RFI Responses 691-23-120.pdf

691-23-120 RFI VA Responses

1) The Legend on Drawing CD-101 has a note that reads: Existing utility to be removed and disposed of or abandoned in place by others. How are we to bid this?

Existing utilities marked “existing utility to be removed and disposed of or abandoned in place by others schedule is unknown (including VA #691-21-120)” are for reference only. Work to abandon or remove utility will be performed by others and is not part of this contract. Contractor is to coordinate, as necessary, with other contractors.

2) General Note 5 on drawing CD-101 calls for the Contractor and VA to determine the number of trees & roots to be removed prior to the start of construction. Because this scope is indeterminable at this time, please provide an Owners Allowance for this scope of work to be included in the bid.

Contractor may consider visiting project site to quantify number of trees and roots to be removed in addition to consulting with the VA COR and VA Environmental.

3) General Note 9 on drawing CD-101 calls for the Contractor to dispose of an unknown quantity of “Transite Pipe”. Because this scope is indeterminable at this time, please provide an Owners Allowance for this scope of work to be included in the bid.

Contractor shall remove Transite/ asbestos piping up to 25% of total. If more is discovered, contractor shall inform COR.

4) This facility is known to have archaeologically sensitive areas. Specification Section 01 00 00, Part 1.3-A-11 requires (1) Archaeological Monitor and (1) Native American Monitor be present 9-hours per day (each) for the duration of the project. Specification Section 01 00 00, Part 1.26 requires (2) Archaeological Monitors and (1) Native American Monitor. Will an Archaeology Observers be required for all ground disturbing activities or only during certain subsurface activities? If so, will the VA clarify how many of each type of Monitor will be required? Will Archaeology Observers will be required and be present at all times during the project duration or only during certain phases? Will the VA provide a list and contacts of approved Archaeology and Native American Monitoring firms?

Archeological Resources Monitoring Work to be paid for under this item shall include furnishing all labor, materials, and equipment for archeological and Native American monitoring at the Project site per SCA guidelines. Monitoring shall be conducted by one (1) archeological monitor for 9 hours per day and one (1) Native American monitor for 9 hours per day for the duration of the Work.

Work under this item shall be performed by a Secretary of Interior (SOI) Qualified Archeologist to either carry out monitoring or Buried Site Testing (BST) for any trenching, borings, or potholing. An archeological sensitivity model may be provided upon request.

5) If Archaeological artifacts are discovered and the project is delayed for some period of time, will the VA consider this a differing condition for the Contractor?

On-site, the monitors will coordinate directly with construction personnel and will have the authority to temporarily halt or re-direct work if archeological resources are observed. The on-site monitor(s) will immediately notify the Project Archeologist and Applicant or Applicant’s representative of the observation. The on-site monitor(s) will identify and mark a 50-foot “no work” radius around any finds made during construction until the exposed archeological resources are evaluated and recovered. If an archeological discovery is made the CRMP will identify the measures to be implemented for testing significance of the discovery. Furthermore, in the event of a significant archeological discovery (e.g., intact hearth features, intact prehistoric and/or historic middens, human remains) the Project

Archeologist, in consultation with the Native American representative from P.N.A.C.R.M., will prepare a

Significance Testing Plan for review by the VA and the Applicant. Moreover, if archeological resources are discovered, they will be described in detail and the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) records for these new resources will be provided to the appropriate agency.

Where the Contractor or any of the Contractor's employees, prior to, or during the construction work, are advised of or discover any possible archeological, historical and/or cultural resources, the Contractor shall immediately notify the COR verbally, and then with a written follow up. Contractor shall provide a phasing plan at the beginning of the project to ensure the continuation of work in case of archeological findings and other unforeseen conditions.

6) Will the SWPPP requirements for this project follow only the specifications for federal work or will any CA state of local jurisdictions be required to be involved? Specification Section 01 00 00, Part 1.3-A-3 requires the Contractor to pay for all costs associated with permitting and compliance of the “local Regional Water Quality Control Board”. If a state or local clean air / water jurisdiction will be required to be involved, will the VA provide the permitting and fee costs or else establish an Allowance amount for the permitting and inspection requirements for the other jurisdiction(s)?

State and local SWPPP requirements do apply to this project. Contractor is to incorporate cost and comply with bid prerequisites.

