AMENDMENT 8 RESPONSES TO RFI QUESTIONS (36C78622P0020) Georgia National Cemetery 10112022.pdf

1 What date are contractors to assume for contract award? Contract award will be approximately 20 days after RFP closing date.

2 What date are contractors to assume for NTP? The NTP will be 10 days after contract award

3 Will the VA be providing the successful offeror a sales tax-exempt certificate? The Tax-exempt certification is provided upon request; However, the idea is to provided quotes with the taxes included IAW FAR 2.229-3 federal, state, and local taxes b. (1)

4 The SF1442 Document does not define a government acceptance, ie..block 13 d. of the SF 1442 is blank. Can the government please clarify the anticipated review period for acceptance?

The anticipated review period for acceptance will be days 20 days after proposal review, selection and contract award.

5 Please clarify the following in regards to the proposal format:

5a. Minimum Font Size Size 11 5b. Allowable Font Styles Arial, Times New Roman 5c. Allowable Page Margin dimensions 1” Minimum

6 Sub-Factor 2.2, Key Personnel allows for 15 pages, 3 pages per resume but only identifies 3 Key positions. Are there any other positions the government is requesting?

Other key positions are at the contractor’s discretion to provide resumes within the 15-page limit.

6a. Please clarify what the government means by"Other Key Personnel if Applicable"�. Personnel the contractor wants to highlight in their proposal beyond the key positions.

6b. Are certifications required as part of the Resumes? If so, are they to be counted as part of the total page limitations? No

6c. Contractor requests that the requirement for OSHA 30 being relevant to the last 5 years be removed. The OSHA 30 does not expire. 5-year relevancy removed.

Under Section L-1.13, under the "Administrative Data" section, can the government clarify the definition of "Licenses, Certifications, Insurance, OSHA training certificates, and any other documents relevant to offerors proposal"�

Insurance Certificate IAW 52.228-5- OSHA certificate is included in Technical Factors 2 page 67 of 73. Present any licensees, certifications that goes to the credibility and qualifications to support the proposal you are submitting.

7a. Can the government also clarify where these items are to be shown in the contractors’ proposal? Please see required documents under SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS pages 51-55.

8 Please clarify that the only items required for the price proposal are the following: Please see required documents under SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS pages 51-55.

8a. Completed and signed SF 1442 Please see required documents under SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS pages 51-55.

8b. Acknowledged Addendums Please see required documents under SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS pages 51-55.

8c. Contract Price Schedule, Section B to include a cost breakdown. Please see required documents under SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS pages 51-55.

8d. Representations and Certifications Please see required documents under SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS pages 51-55.

9 What is the government review period for RFIs and Submittals? Per Spec 01 32 17, review of submittals shall not be less than 10 days

Proposal sub-factor 4.4 requests a Level 3 project schedule as part of the proposal. The VA’s “Guidelines for Preparation of CPM Schedule” defines a Level 3 as a “Detailed Design Schedule”. This does not appear to be applicable to the requirements of this contract. A Level 2 schedule appears to be more appropriate. Please clarify this proposal requirement.

Government accepts a Level 2 schedule for the proposal.

11 Can the government provide the following information regarding the services at the Georgia National Cemetery:

11a. Average Annual Services Performed. 2400 11b. Average Monthly Services Performed. 230 11c. Cemetery’s Traditionally Busiest Month for Performing Services. Dec, Jan, Mar, May 11d. Cemetery’s Traditionally Busiest Day of the Week for Performing Services. Monday and Friday

12 Under general requirements, motor vehicle registration is required. Does this include delivery vehicles who will only be unloading materials?

Yes

13 Will electronic submittals (all those except physical samples) be allowed? Yes

14 Specs refer several times to "General Conditions” Is this the same as "Division 01 - General Requirements"? If not, please provide copy of General Conditions.

It is the same.

