A5 Attachment 1 Informational Page.pdf

SOLICITATION NO. 140R4020R0015

AMENDMENT 0005

BIG SANDY DAM

RESERVOIR ENLARGEMENT

INTERIOR REGION 7 • UPPER COLORADO BASIN

SALT LAKE CITY REGIONAL OFFICE

ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT DIVISION

PROVO AREA OFFICE PROJECT

SOLICITATION NO. 140R4020R0015 BIG SANDY DAM RESERVOIR ENLARGEMENT

INFORMATIONAL PAGE

1. Answers to any Questions that were submitted in writing by September 25, 2020 and have not been previously answered via Amendment are now available and located on pages 4 through 9 of the document titled A5 Attachment 1 Informational Page.

2. Pages of Attachment 2_140R4020R0015 Drawings have been revised and are now available as attachments to this amendment. The revised pages are titled as follows:

• A5 Attachment 2 Revised Page 27_153-D-60026

• A5 Attachment 3 Revised Page 36_153-D-60036

3. Specification Sections 01 33 00, 01 74 00, 31 24 20, and 31 56 20 have been revised and are now available as attachments to this amendment. Changes are in red/blue/black and are marked with a vertical line on the left-hand margin. The revised Sections are titled as follows:

• A5 Attachment 4 Revised Section 01 33 00 Submittals

• A5 Attachment 5 Revised Section 01 74 00 Cleaning and Waste Management

• A5 Attachment 6 Revised Section 31 24 20 Cement-Bentonite Wall Spoils, Zone 5A Material

• A5 Attachment 7 Revised Section 31 56 20 Cement-Bentonite Cutoff Wall

4. In reference to Technical Question 21, the following Bridge Data from Sweetwater County is now available via attachments to this amendment. The documents are titled as follows:

• A5 Attachment 8 Sweet Water County MDI Bridge Data

• A5 Attachment 9 Sweet Water County MDJ Bridge Data

• A5 Attachment 10 Sweet Water County KIU Bridge Data

REMINDERS

1. Point of Contact:

Name: Ms. Lynette H. Rock, Contracting Officer Email: lrock@usbr.gov Phone: 385-228-8535

All correspondence and voicemails must reference Solicitation No. 140R4020R0015 Big Sandy Dam Reservoir Enlargement. Please do not send any correspondence via FedConnect or any other system as it will not be received.

2. Solicitation No. 140R4020R0015 is a TOTAL SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE (please see 52.219-6 for more information) and shall be procured in accordance with Parts 15 and 36 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). The Solicitation document, as a whole, and the Attachments in Section J provide specific information for the work required under this solicitation.

Please thoroughly read 52.219-14 “Limitations on Subcontracting (Deviation 2019-01)” to ensure that the Small Business Prime Contractor meets the performance of the contract percentage requirements as outlined within 52.219-14(e)(3).

3. The associated NAICS Code is 237990 Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction with a Size Standard of $39.5M to classify as a Small Business.

4. In accordance with FAR 36.204 and supplemented by WBR 1436.204 “Disclosure of the Magnitude of Construction Projects,” the magnitude of this project is between $10,000,000 and $25,000,000.

5. A Bid Guarantee is required for this Solicitation. Please see Standard Form 1442 Box 13 within Section A and 52.228-1 “Bid Guarantee” within Section L for more information.

6. Additional Technical and Contracting Questions are due no later than:

Date: Friday, October 9, 2020 Time: 1400 (2:00 PM) Mountain Time mailto:lrock@usbr.gov

Only questions in writing directly to the Contracting Officer at lrock@usbr.gov will be accepted. No questions will be accepted after the due date and time.

All answers will be posted via Amendment to the Solicitation no later than:

Date: Friday, October 16, 2020 Time: Close of Business (Approximately 6:00 PM)

7. Proposal Due Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2020 Proposal Due Time: 1400 (2:00 PM) Mountain Time

ONLY ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED for this Solicitation. Please see WBR 1452.215-81 for submission information.

8. Please see WBR 1452.215-81 “General Proposal Instructions – Bureau of Reclamation” in Section L for specific guidelines on the general contents of the proposal, arrangement of proposal, separation of volumes and submission instructions.

The Contracting Officer reserves the right to remove any pages from Volumes I and II which contain pricing information; therefore, do not include ANY pricing information within Volumes I and II. All pricing information shall be submitted under Volume III as specified within the Reclamation Provision.

9. Please see WBR 1452.215-82 “Technical Proposal Instructions – Bureau of Reclamation” in Section L for Technical Proposal format, general content, and all Evaluation Factors and Subfactors with their commensurate criteria.

