Site_Tour_Questions_and_Answers_0001.pdf

September 8, 2024

GAOA Beehive Bend Boat Take Out and Walkway Solicitation 140L2624R0009 Amendment 1

Questions and Answers:

1. Can Site Superintendent Fill Multiple rolls, Quality control, Safety?

ANSWER: Yes, a qualified and competent person can be assigned multiple roles based on their experience, workload and abilities.

2. Is the contractor required to have a full-time quality control manager, and safety manager on site, separate from the site superintendent?

ANSWER: No, a qualified and competent person can be assigned multiple roles based on their experience, workload and abilities. This person shall be actively involved in the daily project efforts and present on the jobsite when work is occurring.

3. Was stated that long lead items needed to be addressed with Bid is that to be on the SF1442 form. Could be identified with Gantt Chart.

ANSWER: Bidders should identify the critical path for the construction schedule related to material or product lead times in the Volume 2: Technical approaches / capabilities as required in L.18, which could include a Gantt chart to show the effects of lead times related to period of performance and construction scheduling. If the lead times will not work with the period of performance then that should be clearly noted in the construction schedule.

4. Concrete on walkway is it to be removed or the new fill on to of existing concrete.

ANSWER: Concrete that is exposed above the finish subgrade elevation in the new constructed walkway profile prior to new concrete and aggregate placement per plans, shall be removed. All removed concrete may be spread on southern parking area, if less than 2” nominal diameter or disposed at an approved location by the contractor. Concrete below grade limits for new material may remain.

5. Confirm that excavated boulders will remain onsite and will not be required to be hauled off and disposed of?

ANSWER: All excavated boulders will remain at the project site, with the intent to use as barrier and armoring for the structure and site features.

6. If disturbed vegetation needs to be re-seeded will a seed spec be provided?

ANSWER: All disturbed areas during construction, unless noted otherwise shall be graded smooth, free of trash/ debris and blended to native landscape. BLM will provide, place and maintain all post construction vegetative efforts, including reseeding and other plant material.

7. Given the nature of the project scope, please confirm that the health of existing shrubs or trees in the affected work area is not the responsibility of the contractor.

ANSWER: The contractor will not be responsible for the health and vitality of the existing vegetation within the disturbed areas of the project site. Vegetation should not be removed or damaged outside the work limits unless approved by the government.

8. Will the recreation site including the restrooms and dressing rooms remain open throughout the course of the project while the walkway and ramp areas will be closed during periods of construction?

ANSWER: Yes the public will have access to the restroom and dressing room areas from the parking lot.

Project work areas including ramp and walkway, will be closed to public access while work is performed.

Temporary closure of the site for equipment relocation, mobilization, or material offloading/ placement to maintain public safety is allowed, but the site shall remain partially open for the construction project.

Use of delineators, fence and signage will be necessary to keep the public aware of the accessible areas.

Please note the heaviest use for the site is weekends, so the offset of construction activities and public use will help balance the demand for space.

9. Is there a pit nearby that the contractor can source the aggregate from or does the aggregate need to come from a commercial source?

ANSWER: The contractor is responsible to source and deliver the required aggregate materials which meets the specifications provided in the contract technical documents for the project. BLM does not identify the source or pit location, expecting the contractor to provide source information with the submittal for the proposed material prior to placement.

10. Can the contractor substitute the weathered steel grating finish for a hot dipped galvanized finish?

ANSWER: Yes, see Design Notes / Comments #1 below. All stair treads and landings shall be mild steel smooth standard welded bar grating with hot dip galvanized finish. Treads shall include metal diamond plate nose.

11. If the contractor encounters large rocks/boulders while excavating, please confirm this will be considered a differing site condition and handled in accordance with FAR Clause 52.236-2.

ANSWER: No, the site provides the representation of the rocks and boulders expected on the site. Since the excavation limits are shown, the amount of rock expected to be removed and the nominal size of the boulders is known.

12. For bidding purposes, please quantify the amount of rock/boulder the contractor shall remove.

ANSWER: The footing dimensions and finish / existing grade lines are provided in the plans. It is expected these areas have boulders, approximately the size of the visible material in the area as the site demonstrates.