15 Per sections 034821 and 034824, is the structural PE required to be licensed in the State of Georgia? Yes 16 Is there a cost related to scope of NCA Crypt Specialist? No

17 Refer to section 03 48 24, 1.9 Mock-Up. Would it be acceptable to use one of the permanent columbarium walls as a mock-up location, where work would remain in place on acceptance?

Mock-ups that are part of final / permanent construction are allowed by exception; however, all work prior to acceptance is done at contractor risk and may require rework up to and including replacement for quality not accepted by the VA.

18 Refer to section 04 40 10 1.4.D. Will mock-up, once accepted by considered part of the Work? See answer to #17.

19 Refer to section 04 72 00. Is there a Basis of Design for the cast stone? No, contraactor to match existing.

20 Refer to section 051200. Please confirm AISC certification is required for fabricator and installer. Please confirm fabricator category, as "STD" does not appear to currently exist.

AISC certification required, disregard Category STD.

21 The Q&A indicates that we should include 20,000 CY of rock excavation and provide a unit price. Please clarify where the contractor is to show this unit price in relation to the price proposal.

the excel spreadsheet provied as samples can be used to incldue a line itme for the rock & it can be provoided in block 17 Amounts

21a. The geotechnical report mentions using a rock splitting morta -mite in lieu of blasting in some areas. As this has a significant cost difference can an assumed quantity be provided for this as well?

Morta-mite is required for the existing burial sections only, should rock be encountered. There were no borings conducted in this area as the project assumed that rock excavation would have occurred with prior construction.

21a.i. Additionally, can the contractor provide a separate unit price for this work? See answer to #21a

22 Project plan sheets call for 7’ tall chain-link fence. 7’ is not a standard height, please clarify if the government will accept 6’ high fence.

NCA standard is 7' per specification 01 00 02, 1.6.I. If 7’ is not attainable, we will not accept 6” but will accept 8’.

22a. Are fabric barrier or plastic slats required on construction fencing? Fabric required per specification 01 00 02

23 Plans call for Standard Pre-Placed Double Depth Crypts (3x8). Will the government allow the substitution of Pre-Placed Quad Crypts to be utilized?

A proposal to use Quad Crypts will be considered by the NCA and approval dependent on location.

24 Plan sheet CT100 indicates that all construction traffic entering the cemetery is to be from Mt. Carmel Church Lane, please confirm.

At the site survey the government agreed that the contractor can utilize the expansion for their laydown area. Access to this area is best made through the front entrance. If the contractor utilizes the front entrance, the contractor must install steel plates over all pavers to protect them from damage. The contractor can utilize Mt Carmel Church Lane when appropriate to access that portion of the cemetery.

24a.

Can the government provide information on the existing road that is intended to be the construction traffic route(s) shown on plan sheet CT100? Ie..pavement thickness, aggregate base thickness, any engineered fill or condensed subgrade, date at which it was installed, any previous repair work completed along the route.

No information available.

25 Project plan sheets GC101-GC105 25a. Plan sheet shows “Sd4” on the plan view but is not described in the notes or the legend, please clarify. See Detail 3, Sheet GC503 25b. Plan sheets call out “Sd1-NS” on the plan view but is not described in the notes or the legend, please clarify. See Detail 2, Sheet GC501

25c. Plan sheets call out “SSF” on the plan views but are identified with both –x—x—x— and --ssf—ssf—line types. Please clarify if both line types are to be identified as silt fence.

Both line types are to be silt fence.

26 Project plan sheets GC109, GC110, and GC112 there is a dash dot line that is not described, please clarify. See legend on GC108.

27 Plan sheets GC110-GC112 have match lines that reference the wrong plan sheets. Please clarify. Typo, intended to refer to sheets GC109-GC111 respectively. See key map in lower right hand corner for each E&S phase for additional information.

