B09_Attach_5_SEKI_172423_Pre-proposal_Mtg_Notes_4_26_22_0002.pdf

PRE-PROPOSAL SITE VISIT MEETING NOTES

for

Replace Non-Compliant Lodgepole Water Treatment System

PMIS: SEKI 172423

Solicitation No. 140P2021R0031

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park

(notes prepared 4.26.2022)

The Pre-Proposal Site Visit Meeting for the above referenced project was held on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 starting at 2:00 PM local time, at the Existing Lodgepole Water Treatment Building. Those in attendance were asked to place their names & contact information on the sign-in sheet (attached). National Park Service Project Specialist, Greg Pais, from the Denver Service Center (DSC), welcomed attendees.

Greg Pais indicated that this project is being managed by a team at the NPS Denver Service Center that includes Project Manager Mark Baker, Project Specialist and Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) Greg Pais, Contracting Officer Natasha DiPietro, and Contract Specialist Seth Mercil. During construction, there will be a Construction Management Representative (CMR) hired by the NPS, and there will be support by the design firm to assist with submittal reviews, RFIs, and other technical matters.

Greg Pais described the outline for the pre-proposal meeting: (1) Describe the solicitation process; (2) Conduct a project briefing and answer general project questions; (3) Attendees will look at the existing water treatment plant, proposed water treatment plant location, and nearby areas; (4) Attendees will drive over to the 4-inch Pressure Reducing Valve (PSV) Vault located near the Lodgepole Visitor Center. The vault hatch will be opened for visual inspection of the PSV which is to be removed (Base Bid); (5) Attendees may spend additional time looking at the Silliman Creek Intake (Base Bid) and Lodgepole Reservoir (Bid Options 2, 4, 11) accessible via hiking on the Twin Lakes Trail. The trail condition is unknown and the seasonal Lodgepole Campground closure will require additional travel on foot; (6) Attendees may also spend additional time looking at Pressure Reducing Valves (PSV) to be replaced along the Army Road to Wolverton (Bid Option 3) and the Wuksachi area for fire hydrants to be replaced (Bid Option 8).

Greg Pais covered the following topics:

1. Attendees were reminded to sign-in on the sign-in sheet. Attendees were reminded of the following disclaimer: “Any remarks and/or explanations given at today’s pre-proposal site meeting by government personnel will not qualify the terms of the solicitation unless formally changed by subsequent amendment.” Oral representations at today’s meeting are not binding, unless subsequently included in a written amendment.

2. Greg Pais encouraged attendees to submit questions to the Contracting Officer, Natasha DiPietro and Contract Specialist, Seth Mercil, in writing, by April 28, 2022, per the solicitation posted on the Sam.gov website. If questions are asked they will be noted and responses will be included with the meeting notes.

Questions submitted in writing should reference the specification section and/or the plan sheet relating to the question. Answers to questions will be put in an amendment without identifying who submitted the question. Offerors are reminded to watch the Sam.gov website for all project solicitation information, including amendments.

3. A solicitation amendment is expected to be issued within 1-2 days after the pre-proposal site meeting. It will include the Pre-proposal Meeting Notes, the list of pre-proposal meeting attendees, pre-proposal meeting trifold, responses to questions received up to that point, and the latest contract documents dated April 23, 2021. The amendment will cover information presented today so that all prospective contractors, whether they attended today’s meeting or not, will have the same information.

4. Review Solicitation Sections L for Proposal Submission Requirements and Section M for Proposal Evaluation Criteria.

5. Proposals shall be submitted electronically via email to CS_DSC_Proposal_Submission@nps.gov ONLY. Hard copies are NOT acceptable.

6. Pertinent Dates:

o Questions are due by 28 April 2022, to give enough time for the NPS Project team to answer and allow time for offerors to complete their proposals. Please submit questions in writing to Natasha_DiPietro@nps.gov and Seth_Mercil@nps.gov. We’ll try to get the answers back to you timely. Questions should be batched together and submitted sooner than the deadline if possible to allow for responses and necessary coordination. Questions are not guaranteed to be answered prior to the proposal deadline.

o Current proposal due date is 5 May 2022 at 12:00 pm, MDT via email.

