GLAC_311336_Questions_from_Potential_Offeror_05-21-21_0005.docx

GLAC 311336 – Bridge Pres. Project Potential Offeror’s Questions received on 05-20-21 from:

1. We respectfully request, and recommend, that the bid deadline is extended by 2 weeks. Especially considering the COVID pandemic, we are having a difficult team receiving responses from key vendors and subcontractors on planning and pricing for your project. This time will allow our team to incorporate responses to questions, allow more times for vendors and subcontractors and ultimately furnish a more cost-efficient and complete proposal.

NPS RESPONSE: BID DATE WILL BE EXTENDED TO JUNE 01, 2021, 3:00PM MDT.

2. Can the NPS provide available bridge as-builts and available hydrology information?

NPS RESPONSE: DSC CAN PROVIDE AVAILABLE AS-BUILTS AND HYDROLOGY INFORMATION. NOTE THAT AS-BUILTS AND HYDRO. REPORTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR ALL BRIDGE STRUCTURES. (CONTRACTING TEAM TO post to betasam.gov).

3. Does equipment need converted over to vegetable oil for use in-water?

NPS RESPONSE: NO, IT IS NOT REQUIRED.

4. Does contractor need a certified arborist for tree removal or can we remove them ourselves?

NPS RESPONSE: CONTRACTOR WILL NEED TO HAVE A LICENSED/CERTIFIED ARBORIST TO PERFORM ALL VEGETATION TRIMMING/REMOVAL.

5. Will the Park maintenance crew be able to clear the road adequately of deadfall/debris and blade the road between the Bowman Creek Bridge and the Kintla Creek Bridge? (The purpose of this is to gain access into the sites.)

NPS RESPONSE: THE PARK ROADS CREW CAN CLEAR ALL DEAD FALL AND DEBRIS. THE PARK WILL CHECK ON GRADING THE ROADS – PARK IS NOT SURE ON GRADING THE ROAD, THEY WILL HAVE TO TALK WITH OUR ROADS CREW ON MONDAY, MAY 24.

6. Where does NPS want excavated riverbed, roadway, etc. material dumped/placed?

NPS RESPONSE: CONTRACTOR WILL BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIND A RECYCLING CENTER/LANDFILL FOR ALL DEMO’D MATERIAL. CONTRACTOR SHALL RECYCLE AS MUCH MATERIAL AS FEASIBLE AND TRACK ALL WASTE MATERIAL.

SOME EXCAVATED RIVERBED MATERIAL WILL BE REMOVED AND REPLACED.

7. Proposal: Can 1 of the 4 key personnel be from a subcontractor, provided there is previous teaming experience between the prime and subcontractor and the employee has ample experience on work similar to this project’s scope?

NPS RESPONSE: ACCEPTABLE

8. With the exception of North Fork, Lee Creek, Appistoki Creek, and Fish Creek all other bridges are single lanes and will require full road closure while being repaired. Please advise if this is acceptable.

NPS RESPONSE: REFER TO PLANS AND SPECS FOR ALLOWABLE ROAD CLOSURES/WORK RESTRICTIONS.

9. Does the Park plan to provide campsites with water, power, RV/Camper hookups? Or a location to set up camp for duration of project? Contractors would need campsites near Lee Creek, Appistoki Creek, Fish Creek and Polebridge/Logging ranger station while work is being performed on those sites.

NPS RESPONSE: PARK WILL NOT PROVIDE CAMPSITES OR LODGING. CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FINDING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THEIR PERSONNEL.

10. Do all water ways need dewatered per the plan spec or would we be able to diverge water within the existing creek bed with super sacks potentially lessoning the environmental impacts?

NPS RESPONSE: CONTRACTOR SHALL SUBMIT A TEMPORARY STREAM DIVERSION PLAN PRIOR TO ANY IN-WATER WORK IN ACCORDANCE WITH USACE PERMITS/MT DEQ PERMITS.

11. Is the time of year for bridge work to be performed flexible? It may be better to perform some of the bridge sites such as the Appistoki Creek Bridge when the park is closed to general public due lower water levels and less traffic.

