B09_Amendment_4_Questions_and_Answers_0004.pdf

Replace Dilapidated Visitor Center Facility

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

(LIBI 241430)

Solicitation 140P2023R0150

Amendment 4 Questions and Answers

November 5, 2023

34. If there are any excess materials, do these need to be exported off‐site, or are there any designated areas on the property that these can be placed?

RESPONSE: Dispose of surplus and waste materials off‐site, in accordance with Spec 31 10 00 (3.7).

35. Regarding Section 28 46 21.11 ‐ ADDRESSABLE FIRE‐ALARM SYSTEMS of the project specifications: Is the U.S. Government the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for this project relating to Fire & Life Safety or is that deferred locally?

RESPONSE: It is the U.S. Government.

36. Will the Govt give any consideration to including a Force Majeure Clause for this solicitation? This continues to be a problem in a Post Pandemic work environment, especially from material suppliers. Many of the items for this project will easily be delivered 12 months from project award. Many Trade Partners we have spoken with are requiring us, as the Prime, to cover any cost escalations on materials at a minimum or their agreements would become void.

We therefore must factor significant Risk into all of our proposals to mitigate those concerns.

And it isn’t just the increase in materials prices, it is the risk of losing a Trade Partner and the impacts of scheduling, etc. Trade Partners can literally walk away from a project if we, as Prime Contractor, don't agree to the price increases their suppliers are passing through and if we try to write it out of their subcontracts, they walk. And given the state of the work force, and the location of this project, there is a greatly reduced possibility to replace them.

RESPONSE: The contract will remain Firm Fixed Price with the clauses that are currently in the solicitation. The contractor should factor in any risk they feel is appropriate. Known long leed items should be submitted for approval and ordered early in the contract. Any “Unforseen” conditions will be addressed on an individual basis.

37. Could not find any information on TERO Tax in solicitation package. Are there TERO requirements and/or requirements to use Native Owned businesses?

RESPONSE: The project is located on National Park Service Federal land, TERO tax does not apply. However, use of any subcontractors from the tribes are highly encouraged. The Prime contractor must be an Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE).

38. We noticed in the specs for the gypsum board that Impact Resistant sheet rock was called out for. However, after reviewing the plans I did not see a note or description that called out where this board might be located. Can you please confirm the location if any, of where the Impact Resistant drywall should be installed?

RESPONSE: This will be answered in Amendment 5, issued Tuesday, November 7.

39. We are respectfully requesting a bid extension currently to allow us and others to continue pursuing this opportunity.

RESPONSE: A bid extension is granted to 1700 MT, Tuesday, November 14. As stressed in the preproposal conference, a longer extension is not possible due to the possibility of a Government Shutdown on Nov 17. Evaluations of proposals have to be complete prior to this date.

40. Is Oracle Primavera Cloud an acceptable scheduling software in lieu of Microsoft Project?

RESPONSE: Yes.

41. Can the Quality Control and SSHO roles be 'dual hat' (with one team member) or must they be separate people performing each role?

RESPONSE: The Contractor’s Quality Control Supervisor shall be assigned no other duties, in accordance with Spec 01 40 00 (1.5)(B)(1). The Site Safety Supervisor is not explicitly prohibited from performing other duties (except those of Contractor’s Quality Control Supervisor), in accordance with Spec 01 35 23 (1.4)(B).

42. Are page limits required for Sections 2, 3, 5 or 6 of the Technical Proposal?

RESPONSE: No

43. Is there a combined total page limit for Volume 1 ‐ Technical Proposal?

44. Is there a combined total page limit for Volume 2 ‐ Business Proposal?

45. Can a 7‐day extension be given based on the RFI due date of Nov.2, giving our team less than one week to incorporate changes to our proposal based on the Government's response?

RESPONSE: See response to Question 39

46. Specification section 01‐11‐00 page 3. para 1.5,A.2 Government‐Furnished Materials QUESTION:

Contractor responsible for inspection, receiving, and unloading government‐furnish items at the project site. Please provide an itemized list of government‐furnished items to allow for anticipated on site storage needs.

RESPONSE: The Government will be installing the only Government‐furnished materials on the project (furnishings and office equipment), so the Contractor is not responsible for any of the duties listed in Spec 01 11 00 (1.5)(A).

47. Specification section 01‐11‐00 page 3. para 1.5,A.5 Government‐Furnished Materials QUESTION:

Contractor responsible for protecting government‐furnished items from damage during storage and handling, including damage from exposure to the elements. Please provide an itemized list of government‐furnished items to allow for anticipated on site storage needs. QUESTION: Please advise if the storage container requires a climate controlled environment?

