Questions_and_Answers_0001.pdf

Solicitation #: 140P6222R0002

Amendment #: Amend 0001

Construct Housing Unit – OZAR

Questions and Answers listed below:

QUESTIONS:

Question

Question Answer/Response

1.

We are reviewing the solicitation documents provided on the sam.gov website. Page 46 of Solicitation 140P6222R0002: 2. PAST PERFORMANCE – it states the attached past performance questionnaire must be the one completed – no exceptions. Our previous past performance questionnaire is much more detailed and we believe it would go above and beyond the information requested in the form provided with this solicitation.

Attached is a blank of what we already have completed by several prior owners in December 2021. Please advise if this is acceptable to submit with our proposal.

The solicitation states that this is the PPQ to be utilized as we require all offerors to submit the same documents so that each proposal package properly submits the required documents we need in order to move forward with our technical evaluation process. All to often contractors do not properly submit their past performance with performance ratings from the owner of the projects, and this is unacceptable - also, it is not the government’s responsibility to track down this information a contractor has failed to provide adequate details for.

The way we have determined to eliminate this confusion and to hold all contractors equally responsible, is to ensure they are submitting the PPQ we have supplied to them, so that we are able to gather all of the information we need in order to move forward with the proposal package.

All contractors must follow the solicitation instructions as outlined and ensure the PPQ provided with this specific solicitation is the one that must be completed and submitted with their proposal package.

I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but if you saw how some of these proposals came in, you would completely understand why we are specific and hold strictly to our instructions as outlined in the solicitation

– this ensures we are comparing apples to apples, and ensuring the evaluation process is as minimally burdensome as possible for our technical evaluation panel.

2.

The specs state 7/16" plywood and it should be 7/16" OSB board. He stated that he will get this clarified so that each contractor is bidding on the same item(s).

There are several conflicts throughout the documents about the wall sheathing, some say ½” and others say 7/16”. We request 7/16” OSB sheathing for all walls where it is required.

3.

What is the depth of the waterline?

Park typically puts the water lines at 36" deep - the new 4" line that leads to the project site is at that same depth.

The frost line for this area is 18"to 20" – the current specifications have been updated with the attached addendum to the project specifications changing the line from 42" to 36" minimum depth of the water line

1. Are the key personnel listed on the Technical Questionnaire permitted to be performing multiple roles (i.e. Superintendent also fulfills the On-Site Safety Specialist/Quality Control Manager role)?

Yes, ok for senior staff to fill multiple roles

2. The government range of $500,000 - $1,000,000 will not support three personnel onsite along with the construction crew for a PoP duration of 6-9 months. Does the NPS want to see an onsite Quality Control Specialist, onsite Safety Specialist, and Superintendent onsite at all times? Supt on-site during any work or deliveries to the site.

3. If the QC and Safety reps are to be onsite, what qualifications will the NPS be looking for these individuals to obtain? QC representative to have current ISO 9001 certification or similar approved training; Safety representative to have current OSHA certification for work type.

4. The provided Bid Schedule does not have an allocation section for general conditions/ Division 1 costs. We will not be able to cost load the General Conditions into the other line items without skewing the data in the other categories. Will the government allow the offeror to utilize and submit their own cost breakout by division, so that general conditions/ Division 1 costs can be properly accounted for? Allocate in all categories.

5. If the NPS will not allow the contractor to submit their division breakout, will the NPS restructure their bid schedule to correspond with the divisions as listed in the specifications? No, breakout per Bid document form

6. Are there any liquidated damages associated with the stated Period of Performance? No

7. Spec section 01 31 00-6 para 1.7.A calls for an environmental manager. This person was not mentioned in the technical questionnaire. Is this person to be onsite at all times? Environmental manager is not required on-site at all times.

8. Can this environmental manager role be filled by the same person filling another role? Yes, role can be filled by others with experience.

9. Paragraph 1.7.D Calls for LEED application process. Will the NPS please specify which portions of this project are LEED applicable and which ones are not? Project not LEED certified, however, Federal contracting requires sustainable products/systems to the extent possible.

10. If the contractor opts to supply a temporary work trailer, can the contractor hook up to the NPS electrical, sewer, and water utilities at no charge to the contractor? All hook ups fees/coordination /charges/usage/utility metering costs at Contractor expense.

11. Section 013100 1.8.B.6-10 call for permits that the State of Missouri will likely not get involved with since this is a Federal job. It is likely that they would defer the contractor back to the DOI or NPS. For budgeting purposes, will the Park want the contractor to allocate a budget to complete these plans or can they be omitted from the requirements? Contractor required to get permits.

12. Confirm that the Contractor is required to provide the propane tank for the duplex? If so, what size should the tank be and should it be an underground tank?

a. The housing is all electric, so the only propane would be if the contractor elects to use propane as temporary heat. If so, the contactor will need to determine the location of any propane tanks as part of their construction site.