Please see WBR 1452.215-85 “Evaluation Factors for Award Quality Predominance – Bureau of Reclamation” in Section M for the relative importance of the factors and all Evaluation Factors and Subfactors with their commensurate evaluation standard.

Please see WBR 1452.215-83 AI “Pricing Proposal Instructions – Bureau of Reclamation (Alternate I)” in Section L for specific Pricing Proposal information, format and content requirements and other pertinent information.

mailto:lrock@usbr.gov

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

CONTRACTING RELATED

1. Would the USBR consider accepting previously completed PPQ's by the Contractors clients, used in USACE solicitations, versus requiring the Contractor having to go back to the said client and asking to redo previously completed documentation? Or do we need to send this new PPQ directly to the CO's themselves?

a. No, we will not accept previously completed PPQs for other Solicitations.

TECHNICAL RELATED

1. Please verify if Furnish and Installing Rebar is incidental to CLIN 09 Concrete? If so, there are very limited rebar details provided in the drawings. To level the bidding field and minimize the risk of unknown quantities, can USBR provide the expected rebar quantities for each element of work?

a. As indicated in Section 03 20 00 – Concrete Reinforcing, the cost of concrete reinforcing shall be included in applicable prices offered in the Price Schedule for concrete items for which concrete reinforcing is required.

i. Spillway concrete reinforcement is shown on drawings 153-D-60029, - 60030 and -60031.

ii. Feeder Canal Headworks reinforcement is shown on drawings 153-D- 60038, -60039, -60041, -60044, -60045, -60046, and -60047.

iii. Drop Structure reinforcement is shown for each structure on drawings 153-D-60055, -60056, -60057, -60058, -60059, and -60060.

2. Are the leveling slabs paid by the neatline cubic yard in CLIN 09?

a. Yes.

3. Our concrete takeoff doesn’t match 1,450 cy in the CLIN. Can USBR provide their concrete takeoff by element?

a. Reclamation has confirmed that the total concrete is 1,450 cy. This includes concrete for the following features:

i. Ogee Crest Lean Concrete

ii. Ogee Crest Grade Beam

iii. Ogee Crest RSMC

iv. Ogee Crest structural concrete downstream from RSMC

v. Feeder Canal Headworks Inlet Structure

vi. Feeder Canal Headworks Conduit

vii. Feeder Canal Headworks Impact Basin

viii. Feeder Canal Headworks Lean Concrete

ix. Feeder Canal Drop Structures #1 through #6

x. Toe Drain Cleanout Guardposts

xi. Lean Concrete around cleanouts, left abutment chimney filter and outlet works diaphragm filter.

4. Are there any seasonal, environmental, reservoir, or schedule constraints to perform the

Cutoff Wall work?

a. Construction of the CB wall is acceptable in any season provided that the requirements set forth in the specification clauses are met, including the following:

i. The work occurs between allowable work hours, as defined in Section 01 14 12 – Work Restrictions.

ii. CB wall equipment shall be capable of operating and performing satisfactorily in freezing conditions (Section 31 56 20 – Cement-Bentonite Cutoff Wall, paragraph 1.05.A ).

iii. The trench spoils intended for use as Zone 5A fill and the underlying materials are free of ice, frost, or snow pockets (Section 31 24 20 – Placing Cement-Bentonite Wall Spoils, Zone 5A Material, Paragraph 3.02 C.1.).

5. Can bidders use the same 3 minimum projects for both the Technical and Project

Experience, and the Management Experience if they meet all the requirements for each?

6. Will projects performed under a JV be considered Prime experience for example projects?

7. Can bidders combine previous published EMR letters to get the 6 years of EMR documentation?

8. In reference to Subfactor 1A: Technical Project Experience (Page 65 of 73), Do each of the 3 completed projects presented by the Offeror need to demonstrate ALL the relevant scope/complexity items individually? Meaning, must each project have all 5 scope/complexity items to be considered? Or can these items be demonstrated collectively, over the three projects presented by offeror?

a. Each project must have all 5 scope/complexity items individually.

9. In reference to Subfactor 3E: Safety (Page 68 of 73), if the Offeror has not been in business for 6+ years, is it acceptable to submit less EMR & OSHA data, as long as it includes all available data since the inception of the company?

a. A minimum of 6 years of history should be submitted.

10. Regarding Specification 31 56 20, Table 03 30 00B on Page 10 – The depth and frequency of both ‘A’ samples and ‘B’ samples appears to be identical. Please confirm that this is the intent of the specification for cement-bentonite slurry sampling.

a. ‘A’ Samples are intended to be collected at the point of slurry discharge into the trench (i.e., end of the pipe). The typo in this table defining ‘A’ samples will be corrected to reflect sample collection at the end of the pipe instead of the bottom third of the trench.

b. Table 03 30 00B will also be renamed as Table 31 56 20B and Table 03 30 00C will be renamed as Table 31 56 20C.