28 Please provide the weight/load bearing capability for the bridge at the administration building Unknown

29 Can the CAD files be made available?

http://www.gordon.us.com –Click on 'ABOUT GORDON' - Click on ‘Files’ -Enter the following account and password

Account names/Passwords ARE case sensitive.

Account: vagnc Password: 78cQvHk

30 Has the permitting been solidified? And should the contractor anticipate paying for or processing the permit? Contractor responsible for permits, including NPDES permitting.

31 For the FCA Improvements, are the panels on both sides of the Granite wall to be replaced or just the side visible to the public? Both sides. See Detail 1, Note 1, Sheet CS001.

32 Is the broken panel located at the committal service shelter #2 to be included in the FCA Improvements Additive? No

33 Would the Cemetery allow night work if required? By exception, with Southeast District approval 34 Please confirm there are electrical pull boxes located along the gravel road at the new expansion area. See question 47.

35 If the award is made within 30 days of the bid date when is it anticipated a Notice to Proceed will be issued? The NTP will be 10 days after contract awards.

36 Will the contractor be able to use the maintenance yard for lay down as well as space at the future expansion? The contractor may not use the maintenance yard.

36a.

Will the contractor be allowed to use the existing burial sections proposed as part of this expansion contract as staging areas for crypt/niche storage?

The NCA will allow staging of the crypt/niche storage for what will be installed in the existing area, and no storage that will be for the expansion area to limit construction traffic going between the existing and expansion construction areas.

37 Is there a security patrol scheduled? NO

38 Is there a phasing of completion the owner wishes to see?

38a. There are references to phasing plan in the project plans, sheet CT100, but no definitive phases of work are described.

38b. Please clarify if there are specific phases of work that the government anticipates and a chronological order in which these phases are to be completed.

Contractor shall develop a schedule in accordance with Spec 01 32 17.

38.b.i.

If there are no specific phases of work and chronological order to be provided, please clarify that if the contractor’s technical proposal reflects a phase/sequence of phasing more favorable to the government, this will be considered a strength in evaluation.

The government will consider a phasing plan that is favorable to the government as a strength in the proposal.

39 Even though the new laydown/staging area is now located at the New Expansion area per the walk through 09/15/22, will Mt.

Carmel Church Lane still be the desired construction entrance?

See question 24 answer.

40 Are all systems (irrigation, MEP, etc.) in working order? Have there been any major repairs, modifications or expansions in the last two years?

All systems are in working order with no major modifications in last two years.

41 Is there a preferred vendor the owner wishes to use for the Service Emblem Replacement? No

In accordance with sheet CT100, the RE/COR Field office is to be located directly adjacent to the existing outsourced contractor yard.

Is that still the desired location for the jobsite trailers since the Prebid discussions leading to the expansion area being the proposed laydown area?

The PM/COR office should be located in the expansion area convenient to the contractors jobsite trailers.

43 Can the government please certify that all existing burial sections being converted to pre-placed crypt sections have NOT been utilized for internments?

The government certifies these sections have NOT been utilized for internments.

43a. Contractor would not want to be responsible for excavating damage to any existing internments, accidentally or otherwise.

44 Please clarify that the finish grades above the crypt fields and subgrades are acceptable for the allowable cover depth to be achieved.

Crypt and grading shall be constructed per plans and specifications, for example see detail 1 Sheet DT502.

45 Please clarify the maximum and minimum cover depths above the crypts. Crypt and grading shall be constructed per plans and specifications, for example see detail 1 Sheet DT502.

45a. Also, please clarify if this depth will be measured from the head or the toe of the crypt. Crypt and grading shall be constructed per plans and specifications, for example see detail 1 Sheet DT502. Measurements are not specific to the head or toe of the crypt.

46 Project plans call for 3-1/2” diameter aluminum markers, specifications call for 3-1/4” to 3-1/2” diameter markers. Please confirm that 3-1/4” diameter markers will be acceptable.

Markers to be 3-1/2".