13. Drawings page G3, section 906.1 states to provide fire extinguishers. Will the NPS confirm if this is the contractor’s responsibility or will the NPS pick up this requirement?

a. Provide the fire extinguishers as indicated. Locations will be issued in an addendum.

14. If fire extinguishers are in the contractor’s scope, will the NPS please clarify how many, what type and size of extinguisher to procure, and where to install them?

a. See previous item.

15. Drawings Page G3, table 402.1.1 (top right corner) states that the floor insulation should be R-19.

Detail 1 on A7 calls for the subfloor perimeter at the wall to receive 2” of spray foam, followed by a blocking board of some type. Other than a callout for 2” of spray foam at the perimeter we could not find where in the drawing details it calls for subfloor insulation. On a previous NPS contract at Round Springs we applied spray foam at the entire underside of the subfloor deck. Using open cell foam we applied 6” to gain an R-20 value. This method of insulation also encapsulated and sealed the floor penetrations Is it acceptable to apply this method of insulation, or 2” of closed cell insulation, to the bottom side of the entire decking?

a. This crawl space is insulated around the perimeter, and no insulation is to be installed at the bottom of the floor structure.

16. It is recommended to use open cell insulation at the decking. In the event of a leak, open cell spray foam will allow water to drain, whereas closed cell will retain water, forcing it to dissipate inside the substrate. Also, closed cell foam has long lead times right now and is not widely available. Will the

Park consider allowing the contractor to utilize open cell foam spray insulation in lieu of closed cell foam?

a. Question is not pertinent RE: the decking; see previous item. Use specified spray foam insulation at the rim joist locations.

17. Plans page C1, sheet demo note 4. What type of seed does the Park require? If the seed washes away, does the contractor have to reapply it? Can the contractor utilize hydroseeding to prevent the washout?

a. Use the same seeding/hydroseeding as specified in 32 92 00.

18. Page C1, note 6. Does this under an acre plan apply to the stockpile location in note 5, or to the project site? It applies to both.

a. These two areas combined need to be kept under an acre – stockpile perimeter will need to be configured to allow the total disturbed project site area to be under an acre.

19. Drawings page C5. The pressure pipe detail shows a tracer wire, but the gravity pipe trench detail does not. Please confirm if the gravity pipe trench detail should have a tracer (locater) wire associated with it.

a. Government confirms that the bidders are to bid what is in the contract documents.

20. What should the PSI be for the concrete co-located with the cleanouts and valve boxes?

a. 4,000 PSI, per Spec Section 03 30 00.

21. On page A4 detail 2, the top of the crawl space access door opening should correspond with the top of the stem wall. This will eliminate the need for a structural header, reinforcing lintel, and saw cutting through the stem wall. Is this acceptable?

a. Drawings currently show the top of the access door at the bottom of the siding, which is at the bottom of the wood wall framing. No concrete header is required.

22. Another NPS project had air vents in the stem wall. Does the NPS want air vents in this stem wall?

a. No air vents are required in the stem wall.

23. If air vents are not installed in this stem wall, it is recommended that there be a dehumidifier installed in the crawl space to mitigate moisture buildup and eliminate the future possibility of mold spores developing. The dehumidifier’s condensate line can be tapped with an RPZ and tied into the sanitary sewer line or routed outside and into a french drain. Does the NPS want dehumidifiers installed in the crawl space?

a. Crawl space is to receive an owner-furnished portable dehumidifier which will require a sleeve through the stem wall for the drain hose plus a splash block. This will be indicated by Addendum.

24. There is no reference to an attic access hatch in the drawings. In a different NPS project at Round Springs, the Park opted not to install an attic access hatch. This decision had a negative impact on the contractor later when we needed to access the attic area. Will the NPS please clarify if they want an attic hatch/ladder and if so where to put it?

a. An attic access hatch is required, and will be indicated by Addendum.

25. Page A3, roof plan note 2, calls for all flues and vents to be within two feet of the roof. Should this have stated “within two feet of the ridgeline”?

a. That is the intent.

26. Note 3 on A4 says to paint the concrete stem wall prior to backfill. Does the NPS want the contractor to use the paint that is listed on 099000-7 under “CONCRETE”?

a. That is the intent, for the area of the concrete stem wall that is exposed to view. The portion of the stem wall that is buried will receive damp-proofing, which will be indicated by Addendum.

27. Page A7, detail 1C and 1B. The soffit and lookout on 1C is projected to be 16”, but the soffit and lookout on 1B appears to reflect 20”. The correct measurement should be 20”. Which lookout and corresponding soffit length does the NPS want the contractor to adhere to?

a. These details show the correct dimensions, however detail 1B should be labeled “At Eave Edge” instead of “At Gable Roof Edge.”

