B08_Attachment_6_140P8424R0013__Site_Visit_Notes_Q-A_Amendment_1_Summary_0001.pdf

OREGON CAVES NATIONAL MONUMENT

AND PRESERVE

CONSTRUCT NEW HEADQUARTERS

WATER SOURCE

PMIS No. 324138

AMENDMENT NO. 1

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

PACIFIC WEST REGION

SITE VISIT SUMMARY:

A pre-proposal site visit was conducted on August 23, 2024. Participants met at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) at Oregon Caves NPS Headquarters Building at 1900 Caves Hwy, Cave Junction, Oregon. The project scope was reviewed at the start of the meeting in the HQ conference room and potential contractors were given an opportunity to ask questions. Potential contractors followed NPS staff on a site walk along the existing water lines. Areas visited included the structures near park headquarters, the water line path to the existing treatment building and the water line path from the treatment building to the maintenance building. After reaching the intersection of the line to the maintenance building, potential contractors were given the opportunity to walk up the mountain to the source or review the points of connection at the maintenance building and end their site visit. Some contractors chose to walk with NPS staff the remainder of the line to the source, an approximate 2 hour round trip. Questions asked during the site visit were recorded and answered below, including questions asked after the group split. The site visit concluded at approximately 4:30pm

PROJECT QUESTIONS FROM PREBID SITE WALK MEETING:

1. Question: Does the existing water line have tracer wire installed? Answer: No.

2. Question: Is the existing line iron or plastic? Answer: The existing line is a combination of both. As-built plans for the line are not available. Reference general notes on G2.

3. Question: Does the existing line follow the alignment shown on plan? Answer: Existing utilities are shown approximate based on limited existing knowledge. Reference general notes on G2. Also reference specification section 02 05 00, site verification of conditions.

4. Question: Is new water line to be installed while existing remains in services? Answer:

Yes. Reference specification section 01 11 00, 1.7 Work Restrictions.

5. Question: Is the new line to be installed in the existing utility corridor, and if so, how wide is it? Answer: Yes. Where lines overlap, the intent is to follow the existing alignment and utility corridor. Reference specification section 31 12 33 Part 3 for trench width.

6. Question: Does the contractor have liability for damaging trees? Answer: Yes. This is a National Monument. Care must be taken in all construction activities including excavation.

Reference multiple locations in the specifications discussing tree roots, starting with section 01 11 00 1.4E, Preservation of Natural Features.

7. Question: An existing fiberoptic line that is buried in some locations and exposed in others follows the waterline roughly from the HQ building to the maintenance building, is this clearly identified on plans? Answer: The fiber optic line is identified on plans, but it’s precise location is unknown. This is a critical existing utility. Reference response to question 3 above. Careful coordination, including onsite coordination with the park maintenance staff at time of construction, will be required to ensure the location of the fiber optic line is verified prior to any excavation. The fiber optic line was verified during the site walk as being shielded with foil wrap that could potentially be used in tracer locating.

8. Question: Is the depth to bedrock known? Answer: Depth to bedrock is unknown. The new supply line is to be located in an existing graded road prism, but rock could be encountered. Reference specification 31 12 33, 3.3A for rock excavation requirements.

9. Question: On the supply line road, should downed trees laying in the road be rolled down the hill or simply pushed to the side? Answer: If trees can be rolled off the road safely, they can be. Otherwise leaving them on the side of the road is acceptable.

10. Question: Will the contractor be responsible for clearing the brush along the road, especially at the end with it becomes very thick? Answer: Yes. Reference sheet G2, Existing Access Route, Note 3.

PROJECT QUESTIONS RECEIVED VIA EMAIL:

11. Question: Factor 2 of Volume I requires Oregon Contractor State License and Copy of offeror’s current Oregon Contractor State License as well as Copy of Oregon Contractor State License for any proposed subcontractor(s). Because this is a federal project will our California State Contractors license be acceptable? Answer: The license evaluation factor is NOT evaluated as pass/fail. Meaning an offeror is not immediately eliminated from consideration if they do not possess the stated license.

Since this is a best value award decision, your possession (or lack thereof) of the license will be taken into consideration along with the licenses you have provided for your company and your proposed subcontractors (if any). You will be evaluated accordingly for that particular evaluation factor, and the final best value tradeoff award decision will include a consideration of the results from that factor as well as from the other evaluation factors listed in the solicitation, including price.

12. Question: Will prevailing wage zone differential be Zone 2 or Zone 3? Answer: No, zone should be Zone 1. After reviewing the wage determination it is our interpretation that Zone 2 or Zone 3 do not apply as those zones are predicated on work in different counties than the project location (in Josephine County, OR).

13. Question: Is the line from the proposed intake to the existing treatment building to be 4” or 6” diameter? Answer: 6”, reference sheet G3.

