QA_through_20240116.pdf

SBIWTP Rehabilitation and Expansion PDB

RFP 191BWC24R0001

Answers to Additional Questions Received through 1/16/2024

54. Section 01 86 36 01 of the solicitation correctly required any new SCADA devices (typically the field devices) to compatible with the existing Rockwell systems.

We feel there should be some wording that existing Inductive Automation "Ignition 8.1" SCADA operator software and database should be updated as part of the project, including incorporation of the new Rockwell field devices (PLCs) and their control loops. Doing so, will insure the existing SCADA system's continuity during the project's construction and commissioning, along with maintaining system cyber-security and other compliances.

Response 54: The Design-Builder shall be responsible for coordinating and integrating the new system with the existing in the most efficient, practical way that complies with the SOW. The plant currently has a licensed, proprietary SCADA system software/database called "Ignition"

(version 8.1) by a company called Inductive Automation as the existing Industrial Controls

System. This SCADA software overlays on top of the Rockwell Automation systems and serves as the primary plant operation interface for plant-wide operations, alarm management, and historical record keeping (for compliance purposes). The Design-Builder shall ensure that any new project control systems and devices integrated to monitor and regulate new plant facilities are compatible and interface correctly with the existing licensed Inductive Automation Ignition

SCADA software/database and Rockwell systems. The Design-Builder shall also develop any new screens required for the existing operator's consoles and add historical reports as required.

The current SBIWTP SCADA system maintenance and emergency call out contractor is XTRLs

International and their contract is expected to end by March 2026, after which USIBWC will award a new contract. The Design-Builder is required coordinate new work as needed with the current SCADA support contractor and any future contractor and should engage on a parallel track with the contractor to ensure compatibility and reliability (and changes if needed).

55. Solicitation, H 01(c)(2) requires the Contractor to name the United States and Mexico as additional insureds. Please note that liability insurance carriers will not include an entity as wide-ranging as the “United States” and “Mexico” as additional insureds. Insurers are willing to include specific departments, such as the International Boundary and Water Commission. As this is not commercially available, will the IBWC consider removing the requirement to include these two parties?

Response 55: "United States and Mexico" is part of our Agency name. There is no requirement to name Mexico as an additional insured.

56. Solicitation, H 03 outlines the builders’ risk requirements. Bidder requests confirmation of the following:

1. (a) and (c) requires the “all perils” limit be equal to 100% of the contract price. Bidder is seeking confirmation that it is acceptable to have sub-limits for the perils of Earthquake and

Flood as this is common practice in the insurance market and full limits are not commercially available.

2. (e) requires the builders’ risk insurance to be effect for the term of the contract. Bidder is seeking confirmation that the builders’ risk may start when construction work begins. There is often a significant delay between contract award and when construction starts and insuring that timeframe would add substantial cost to the bid and would add no value.

Response 56: 1. Comply with industry standards and maximum limits commercially available.

RFP 191BWC24R0001 SBIWTP Rehabilitation and Expansion PDB Page 2

2. Concur to not having insurance for construction until award of construction items. Proof of insurance shall be due within 30 days of award of all contract modifications adding construction work.

57. Answers to Questions Received – Response to Question 8 (Q&A pages 2 - 3):

Question: Can the Design QA Manager be employed by a team member?

Response 8: No, they must be employed by the Design-Builder (prime contractor). Please remember that the team members will be providing quality control. The Design-Builder is expected to perform the quality assurance.

Question: As stated in SOW 01.40.00.01-Page 7, the Design QA Manager is the individual with overall responsibility for the design portion of the Design-Build QA Plan. The organization chart provided on SOW 01.40.00.01-Page 9 accurately shows this role aligned with the design services.

Typically, the Design-Build contractor does not perform design work as design-related roles are provided by the designer (typically a subconsultant to the contractor). Furthermore, with a Joint

Venture, this role is eligible to be filled by the design partner. We respectfully ask that IBWC reconsider and, like the Design QC role, allow the Design QA Manager to be employed by the

Design Contractor/Design Firm.

Response 57: In a Joint Venture, this role is eligible to be filled by the design joint venture partner. However, this role cannot be filled by a subcontractor.

58. Section 01 41 00.01 Section 1.8.A – DB acknowledges the responsibility of obtaining the NPDES per Specification 00.31.43.01, could IBWC explain how the CA Regional Water Quality Control

Board, San Diego would provide review and compliance confirmation of Design Work contractually? Is it anticipated that the Regional Board would participate in all design review stages or this section is intended to bestow responsibility to design to team to ensure permit approval is ascertained as part of the design and permitting application?