7) Will the VA supply complete as-built drawings for assistance in locating existing UG utilities? If any utilities not depicted on the as-built drawings and are subsequently discovered / encountered, will the VA see this contractually as a differing condition should re-routes or other modifications be required for the project, other than depicted in the Drawings?

VA to provide As-Builts as a reference only. Contractor is to conduct their own due diligence, such as

DigAlert, as necessary.

8) The Project Specifications contain sections for Asbestos Abatement. Section -2 82 11, Part 1.1(B 1&2) require the Contractor to “satisfy themselves of the actual quantities” to be abated, yet paragraph #2 states to include removal of 300 LF of >6” diameter pipe. Will the VA provide the current HAMAT Survey that includes the areas of construction? Can the Contractor include 300 LF of abated pipe for bidding purposes, and consider any additional quantities be dealt with as a differing condition?

A current HAMAT Survey is not available. Contractor shall remove Transite/ asbestos piping up to 25% of total. If more is discovered, contractor shall inform COR.

9) Specification Section 01 00 00, Part 1.3-A-1 thru 12 list (12) Bid Items. IFB SF 1442, Block #17 lists one Main Bid Item. Will the VA clarify if one lump sum bid offer will be acceptable?

Per competitive bid, one lump sum bid is acceptable.

10) Specification Section 01 00 00, Part 1.3-A-12 requires that a Certified Arborist be on-site during activities that will impact soil in the “Tree Protection Zone”. Will the VA specify how often the Certified Arborist must be present on-site and clarify if the Arborist will be a cost for the Contractor? If hired by the Contractor, will the VA provide a list with contacts of VA approved Arborist firms?

Certified Arborist will need to be on-site during active construction activities. Refer to Notes to

Contractor on CU- 105 and CU-111. Arborist will be a cost for the Contractor.

VA does not provide a list. Approved work by VA representative within tree protection zone shall include a certified arborist to be on-site during construction activities that will impact soil in the tree protection zone. The Certified Arborist will maintain daily field notes that include (1) a brief description of monitoring locations within the project area; (2) work performed; and (3) the times and hours of monitoring.

As deemed required by the Certified Arborist and VA representative, the area to be protected shall be flagged to identify the limits of disturbance. Tree resources shall not be removed or intentionally damaged beyond these limits. The Certified Arborist and/or VA representative shall have the authority to halt any project activity that does not adhere to the minimization measures related to the protection of tree resources. Upon completion of the monitoring efforts, a Letter Report will be prepared by the

Certified Arborist to document project compliance, summarize daily monitoring logs, and will include monitoring results.

11) Specification Section 01 00 00, Part 1.3-A-5 seems to indicate that the Contractor will be responsible for the permits / impact fees required for the connection to the LADWP meters. Typically, these fees are paid for by the Owner (VA). If the contractor is deemed to be the party to pay these fees, will the VA provide the permit costs or else establish an Allowance amount to cover these fees?

Fees are being paid for by the VA. Contractor is responsible to coordinate as necessary or required with

LADWP.

Whenever it is required that a connection fee be paid to a public utility provider for new permanent service to the construction project, for such items as water, sewer, electricity, gas or steam, payment of such fee shall be the responsibility of the Government and not the Contractor.

12) Specification Section 01 00 00, Part 1.3-A-1 has several sentences requiring the Contractor to provide alternate lodging for residences where noise cannot be kept within ordinance levels during construction. Since this is a potentially open-ended requirement for the Contractor, for bidding purposes, will the VA establish an Allowance amount for any residents that may require relocation during construction?

Contractor is to follow the federal OSHA regulations. No residents or patients are to be relocated.

13) Will the VA provide the Geotechnical Survey that covers the areas of work? If one is not available, will the Contractor be required to perform Geotechnical Testing prior to Construction in order to determine the UG formations and potential issues? Specification Section 01 00 00, Part 1.11 – Physical Data-Soil Conditions, Paragraph “C” asks the Contractor to provide a “letter” from a Geotechnical Engineer prior to excavating. Would the intent of this sentence indicate the Contractor is to perform a Geotechnical Survey (soils report) prior to construction? This is typically performed prior to design. If the Geotechnical findings if required, create a change or changes to the design, will the VA consider this a differing condition?

