Questions__Answers__and_Clarifications_0001.pdf

Dry Tortugas National Park

Replace Garden Key Harbor Light Shutters

Solicitation 140P5426R0018

Questions and Answers

As context, the drawings referenced from the 2018 Lord, Aeck & Sargent Construction Documents; Sht's. A3.1, A4.1 and A5.1 were included solely to provide a graphic understanding of the Harbor Light’s overall configuration, its relationship to Fort Jefferson, and the general assembly/connection methodology of the historic shutter and door systems. These drawings are not intended to serve as governing construction documents for the current rehabilitation effort. Offerors shall ignore any notes, references, or details on those drawings that fall outside the specific shutter and door scope described in the solicitation.

Only the requirements explicitly stated in the Statement of Work apply.

Contractor Inquiry – Sheet A3.1, Sheet-Specific Notes

Contractor Q&A

• Note 3 – Install New Watch Room Gallery Support Bracket

Clarification: This item is not part of the current scope. The reference originates from the contextual 2018 LAS Architects drawings and shall be disregarded.

• Note 4 – Install New Watch Room Gallery Guard Rail

Clarification: This item is not included in the present scope. The guard rail reference pertains to the prior restoration campaign and is not applicable to the shutter and door rehabilitation.

• Note 5 – Reinstall Lantern Gallery Handrail

Clarification: The lantern gallery handrail is not part of the current scope. No handrail installation, repair, or assessment is required, and no handrail components are being furnished by the Government for this procurement.

• Note 6 – Install New Glass in Lantern

Clarification: Lantern glazing is not included in the shutter and door rehabilitation scope.

No glass specifications, sizes, or installation details are required for this procurement.

• Note 7 – Install New Ventilator Ball

Clarification: This item is not part of the current scope. The ventilator ball reference pertains to the prior restoration effort and shall be ignored.

These clarifications maintain alignment with the issued solicitation and ensure that the contractor’s understanding remains limited to the shutter and door rehabilitation scope.

The contextual drawings do not expand or modify the requirements of the procurement package.

1. Is there going to be lift/scaffolding access to the exterior of the lighthouse?

Exterior access clarification

Clarification: The National Park Service will provide access solely to the exterior and interior of the Harbor Light. This includes providing the ability for the contractor to enter the lighthouse and reach the interior designated work zones. No additional access equipment, staging systems, or temporary structures will be provided by the Government.

All other access provisions—including lifts, scaffolding, staging, temporary platforms, or any additional means required to perform the work—are the sole responsibility of the contractor. Contractor-provided systems must comply with OSHA requirements and be coordinated with the COR to ensure protection of historic fabric and safe operation within the Garden Key work zone. A specific staging area will be designated by park officials prior to work commencement however, the contractor will be responsible to provide and install all NPS approved barriers, fences, and safeguards for contractor, park personnel and visitor safety.

The park prefers that all shutter and door work be performed from the interior of the Harbor Light whenever feasible. This preference reflects the controlled environment, reduced exposure to exterior hazards, and improved protection of historic fabric afforded by interior access. This preference does not constitute direction of means or methods. The contractor retains full responsibility for determining the safest and most effective approach to performing the work.

Interior access is permitted; however, the contractor is fully responsible for all means, methods, sequencing, and installation procedures, including:

• determining how interior access supports their work approach,

• implementing all required protection measures for the historic interior wood cladding and paneling,

• preventing damage to any interior historic fabric,

• repairing, at their expense, any damage arising from activities performed under this solicitation, and

• repairing any damage to painted surfaces in accordance with the existing paint-repair protocols established during the final close-out of the Harbor Light Restoration Project.

These paint-repair protocols govern color matching, surface preparation, coating application, and finish consistency, and must be followed precisely to maintain continuity with the 2022 restoration campaign.

Interior finishes—including painted surfaces—constitute historic fabric and must be safeguarded throughout all phases of shutter and door removal, reconstruction, and installation. The Government does not direct how the contractor performs the work; it only requires that the work be performed without harm to historic materials and that any damage be fully corrected.