11. Regarding Specification 31 56 20, Paragraph 2.02.B.3 – This specification requires a filtrate loss test on cured cement-bentonite samples. The filtrate loss test in API PR 13B is intended for bentonite-water slurry. Please clarify.

a. This requirement was not intended to be in the specification and will be removed.

12. Regarding Specification 31 56 20, Paragraph 2.01 B – Is bentonite meeting API 13A Section 9 acceptable, or is the specification intended to require material meeting API 13A Section 10?

a. Bentonite shall meet the requirements of API 13A – Section 10.

13. Regarding Specification 31 56 20, Paragraph 3.08, “Rejected Cutoff Wall Section” – This section discusses gradation requirements. However, gradation of the cement-bentonite backfill is not part of the acceptance criteria; please clarify.

a. 31 56 20 3.08.A will be modified by addendum to read: “In the event that the specified dimensions permeability, and strength requirements are not achieved, the section of the cement-bentonite cutoff wall will be rejected. The limits of the rejected section will be defined by the COR. In the absence of multiple samples at different stations being available to identify the limits of the deficient section, the deficient section will be no less than the limits of the day’s production from which the permeability test sample was collected.”

b. 31 56 20 3.08C will be modified by addendum to read: “If the problem is strength or permeability, the Contractor has the option to test 2 additional cylinders from 2 locations within the rejected section of the wall for further strength and permeability testing. If the tests are within the specified requirements, the wall section may be approved by the COR.”

14. In reference to Drawings #153-D-60039 to #153-D-60043: Will the 0.5’ of Lean

Concrete under structures (Leveling Pads) be paid for by the Cubic Yard, as part of CLIN 00010-09 (Concrete)?

15. In reference to Drawing #153-D-60027 (Sheet 2 of 2): Will the 7+ feet of Lean Concrete under the Spillway Crest-Raise be paid for by the Cubic Yard, as part of CLIN 00010-09 (Concrete)?

16. In reference to Drawing #153-D-60026 (Sheet 1 of 2): The plan view shows that CLSM material shall be placed north of the new spillway crest from El. 6755.5 to limit of excavation. However, the cross-sections on the following page (153-D-60027) shows this to be ‘fill’ material (Zone 1A) instead of CLSM. Please clarify if there is any CLSM required at this location. And if so, what thickness?

a. The note “Grade CLSM uniformly from El. 6755.5 to limit of excavation, or as directed by COR” should refer to Zone 1A, not CLSM. Drawing 153-D-60026 will be revised to reflect this change.

17. In reference to Drawing #153-D-60027 (Sheet 2 of 2): Can the contractor choose to drill through the Lean concrete (with a 6” Dia. hole) instead of using the 9” Dia. blockouts (but maintain the blockouts through the Grade Beam)?

a. At this time the proposed change is not permitted.

18. In reference to Specification 03 81 10 (Concrete Removal) Page 4 {K.1 Reinforcement}:

Please identify what reinforcing steel (if any) is to remain in-place if exposed following Concrete Removal activities?

a. All partially exposed reinforcement in the existing spillway structure that cannot be removed as specified without excessive force, as determined by the COR, is to remain in place.

19. In reference to Section B - Construction Price Schedule: Please confirm quantity of CLIN

00010-19 (Excavation for Structures) and 00010-20 (Compacted Backfill about Structures). Shouldn’t these quantities match? If not, please identify which item the remainder of the backfill quantity should be paid under.

a. A portion of the excavated materials around structures will be replaced with imported items like filter sand, drain gravel, lean concrete, structural concrete, etc. These materials will be paid for under their respective CLINs.

20. Is the 16-day ASTM C1567-13 test for determining Alkali Silica Reaction acceptable? ASTM C1567-13 is referenced on page 3 of specification 03 30 00, but 03 30 00.2.03.C.1.d.1 only mentions C1567.

a. All reactivity tests will be 28-day tests.

21. Are there any known weight capacity limits available for the existing bridges?

a. Reclamation has obtained the most recent bridge data from Sweetwater County with information attached with this addendum.

i. The Southernmost concrete bridge (MDI) has an inventory load rating of

60 Tons and an operating load of 92 tons.

ii. The middle concrete bridge (MDJ) has an inventory load rating of 51

Tons and an operating load rating of 77 tons.

iii. The northern wooden bridge (KIU) has an inventory load rating of 26

Tons and an operating load rating of 35 Tons.

22. If the wood bridge on the gravel access road from Farson cannot accommodate equipment, can the equipment be tracked across the canal using appropriate wood mats?

a. Yes. The contractor can track equipment across the canal provided that any disturbance to these areas are restored to pre-construction conditions.

