown in Attachment 3. Please clarify where those bond costs should be inputted into that table.

A1 – R2:

The cost for a payment bond and a performance bond can be added as a separate line item as it will only be needed on task orders that exceed the $35,000.00 or $150,000.00 thresholds respectively.

Q2 – R2:

In the Pricing Table where it says “Mobilization Per Job” & De-mobilization Per Job”, do the mobilization & demobilization costs get paid only once for each task order? Or do the mobilization & demobilization costs get paid for each monitoring location listed in the task order? Please advise.

A2 – R2:

It is expected that mobilization and demobilization costs will be paid only once for each task order (job). The Government anticipated sites for each tack order (job) will be grouped close enough that mobilization will occur, the work at the various sites will take place, and then demobilization will occur. Should completion of work at all sites on the task order (job) require multiple days, the Government anticipates Contractor provided barrages will remain anchored in the project area until the entire task order (job) is complete.

Q3 – R2:

It is understood that materials will be ordered through a specific task order and as such, the contractor must wait to order the pipe piles as the task orders are issued. This presents logistical and financial challenges to the contractor, namely:

a. depending on market conditions, steel piles may not be procurable for several weeks or months if there is not stock “on the ground” and material must be procured through a mill run. Such lead times may use a significant portion of the performance period, or all of it if the task order is issued late in the season.

b. The contractor is only able to gain a snapshot of steel prices at bid time and cannot anticipate price changes, certainly not over a 5-year timespan. For instance, steel pricing has experienced wild increases in the past 12 months alone.

The contractor is therefore exposed to escalation risk in a 5-year IDIQ firm fixed price.

Please clarify the following:

a. Will the firm fixed price contract allow the contractor to purchase and be paid for the entire volume of piles needed for all future task orders in the contract within a short timeframe (no more than 6 weeks) from the issuance of award to limit exposure to price escalation?

b. Will the task orders be issued a minimum amount of time (60 days or more) before the start of the work window so that the usable window is not wasted waiting for materials?

c. Will the contract allow for an escalation clause to protect the contractor from unforeseeable and unforecastable price escalation?

A3 – R2:

a) The entire volume is not known at this time. The contractor can buy the supplies if they choose to, but USGS will only pay for supplies when the units are actually used

b) The task order for work in 2021 will not occur. The USGS expects to award task orders at least 60 days or more prior to the start of the work.

c) Please see newly included Economic Price Adjustment - Material clause.

Q4 – R2:

Q&A #6 and #25 provide 30’ substrate penetration and then refer to water column depth and levee height as the other determining factors for pile length. We do not have the means of determining these factors from the info provided. Please provide a definitive pile length that we should use in the bid.

A4 – R2:

There is no way to provide a definitive pile length. This will vary depending on water depth and levee height. The piling needs to be 30’ into the substrate, through the depth of the water column (variable) to the level crest (variable). Contractors will need to cut and/or weld pilings to accommodate proper pile lengths. Bids for the pile length should be submitted as per foot price.

Q5 – R2:

Please confirm that the contractor is not responsible for providing biological, environmental, water, acoustic, or other monitoring and reporting.

A5 – R2:

The Contractor is not responsible for providing biological, environmental, water, acoustic, or other monitoring and reporting.

Q6 – R2:

Please provide cut sheets, drawings or other data on the lighting/signage, and other implements furnished by others that the contractor will be required to install to allow an assessment of the labor, equipment, and time required to install them.

A6 – R2:

USGS does not have any cut sheets, drawings or other data on the lighting/signage.

Q7 – R2:

Q&A 1 appears to prohibit any land-based activity for installation of the piles. Please confirm that there is a navigable approach to all locations by tug boat and crane barge (for instance, a navigable channel for a barge of at least 40’ width, barge and tug length of 150’, and a draft of 10’ minimum, free of swift currents and snags/obstacles). And if there is not a navigable approach, will the government provide a location where floating equipment and materials may be launched into the water for each non-approachable site?

A7 – R2:

All the sites in the Attch 4 Exhibit A are navigable. Future task order will also be navigable.

Land piling is not allowable.

Q8 – R2:

If mobilization/demobilization will include launching and assembling barges by land into areas that are inaccessible from navigable waterways, how many of these instances should be factored into the mobilization/demobilization line-item pricing?

A8 – R2:

Any site inaccessible from navigable waterways will be accomplished outside of this project/contract.

Q9 – R2:

Per the pile specification: “If the penetration obtains is not within five (5) feet of the specified penetration depth, USGS will provide further instructions.” Please confirm the contractor will be entitled to standby compensation for the time waiting for direction from USGS.

A9 – R2:

USGS is going to be on site at the installation. There will be no need for any standby time.

Q10 – R2 A couple of questions about the pile that will directly impact cost. The amendment states that the thickness is changed from 3/8” to ¾” however RFI question 25 answer specification states minimum 3/8”. Are you expecting piles to be ¾”? Are there any pile coating requirements for the new pile? Does the new pile require a cap? If so what type or spec?

A10 – R2 3/4" is required. No cap is required. No coating is required.

Q11 – R2 Amendment 1 increased the pile’s wall thickness from 3/8” to ¾”. We are not having any success in finding domestic 18” pipe with ¾” wall thickness. Have any of the other bidders expressed this same feedback with you? Do you anticipate releasing any more Q&As and/or issuing a 2nd Amendment in the near term?

A11 – R2

At this time there has been no other bidders expressing supply concerns. This is the 2nd new amendment to address further questions. There is no anticipation for any other future amendments.

A12 – R2 Due to the domestic origin requirements, there seems to be only one steel mill that can provide these piles and they have a minimum tonnage in order to do a mill roll to make the piles. The only way they would make that minimum tonnage is if the piles are all ordered together and not spread out over task orders. Otherwise we would be at the mercy of trying to obtain whatever piles we can through coincidental orders of piles this size from other customers, and there may be no coincidental orders.

The two options we see are to 1) relax the domestic origin requirement which would cast a much wider net to procure piles, 2) guarantee ordering the entire lot in the first task order to hopefully make the mill roll minimum tonnage.

A12 – R2 As the contractor you can buy the supplies if you choose to, but USGS will only pay supplies that are actually used.