2. When does NPS anticipate the start date for this project will be?

Anticipated start date

Clarification: The project start date will be established by the Contracting Officer upon award of the contract. The anticipated start window is dependent on Contracting’s procurement queue and issuance of the Notice to Proceed (NTP). Offerors should prepare schedules assuming a standard mobilization period following NTP, but no specific start date can be provided until award is finalized.

3. What is an acceptable difference if one can't find replica hardware exactly like the original?

Historic hardware fidelity

Clarification: There are no acceptable alternates. All hardware must be exactly duplicated from the salvaged historic samples recovered from the Harbor Light following Hurricane Ian. Section 3.3 requires the contractor to custom fabricate all hardware, including hinges, pintles, shutter dogs, fasteners, and any specialty components, to match:

• historic profiles,

• dimensions,

• material characteristics,

• finish, and

• performance.

Commercially available substitutes, near-matches, or “close equivalents” are not permitted. The solicitation requires period-appropriate, custom-fabricated hardware produced specifically for this project.

4. Please clarify which openings require single shutters and which openings require double shutters.

Shutter configuration clarification

Clarification: The Harbor Light’s shutter and door configuration follows the historic vertical hierarchy of the cast-iron tower. Based on the salvaged assemblies, historic documentation, and the spatial organization of the lighthouse, the following configuration applies:

Watch Room (Third Floor)

• Four single shutters located at the smaller rectangular openings.

• One double-leaf door providing access at the Watch Room level.

Tier Two (Second Floor)

• Four double-leaf shutters at the paired mid-level openings.

• The east-facing double-leaf shutter is the largest of the four and must be replicated precisely according to the salvaged historic example.

Tier One (Terraplain)

• Two double-leaf shutters at the lower-level paired openings.

• One double-leaf door serving as the main entry from the terraplain.

These configurations reflect the historic pattern of fenestration and ventilation integral to the lighthouse’s original design. The salvaged shutters and doors stored on-site serve as the definitive reference for dimensions, leaf configuration, hardware placement, board-and-batten assembly, and attachment methodology. Contractors shall base all fabrication and installation on these surviving examples and the guidance provided in LAS Sheet A5.1.

These clarifications ensure that AJCE’s understanding remains aligned with the preservation intent and fabrication requirements of the solicitation. The park furnishes access only to the interior and exterior of the Harbor Light and prefers interior-based execution whenever feasible; all other access equipment, means, methods, protection, and repairs—including paint repairs following established protocols—remain the contractor’s responsibility. Hardware must be custom fabricated to match historic samples, and shutter configurations must follow the documented historic pattern across all tiers of the lighthouse.

This memorandum provides formal clarification for the official record regarding the contractor’s extended inquiry on the Garden Key Harbor Light Shutters and Doors Rehabilitation solicitation. The following information reaffirms the governing scope, applicable preservation standards, and administrative processes associated with this procurement. As previously stated, the 2018 Lord Aeck & Sargent (LAS) drawings included in the solicitation were transmitted solely as contextual reference materials. Their purpose is limited to illustrating the Harbor Light’s overall configuration, geometry its relationship to Fort Jefferson, and the general assembly methodology of the shutter and door systems. These drawings originate from a prior restoration campaign and are not the construction documents for the current procurement. Offerors shall disregard all notes, specifications, details, or references on the LAS drawings that fall outside the shutter and door rehabilitation scope described in the solicitation. Only the requirements explicitly stated in the issued procurement package govern the work.

The contractor’s comments are addressed individually below.

1. Scope Drift Between LAS Drawings and Solicitation Requirements

The contractor notes a discrepancy between the limited shutter and door scope and unrelated LAS notes referencing lantern glazing, ventilator ball installation, gallery brackets, gallery rails, interior finishes, fixtures, and touch-up work.

Clarification: None of these items are included in the current scope. These notes are remnants of the prior LAS restoration campaign and shall be disregarded in their entirety.