47 Are utilities available at the identified “Contractor Trailer and Staging Area”? Distances to connections?

Contractor to propose and determine trailer locations and associated utilities per specifications. All costs for utilities to be provided by contractor.

There was power hook ( a board with multiple empty older power company meters) up at the Native contractor fenced in area near the admin building. The contractors also have water access there. And our main water lines that run in the cemetery are located along that road. There was also a power line that ran down to the hunting cabin, going along Vickers road in the expansion area. There is no active power service there now.

Please confirm the designer has located the utilities within the project area and the project is designed to not impact existing utilities. Ie…please confirm that removal or relocation of the existing overhead in relation to the new loop road is not in this contract and will be completed by others.

Utilities provided / demoed as shown on plans. It is the contractors responsibility to confirm locations.

48a. Also, please confirm the date in which all proposed utilities will be removed/relocated in relation to the anticipated duration of this Phase 2 contract work.

Date not available at this time.

According to the boring logs, there doesn’t appear to be any groundwater located in work locations where subsurface investigation has taken place. Specifications have section 31 23 19 Dewatering, is this specification even applicable?

Most projects include a potential for ground water and thus the specification is provided for dewatering.

49a. Does the government anticipate there will be ground water encountered in burial sections 4, 5, 12, 14, and 15? Most projects include a potential for ground water and thus the specification is provided for dewatering.

50 Will the plans and specifications be revised and resubmitted showing all changes and clarifications from RFI’s? No, the amendment addressing RFI’s and answers, shall serve as the government’s documentation of affected portions of the plans and specifications.

51 When a contradiction occurs between the plans the specifications, which dictates? An RFI shall be submitted to seek clarification prior to ordering materials or construction. Generally specifications are the prevailing document.

Project plans call for a 4” layer of sand to be placed above the crypts. Specification Section 03 48 21, paragraph 3.7 G does not describe the sand layer, only that the backfill shall be as described in the plans. Can the government please clarify if there are any specific requirements for the sand material?

Provide sand conforming to GDOT Specification Section 801.2.02, Size 10NS or 10SM.

The earthwork on this project does not balance and will generate about 130,000 cubic yards of excess (but suitable) material. Can this excess material be stored, possibly for future projects, onsite?

The contractor can plan on utilizing cemetery property for excess spoils. For example, the expansion area has drop off areas that are going to need a lot of material later to be built up to be a level interment section. Successful bidder will coordinate with the COR, and RE for areas to be utilized during construction.

The geotechnical report (ECS Southeast – Jan. 25, 2022) references a Seismic Refraction Survey performed by United Consulting in 2003. Is this survey available and if so can it be provided? Attached is the referenced report, this was provided to IFS with the other initial cemetery design documents

1.1.G.1 of 01 00 02 General Requirements calls for all employees of general contractor and subs to have successfully completed OSHA 30 HR training. In the past the OSHA 30 has been a requirement for supervisors and general trade labor has completed OSHA 10 HR training. Please verify that all employees on jobsite are to have OSHA 30 HR training.

OSHA 30 HR Training is only a requirement for supervisors and safety managers. All other trade labor must have OSHA 10 HR training.

Sheet GC001 (Right Side of Drawing) Includes: The note indicates that this is only a preliminary plan and that costs for deficiencies in this plan will be on the contractor to cover. Being this is not a design build project, will the VA allow this preliminary plan to be the baseline for BMPs and allow for reimbursement for any additional BMPs that our Level II Designer deems necessary to meet Georgia requirements?

We will allow the preliminary plan to be the baseline for BMPs and review/validate/negotiate any costs for additional BMP costs

AMENDMENT #8 RESPONSES TO RFI QUESTIONS (36C78622P0020) Georgia National Cemetery 10/11/2022

See CT100 (Construction Access) for Phasing requirements. Contractor shall provide proposed phasing plan for approval which includes, but not limited to specific items noted on this sheet.

RFI # RFI Response

Sheet1