Response 58: The intent is for the selected Design-Build Team to ensure permit approval is received as part of the design and permitting application. The California Regional Water Quality

Control Board should be invited to participate in the kickoff meeting and subsequent update meetings during design. The Regional Board would be given updates during the key milestones of design and invited to participate when processes/treatment criteria are discussed, which could include separate meetings or as part of regularly scheduled design meetings. It is the Design-

Builder’s responsibility to achieve treatment plant performance and achieve discharge permit limits based on feedback from Regional Board staff and current SBIWTP discharge limits. The

Design-Builder Team will meet with the Regional Board to ascertain any changes to the permit as part of the expansion to ensure all discharge limits are met. The Regional Water Quality will provide the documentation required by the Regional Board to prepare and issue a revised permit to the SBIWTP. The USIBWC COR should be included in discussions related to permitting and in discussions with the Regional Board.

59. Section 01.80.05.01 Section 1.7B – When should the bidder anticipate receipt of the reports referenced in this section?

Response 59: These documents are considered CUI. With an accepted NDA Form 358 these documents can be provided now. See SOW Section 00.31.00.01 1.4.B. and the Prebid

Conference agenda item #44 posted with Amendment 0004 on 1/16/2024.

60. SOW Section 01.32.16.01. 1.9.A.3 - Qualifications of the scheduler shall be submitted to the

COR for compliance confirmation.

Question: When do these qualifications need to be submitted to the COR?

Response 60: Once the Contract is awarded, scheduler qualifications shall be provided as a submittal to the COR before submission of the design baseline schedule. Please note the scheduler qualifications are also required to be submitted under Phase 1 of this Solicitation for the evaluation of the factor "Capability to Perform".

61. SOW Section Warranties 01.78.36.01-Page 3 (page 389 of PDF) – This requires the DB to warrant that work performed is free of defect in design. Please clarify the intent is to limit the warranty to construction work only as this section does not apply to design services.

Response 61: The warranty is for the construction work and does not apply to design services.

62. Would the USIBWC consider streamlining the Past Performance Questionnaire to 3 pages instead of the current 17 pages so that our clients would be more inclined to complete the entire form?

Response 62: The Past Performance Questionnaire will not be changed at this time.

63. Would the USIBWC grant a two-week extension for the Phase 1 proposal preparation?

Response 63: No extension will be provided at this time.

64. Will the offerors who are shortlisted for Phase 2 of this procurement have the opportunity for another site visit?

Response 64: Yes, this was also noted during the Prebid Conference and included in the agenda items posted with Amendment 0004 on 1/16/2024. The date of the site visit will be coordinated with the Offerors invited for Phase 2.

65. Can you verify that there will be a Q&A opportunity for the down-selected firms in Phase 2 of this procurement?

Response 65: Yes. The due date for the Phase 2 questions will be provided to the Offerors invited for Phase 2.

66. Please verify that these locations (Smuggler's Gulch and Goat Canyon) were for information only, and the scope of this Progressive D-B project does not include those sites.

Response 66: See SOW Section 00.24.00.01 1.5.A.2. Smuggler's Gulch and Goat Canyon are part of the SBIWTP. As such, if upgrading of these facilities are required to ensure that the treatment plant works correctly, then yes work at these structures is required.

67. Many aspects of the SBIWTP Progressive D-B project were discussed and shown to the site walk attendees, including projects that are occurring this year in 2024 but are not part of the SBIWTP

Progressive D-B scope of work. For clarity, please share the names of 2024 projects, either ongoing or scheduled to start, that are not part of the scope of this project Progressive D-B project.

Response 67: The list of projects being worked on continues to develop during the year so these will be provided to the awarded Design-Builder.

68. Many aspects of the overall Tijuana River Valley program were discussed at the site walk orientation. In order for us to determine our final Go or No-Go decision to pursue this project, please give us a bigger picture of the future USIBWC (or from other agencies) project opportunities in the Tijuana River Valley. Specifically, what future work is envisioned to improve

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RFP 191BWC24R0001 SBIWTP Rehabilitation and Expansion PDB Page 4 infrastructure at canyons, pump stations, the river, or with additional wastewater treatment beyond this Progressive D-B project?

Response 68: See response 66 regarding the canyons and pump stations as may be required for this project. For USIBWC, there are no additional projects for the SBIWTP planned at this time and only rehabilitation of the Tijuana River Levees is planned in the future. All projects are subject to available of funding. Other projects by other agencies are identified in the USMCA

Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. These are projects that are being considered within the Tijuana River Valley but are separate of the SBIWTP expansion project. Please refer to

SOW Section 00.31.00.01 1.5.B., 1.5.D., and 1.5.H. for links to these documents.

69. During the site walk, tight physical constraints were mentioned. Please clarify this, as the limits of construction space for this project did not appear to be overly constrained. Are there other projects that could constrain working on this site?

Response 69: Physical constraints are due to working around existing facilities, structure and underground piping. The entire USIBWC property is available for expansion of the plant.

70. What is the USIBWC’s preferred scheduling software? It is not clear in the SOW what this is.

Response 70: The Design-Builder may use whatever scheduling software they wish. If the

Design-Builder prefers to use software other than Primavera or Microsoft Project, access to the software shall have to be provided to USIBWC and the Construction Management Contractor for our use in reviewing the schedule.