23. Section 31 56 20 Cement-Bentonite Cutoff Wall requires the use of Natural sodium cation-base montmorillonite, premium-grade powdered Wyoming bentonite, in accordance with API 13A. Will the use of API 13A - Section 9 Bentonite be acceptable for the construction of the proposed CB Wall?

a. Bentonite shall meet the requirements of API 13A – Section 10.

24. Section 31 56 20 Cement-Bentonite Cutoff Wall – The associated CB mix design utilized water from the reservoir. Is the reservoir water approved for use in CB Wall and will the water be required to be treated to meet ASTM C1602 – Table 2? Please clarify.

a. Utilizing water from the reservoir for the C-B slurry is acceptable. If reservoir water is used, the water only needs to meet the requirements for alkali and total dissolved solids (items C and D in Table 2 of ASTMC1602). Based on past testing of the reservoir water, treatment of the reservoir water to meet ASTM C 1602 is not anticipated.

25. Section 01 14 12 Work Restrictions section 1.02.C – Allowable on-site work hours beginning March 1 and extending through May 15 are restricted to 8:00 am to 6:00 pm each day. Please confirm if project is a 5-day or a 6-day work schedule?

a. Both 5- and 6-day work schedules are acceptable and are up to the discretion of the Contractor.

26. Section 31 11 00, Paragraph 3.04: Is clearing of brush and/or vegetation to be disposed of off-site?

a. Vegetation removed as part of clearing and grubbing can be buried on site within the designated borrow area upstream of the dike, provided that the Contractor does not contaminate any needed borrow from this area in the process of burying the vegetation. The vegetation will need to be capped with at last 2 feet of soil cover and no other waste materials can be disposed of in this manner.

27. Section 31 37 00 – Paragraph 3.02.E.2.b. – during placing of rip rap on geotextile the contractor has to demonstrate geotextile will not be damaged and a possible modification to placing technique is to install a gravel cushion. Can a thickness be provided for the cushion layer?

a. The thickness of gravel, if needed, would have to be determined based on equipment and placement procedures; however, using a sacrificial layer of geotextile as described in the specifications would likely be more economical.

28. Section 31 56 20 – Paragraph 3.02.B.4 – If trench excavation is halted long enough for the CB slurry in the working area to set up, when excavation is restarted at least 5 feet horizontally of hardened CB slurry shall be excavated for the entire depth of the trench. Please clarify a timeframe which would be “halted long enough.”

a. This specification has been revised to read: “The trench excavation shall extend at least 5 feet horizontally for the entire depth of the trench into a previously placed panel of hardened CB slurry at the beginning of each new shift.

Excavating 5 feet into an existing panel of CB backfill will also be required following equipment breakdowns and other delays lasting multiple hours, at the discretion of the COR.

29. Based on the mix proportions specified, a total water to cementitious (Portland cement +

Slag) ratio of 4:1 would be necessary to add 18% cement to the mix by weight. Previous mix designs that we have used, show that at a water to cementitious ratio of 4:1, the 28-day and 56-day UCS will be much greater than what is specified. Will alternate mix proportions be allowable, provided, the performance criteria (UCS and permeability) can be achieved?

a. Only the mix proportions described in the specifications will be allowed.

However, the specification will be revised in an addendum to only apply the maximum 56-day strength requirements to slurry samples obtained from the discharge pipe (‘A’ samples).

30. In our experience, final performance of the cement-bentonite slurry mixture can be affected by suspended solids in the slurry as a result of slurry excavation of the trench. While we typically don’t see a significant impact on permeability, 28-day and 56-day UCS can be impacted, depending on the types of soils suspended. In order to meet the minimum 28-day UCS, some samples may exceed the 56-day UCS requirement. On similar projects, the specifications have allowed for a certain percentage of samples to fall outside of the performance criteria but still within certain limits for UCS and permeability.

a. The specification will be revised in an addendum to only apply the maximum 56-day strength requirements for slurry samples obtained from the discharge pipe (‘A’ samples). This will prevent suspended solids from impacting the compressive strength.

31. Question: Will the Engineer consider revising the specifications to allow a certain percentage of samples to fall outside of the criteria listed while still being acceptable (upper and/or lower)?

a. No.

32. Question: If the contractor exceeds the maximum strength at 56 days but passes the permeability will the contractor be required to remove the subject area? Please clarify.

a. Yes. However, please refer to responses to questions 29 and 30 above.

33. Question: Filtrate loss test is not applicable to cement bentonite mix, should this be removed? Please clarify.

a. This requirement was not intended to be in the specification and will be removed.