B09_Questions_and_Answers_amend_04_0004.pdf

Questions and Answers – Amendment 04

1. First and foremost would be the well drilling qualification requirements outlined in 33 11 11- 4 requiring the well drilling contractor show 7 years of well drilling experience and a minimum of 30 wells constructed in San Bernardino County. We feel this is a very stringent and requirement as not many well drilling projects are released to bid in San Bernadino County each year. JDC could show experience of many wells in California as we have been drilling them there since the 1960’s, although we cannot provide that quantity in that County, Riverside County we certainly could- but not San Bernardino. We suggest the requirements be relaxed to something more industry standard such as 5 wells in the last 5 years in similar Geology.

The requirement of 30-wells constructed in San Bernardino County is based on approximately 4 to 5 wells constructed in the county per year over seven years. This ensures that the water well contractor has good familiarity with not only with the geology and groundwater in the county but also the realities of carrying out well drilling work in the county. To allow for more water well contractors to submit cost proposals, the requirement is changed to be a cumulative minimum number of 30 water wells constructed in the California counties of Inyo, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial; but there must be at least 5 water wells that have been constructed in San Bernardino County in the past three years.

2. The qualifications require a fully prepared and cost-loaded CPM schedule. These are very time consuming and complex, and JDC would need to outsource to a scheduling firm. We feel for the nature of this project and the size this is not a great value to the client and could offer some nice cost savings if a simpler Microsoft Project schedule would be acceptable in lieu.

Specification 01 32 16 Construction Schedule requires project scheduling to be used employing critical path methodology. The Microsoft Project software is a project scheduling software that utilizes the critical path methodology. The activities and milestones that comprise the schedule are to be of sufficient number to allow for the CPM schedule to realistically reflect the temporal aspect of the project. While the MS Project scheduling software is fully capable of providing cost data associated with the activities, specification 01 32 16 does not require that the CPM schedule be loaded for cost tracking (nor resource tracking.) The Schedule of Values requirement in specification 01 32 16 is not tied into the CPM project schedule.

3. Does the agency really see the necessity for sound mitigation/ sound walls for this particular project?

These are very costly measures to provide if not necessary.

Specification 01 57 19.12 Noise and Acoustic Management does not explicitly require sound mitigation nor sound walls. The project is in a rural area so the parts of the specification that are for residential and commercial/industrial receiving areas do not apply. This specification is not meant to supplant the contract clauses that require the contractor to adhere to OSHA standards.

4. I am assuming all the costs for Archaeological monitoring are to be covered by the agency?

Specification 01 35 13.22 Archaeological Protection prescribes the archaeological monitor as a government employee. The archaeological monitor is the responsibility of the government. This specification requires the contractor to coordinate their work activities with the archaeological monitor.

5. The test well drilling specification makes no mention of borehole sizing other than it be large enough at the upper end to allow for a legal sanitary seal. The specifications read that drilling with air rotary is really the preferred method. Does the agency have a preferred filter pack annular thickness they are looking for? As this would control the borehole diameter to some degree.

Specification 33 11 11 Test Wells is prescriptive for the casing and well screen diameters but performance in regard to the borehole size deferring to the judgement of the contractor. This specification provides an anticipated size range for the filter pack.

6. Coordinates for the well would be nice.

The Google Earth image that was annotated for a previous set of questions (amendment 03) provides this information.

7. A well drawing as well as site map drawing would be helpful. Specifically we would like an idea if a concrete pad is needed around the well-head/ pitless adapter, how far from the well site is existing power- and what that looks like. Any or how much trenching will be needed to perform the tie-in.

The Google Earth image that was annotated for a previous set of questions (amendment 03) provides the site map information and the photographs sent show were the existing electrical power components are situated on the site. The amount of trenching that will be required can also be derived from the photos and Google Earth image. Specification 22 11 00 Plumbing, Piping, & Fittings, subpart 2.6.A.11 specifies the concrete slab requirement around the wellhead.

8. What does the tie-in of the well to the existing water system need to be performed. The bid item is vague on what is needed- again a drawing would be handy.

The Google Earth image that was annotated and the photographs for a previous set of questions (amendment 03) provides this information.

9. We would like a firm understanding of what pipe fittings and or electrical parts will be needed for the completion, as these items have become quite expensive and some long lead-time as of late. We also may need to solicit subcontractors to perform the electrical scope and potentially plumbing.

The detailed specific as-constructed information of the existing water line and underground electrical components is unknown. The sizes of the water line and electrical conduit/wiring are thought to be equal to or less than 2-inches for the former and 1.5-inches for the latter. Both PVC and GSP pipe/conduit can be expected.