Geotechnical Survey is not available. Prior to excavation, contractor shall be responsible for costs to provide a letter from licensed geotechnical engineer as required in Section 01 00 00, Part 1.11.

Contractor shall comply with VA specifications and bid documents.

14) Specification Section 01 00 00, Part 1.5-C requires the contractor to provide unarmed guards at the construction site after hours. Will the VA clarify if this will be a requirement for this project? If so, will the VA specify exactly how many guards will be required and specify the requirements for the VA police communication devices as stated? Further, if guards are required, will the VA provide specifications for the equipment required to record guard(s) rounds as stated?

Unarmed guards are not mandatory. Contractor shall comply with all safety requirements listed under general requirements. Contractor is responsible for site safety and security.

15) Specification Section 01 00 00, Part 1.19-A thru E require the Contractor to install electric meters to meter and pay for electricity used during construction. Will this be a requirement for this project and if so, will the VA provide the current KWh charge that the Contractor will be expected to pay?

VA utilities available upon request.

Whenever it is required that a connection fee be paid to a public utility provider for new permanent service to the construction project, for such items as water, sewer, electricity, gas or steam, payment of such fee shall be the responsibility of the Government and not the Contractor.

16) Specification Section 01 00 00, Part 1.25 requires the Contractor to hire a professional commercial photographer to document this project. Will this be a requirement for this project, or will in-house photographs be acceptable?

Photographic documentation is required throughout the duration of the project. A professional or commercial photographer is not required.

17) Will the VA clarify if the Site superintendent, if dully qualified, also be permitted to serve in the roles of SSHO and CQC or will a separate individual be required to fill either of those two roles?

Yes, if the Site Superintendent meets the definitions for both roles. Contractor is to appoint a person or persons to these roles who meets the OSHA competent person qualifications.

18) Specification Section 01 35 26, Part 1.13 requires that all contract employees provide written certification they have had a negative pre-placement TB screening within 90 days prior to assignment. Will the VA clarify if this will be a requirement for this project?

This is not a requirement for this project as the scope of work is to be completed entirely outdoors.

19) Specification Section 01 45 00, Part 3.4-B requires that the CQC System Manager must be a graduate engineer or architect and be on-site at all times during construction. Since this requirement will be at a significant cost impact to the project, will the VA clarify if this will be a requirement for this project?

Contractor is to appoint a certified CQC System Manager who is required to be on-site during construction.

20) Specification Section 01 45 00, Part 3.4-C requires that in addition to the CQC System Manager, specialized personnel are to assist the CQC system Manager and be present on-site whenever work is being performed in their specific area of expertise. These specialists would include Civil Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, and Environmental Engineer to name a few. Since these requirements will be at a significant cost impact to the project, will the VA clarify if this will be a requirement for this project?

Contractor is to appoint a certified CQC System Manager who is required to be on-site during construction. Additional specialists are not required.

21) Specification Section 01 91 00, Part 1.8-C states that the VA will engage the Commissioning Agent (CxA) under a separate contract. Will formal commissioning be required for this project and if so, will the VA be hiring the CxA under a separate contract?

Formal commissioning is not required for this project. Contractor is responsible for all testing requirements in compliance with bid documents.

22) SECTION 01 00 00 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS / ITEM 11 states; Monitoring shall be conducted by one (1) archeological monitor for 9 hours and (1) Native American monitor for 9 hours per day for the “duration of the Work”

Shall “duration of work” be interpreted as any work that is disturbing the ground and other work such as paving & striping will not require any monitoring?

Work under this item shall be performed by a Secretary of Interior (SOI) Qualified Archeologist to either carry out monitoring or Buried Site Testing (BST) for any trenching, borings, or potholing. An archeological sensitivity model may be provided upon request.

23) SECTION 01 00 00 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS / ITEM 11 states; measures necessary may include providing alternate lodging for residences where noise cannot be kept within ordinance. For bidding purposes is there a quantity that bidders can assume will require temp relocating?

Contractor is to follow the federal OSHA regulations. No residents or patients are to be relocated.

24) On drawing sheet CU-103 there are heavy long dark lines that appears to represent “proposed waterline” on the legend light dashed lines with a dot/period between the breaks represents “proposed EUL property line” please confirm that the line running below and parallel to the “proposed waterline is “proposed EUL property line”.