The sole scope of work under this procurement is the rehabilitation, fabrication, and installation of the Harbor Light shutters and doors, as defined in the solicitation.

2. Request for Full LAS Drawing Set

The contractor requests the complete LAS drawing set to review additional notes.

Clarification: The LAS drawings are not governing documents and are not required for proposal development. The excerpt provided contains all contextual information necessary to understand the Harbor Light’s geometry and the relationship of the shutters and doors to the cast-iron structure. No additional LAS drawings will be issued nor are they necessary.

3. Work Hours Restrictions & Lodging at Loggerhead Key

The contractor requests flexibility in work hours and proposes lodging at Loggerhead Key to reduce transportation costs.

Clarification: Work hour restrictions remain as stated in the solicitation unless formally modified by the Contracting Officer. Lodging arrangements at Loggerhead Key or any other park facility must be coordinated with the COR and approved by the Contracting Officer.

Any deviation from stated work hours or lodging provisions requires formal CO approval prior to implementation.

4. COR Authority & Technical Decision Process

The contractor asks how technical decisions will be made given that the COR cannot issue technical direction.

Clarification: All technical decisions, clarifications, or approvals must be issued by the Contracting Officer. The COR may relay information but cannot authorize changes, modifications, or direction. Any unforeseen conditions requiring Government approval must be submitted through the COR for CO review and determination.

5A. Florida Building Code – Historic Structure Provisions

Clarification: Florida Building Code historic provisions

The Florida Building Code (Existing Building Code, Section 1201.3) contains explicit provisions for historic buildings. The Code states that its requirements “shall not be mandatory for historic buildings where such buildings are judged by the building official to not constitute a distinct life safety hazard.”

This exemption recognizes that historic structures—particularly those listed in the National Register of Historic Places—are governed by preservation standards rather than modern building-envelope performance criteria.

Because the Harbor Light is:

• constructed in 1875,

• individually listed in the National Register,

• restored in 2022 under the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, and

• subject to a scope limited to historic shutter and door reconstruction, The Florida Building Code’s historic-structure exemption applies directly. The solicitation does not require installation of new exterior building envelope products that would trigger Florida Product Approval, Miami-Dade NOA, or engineering certification. This clarification reinforces that the procurement is a historic reconstruction effort, not a modern envelope replacement project.

5B. Permits, Engineering Sign-Off & Florida Product Approval

The contractor raises concerns regarding engineering certification, product approval, and the age of the LAS drawings.

Clarification: Regarding Florida Product Approval, Notices of Acceptance (NOA), and the use of the Rehabilitation of the Garden Key Harbor Light 2018 contract documents:

The Harbor Light at Fort Jefferson is a historic structure constructed in 1875 and individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The lighthouse underwent a major restoration completed in 2022 in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Only selected sheets from the approved preservation bid package were included with this solicitation, and they were provided solely for contextual reference.

The work solicited under this contract consists only of the reconstruction of the historic wood shutters and doors using the existing salvaged samples recovered after Hurricane Ian. The intent of the project is to reconstruct these historic assemblies—not to install modern exterior building envelope systems or Florida Product Approved / Miami-Dade Product Approved manufactured products.

Florida Product Approval and Miami-Dade NOA requirements apply to new exterior building envelope products requiring code evaluation for compliance with the Florida Building Code, including lateral wind force and water intrusion performance. This solicitation does not require the replacement of the historic shutters or doors with new manufactured assemblies that would typically fall under those product approval requirements. Offerors shall base their proposals on the scope of work as issued. Where replacement or repair of deteriorated components is specified, the work shall match the existing historic materials, profiles, dimensions, and construction methods as required by the solicitation and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.

As stated in the solicitation, the Contractor may be responsible for obtaining any permits, inspections, licenses, or approvals required for performance of the work. Based on prior Garden Key Harbor Light restoration campaigns, the park has not required permitting for this type of preservation work. However, should the Federal Authority Having Jurisdiction require supporting documentation for permit issuance based on the Contractor’s proposed means, methods, or substitutions, the Contractor shall provide such documentation.

