LNFH_SWISP_II_Final_Questions_and_Answers_0005.pdf

140R1021B0015 Leavenworth Fish Hatchery SWISP II Pipe Rehabilitation

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

# Contractor Question Government Answer

Can the date for submittal of questions be extended? Ending the question period over two weeks before the bids are due will not allow us to seek clarification as we are finalizing our bids

Bid due date has been extended to August 3, 2021 at 1000 MDT. However, the question and answer period will not be extended.

You have provided the Site Visit roster from June 29, 2021.

However, is there an additional plan-holders list that you can provide?

The Government does not generate a plan holders list of prime contractors.

Per Several Specification Sections, the term “Fish friendly” is used quite often to ensure the CIPP system doesn’t interfere with the environment. We recommend additional language be included to the following or similar: “The resin system used for the CIPP system be NSF-61 Certified to ensure it is appropriate for the required fish-friendly environment.” This statement is implied, but never directly stated in the current specification.

If NSF-61 meets the requirements of the Specifications, then it would be acceptable.

The Specifications will not be updated to explicitly state the resin system used for the CIPP system shall be NSF-61 Certified as it may limit competition and use of other "fish friendly” CIPP systems that do not carry this rating for humans.

Per Specification Section 33 11 10 Sub-Section 2.06.B.7 and 2.06.B.8, the soil modulus and soil density, respectively, are provided in ranges. Is it acceptable to use 500 psi for the soil modulus and 140 pcf for the soil density for design purposes?

The Modulus of Elasticity for uncompacted soil, if used in the design of the CIPP lining system, shall vary between 200 and 500 psi, as identified in the Specifications.

The Modulus of Elasticity for compacted soil shall be taken as ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 psi when used for design of the CIPP lining system. The soil backfill around the existing CCP (pipe) may be considered compacted for this project.

After installation of the CIPP system, what is the level and type of debris that is assumed to be going through the pipe? This is vital to understand for the lifetime of the CIPP product since it’s durability to mechanical resistance is low.

In general, low amounts of fines and solids might make it past the fish screens at the headworks. During frazil ice conditions, the screens may be lifted, resulting in ice, snow, and larger gravels to make it past the headworks.

What is the level of groundwater that should be assumed in the design of the CIPP System?

See Specification Section 53 10 00 - Geologic Investigations, 1.06 A for information regarding groundwater investigations. The potential for full ground saturation shoul be considered due to the rain/snow present at the site for significant portions of the year.

22 Do you know if any point repairs or other type of repairs has ever been completed on the portion of pipe to be lined with CIPP?

NO

In the file “J_4_Combined_Drawings.pdf” (page #36 of 77), Sheet 1F-WA-257A-33.0 shows an as-built drawing of the pipeline. It appears from the drawing that there are blow-off and/or air-valves located at Stations 15+38.26, 18+45 and 28+08. Will you verify the locations of all existing blow-off and/or air-valves, because they are not identified on Sheet 222-D-60348 for the Structural CIPP relining?

We cannot line over a blow-off or air-valve with CIPP, unless it is planned to be abandoned, because it cannot be reinstated internally and still maintain a watertight seal. An access pit would be required at each blow-off or air-valve location to externally reinstate it.

The information provided in For Information Only drawings is the most up-to-date information Reclamation has but has not been field verified and must be done as part of the pre-work surveying and video inspection required in this Contract.

See Specification Section 33 11 10 Cured-In-Place Pipe (CIPP) for CIPP requirements and submittals.

Contractor work is limited to the CUA's shown in the specification.

Will you clarify whether there are any gate valves, butterfly valves or isolation valves on the segment identified for Structural CIPP relining?

All features known are shown on the drawings or For Information Only drawings

In the file “J_4_Combined_Drawings.pdf” (page #19 of 77), Sheet 222-D-60349 shows a partial plan view of the contractor use areas.

In Areas #2 and #3 existing manholes are shown that are to remain.

Are there any additional manholes located on the segment identified for Structural CIPP relining? If so, an additional pit may be required at each manhole location to allow termination and pressure testing of the CIPP liner.

All features known are shown on the drawings or For Information Only drawings.

Contractor work is limited to the Contractor Use Areas (CUA) shown in the specification.