28. Page S3, sheet note 4, the single directional hashed line indicates that there should be a single layer of plywood at the interior shearwall. The architectural drawings only indicate 1/2” sheetrock on each side of the 2 x 6 wall. Does the NPS want the contractor to install a single layer of plywood underneath one side of the sheetrock? If so, this will skew the measurements by 1/2” in all of the rooms.

a. Yes, the sheathing is required and needs to be included. The information to clarify how this affects the floor plan will be indicated in an Addendum.

29. On page S4, sheet note 4, the same hashed line indicates that there should be 2 x 6 studs going all the way up to the roof decking, then one single layer of plywood on the studs. Except for possible fire stopping, this doesn’t make sense. Does the Park want this wall to be built through the attic up to the roof ridge line with a single layer of plywood on one side or the other?

a. The Roof Framing Plan on S4, detail 2/S7, and detail 2/A6 show that there is to be a truss aligned with the wall framing, which only extends up to the bottom of the truss.

30. On page S4, the shaded area calls for overframing. Does the Park want this area to be stick framed or built using engineered trusses?

a. Either is permissible.

31. Will the Park allow the construction crew to utilize an onsite burn pit for disposal of wood? No burning allowed on Park property. Salvage and recycle per spec section 01 74 19

32. Page S5, detail 4, identifies the interior column makeup. In over twenty years of building houses, our crew has never used 2 x 6 sandwiched together to build a structural base. Our opinion is that these should be poured in place concrete using square forms or round sonotubes. If the contractor embeds rebar turned up out of the footing, they could place 12” sonotubes over the footing and pour them in place when they pour the stem wall. This is the preferred method of construction of this nature and will actually cost less than the labor and material associated with the detail as it is written. These wood posts could become jeopardized in the event of an unforeseen termite or WDO infestation. Will the Park consider abandoning this and switching to a concrete column base?

a. Government confirms that the bidders are to bid what is in the contract documents.

33. Note L4 on S0 suggests to use LVLs to reinforce the structure, however, Detail 4 on S5 suggests using four 2 x 12s. Two LVLs are cheaper than four 2 x 12s and they carry twice the bearing capacity. Plus, LVLs are engineered whereas 2 x 12s are not. There is no structural guarantee with a 2 x 12 and each 2 x 12 will support differently. Each LVL is engineered to carry the same load as any other LVL. Will the Park consider allowing two 2 x 12 LVLs in place of the four 2 x 12s?

a. Government confirms that the bidders are to bid what is in the contract documents.

34. Page S4 has a beam schedule showing 2 x 10s for the floor joists. We just finished an NPS project at

Round Springs where we used BLI 65 I-Joists in the expansions. This floor was superior to the opposing floor in the original structure which was made up of 2 x 8 from 20+ years ago. The original structure had regular 2 x 8s for floor joists. The floors in the original buildings are bouncy and spongy in some places. Our residential team quit using regular 2xX floor joists over 20 years ago. In our experience of building homes, we suggest abandoning the 2 x 10 option and transitioning to a BLI 65 rated I-joist. Combine I-joists with two LVLs and the Park will have a superior structure not capable of moving, bouncing, or deflecting. The contractor would have to field adjust the height of the underlying column, but that is a simple process. Will the Park agree to this?

a. Government confirms that the bidders are to bid what is in the contract documents.

35. Drawing Page A10 detail 1 has a note that references the air barrier. Some barriers such as Lowes have perforations in them, whereas others (Tyvek) are non perforated. Does the NPS have a preference as to which type of air barrier the contractor uses?

a. There will be an Addendum item that will address the air barrier material.

36. Does the Park want the contractor to use zip wall for the exterior 7/16” sheeting or will ordinary

7/16” OSB plywood work?

a. The government will allow the use of this type of wall sheathing as a substitute for the specified OSB wall sheathing and air barrier. This will be indicated in an Addendum item.

37. Does the Park want the contractor to use the orange ZIP 5/8” tongue and groove OSB sheeting or can the contractor use any type of 5/8” OSB sheeting?

a. Government confirms that the bidders are to use the OSB sheathing specified in paragraph

2.4 of section 06 10 00.

38. Does the Park want the contractor to use the 3/4” T&G (23/32) Advantech floor decking, or will any type of 23/32” T&G OSB floor decking suffice?

a. Government confirms that the bidders are to bid what is in the contract documents. If bidders desire to use enhanced floor decking, that is a contractor decision.

39. Where in the project does detail 3 on A10 apply? We searched the drawings but could not find where this would be applicable.

a. There is a roof-to-wall condition at the shed roofs over the exterior decks.