Confirmed. The thick line (long dash-dot-long dash) below the proposed alignment in Bonsall Avenue

(west side of Bonsall and south side of Pershing) is a "proposed EUL property line."

25) Please confirm that the CQC Manager will be separately appointed and the GC's site superintendent cannot fill this role.

Contractor to submit CQC plan that includes:

1. A description of the QC organization, including a chart showing lines of authority and acknowledgement that the CQC staff will implement the three-phase control system for all aspects of the work specified. Include a CQC System Manager that reports to the project superintendent.

2. The name, qualifications (in resume format) duties, responsibilities, and authorities of each person assigned a CQC function.

3. A copy of the letter to the CQC System Manager signed by an authorized official of the firm which describes the responsibilities and delegates sufficient authorities to adequately perform the functions of the CQC System Manager, including authority to stop work which is not in compliance with the Contract. Letters of direction to all other various quality control representatives outlining duties, authorities, and responsibilities will be issued by the CQC System Manager. Furnish copies of these letters to the

Contracting Officer or Authorized designee.

26) On past projects the owner has allowed the GC"s Superintendent to assume the role of SSHO.

Question: Will the GC's Site Superintendent be allowed to fill this role, or will the government require a dedicated SSHO?

“SITE SAFETY AND HEALTH OFFICER” (SSHO) AND “COMPETENT PERSON” (CP):

A. The Prime Contractor shall designate a minimum of one SSHO at each project site that will be identified as the SSHO to administer the Contractor's safety program and government-accepted

Accident Prevention Plan. Each subcontractor shall designate a minimum of one CP incompliance with 29 CFR 1926.20 (b)(2) that will be identified as a CP to administer their individual safety programs.

B. Further, all specialized Competent Persons for the work crews will be supplied by the respective contractor as required by 29 CFR 1926 (i.e., Asbestos, Electrical, Cranes, & Derricks, Demolition, Fall Protection, Fire Safety/Life Safety, Ladder, Rigging, Scaffolds, and

Trenches/Excavations).

C. These Competent Persons can have collateral duties as the subcontractor’s superintendent and/or work crew lead persons as well as fill more than one specialized CP role (i.e., Asbestos, Electrical, Cranes, & Derricks, Demolition, Fall Protection, Fire Safety/Life Safety, Ladder, Rigging, Scaffolds, and Trenches/Excavations). However, the SSHO has be a separate qualified individual from the Prime Contractor’s Superintendent and/or Quality Control Manager with duties only as the SSHO.

D. The SSHO or an equally qualified Designated Representative/alternate will maintain a presence on the site during construction operations in accordance with FAR Clause 52.236-6:

Superintendence by the Contractor. CPs will maintain presence during their construction activities in accordance with above mentioned clause. A listing of the designated SSHO and all known CPs shall be submitted prior to the start of work as part of the APP with the training documentation and/or AHA as listed in Section 1.8 below.

E. The repeated presence of uncontrolled hazards during a contractor’s work operations will result in the designated CP as being deemed incompetent and result in the required removal of the employee in accordance with FAR Clause 52.236-5: Material and

Workmanship, Paragraph (c).

27) Is there a Geotechnical report Available?

A Geotechnical report is not available.

28) For bidding purposes can you send us the hazardous material survey for all of the affected work areas?

A Hazardous Material survey is not available.

29) Are there any known soil contaminants to be present and if so can the government provide a quantity to be assumed for bidding purposes?

VA is unaware of any known soil contaminants.

30) Section 01 00 00 para 1.3/A/11 states that archeological resources monitoring shall be conducted by one (1) archeological monitor for 9 hours per day and one (1) Native American monitor for 9 hours per day for the duration of the work.

a. Section 01 00 00 para 1.26/A states that the Contractor shall provide two (2) archeological monitors and one (1) Native American monitor to direct and monitor ground disturbing activities within undisturbed native sediments. Please clarify the number of archeological monitors required, one or two?

b. Please clarify whether monitoring is required during non-ground disturbing activities.

c. Can one person fill the roles of archeological monitor and Native American monitor provided they meet the qualifications for both?

Archeological Resources Monitoring Work to be paid for under this item shall include furnishing all labor, materials, and equipment for archeological and Native American monitoring at the Project site per SCA guidelines. Monitoring shall be conducted by one (1) archeological monitor for 9 hours per day and one (1) Native American monitor for 9 hours per day for the duration of the Work.

