S05_RFIs and Answers.pdf

Solicitation: 36C78626B0002

Project: Biloxi National Cemetery Expansion

RFI- Contractor Questions & Government Responses

1. Bid Docs call for 7’ high fence panels on stands with shade cloth on each individual panel. With this project’s proximity to the coast, winds from a tropical storm or a hurricane will constantly knock such a fence over. 7’ panels are a special make and will cost more than the standard 6’ fence. A) will the VA consider post driven temporary fence? B) will the base consider 6’ chain-link fence for cost savings? C) due to the proximity to the coast, and considering how the fence fabric will make the fence a sail, can the VA consider allowing temporary fence without fence fabric?

a. Response – provide fencing per bid documents, contractor responsible for the maintenance of fencing through the completion of the project.

2. Are all work areas to be performed at one time, or shall they be performed in phases?

a. Response – see Sheet CI200, work shall be phased, contractor shall provide a phasing plan for approval by the Client.

3. The specifications say the SQC and Superintendent are the same person, but in other places it speaks of them as different individuals. Section 014500 speaks about additional CQC individuals to be employed directly by the GC. Can clarification be given as to the specific number of site management (safety, QC, Superintendent, etc) that will be required for this project?

a. Response – SQC and Superintendent are individual persons.

4. Can Spec Section 01 52 13 – Temporary Modular Building Systems be provided?

a. Response – Spec Section 01 52 13 is included in the specifications.

5. Specification Section 01 00 02, 1.18, S. calls for the GC to provide the Resident Engineer with a new Ford F150

XL super cab, 4x4 or equal for use on the project. Please confirm this requirement.

a. Response – There is no Resident Engineer on this project.

6. Gravesite Yield Summary on coversheet of Drawings includes 3,910 Pre-Placed Crypts. This matches total on

Sheet C-100. B.1 Price Schedule in the Solicitation includes 4,516 Pre-Placed Crypts. Please verify total.

a. Response – 3,910 is the correct number of PPC

7. Spec 01 00 02 (1.18 RE/COR Field Office) requires contractor to furnish Field Office, F150 Pick Up, etc… Please verify this requirement is to be included and if so, where will this temporary facility be located.

a. Response – There is no need Field Office, F150 Pick Up, etc for RE/COR.

8. Spec 01 00 02 (1.18 RE/COR Field Office) requires contractor to furnish Field Office, F150 Pick Up, etc… Please

a. Response – See response to #7

9. Spec 01 00 02 (1.18 RE/COR Field Office) requires contractor to furnish Field Office, F150 Pick Up, etc… Please

10. Spec 01 00 02 (1.18 RE/COR Field Office) requires contractor to furnish Field Office, F150 Pick Up, etc… Please

11. Spec 01 00 02 (1.18 RE/COR Field Office) requires contractor to furnish Field Office, F150 Pick Up, etc… Please

12. Is there a detail for Inground Cremains Sites? The legend on sheet CS160 refers to 6.4/CS503, however there is not a relevant detail on CS503.

a. Response – Legend refers to details 6 and detail 4 (6,4). The detail references do not apply to inground cremains sites.

13. Spec 01 00 02 General Requirements (Minor NCA) 1.1.G.1. requires all employees to have OSHA 30 Training. In the past, Specs have allowed for Supervisors to have OSHA 30 and other Labor to have OSHA 10. Will this be allowed?

a. Response – Supervisors are to have OSHA 30 Training. OSHA 10 training is sufficient for all other employees working on this project.

14. Spec 01 00 02 General Requirements (Minor NCA) 1.11.D states that a NPDES permit is required where the owner is the operator… and the VA will make permit application available… Has the VA started the application / permitting process?

a. Response – Contractor is responsible for submissions to the city of Biloxi for compliance review will be required to obtain the NPDESand land disturbance permits. The contractor is required to submit the SWP3 and NOI to the city of Biloxi and comply with city and state requirements.