NPS RESPONSE: THE TIME OF YEAR FOR BRIDGE WORK IS NOT FLEXIBLE DUE TO BIRDS AND BATS THAT ARE NESTING UNDER SOME OF THE BRIDGES, AND DUE TO FLOWS IN THE RIVERS/CREEKS. REFER TO WORK RESTRICTIONS FOR BRIDGE WORK IN THE PLANS AND SPECS.

12. Do the residents living between Bowman Creek and Kintla Creek have an alternate access to come in and out of their properties? NO. Who will notify tenants of bridge and road closures? PARK WILL NOTIFY TENANTS AND COORDINATE W/ CONTRACTOR. Will tenants of said properties need open access to come and go? YES. Which bridges do residents utilize to gain access to their properties? BOWMAN AND AKKOKALA CREEK BRIDGES. (there is also a phone line that runs through conduit on Bowman creek to the residents north of Bowman, this will need to be located and potentially temporarily moved. I didn’t see it on Akokala Creek or Ford Creek but if it routes through those bridges as well it will need to be temporarily moved.). NPS IS NOT AWARE OF A PHONE LINE IN THIS LOCATION. IT IS THE CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITY TO LOCATE AND COORDINATE W/ ALL UTILITY COMPANIES, PER SPECS.

13. What is the utility/power line alignment over Camas Creek? Is it being removed or staying?

NPS RESPONSE: STAYING; ALL UTILITIES/UTILITY LINES ARE INTENDED TO STAY IN PLACE.

14. If in-field quantities of concrete repair, civil excavation/backfill and others required, differ significantly from furnished NPS bid quantities, is this considered a change condition and the contractor is entitled to recover funds for difference of quantity of work performed?

NPS RESPONSE: CONTRACTOR SHALL SUBMIT A PRICE PROPOSAL WITH THE QUANTITIES IDENTIFIED IN THE PLANS AND SPEC AND VERIFIED BY THE CONTRACTOR. AFTER AWARD THE CONTRACTOR MAY SUBMIT AN RFI. IF AGREED, THE GOV’T. WILL ISSUE AN RFP TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL WORK.

15. Appistoki Creek Bridge (2021)

a. Can we have more than one pump location (one upstream and one downstream)?

NPS RESPONSE: CONTRACTOR SHALL SUBMIT A TEMPORARY STREAM DIVERSION PLAN PRIOR TO ANY IN-WATER WORK IN ACCORORDANCE WITH USACE PERMITS/MT DEQ PERMITS.

b. Access roads down to the water - are we allowed to dig those in? Or do they want us to fill down to the bottom?

NPS RESPONSE: DESIGN INTENT IS TO BRING IN QUARRY SPALL AND REMOVE WHEN CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE. RESTORE ALL AREAS TO PRE-CONSTRUCTION CONDITION.

c. To repair the Northeast wing wall we have to remove large boulders. Are we allowed to move them?

NPS RESPONSE: DESIGN INTENT IS TO HAVE BOULDERS REMAIN IN PLACE WITH ADDITIONAL REVETMENT PLACED AROUND EXISTING BOULDERS.

16. Lee Creek Bridge (2021)

a. On tree removal do they want to cut off as close to the ground as possible? Or stumps and roots pulled?

NPS RESPONSE: CUT AS CLOSE A POSSIBLE TO GRADE.

b. Looking at the cheek wall to excavate the bottom of the cheek wall we will be into the existing gabion basket. Do they want to just go to the top of the gabion or take it out?

NPS RESPONSE: REFER TO SHEET 11C3, DETAIL 14.

c. Will we need to top the class 2 riprap with a non-water permeable material so the water can run away from the cheek wall?

NPS RESPONSE: NO. BUILD PER SHEET 11C3, DETAIL 14.

17. Kintla Creek Bridge (2022)

a. What spec are they looking for the mechanically reinforced backfill material?

NPS RESPONSE: REFER TO SPEC SECTION 31 23 10.

b. Will we be able to stack excavated material on the road?