Work under this item shall be performed by a Secretary of Interior (SOI) Qualified Archeologist to either carry out monitoring or Buried Site Testing (BST) for any trenching, borings, or potholing. An archeological sensitivity model may be provided upon request.

31) Can one person fill the roles of archeological monitor and Native American monitor provided they meet the qualifications for both?

Refer to RFI #4 for response.

32) Please clarify whether monitoring is required during non-ground disturbing activities.

Work under this item shall be performed by a Secretary of Interior (SOI) Qualified Archeologist to either carry out monitoring or Buried Site Testing (BST) for any trenching, borings, or potholing. An archeological sensitivity model may be provided upon request.

33) Section 01 45 00 para 3.4/C discusses specialized CQC personnel and states that these individuals or specified technical companies are directly employed by the General Contractor and cannot be employed by a supplier or subcontractor on this project, and that they have no other duties other than quality control. If duly qualified, will the Government allow the CQC System

Manager to also fulfill the role(s) of these specialized CQC personnel?

Contractor to submit CQC plan that includes:

1. A description of the QC organization, including a chart showing lines of authority and acknowledgement that the CQC staff will implement the three-phase control system for all aspects of the work specified. Include a CQC System Manager that reports to the project superintendent.

2. The name, qualifications (in resume format) duties, responsibilities, and authorities of each person assigned a CQC function.

3. A copy of the letter to the CQC System Manager signed by an authorized official of the firm which describes the responsibilities and delegates sufficient authorities to adequately perform the functions of the CQC System Manager, including authority to stop work which is not in compliance with the Contract. Letters of direction to all other various quality control representatives outlining duties, authorities, and responsibilities will be issued by the CQC System Manager. Furnish copies of these letters to the

Contracting Officer or Authorized designee.

34) 01 00 00 para 1.25 references a commercial photographer for photographic documentation.

Please confirm that a commercial photographer is required.

Refer to RFI #16 for response.

35) Reference A/CU201: Note 2 states, “If unstable soil is encountered, the VA representative shall determine over excavation depth and foundation re-fill material.” Please clarify whether offerors are to account for unstable soils and over-excavation, and if so please provide assumptions/quantities to be used for bidding purposes.

It is assumed "offerors" is referring to "bidders." There [are/are no] known areas of unstable soils [if applicable provide description of areas of known unstable soils]. Contractor to make reasonable assumptions on areas requiring over-excavation as part of its "means and methods" of construction.

36) Can native soil be used for trench backfill?

Suitable native material may be used for trench backfill. Refer to Specification Section 31 20 11.

37) On sheet CU 111 (Lower Zone Fire Water) it shows some work adjacent to the future police station. It has a note that tells us where to start construction, yet there is water line that indicates it is new work past the point where it says to begin construction. This sheet refers you to MP101, which shows a lot of domestic water line work as being new construction. This is confusing because there appears to be domestic water line work being shown on a sheet that was supposed to be fire water.

In CU-111, "Begin Construction @ Station 200+00.00" intends to mark the start of the plan and profile for the fire water pipeline on CU-111. Contractor shall refer to MP-101 for the continuation of the fire water pipeline (prior to "Begin Construction" on CU-111) between the point of connection (POC) @

CN10 to Station 200+00.00.

38) CU 105 (lower domestic water) the same area shows similar scope of work and refers you to detail A on CU 203. Detail A does not show the installation of any of the domestic water PRV’s or backflows that are shown on MP101.

In CU-105, the reference to Detail A/CU-203 should be corrected to Detail A/MP-101; detail A/CU-203 does not apply to Sheet CU-105. Contractor shall refer to MP-101 for the continuation of the domestic water pipeline (prior to "Begin Construction" on CU-105) between the POC @ CN14 to Station

130+00.00.

39) Are we supposed to do all of the work shown on MP101 up to Note 14 which is just outside of the future LADWP water meter vault?

Yes, MP-101 provides the scope of work for both the domestic water and fire water pipelines prior to the "Begin Construction" labels on CU-105 and CU-111.

40) Is the government going to release the Archaeologist’s report?

An Archaeological report is not available. Contractor shall provide Archeological Resources Monitoring per Specification Section 01 00 00.