In the file “J_4_Combined_Drawings.pdf” (page #18 of 77), Sheet 222-D-60348 shows horizontal bends in the pipeline, but the angle and radius of the bends have not been called out. No profile view of the existing pipeline is provided, so we also cannot ascertain the location, angle and radius of vertical bends. Though CIPP can be installed through vertical and horizontal bends, we need to know quantity and location of each bend/radius for each CIPP lining segment, and what the angle/radius of each bend is to evaluate the feasibility of installing a CIPP liner. If the angles are too extreme, or if there are too many bends on a given segment, then an additional access pit would be required. Though we understand that a full pipe survey is required as part of the contract, will you provide information on the location, angle and radius of the vertical bends for bidding purposes?

In the file "J_4_Combined_Drawings.pdf" (page #21 of 77), Sheet IF-WN-257A- 33.0" is included For Information Only and is the most up to date profile information Reclamation has regarding the alignment, profile, grades, bends, radii, and angles of the existing pipeline. Contractor work is limited to the Contractor Use Areas (CUA) shown in the Specification.

Where is the closest water source/fire hydrant available for installation and curing of the CIPP liner? Will you provide contact information of the utility owner where we can access water? What are the requirements of the utility owner for utilizing their hydrants/water (permit, permit costs, water use costs, meter costs, etc.)?

REF: 01 51 00 - 1 1.04 Temporary Water

How much debris is inside of the existing pipeline that will require cleaning and removal for installation of the CIPP liner? Without knowing how much debris to anticipate inside of the pipeline, it will be difficult to provide an accurate bid cost, which could lead to claims of unknown conditions and change orders. Furthermore, it creates an unfair bidding condition as there is no known bid quantity for what could be a significant cost on the project. How do you plan to accurately evaluate bids from the different CIPP contractors as bid quantities/costs will not be equal? Can an additional bid item be added to the bid schedule to account for debris removal with a specified quantity, or alternatively, can a force account bid item be added for the time and material required to complete the cleaning process?

Bidders are to provide bids in accordance with the entirety of the solicitation to include the current Section B. structure. The Government will not add bid items to the schedule. The Government will evaluate bids in accordance with the procedures established in the solicitation.

In the file “J_5d_BOR_-_2021-I- 0179_508_Letter_of_Concurrence.pdf” (page #2 of 4) it states that “construction will be phased and occur in 2023 and 2024, however in 2022 it is likely that construction of the proposed intake facilities may overlap with pipeline replacement on the LNFH grounds”. In the file “140R1021B0015_Solicitation.pdf” (page #15 of 653), Solicitation Section A states that a contract time of 1359 calendar days has been provided. Section F, Deliveries and Performance, states that the construction work window will be completed during 4/17/2022 through 5/13/2022 or each year starting in FY 2022 and ending in FY2025. The typical process for CIPP installation requires first completing the cleaning, CCTV work, inspection and measurement of the pipeline which is followed immediately by placing the order for the CIPP liner which is custom manufactured for each pipeline segment. It can take from 4 to 6 weeks for the CIPP liner to be manufactured and delivered to the jobsite ready for installation. If there is heavy debris in the pipeline, it may take a couple of weeks alone to complete the cleaning process. Only allowing a 4-week window for CIPP lining each year will severely limit our ability to complete the work. Will you provide clarification on when the CIPP installation is allowed/anticipated/expected to occur and if it can be completed outside of the April to May timeframe?

Price Schedule A is to occur in FY 2022 with identified CIPP Pre-Work (see Specification Section 33 11 10 - Cured-In-Place Pipe (CIPP)). Design and manufacturing of CIPP is to take place in Price Schedule B and subsequent FY 2023 and FY 2024 as part of the phased construction. In each year, CIPP installation is to be completed between April 17 and May 13 as stated in the Specifications.

We understand that exact diameters, alignment, etc. of the existing pipe are unknown, but will you please identify where you are assuming the 29.17” and 33.15” inside diameter segments of pipe are located?

In the file "J-4_Combined_Drawings.pdf" (Sheet #46 of 77), For Information Only drawing 222-D-60313 indicates from the start of the pipe in feet, the length assumed for 29.17" and 33.15" inside diameter segments.