NPS RESPONSE: YES; KINTLA CREEK ROAD (INSIDE NORTH FORK ROAD) WILL BE FULLY CLOSED DURING CONSTRUCTION.

c. How is the abutment going to stay standing when we excavate down to the bottom of x?

NPS RESPONSE: CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING STABILITY OF THE STRUCTURE. NPS WILL NOT DICTATE CONTRACTOR’S MEANS & METHODS.

18. Ford Creek (2022) Do we need to save creek bottom excavated material for the park or does it need to be removed off the park?

NPS RESPONSE: EXCAVATED MATERIAL FOR THE PLACMENT OF THE RIP RAP WILL NEED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE PARK.

19. Akokala Creek Bridge (2022) Can we lift off the bridge and set aside to do our work? Bridge is sitting low and we won't be able to get under it.

NPS RESPONSE: THIS BRIDGE PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA; CONTRACTOR WILL NEED TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATE ACCESS WAY ACROSS THE CREEK.

WITH THE PROPOSED APPROACH, THE CONTRACTOR WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO THE BRIDGE AND/OR ANY RESOURCE DAMAGE WHERE THE BRIDGE WOULD BE TEMPORARILY PLACED.

20. Bowman Creek (2022) There is a risk to the abutments buckling when we excavate the back side of them. Please advise if this would be considered a change condition and contractor able to be compensated for additional work to support/re-build them.

NPS RESPONSE: CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING STABILITY OF THE STRUCTURE. NPS WILL NOT DICTATE CONTRACTOR’S MEANS & METHODS.

21. Camas Creek (2021) Can we temporarily pick this bridge up to accomplish our work?

NPS RESPONSE: PEDESTRIAN ACCESS NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED TO THE ADJACENT TRAILHEAD VIA THIS BRIDGE. WITH THE PROPOSED APPROACH, THE CONTRACTOR WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO THE BRIDGE AND/OR ANY RESOURCE DAMAGE WHERE THE BRIDGE WOULD BE TEMPORARILY PLACED.

22. Fish Creek (2022) Can this bridge be shut down for access while we accomplish our work?

NPS RESPONSE: BRIDGE NEEDS TO REMAIN OPEN FOR PARK MAINTENACE, ONLY (ACCESS TO THE CAMPGROUND). WILL BE CLOSED TO GENERAL PUBLIC DURING CONSTRUCTION.

23. Please detail each bridge’s current weight capacities and limitations NPS RESPONSE: can provide FHWA BRIDGE INSPECTION REPORTS

24. Where can we dispose of those trees that must be removed?

NPS RESPONSE: CONTRACTOR WILL BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIND A RECYCLING CENTER/LANDFILL FOR ALL DEMO’D MATERIAL. CONTRACTOR SHALL RECYCLE AS MUCH MATERIAL AS FEASIBLE AND TRACK ALL WASTE MATERIAL.

25. Does the park have any area that needs fill from excavations?

NPS RESPONSE: NO

26. North Fork Bridge - Edge of deck and soffit are badly deteriorated and splitting. The section drawing on 1C4 only captures roughly half the actual repair area. Does the repair include the soffit? As well Cathodic Anodes would be advised along the edge of deck to prevent further corrosion issues.

NPS RESPONSE: SEE SHEETS 1C4 AND 1C5; INTENT IS TO REPAIR ENTIRE LENGTH OF BRIDGE ON BOTH SIDES. SOFFITS: INTENT IS NOT FOR THE ENTIRE SOFFIT(S) TO BE REPAIRED - REPAIRS SHOULD BE MADE IN AREAS WHERE DEGRADATION ON THE EXTERIOR DECK FACE WRAPS UNDERNEATH TO THE SOFFIT. CATHODIC ANODES: INTENT IS THAT CATHODIC ANODES WILL NOT BE INSTALLED.

27. North Fork Bridge - Deck has thousands of delaminations of the slurry on the driving surface. The specification states that we should use a repair mortar for these repairs. Contacted manufacturers - want a squared up edge for this type of repair, which requires saw cutting and chipping. Please confirm is a shotblast with a 3/8" MPCO overlay is acceptable. This will be a more efficient process price wise and result in a longer use case.