This is being extended to 16 May 2022 with the next bid amendment.

7. Proposals should be tailored specifically for this project and include relevant project experience in lieu of boilerplate language. Technical Proposal and Price Proposal are weighted approximately equally.

8. This construction project is being managed by a team of people at the DSC consisting of a Contracting Officer, Contract Specialist, Project Manager and Project Specialist, with support from Park staff. Nicole Mason is the Park Point-of-Contact. Support will also be provided during construction from the A/E of Record using Title III services as well as a Construction Management Representative (CMR).

9. After contract award and NTP, the Contractor will have the winter season to process material and equipment submittals, process shop drawings, and procure materials and equipment prior to mobilizing onsite in the spring.

mailto:CS_DSC_Proposal_Submission@nps.gov mailto:Natasha_DiPietro@nps.gov mailto:Seth_Mercil@nps.gov

10. CMR serve as onsite eyes and ears for NPS and their responsibilities include, but are not limited to, reviewing pay applications, Submittals, Requests for Information (RFI’s), and conducting weekly progress meetings.

11. The Contractor is required to hire a Quality Control (QC) Manager to be present onsite during construction activities. The Contractor is responsible to hire a third party professional to perform Structural Tests and Special Inspections (STSI).

12. Normal work hours are weekdays 8AM to 5PM excluding Federal holidays. It is fairly common for contractors to request permission (well in advance) to work on Federal holidays or outside the specified time limits – especially at key periods of construction. These requests are often granted as long as visitor and staff safety is maintained, and as long as park operations and other relevant potential impacts are adequately addressed.

13. Access to Silliman Creek Intake and Lodgepole Reservoir is by trail only;

motorized vehicles are not allowed. Pack animals may be allowed upon request and must be approved by the Park and Contracting Officer. If a request is approved, motorized and electrical vehicles/equipment may be allowed outside the designated wilderness boundary—which would allow access up to the Lodgepole Reservoir. The Contractor is responsible for knowing the designated wilderness boundary location. A Minimum Requirements Analysis (MRA) shall be submitted by the Contractor to obtain approval for requested activities in the wilderness.

14. The new Water Treatment Plant (WTP) will ideally be operated during spring, summer, and fall seasons, with shutoff during the winter as demand is lower and the Wolverton Interconnect is online.

15. Public spaces (trails, roads, parking, campgrounds, visitor centers, etc.) are open to Contractors, Subcontractors, and Suppliers for site visits to assist in preparing proposals. If access to maintenance areas, water treatment plants, or other areas requiring authorization is desired, contact Nicole Mason at nicole_mason@nps.gov or 559-565-3141 to arrange access.

16. Contractor and Subcontractors shall be courteous of employee housing areas during construction. No loud equipment shall be permitted for use outside of normal, or approved, work hours, unless otherwise approved by the Contracting Officer and Park.

17. The two trailer hookups located within or near the footprint of the new Water Treatment Plant (WTP) shall be removed. Disturbance to the sloped area behind the new WTP shall be minimized.

18. The Silliman Creek Intake can be accessed via the Twin Lakes Trail or Wuksachi Trail. The Twin Lakes Trail is approximately 0.3 miles to the Lodgepole Reservoir and approximately 1.5 miles to the Silliman Creek Intake, each way.

The Wuksachi Trails is approximately 1.5 miles, each way, to the Silliman Creek Intake, however there are switchbacks which may make transporting larger equipment or materials difficult.

mailto:nicole_mason@nps.gov

19. Mechanical or motorized vehicles/equipment are not permitted within the wilderness boundary, which includes the Silliman Creek Intake, without prior authorization from the Contracting Officer and Park.