Nothing in the solicitation requires the installation of new building envelope products for which Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade NOA would typically be applicable. No revisions to the selected solicitation LAS 2018 drawings are anticipated, as they are provided strictly for contextual understanding and are not to be used for any other purpose.

6. Subcontractors, Transportation Providers & SF-1413 Requirements

The contractor asks whether transportation companies and off-site fabricators require SF-1413 forms.

Clarification: SF-1413 is required only for subcontractors performing work on-site at the project location. Transportation providers who do not disembark and off-site fabricators who do not perform work at the project site do not require SF-1413 submission. Insurance requirements remain as stated in the solicitation. Naming the United States / National Park Service as insured refers to being listed as additional insured on the contractor’s policies.

1. Total Number of Existing Shutters and Doors

Existing shutter and door count

Clarification: The Harbor Light retains four historic shutters and one historic door from the 2022 restoration campaign. All surviving assemblies were salvaged following Hurricane Ian and are presently stored on-site. These components serve strictly as reference exemplars for accurate reconstruction of profiles, dimensions, joinery, and hardware configuration.

2. Hardware Restoration vs. New Fabrication Requirements

Historic hardware fabrication

Clarification: Section 3.3 of the Scope of Work requires the contractor to fabricate all required metal hardware, including hinges, pintles, fasteners, shutter dogs, and any custom components, based on surviving historic examples.

Accordingly:

• No restoration, refurbishment, or reuse of salvaged hardware is required or authorized.

• Salvaged hardware serves solely as reference material for accurate reproduction.

• All hardware installed under this contract shall be newly fabricated, matching historic profiles, dimensions, and performance.

This requirement ensures consistency, durability, and fidelity to the historic assemblies while avoiding risks associated with reusing storm-damaged components.

3. Fabrication Details & Installation Procedures – Government Authority Clarified

Fabrication and installation clarification

Clarification: Section 3.3 establishes the performance and preservation standards governing fabrication of shutters, doors, and hardware. These standards define what must be achieved—not how the contractor must perform the work.

The Government does not direct the contractor’s means, methods, sequencing, or installation procedures. Those responsibilities rest exclusively with the contractor.

To ensure proper coordination and protection of historic fabric, the contractor shall:

• submit a construction schedule identifying major work activities, sequencing, and anticipated durations;

• submit a schedule of values forecasting fabrication, installation, and inspection milestones;

• identify any specialized procedures or staging requirements that may affect access, interior protection, or coordination with park operations.

These planning instruments allow the Government to review the contractor’s proposed approach for compatibility with preservation intent, without directing how the work is performed.

Regarding installation methodology: Although the LAS drawings were provided solely for contextual understanding, Sheet A5.1 contains section details illustrating the historic attachment method to the cast-iron superstructure. These details shall be used as guidance to ensure proper interface with the cast-iron frame, consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, but they do not constitute Government direction on means or methods.

4. Mockup Requirements – Shutter Assembly and Door Leaf

Mockup requirements

Clarification: The mockup shall consist of one full shutter assembly and one full door leaf, each constructed in accordance with Section 3.3. The mockup must demonstrate:

• accurate reconstruction of the board-and-batten assembly,

• representative hardware fabrication (hinges, pintles, fasteners),

• correct profile and joinery matching salvaged examples,

• finish treatment consistent with NPS/MFG-approved guidelines, and

• proper attachment methodology to the cast-iron superstructure, informed by LAS Sheet A5.1.

The mockup serves as the Government’s verification of craftsmanship, material selection, hardware reproduction accuracy, and installation methodology prior to full fabrication.

Approval of the mockup is required before production of the remaining shutters and the full door assembly.

5. Trim Inclusion & Protection of Historic Interior Finishes

Trim scope clarification

Clarification: Door and shutter trim is not included in this solicitation. Section 3.3 defines fabrication requirements exclusively for shutters, doors, and associated hardware. No trim boards, casing, or ancillary finish elements are required under this contract.