13. According to the profile on sheet C101, Other than the transition from station 0+90 to 1+00 per Sheet

C102, Detail 3, that is to get crushed aggregate. Please verify if the upper portion of ramp and lower portion under structure is to get 6 inches of crushed aggregate or is it to stay native.

ANSWER: The area under the ramp and the upper ramp portion will be native material. The transition as shown in C102, detail 3 will require crushed aggregate base as shown.

14. Note 2 on plan sheet C400 states the parking lot and restroom will remain open and accessible to the public during construction except at the designated contractor staging area. Specification section 01 50 00 subsection 1.12 Vehicular Access directs the contractor to extend and relocate vehicular access as work progress requires. Will the contractor have the authority to close off public access for the duration of the project?

ANSWER: No, but temporary closure for public safety construction activities as approved by the Government will be allowed for temporary closures. All site closures, including closure limits and timeframes, must be approved by government prior to occurrence.

15. Will the contractor need to figure for cofferdam construction to redirect the water away from the construction site?

ANSWER: No. The contractor is responsible for SWPPP and BMP’s to protect the disturbed areas, but no dewatering is expected in the river.

16. Has a geotechnical report been performed for the parking areas and/or Banks Grade Road? If so, please provide.

ANSWER: No, not by BLM.

17. If a geotechnical report has not been performed for the parking areas and/or Banks Grade Road, will the contractor be required to perform one?

ANSWER: No

18. Water levels and weather conditions may affect the completion of this project in the time specified in the solicitation. The solicitation gives no consideration to water levels or weather conditions that may delay the project. If weather conditions and water levels aren’t suitable for concrete or aggregate compaction will BLM consider extending the period of performance without the contractor incurring Liquidated Damages?

ANSWER: If abnormal (based on the historical information available) weather conditions or water levels cause construction progress delays, the contractor may request, with clear documentation, a contract modification to extend the period of performance. If the period of performance is amended through a contract modification, then liquidated damages would not apply within the period of performance.

19. Please confirm Government caused delays will be handled in accordance with FAR Clause 52.242-17.

ANSWER: Yes

20. Regarding Volume 2: Factor 1, Subfactor 3, it isn’t always known who the site superintendent, quality control manager or safety manager will be at bid time. A lot of times, these details are worked out after award of the contract.

a. Will the government remove this requirement from the Technical Approach requirements?

b. If not, will the government accept an answer that states the personnel for these positions are not yet known?

ANSWER: No, the government will not remove the requirement. The bidder should identify existing personnel for these roles, showing the capability to handle these project roles and responsibilities or explain that these positions are currently being filled through a hiring process etc., to show the bidders capability to meet the contractual requirements, with key staff qualified to do so before the project starts. If a key personnel change occurs after the award, the contractor must provide the government notification of a qualified replacement and obtain contract officer approval.

21. When does the government expect physical construction to begin?

ANSWER: The government expects the contract notice to proceed to be awarded this fiscal year. After the notice to proceed the contractor shall perform a pre-work meeting provide the required submittals , then physical site work may begin.

22. Please confirm that funds are set aside for the project. ANSWER: Yes, funds are available for this project.

23. We are currently working on the Technical Proposal for the subject project and noticed there was not a standardized past performance questionnaire form within the Solicitation. Do you have a standardized form that is to be used, or do we need to follow the format listed in section L.19(a)?

ANSWER: Follow the format listed in SectionL.19(a).

Design Notes/ Comments:

1. Reference Sheet C203 (Note 2 & 3) and Sheet C207 (Note 3 & 4): All stair treads and landings shall be mild steel smooth standard welded bar grating with hot dip galvanized finish. Treads shall include metal diamond plate nose. Contractor will provide submittal prior to furnishing.

2. Reference Sheet C201- Section 1705.2.1 Special Inspections of Structural Steel Elements: Fabricator shall provide proof of qualifications, such as experience and certifications during project submittals. An experienced, qualified fabricator can perform the Quality Control Special Inspections as required during shop fabrication, if they identify the competent person in the quality assurance plan. Contractor will also submit weld procedures and shop drawings for shop fabrication work, prior to fabrication for BLM approval.