40. Page S0, note C3. The nearest batch plant is over 30 minutes away from the project site. The note on C5 does not allow us to mix any water onsite without permission. Can the contractor utilize plasticizer in their mix to increase the working time of the concrete?

a. The mix design needs to comply with the specified admixtures in 03 30 00. Water reducers and retarders as listed.

41. While under contract at a current (different) NPS project, we found a major discrepancy in the specifications and drawings relating to which spec (03 30 00 or 32 13 00) applied to which portion of the concrete job. To identify any possible ambiguity or misinterpretation on this project, will the Park please confirm which parts of the concrete and paving fall under which specification? More specifically, will the Park please confirm what part of the concrete scope falls under 32 16 23 and what part of the concrete scope falls under 03 30 00?

a. Section 03 30 00 is labeled “Cast-in-Place Concrete” and applies to all concrete except pavements and walks, which are included under Section 32 16 23.

42. Note L13 on S0 discusses types of nails. Should all of the interior nails be ring-shanked? Should all of the exterior nails be galvanized and ring-shanked?

a. No ring shank nails are required.

43. Page A8, the note states that the contractor is to supply the range hood. Will the Park please provide a specification and Basis of Design for the hood?

a. This is incorrect; all appliances are to be provided by the Government and installed by the Contractor. This will be indicated with an Addendum.

44. The specifications are unclear as to the type of insulation to be used in the attic space. G3, table

402.1.1 suggests an R-value of 49 which would be indicative of a blown-in insulation. What type of insulation does the NPS want in the ceiling?

a. Detail 1B/A7 shows R-49 Batt Insulation.

45. We tried to identify in the drawings the sheetrock size on the ceiling but could not find the detail or notation. Specification 09 29 00-2 para 2.1B contains a statement in parenthesis about using 5/8” for ceilings. What size sheetrock does the NPS want on their ceiling?

a. Use the specified 5/8” gypsum board for ceilings.

46. Page A9 shows control joints on top of each door corner, and at the tops and bottoms of each window corner. The specifications state that Control joints shall be formed by installing two (2) casing beads back-to-back with 1/16-inch gap in between, or by using a ¼” wide by 7/16” deep vee-shaped trim with perforated metal on the exposed face. At Round Springs we used option 1 (two casing beads) and it did not look good. The Park was not happy with it either but it was in the specifications, so they had to accept it. Our experience in hospital work leads us to recommend the 7/16” vee-shaped trim with perforated metal. We also think it’s unnecessary to put one at each window corner and at the tops of each door corner. One at each is sufficient. Will the Park accept one CJ at each door and window, in lieu of the two shown in the drawings?

a. Government confirms that the bidders are to bid what is in the contract documents.

47. Will the Park please strike the back-to-back casing beads from the specifications and leave the V-shaped trim as the only suitable option?

a. The bidders may use either of the specified control joint options listed in 09 29 00.

48. Does the Park want the CJ to be full height of the wall?

a. That is the intent.

49. The top of Page M1 & M2 contains a Sprinkler Note. This note suggests that the contractor should design the fire system to meet the requirements of NFPA 13R. Leaving the fire design up to the contractor places this project in a possible design-build position. If the fire engineer designs the system and the Park doesn’t accept it, then it’s on the contractor to come up with the cost difference to mitigate it. Will the Park provide a drawing that details exactly where they want the Fire Suppression heads installed?

a. Government confirms that the bidders are to bid what is in the contract documents.

50. The fire suppression piping is specified to be black steel pipe. At a previous NPS project (Round

Springs) we utilized CPVC which is specifically suited for residential environments. The cost of black pipe is three to four times that of CPVC, and the Park will enjoy a significant savings if they agree to make the switch. Since CPVC is acceptable in NFPA 13R, can the contractor utilize a CPVC system in lieu of the black steel pipe as specified?

a. Paragraph 2.3 in Specification section 21 05 00 states that there are three options available for this piping, one of which is CPVC.

51. If the NPS will allow CPVC, will they substitute the specifications that are applicable to CPVC?

a. Paragraph 2.3 in Specification section 21 05 00 states that there are three options available for this piping, one of which is CPVC.

52. The drawing on Page E3 contains a symbol that we cannot find on the symbol charts. It’s an F with a circle around it. We have checked every symbol chart and legend in the drawings but cannot identify

it. Will the Park please check with A&E and identify this symbol?

a. This symbol represents a fire alarm horn strobe device. This will be indicated in an addendum.

53. Does the Park know if the Contractor will have an outside source to tie the ethernet data in to? If so, will it be up to the contractor to coordinate that?

Install the internet connections as contained in the designs and the occupants will choose their provider. Basically, the house needs to be wired and the occupants can use the local cable company or dish or any other provider.

54. Will the Park please provide a two-week extension after the RFI answers are posted to give time for the contractor to coordinate the responses with the trades and get pricing?

This will be extended to allow contractors to review the answers and account for them in their proposals