15. Spec 01 45 00 Quality Control 3.4.B requires the Onsite CQC System Manager be a graduate engineer, graduate architect, or a graduate of construction management with a minimum of PM or SRE … Will the VA allow USACE Credentialed QCM with 5 plus years experience to fulfill this role?

a. Response – Yes.

16. There are two similar copies of Spec 01 45 00 Quality Control provided. They are similar but not exact. Please verify which copy we are to use.

a. Response – Use Spec 01 45 00 from Specification Book Volume 1.

17. Please confirm requirement per Spec 03 48 21 Precast Crypts 3.7.F that angular aggregate can only be used to backfill in between crypts when costs exceed 4 times for rounded aggregate.

a. Response – Confirmed

18. Spec 01 00 00 General Requirements1.3 Includes a contract duration for Base Bid to be 365 Days. SF 1442 allows for 540 days. Please verify the contract duration.

a. Response – The period of performance for this project is 540 Calendar Days as specified on the SF 1442.

19. The specifications require the General Contractor to provide a phasing plan as part of the project schedule.

Request: Please advise whether the VA has any Early Turnover (ETO) requirements or specific burial fields that must be prioritized within the phasing plan.

a. Response – There is no Early Turnover (ETO) requirement on this project.

20. The existing maintenance building offices are to be remodeled per the contract documents. Request: Please confirm the amount of office space needed for the Maintenance Staff and the requirements of the building, Data, Furniture, Phones, etc.…

a. Response - Reference Specification Volume 2 for information.

21. Please confirm whether Procore will be accepted for use in submittals, RFIs, and overall project management.

a. Response – yes

22. Spec Section 014500 references a Design Quality Control (DQC) Manager. The language appears to be oriented towards design services. Request: Please confirm whether this requirement is applicable to this project given that it is a bid-build delivery.

a. Response – DQC not required

23. Request: Please clarify required on-site personnel to be carried in the GC’s proposal, including:

• Is a full-time on-site Quality Control Manager required?

• Is a full-time on-site SSHO?

a. Response – Yes, Full time on-site QCM and SSHO is required.

24. The DQC specification includes an experience matrix tailored toward design personnel. Request: Please confirm whether these positions are required as part of the GC’s staffing requirements for this project.

a. Response – See response to #23.

25. Spec Section 014536 indicates the GC is responsible for third-party inspections that include the standard for concrete, earthwork, and asphalt. Request: Please confirm that all other required special inspections are to be contracted and paid for by the GC.

a. Response – yes

26. The project includes new burial fields and grid markers; however, no GIS or GNSS requirements are specified.

Request: Please confirm whether geospatial data collection, including Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) or GIS recording, is required for layout, elevations, or record documentation.

b. Response – 1) per Section 03 48 21 3.8NCA the contractor is responsible for providing the VA GIS documentation of all PPC. 2) There are no GNSS requirements for the project (Specification 11 83 00). 3) The contractor shall include the requirements of Specification 11 83 02 Geodata in their bid.

Section 3.2 Demonstration and 3.3 Training are not required.

27. Request: Please identify the current fire alarm monitoring provider for the facility so coordination can be properly accounted for.

a. Response – Confirmed.

28. The pricing sheet includes fields for Period of Performance (POP) start and end dates. Request: Please confirm whether bidders are expected to include milestone dates for POP start/end, given that the Notice to Proceed (NTP) date is unknown at bid time.

a. Response – Confirmed.

29. Pricing Sheet included in the Solicitation CLIN 0002 indicates 4,518 preplaced crypts, while the drawing cover sheet indicates 3,910. Request: Please clarify the correct quantity and revise documents accordingly.

a. Response – See response to #6

30. Sheet CS106 references Details 4, 6, and 8 on CS503; however, no constructability details are provided for inground cremation fields. Request: Please provide:

• Section and detail drawings for in-ground cremation construction

a. Response – There are no additional details for the in-ground cremains (IGC). Grading and layout for in-ground cremains are provided in the drawings

• Headstone support beam requirements (if applicable)

a. Response – headstone support beam not required.