NPS RESPONSE: MPCO (MULTIPLE POLYMER CONCRETE OVERLAY): CONTRACTOR WILL SUBMIT A PRICE PROPOSAL WITH THE MATERIAL IDENTIFIED IN THE SPECIFICATIONS; AFTER AWARD, THE CONTRACTOR MAY SUBMIT AN ALTERNATIVE (VIA RFI) WHICH WILL REQUIRE REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE ENGINEER OF RECORD AND PARK PERSONNEL.

28. North Fork Bridge and Appistoki Bridge - No specification section seems to be provided for the Deck Sealant. It should have been in section 9 but seems to have been omitted

NPS RESPONSE: REFER TO SPEC SECTION 07 18 40.

29. North Fork Bridge - No specification section seems to be provided for the Curb Sealant. It should have been in section 9 but seems to have been omitted

NPS RESPONSE: REFER TO SPEC SECTION 07 18 40.

30. North Fork Bridge - The exposed reinforcement bar is above the deck surface. It is not delaminated at this time. Any applied product will simply be worn off the bar when vehicles drive over it. Please advise if the Bar should either be removed to sufficiently be clear of the surface or should have the mortar removed from around it and be lowered to regain appropriate clearance. (dwg 1c3)

NPS RESPONSE: NPS ASSUMES CONTRACTOR IS REFERRING TO DETAIL 11, SHEET 1C3.

FURTHER DISCUSSION PENDING DECK SURFACE REPAIR, OTHERWISE MINOR MANUAL REMOVAL OF MATERIAL WILL BE NEEDED TO ALLOW PRODUCT TO ADHERE.

31. North Fork Bridge - Specification 09-91-90, 2.2, 4a. States that a lead encapsulating primer shall be provided. Per paint supplier, this is not possible. They will not guarantee their primer nor can they provide an alternate primer which will achieve what the specification states. They say any decent primer will encapsulate the existing paint, but that encapsulation is temporary as all paint eventually will fail. Is it acceptable to substitute remediation for prime/encapsulate?

NPS RESPONSE: INTENT IS TO USE A LEAD ENCAPSULATING PRIMER. CONTRACTOR WILL SUBMIT A PRICE PROPOSAL WITH THE MATERIAL IDENTIFIED IN THE SPECIFICATIONS; AFTER AWARD, THE CONTRACTOR MAY SUBMIT AN ALTERNATIVE (VIA RFI) WHICH WILL REQUIRE REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE ENGINEER OF RECORD AND PARK PERSONNEL.

32. North Fork Bridge - Can the drain pipe weld area be repaired with thermal sprayed Zinc instead of hot sticked? (dwg 1C7) NPS RESPONSE: CONTRACTOR WILL SUBMIT A PRICE PROPOSAL WITH THE MATERIAL IDENTIFIED IN THE SPECIFICATIONS; AFTER AWARD, THE CONTRACTOR MAY SUBMIT AN ALTERNATIVE (VIA RFI) WHICH WILL REQUIRE REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE ENGINEER OF RECORD AND PARK PERSONNEL.

33. Fish Creek Bridge – The railing appears to be failing in multiple locations. Should the contractor include quantity and funding for a repair? (Note 3) NPS RESPONSE: NO. AFTER AWARD THE CONTRACTOR MAY SUBMIT AN RFI. IF AGREED, THE GOV’T. WILL ISSUE AN RFP TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL WORK ASSOCIATED WITH THE RAILINGS.

34. Fish Creek Bridge – Please clarify existing note 2, det 4, dwg 2c2. Does the repair extend only to the surface of the water or to the surface of the stream bed?

NPS RESPONSE: REPAIRS SHALL EXTEND TO THE STREAMBED, BUT NOT BELOW THE STREAMBED.

35. Fish Creek Bridge - Please clarify existing note 3, det 5, dwg 2c2. Does the repair extend only to the surface of the water or to the surface of the stream bed?

NPS RESPONSE: REPAIRS SHALL EXTEND TO THE STREAMBED, BUT NOT BELOW THE STREAMBED.

