Questions_and_Answers_FINAL_0003.pdf

Questions and Answers

Solicitation No.

140R3026Q0066 Amendment 0003

Project Title Riverside Vessel Barrier Replacement at Hoover Dam

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Riverside Vessel Barrier Replacement for Hoover Dam

Q1. What is the average water depth at the project location?

A1. In the area around the barrier location, the Government estimates depths of 25 feet to 45 feet. The area is rocky and varies widely due to the temporary coffer dams which were used when Hoover Dam was built.

Q2. What is the typical water current velocity in the area (e.g., knots or feet per second)?

A2. The Government estimates a range from 2 up to 12 knots.

Q3. What is the composition of the bottom surface (e.g., mud, silt, rock, clay, sand, etc.)?

A3. The river bottom surface is rocky. See A1 above.

Q4. What type of barricade or containment material is recommended for this project?

A4. Fast river barrier is required due to the current in the area. Containment is an option if that work can be completed alongside this new barrier. However, offerors are reminded that quotes will be evaluated and award will be made to the lowest priced, technically acceptable offeror.

Q5. How many barricades or containment units will be required?

A5. The Government does not have a specific requirement for the quantity of barricades. The only requirement is that the new barrier reaches all the way across the canyon. It will be up to the offeror to quote the amount required to meet the requirements in Attachment 1 – Statement of Work.

Q6. What is the required penetration depth below the waterbed/base material for the installation?

A6. The Government does not have a specified depth, however there must be an anchor in place so that the barrier will not be swept down river or moved.

Q7. What are the anticipated project start and completion dates?

A7. The solicitation currently estimates the period of performance as 45 calendar days from the date of award. However, this is only an estimate, and the award will be based off of the accepted quotation/offer, which should contain a project schedule. See Section L.5 of the solicitation for general quotation instructions.

Q8. What days of the week will work be permitted?

A8. The Government’s normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00AM to 4:00PM PT, excluding federal holidays. However, the offeror may quote any/all days in the proposed schedule. If days outside of the normal business hours are included in the proposed schedule, they may be accepted by the Government on a case-by-case basis.

Q9. What are the allowable working hours each day?

A9. The Government’s normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00AM to 4:00PM PT, excluding federal holidays. However, the offeror may quote any/all hours in the proposed schedule.

If hours outside of the normal business hours are included in the proposed schedule, they may be accepted by the Government on a case-by-case basis.

Q10. Are there any permits, approvals, or authorizations required before work can begin?

A10. Besides the general requirements contained in the solicitation (insurance, bonds, safety plan, etc.), there are no other approvals required. This work is a for the removal and replacement of the

Amendment 0003

Project Title Riverside Vessel Barrier Replacement at Hoover vessel exclusion barrier so nothing else except the Bureau of Reclamation’s (BOR) approval is needed to begin on-site work.

Q11. Can the contractor use NPS Willow Creek as a laydown staging area, and if so, what size area can be used and where?

A11. Offerors considering using this area as a staging area are encouraged to reach out to the NPS Willow Creek location office for more information before providing a quote. NPS would need specific information, such as the area size needed and schedule, to authorize use at the site for staging.

Note that the dock at Willow Creek is public and maybe utilized along with the public to launch boats.

Q12. What is the size and draft of the boat that will use the boat gate?

A12. Typical hull types and drafts include: Flat-bottom/John boat with approximately 6 inches (.015 meters) draft and V-hull aluminum with approximately 8 to 12 inches (0.2 to 0.3 meters) draft.

Since river conditions are constantly changing, it is unlikely the barrier will encounter vessels with a draft exceeding 3 feet. If such a situation arises, the Government would need to disconnect one side of the barrier to allow the authorized boat to pass through.

Q13. May the contractor utilize the existing dock located on the east side of the channel for construction access, staging, and installation activities?

A13. If this question is referring to the boat dock on the AZ tail bay, then the answer is yes. This boat dock is BOR property.

Q14. May the contractor utilize the Hoover Dam Warehouse area for staging, laydown, and storage of equipment and materials during construction?

A14. Yes, a set location can be designated for temporary contractor use.