• Grading and excavation requirements

a. Response – See CG series drawings for grading and excavation in IGC sections.

• Civil existing and proposed for bottom of the fields to Finish Grade

a. Response – See CG series drawings for grading and excavation in IGC sections.

31. Detail 9 is referenced to be found on CS503 for traditional burial plots; however, no Detail 9 is found on this page.

Request: Please provide complete construction details for traditional burial fields, including grading, excavation, and structural requirements.

a. Response – There are no additional details for the traditional burial fields, disregard detail reference.

32. Prior to demolition of the maintenance building: Request:

• Will the GC be responsible for removal/storage of existing furniture, or will this be handled by cemetery staff?

a. Respond – Yes. the GC be responsible for removal/storage of existing furniture

• The drawings include a furniture schedule—please confirm whether the GC is responsible for providing FF&E.

b. Response – No

33. Specifications state all subcontractors must have OSHA 30-hour certification. Request: Please clarify whether this requirement applies to:

• All subcontractor employees, or

• Supervisory personnel only

a. Response – See respond to question 13

34. Request: Please confirm whether the contractor is required to provide a final set of Mylar as-built drawings to the Architect/Engineer upon project completion.

a. Response – PDF and hardcopy of as-built drawings to the Architect/Engineer upon project completion.

35. Specifications indicate that the contractor shall provide a Resident Engineer (RE) / Contracting Officer’s

Representative (COR) field office. Is this a requirement for this project? Request: Please provide requirements including:

• Size and layout

• Required furnishings and equipment

• Utility/service requirements

a. . Response – There is no RE in this project and no need field office for COR.

36. Specification table of contents list 01 52 13-Temp Modular Building Systems section, but this section is not included in the book. Request: Please specify if this section was intended to be included and if so, please add.

a. Response – This section can be found in specification book volume 2.

37. The Irrigation demo plans show a keynote D4 in numerous locations on the drawings, however no D4 is listed in the demo notes for this particular flag. Request: Please advise what D4 is calling out.

a. Response – The flag note description for D4 is the D3 Flag Note. The flag note description for D3 is the D2 Flag note.

38. The access to Field II is very limited and presents concerns for the offloading of Crypts due to the circle drive, and the limits between the existing fields. Request: Will the parking lot area at the medical campus be available during this phase of work?

a. Response – No.

39. On page CS502, the details on the plans indicate a new Crypt to ABUT against the existing ribs of an existing perimeter crypt. In saying that, these ribs present an issue for backfill and pea gravel reaching the bottom, is this an issue? Request: Will any details be given showing how to achieve this standard.

a. Response – Gaps between pre-placed crypts up to 3/4"-wide shall be filled with sac mason sand, compacted to the greatest extent possible. Gaps between pre-placed crypts that are greater than 3/4"-wide shall be filled with 3/8" rounded stone.

40. The plans on page CS503 Detail 4 shows the cleanout to have a Cast-In-Place concrete collar. On the same page the gravesite grid markers details indicates the casement concrete to be 3500psi. No details are given for the strength of the concrete collar at the cleanout covers. Request: Please specify/indicate what strength of concrete to be placed around these concrete collars.

a. Response – 3500psi is acceptable.

41. If dewatering pumps are allowed and these fields are to be built next to/within existing fields, can these pumps be continuously running even during services? Once the pumps are moving water typical operations consist of the pumps continuously running. Please advise.

a. Response – No, you can’t use the pumps running even during services.

42. Please provide details on what type of material, and build up required for Temp Maintenance Staff parking.

a. Response – Provide #2 Stone, 6-inches thick on existing grade. Use filter fabric under stone for stability. Periodic inspection and maintenance shall be provided after each rainstorm.

43. Please specify the work/operational hours of the Cemetery.

a. Response – 8:00am to 5:00pm.