However, the existing historic interior wood paneling and trim within the Harbor Light must be fully protected during all phases of shutter and door removal, reconstruction, and installation. These interior finishes constitute historic fabric and shall not be damaged, altered, or removed. The contractor shall implement appropriate protection measures— such as temporary coverings, padded barriers, and controlled work sequencing—to ensure preservation of these interior elements.

6. Recommendation of Historic Hardware Fabricators

Historic hardware fabricator guidance

Clarification: The National Park Service does not endorse or recommend specific vendors.

Contractors may select any qualified fabricator capable of producing historically accurate hardware in small batches. All fabricated hardware must match the historic samples in profile, dimensions, finish, and performance.

1. Transportation of Contractor Materials and Equipment

Transportation clarification: The National Park Service (NPS) may provide contractor equipment/personnel transportation aboard the Motor Vessel Fort Jefferson (MVFJ), contingent upon prior authorization from Park Management and strict compliance with established travel, security and loading parameters.

Per discussion with the MVFJ commanding officer:

• The vessel’s crane has a maximum lifting capacity of 2,500 pounds.

• Any loading or unloading requirements exceeding 2,500 pounds must be performed via commercial crane service.

o A local provider is available: Mullen Crane Service Phone: (305) 795-1760 Email: russellmullen10@gmail.com

Garden Key is equipped with ship-to-dock ramps rated for up to 5 tons, which may accommodate vehicle or trailer loading/unloading operations that exceed the MVFJ crane’s capacity. All cargo intended for crane lifts at either location must be pre-packaged to conform to the 2,500-pound lifting limit. Contractors are responsible for coordinating all transportation logistics with the COR/Park Management and ensuring compliance with maritime safety requirements and historic resource protection protocols.

2. Contractor Housing at Fort Jefferson

Housing clarification: Dry Tortugas National Park can provide contractor housing at the established NPS rate of $45 per night per person. Housing availability is limited and must be reserved in advance and is subject to Park Management approval, including confirmation of the number of contractor personnel requesting on-island accommodations.

Secondary Clarification (Not Requested by AJCE): Dry Tortugas National Park maintains a limited lodging capacity on Garden Key. As such, the number of contractor personnel that can be housed on-island is subject to Park Management approval based solely on available accommodations and safety considerations. This approval pertains only to lodging capacity and does not direct or limit the contractor’s staffing decisions, means, methods, or sequencing of the work. All lodging reservations—including the number of personnel requesting on-island accommodations—must be coordinated and confirmed prior to mobilization. Any contractor personnel not approved for on-island lodging must secure independent accommodations at their own expense.

These clarifications reflect current park-approved, project-specific transportation and housing policy at Dry Tortugas National Park. Government-controlled MVFJ transport may be authorized only with prior Park Management approval and must comply with all defined weight limits and packaging requirements. Contractor housing is available at the NPS rate of $45 per night per person, with all lodging reservations and personnel approvals requiring advance coordination with Park Management.

Please find below a newly received and field-verified clarification regarding the existing shutter inventory at the Garden Key Harbor Light. This information is being forwarded promptly to ensure the solicitation record reflects the most current and accurate conditions.

Addendum Narrative – Shutter Inventory Clarification

1. Large Rectangular Window Shutters One complete set (both halves) is present for each of the five large rectangular window openings.

2. Lantern Room Openings No shutters are present at the four smaller rectangular openings in the lantern room. These openings appear to function as air-vent locations and historically may not have been shuttered.

3. Square Window Shutters One complete set (both halves) is present for the single square window.

4. Terreplein Door Shutters One complete set (both halves) is present for the main door to the terreplein. Provenance is uncertain; the set may be original or fabricated by S & L during prior maintenance cycles.

5. Gallery Deck Door Shutters One incomplete set (single half only) is present for the door to the gallery deck. Provenance is likewise uncertain and may involve fabrication by S & L.

Offerors should incorporate this verified inventory into their assessments of required fabrication, restoration, or replacement work. Any assumptions regarding historic replication, material matching, or fabrication origin should be clearly stated in proposal submissions.