RESPONSE: The Government will be installing the only Government‐furnished materials on the project (furnishings and office equipment), so the Contractor is not responsible for any of the duties listed in Spec 01 11 00 (1.5)(A).

48. Will you allow for any dual‐hatted positions with the field staff?

RESPONSE: See response to Question 41. If you have questions about field staff other than the Contractor’s Quality Control Supervisor, specify which staff member.

49. Specification section 01‐31‐00 page 6 para 1.8 Environmental Coordination‐ QUESTION: Please confirm if the Environmental Manager is a fulltime onsite staff requirement?

RESPONSE: Contractor’s Environmental Manger must be on‐site, but not necessarily exclusively working on tasks listed in Spec 01 31 00 (1.8)(2).

50. Specification section 01‐56‐39 page 3 para 1.4 /F. QUESTION: Please as advise is it the client intent that the arborist supervise the demolition, protection, tree removal for the (5) each existing trees shown on sheet C1.0 sheet 21 of 254?

RESPONSE: The referenced Project Consulting Arborist, if involved in the project, will work and be paid for by the Government, not the Contractor. Spec 01 56 39 makes several references to notifications to and/or approvals by the Contracting Officer or the Arborist. All notifications will be made to the Contracting Officer, who is the only individual authorized to approve of project actions.

51. Specification 01‐57‐23 Temporary Storm Water Pollution Prevention page 2, para 1.4 C.

QUESTION: Please advise if this staff member is required fulltime?

RESPONSE: Referenced Pollution Prevention is not required to be engaged in the activities listed in Spec 01 57 23 on a full‐time basis.

52. Specification 01‐74‐19 page 4 para 1.5 /A ‐ page 4 Quality Assurance. Page 4 para 3.1/B Plan Implementation. STAFF MEMBER Waste Management Coordinator. QUESTION: Please advise if this staff member is required fulltime?

RESPONSE: Referenced Waste Management Coordinator is not required to be engaged in the activities listed in Spec 01 74 19 on a full‐time basis.

53. If there is any disruption of bird habitat due to construction work at or above 70 decibels within 50 feet of the habitat nesting area ‐ would the construction team need to stop work?

RESPONSE: Please state the basis of this question. There is no reference to these parameters in the bidding documents.

54. With bird habitat migration do we anticipate demobilization and remobilization?

RESPONSE: Demobilization and remobilization due to bird habitat migration is not anticipated.

55. Are Section H Special Requirement forms required to be included in the proposal?

RESPONSE: There are no special form required for Section H, however the Key Personnel and Key Trades need to be filled in.

56. Who sets up and maintains the noise monitoring equipment to determine the 50‐foot requirement for noise level on site?

RESPONSE: The Contractor is not responsible for setting up and/or maintaining noise monitoring equipment needed to measure noise, as referenced in Spec 01 57 19.12.

57. Is there an average number of down times per year needed for ceremonies or services, and can NPS provide documentation of how many ceremonies you've had over the past 2 years, ie: once a week; once a month; etc. Please quantify.

RESPONSE: Please state the basis of this question. Work limitations are established in the bidding documents. There are no other “down times” anticipated on the project, other than those stated in the bidding documents.

58. Specification section 01‐11‐00 page 3. para 1.5,A.5 Government‐Furnished Materials QUESTION:

Please advise if it will be the clients responsibility to remove, inventory, crate, store all of the Visitors Center existing exibits and artifacts?

RESPONSE: The Contractor is not responsible for these activities.

59. Spec Section – 074213.16 – Metal Plate Wall Panels, Section 2.4 calls out material requirements to be provided by the mfr (BOK‐Modern). Material thickness of the panel is to be 12 gauge.

Plan Details: the project plan details for MP1 call out for a 12 ga prefinished rainscreen material.

Issue: BOK‐Modern standard rainscreen product (Enfold Façade) is a 1/8” thick aluminum product. While they (BOK‐Modern) can provide a 12 ga material, they do not offer it in a rainscreen application as this type of panel runs the risk of rusting even when powder coated, and cannot be warrantied. BOK‐Modern will only do the aluminum material at the rain screen system. QUESTION TO OWNER/DESIGN TEAM: Is the mfr’s standard aluminum material acceptable for the MP‐1 rainscreen application. If not, how is the manufacturer warranty issue to be addressed?

RESPONSE: This will be answered in Amendment 5, issued Tuesday, November 7.

60. Spectrum Engineering (who did the MEP design on the project) is also a commissioning entity. Is it permissible to potentially use Spectrum Engineering to do the project commissioning provided that the team that does the commissioning was not involved in the design aspects of the project?

RESPONSE: There is no conflict of interest with Spectrum Engineering being subcontracted for commissioning.