Most of the Contractor Use Areas are spaced approximately 1,200 LF apart. Though CIPP installations in this length have been completed, typical CIPP shot lengths are in the range of 500 to 700 LF. These extreme 1,200 LF installation lengths are further complicated as information about existing pipe conditions/slopes/bends/radiuses has not been provided and is required of the Contractor to obtain after award of contract with the pipe survey. Installing CIPP through large elevation changes, pipe bends or radiuses, etc. is possible to complete if conditions are accurately understood and known, but there is a high degree of risk to bidding contractors by not providing this information at the time of bidding, a risk that includes not being able to complete the CIPP installations at the shot lengths indicated and due to insufficient pipe access points. Will you provide additional access points for the required CIPP installation? How do we as contractors account in our bid for additional pit locations with so much unknown information and with a high risk that property owners may not even allow us to place additional required pits on their property? We feel this creates an unfair bidding condition, especially if you attempt to place the responsibility/risk back on the contractor to coordinate with property owners after award of contract for location of additional pits.

As stated previously, most of the Contractor Use Areas are spaced approximately 1,200 LF apart. CIPP pre-installation cleaning, CCTV and pipe survey work of the existing pipeline will be limited by the extents the equipment available, typically limited to less than 1,000 LF. There is a possibility that the equipment could be launched each direction from each Contractor Use Area so it only has to navigate up to around 600 LF. However, information about pipe slopes and bends/radiuses of the existing pipeline has not been provided. How do you plan to provide additional access points for the required cleaning, CCTV and survey work which we anticipate will be required? The same questions apply here as previously stated about CIPP installation access pits.

In the file “140R1021B0015_Solicitation.pdf”, Article 2.05-A-1 states that the tube “shall consist of one or more layers of flexible absorbent woven or non-woven fabric meeting the requirements of ASTM F1216, Section 5.1.” Although Article 2.05-A-4 states the tube shall be designed as a “pressure pipe”, as currently specified, there is no language to differentiate gravity tube material (which the language currently describes) from pressure tube material. Typically, additional language is required that states the CIPP tube product shall consist of one or more layers of flexible absorbent woven or non-woven fabric, with glass or woven fiber reinforcement. Can this language be added for clarification?

It is the resposibility of the Contractor it meet both the “fish friendly” and “pressure pipe” requirements of the specification.

In the file “140R1021B0015_Solicitation.pdf”, Article 3.01-E-1 states that an installation shall be considered successful if it is free from wrinkles, warps, deformations, or other flaws”. We request that this language be updated or deleted. There are a large number of unknowns on this project, including potentially being required to line through pipe defects, offset joints, bends and tight radiuses, or pipe fittings. When lining through these types of pipe defects or items, especially through tight radiuses or bends, it should be anticipated that the CIPP liner will wrinkle as it is the nature of the product.

With that stated, having a wrinkle does not necessarily mean that the CIPP liner cannot meet the flow and pressure requirements of the project, but should be evaluated on a case by case basis for acceptability. We recommend that the language be updated to the following or similar: “Confirm fit and finish meets the visual classification standards of ASTM D5813 and that the liner is free of excess wrinkling or other features that may compromise its functional or structural performance design objective. The finished lining shall be continuous over the entire length and be free from visual defects such as foreign inclusions, pinholes and delaminations. Other defects, such as lifts, folds, fins or wrinkles will only be acceptable if it can be proven that the reinforcing fabric is not present in this defect. The lining shall be impervious and free of any leakage from the pipe to the surrounding ground or from the ground to the inside of the lined pipe.”

A spec change with updated language will be forthcoming prior to the bid closing date

In the file “140R1021B0015_Solicitation.pdf”, Article 3.10-J it states that “the curing process shall result in an uninterrupted, continuously cured CIPP lining, fully adhered to the existing pipeline, throughout the length shown on the drawings”. Adherence to the inside of the host pipe should not be a requirement, as not all manufacturers of pressure CIPP products rely on or even want adhesion to the interior of the host pipe. Some manufacturers and contractors may even install a pre-liner product with the primary intention of preventing adherence to the interior of the host pipe depending upon pipe diameter, conditions and alignment. Can this language be deleted or updated?

BID as specified