Q15. Can the Government provide any available as-built drawings, plans, dimensions, or other record documents for the existing vessel barrier and gate system?

A15. No, the Government possesses no records for the current barrier and gate system.

Q16. What is the total length of the vessel barrier to be replaced, and what are the required dimensions of the boat access gate?

A16. The quoted barrier needs to go across the river for full coverage. The boat gate needs to accommodate standard boat width.

Q17. What are the design high-water, normal operating, and low-water elevations associated with the beam slide?

A17. The exact elevations are not available. However, the low to high elevations can vary as much as 25 feet.

Q18. Is the contractor required to remove and replace the existing anchorage system, or may existing anchors be reused if deemed acceptable for the new barrier system?

A18. Existing anchors may be reused provided contractors verify that they remain in good working condition and will continue to perform reliably for use with the proposed vessel-exclusion barrier.

Q19. What hydraulic design criteria should be used for the vessel barrier system, including design flow rates, flow velocities, debris loading, and other associated loading conditions?

A19. The river can reach 12 knots so fast river capability is paramount in the design.

Amendment 0003

Project Title Riverside Vessel Barrier Replacement at Hoover

Q20. Can the Government provide the anticipated attachment requirements, loading criteria, and interface details for the future containment barrier referenced in the SOW?

A20. No additional information is currently available, as containment is an add on which is being considered by the Government for the future. If offerors are able to provide more information on its feasibility with their quote, it will be reviewed/considered by the Government.

Q21. Although on site work may be anticipated as less than two weeks, the lead time for some of the material procurement and manufacturing is about 60 days. Will this be acceptable to the government?

A21. The solicitation currently estimates the period of performance as 45 calendar days from the date of award. However, this is only an estimate and the award will be based off of the accepted quotation/offer, which should contain a project schedule. See Section L.5 of the solicitation for general quotation instructions.

Q22. What is the estimated lineal footage of vessel barrier required for project?

A22. The Government does not have this information. There is a potential to use Google Earth, or similar, which can give you the approximate width of the river. It is expected that the exact width will be dependent on your quoted product.

Q23. Are there any photographs of the existing vessel barrier that can be shared with prospective offerors?

A23. See the attached Exhibit A for photos of the existing vessel exclusion barrier.

Q24. What is the approximate total length of the existing riverside/downstream vessel barrier system that must be removed and replaced?

A24. The Government does not have this exact information. There are 31 sections, including the boat access gate, which make up the existing barrier.

Q25. What is the required total length of the new vessel barrier system?

A25. The Government is not able to provide an exact length for the new system. However, the system provided must fits across the river, provide the protection requested and meet the criteria listed in Attachment 1 – Statement of Work.

Q26. What is the required width/opening size for the boat access gate?

A26. See A16.

Q27. Are drawings, photos, anchor point locations, or existing barrier layout details available for contractor reference?

A27. See the attached Exhibit A for photos of the existing vessel exclusion barrier.

Q28. Are contractors expected to reuse any existing anchor points, or should the quote include new anchors/mounting hardware as needed?

A28. Contractor may quote all new anchor points or use the existing anchor points as long as the final product meets reliably standards and is included in the warranty.

Q29. Are the plans for the existing barricades available to share with prospective offerors?

A29. No, the Government possesses no records for the current barrier and gate system.

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Project Title Riverside Vessel Barrier Replacement at Hoover

Q30. Does the contractor need to replace the slide track in the wall that the barricade travels up and down on?

A30. No, the Contractor will only be required to replace the existing slide track if the offeror deems them unusable.

Q&A: Exhibit A

– Pictures

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Project Title Riverside Vessel Barrier Replacement at Hoover

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: EXHIBIT A - PICTURES

Riverside Vessel Barrier Replacement for Hoover Dam

Image 1: Nevada side support arm

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Project Title Riverside Vessel Barrier Replacement at Hoover

Image 2: Arizona side support arm, with old wooden forms

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Project Title Riverside Vessel Barrier Replacement at Hoover

Image 3: Arizona side support arm, with old wooden forms (close up)

Amendment 0003

Project Title Riverside Vessel Barrier Replacement at Hoover

Image 4: Nevada view of the existing VEB on the riverside/downstream of the dam