36. Appistoki Creek Bridge – Does NPS want repairs to be sealed to reduce future freeze-thaw spalling?

NPS RESPONSE: ASSUME THE QUESTION REFERS TO THE CONCRETE REPAIR WORK ON THE BRIDGE FACES. CONTRACTOR WILL SUBMIT A PRICE PROPOSAL WITH THE MATERIAL IDENTIFIED IN THE SPECIFICATIONS; AFTER AWARD, THE CONTRACTOR MAY SUBMIT AN ALTERNATIVE (VIA RFI) WHICH WILL REQUIRE REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE ENGINEER OF RECORD AND PARK PERSONNEL.

37. Appistoki Creek Bridge – Does NPS desire Cathodic anodes to be provided rather than a corrosion inhibitor? Manufacturers such as Vector, Euclid or others can provide buried anode pucks to slow/halt future corrosion. Would require corrosion engineer to specify spacing and proper mass of anode. Please advise.

NPS RESPONSE: CATHODIC ANODES: INTENT IS THAT CATHODIC ANODES WILL NOT BE INSTALLED.

38. Appistoki Creek Bridge – Does NPS have original pictures or plans available to reference for this item or do we just return to existing condition? (note 6, det 4 and 5, dwg 3c2) NPS RESPONSE: NPS DOES NOT HAVE ORIGINAL AS-BUILT DRAWINGS FOR APPISTOKI CREEK BRIDGE.

39. Appistoki Creek Bridge – What finish is required - Is contractor expected to provide board finish? (Note 4, dets 4-6, 3c2) NPS RESPONSE: BECAUSE THIS IS A HISTORIC STRUCTURE/PARK ASSET, INTENT IS TO MATCH FINISH OF EXISTING AND ADJACENT SURFACES (FINISH, COLOR, TEXTURE).

40. Appistoki Creek Bridge - EAST ELEVATION (UPSTREAM) LOOKING WEST shows the 3' cutoff wall for the Concrete Slab on Grade on the upstream side. TRANSVERSE SECTION (LOOKING AHEAD STATION) shows the 3' cutoff wall for the Concrete Slab on Grade on the downstream end. Please clarify which is correct.

NPS RESPONSE: INTENT IS THE 3' cutoff wall IS ON THE UPSTREAM SIDE, ONLY, LOOKING WEST. TRANSVERSE SECTION IS INCORRECT - SHOULD SAY “LOOKING BACK STATION”.

41. Camas Creek Bridge - There is an existing line of some sort running along the curb. Assume this is a communications line but uncertain. Is this to remain/be re-built, and please clarify what it is. (Dwg 4c2) NPS RESPONSE: PER PHOTO #1, REMAIN IN PLACE; WILL CHECK W/ PARK FOR WHAT THIS LINE IS. CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LOCATING ALL UTILITIES.

42. Lee Creek Bridge - There is a large crack running from the top to the bottom of Pier 2 right down the center of the pier. There is crack injection on other sites but no provision at this structure. Does NPS want this to be included?

NPS RESPONSE: ENGINEER OF RECORD DETERMINED THE CRACK IS STABLE, NOT GROWING AND IS NOT OF CONCERN. DO NOT INCLUDE.

43. Lee Creek Bridge - Rail is badly deformed due to freezing. It appears additional cracks are occurring other than the two obvious splits. Recommendation that 12' of damaged tube is replaced, please advise.

NPS RESPONSE: NO. AFTER AWARD, THE CONTRACTOR MAY SUBMIT AN RFI; IF AGREED, THE GOV’T MAY ISSUE AN RFP.

44. Lee Creek Bridge - Notes on 8/11C1 & 10/11C1 require Repainting of the Exterior of Fascia on the South side of the bridge. SECTION (LOOKING AHEAD ON STATION) indicates the Fascia Exteriors on both the left and right are to be repainted. Please clarify.

NPS RESPONSE: INTENT IS TO REPAINT FASCIA EXTERIOR AT THE SOUTH END WHERE DELAMINATION HAS OCCURRED, BOTH SIDES OF BRIDGE. THE INTENT IS NOT TO PAINT THE ENTIRE FASCIA EXTERIOR.