20. The following Construction Line Item Numbers (CLIN) were discussed:

Items discussed/accessible during field meeting:

• CLIN 1: New Lodgepole Water Treatment Facility

• CLIN 2: Existing Lodgepole Plant Decommissioning

• CLIN 3: New Wolverton to Lodgepole Reservoir Interconnect

• CLIN 5: Electrical Utility Design and Installation

• CLIN 6: Rock Excavation

• CLIN 7 (Bid Option 1): Add SCADA Tie-in, Radio Antenna on new WTP

• CLIN 12 (Bid Option 6): Existing Lodgepole Plant Reroofing

• CLIN 13 (Bid Option 7): New 8” Waterline to Housing & Administrative

Complex

• CLIN 15 (Bid Option 9): Reconstruct Asphalt Paving at Parking Lot

Items not visited:

• CLIN 4: Silliman Creek Intake Rehabilitation

• CLIN 8 (Bid Option 2): Reconstruct Lodgepole Reservoir’s Overflow Pipe

• CLIN 9 (Bid Option 3): Replace Existing Bermad Pressure Sustaining Valves at Vaults 1 & 2

• CLIN 10 (Bid Option 4): Replace Lodgepole Water Storage Reservoir Access

Hatches

• CLIN 11 (Bid Option 5): Replace Gate Valves at Lodgepole Reservoirs

• CLIN 14 (Bid Option 8): Replace Buried Fire Hydrants

Questions asked during Pre-Proposal Site Visit:

1. Will there be a bypass or diversion of Silliman Creek during the intake work?

a. This is considered means and methods but must be closely coordinated with the Contracting Officer and Park. The Contractor is responsible for knowing the wilderness regulations and complying with the project specifications.

2. Is water available for Contractor use during construction?

a. Yes, there are hydrants nearby the Lodgepole WTP that may be used. Prior to use, the Contractor must obtain approval from the Contracting Officer and Park. Upon approval, the Park may supply a water meter and the Contractor is responsible for supplying a backflow preventer. Both appurtenances must be installed by the Contractor with a Park representative present during installation.

3. Is there any housing available or reduced campground rates for Contractor use?

a. Contractors typically stay outside the Park boundary and commute in. There is currently a housing shortage for Park employees so there is no housing or trailer hookups available for Contractor use. There is also no reduced campground rate available—the Contractor should check recreation.gov for any campground reservations.

4. Is weekend work an option?

a. The Park noted Contractors have previously done weekend work. This request will need to be submitted in writing for approval from the Contracting Officer and Park. Work on weekends, outside approved weekday hours, and on Federal holidays may be considered depending on hours, scope of work to be completed, and location of work.

5. Is the Period of Performance being reduced from 540 days to 365 days. The 2021 solicitation noted a POP of 540 days, however, the 2022 solicitation noted a POP of 365 days.

a. The POP is 540 days—consistent with the 2021 solicitation. The 365 calendar days will be revised to 540 calendar days with the next bid amendment.

Important items discussed at 2021 Pre-Proposal Site Visit:

1. Magnitude of Construction Project: Between $5 million - $10 million.

2. The construction Period of Performance is 540 calendar days from the NTP to Substantial Completion. The POP is expected to begin with a Notice to Proceed (NTP) approximately November 1, 2022 and end in May 2024.

3. A potential material staging area is located in the large parking lot off Lodgepole

Road with access to the Army Road. Material staging area for Silliman Creek Intake is indicated as an 18’x18’ area just northeast of the bridge as shown on Drawing C8. No storage shall be permitted on the trail. Extra caution should be taken to protect nearby wetlands.

4. The Lodgepole Water Treatment Plant is permitted under the Wolverton state permit due to the interconnect system. This was noted to avoid confusion.

5. Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) 5: Electrical Utility Design and Installation – Electrical service is provided by SoCal Edison. The Contractor shall submit necessary applications and pay design, construction and connection fees for electrical service and for telecom relocation, which will then be reimbursed by NPS. There shall be no Contractor markup included in CLIN 5, and Contractor management of the Electrical Utility Design and Installation shall be spread across other CLIN’s. Offerors shall use the place holder amount for electric and telecom fees of $50,000 in their proposal for CLIN 5.

6. CLIN 6: Rock Excavation – Payment will be made at the contract price per each unit as defined in Spec Section 31 23 16. Payment will only be made for rock meeting this definition.