14. Question: Page C2 shows the manhole to be about 12.5 feet deep but the detail on C12 shows 8.5 feet deep. Which is accurate? Answer: Detail on C12 has top of vault at +3 feet and sump at -8.5 feet. Top of vault requires field verification, but plan dimensions are consistent at 11.5-12 feet total depth.

15. Question: Will compacted testing be required for the pipe zone? Answer: Yes. In conformance with specification 31 12 33.

16. Question: What kind of testing will be required to show the manhole is watertight? Answer:

Requirement is for the manhole to be watertight. Product selection and testing is the responsibility of the contractor to ensure the final construction meeting project requirements.

17. Question: What restrictions will there be for working in various weather? Answer:

Contractor will need to coordinate with the Contracting Officer for an acceptable construction schedule. Site will be completely inaccessible during snow. Other inclement weather including heavy rain will also restrict construction.

18. Question: Will we be reusing the existing prefilter chambers at the water plant building as shown on page P1? Answer: Yes.

19. Question: There is a new pressure transducer going into an existing water tank (Drawing P3). and (5) for the existing filters (Drawing P1) There is no information or spec on what is needed for it. Can you provide that info?

Answer: The contractor shall provide a transducer submittal that is compatible with the control system specs or submitted.

20. Question: In spec section 40 90 00 it says that the integrator is doing the programming.

But in section 40 94 23 it says the owner is doing the programming and configuration. Who is responsible for the programming on this project? (see below)

40 90 00 B. The contractor shall retain the services of a qualified Systems Integrator or similar person or company that specializes in the design of PLC systems. The Systems Integrator shall be responsible for the final design, layout, programming, configuring, installation, testing and start-up of the control system.

40 94 23

1.4 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

A. General: 1. The contractor, shall furnish, assemble, and install and place into service the PLC based control system.

2. Control System programming and configuration is provided by the Owner.

Answer: Specification 409423 1.4.A.2 shall be revised to say “The contractor is responsible for the initial programming of the programmable logic controller associated with installed systems.”

21. Question: I don't see a bid item for rock excavation. Is there a rock clause for dealing with rock or boulders? will this be a change order if encountered?

Answer: Depth to bedrock is unknown. The new supply line is to be located in an existing graded road prism, but rock could be encountered. Reference specification 31 12 33, 3.3A for rock excavation requirements.

22. Question: Will retainage be applied to payments? Answer: No retainage % is anticipated for this project. The work will be paid once work is properly invoiced/verified/approved.

AMENDMENT ITEMS:

This Amendment corrects formatting errors in clause 1452.201-70, with correctly formatted version provided as follows:

1452.201-70 AUTHORITIES AND DELEGATIONS (SEP 2011)

(a) The Contracting Officer is the only individual authorized to enter into or terminate this contract, modify any term or condition of this contract, waive any requirement of this contract, or accept nonconforming work.

(b) The Contracting Officer will designate a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) at time of award. The COR will be responsible for technical monitoring of the contractor’s performance and deliveries. The COR will be appointed in writing, and a copy of the appointment will be furnished to the Contractor. Changes to this delegation will be made by written changes to the existing appointment or by issuance of a new appointment.

(c) The COR is not authorized to perform, formally or informally, any of the following actions:

(1) Promise, award, agree to award, or execute any contract, contract modification, or notice of intent that changes or may change this contract;

(2) Waive or agree to modification of the delivery schedule;

(3) Make any final decision on any contract matter subject to the Disputes Clause;

(4) Terminate, for any reason, the Contractor’s right to proceed;

(5) Obligate in any way, the payment of money by the Government.

(d) The Contractor shall comply with the written or oral direction of the Contracting Officer or authorized representative(s) acting within the scope and authority of the appointment memorandum. The Contractor need not proceed with direction that it considers to have been issued without proper authority. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer in writing, with as much detail as possible, when the COR has taken an action or has issued direction (written or oral) that the Contractor considers to exceed the COR’s appointment, within 3 days of the occurrence. Unless otherwise provided in this contract, the Contractor assumes all costs, risks, liabilities, and consequences of performing any work it is directed to perform that falls within any of the categories defined in paragraph (c) prior to receipt of the Contracting Officer’s response issued under paragraph (e) of this clause.

(e) The Contracting Officer shall respond in writing within 30 days to any notice made under paragraph (d) of this clause. A failure of the parties to agree upon the nature of a direction, or upon the contract action to be taken with respect thereto, shall be subject to the provisions of the Disputes clause of this contract.

(f) The Contractor shall provide copies of all correspondence to the Contracting Officer and the COR.

(g) Any action(s) taken by the Contractor, in response to any direction given by any person acting on behalf of the Government or any Government official other than the Contracting Officer or the COR acting within his or her appointment, shall be at the Contractor’s risk.

(End of clause)

1452.201-70 Authorities and Delegations (Sep 2011)