QA_12-22-21.pdf

MT PRA GLAC 10(45)

Rehabilitate Final 9.3 miles of the Going‐to‐the‐Sun Road & Replace Bridge Over McDonald Creek

# General Technical Question Answer Date

1 X Currently Glacier National Park is ticketed entry before 6:00 A.M. and after 5:00 P.M. Will contractors be granted a pass to enter to view the project or would we need to purchase a pass or enter after gate hours?

Glacier Park Ticketed Entry stopped on Labor Day so ticketed entry is no longer required. 9/7/21

2 X

63621‐1000 Utility, Pull Box, (Electrical) We only see a detail for the communications pull box on plan sheet C.4

The preliminary plans posted on Sam.Gov have been posted to aid prospective bidders in identifying the location and type of work for this project. The preliminary plans are only intended to assist in prospective bidders while doing a field review of the project prior to project advertisement period. The preliminary plans are not to be used for bidding purposes

5‐Oct‐21

3 X

Also when is the anticipated bid date? Please monitor the SAM site for actual date of solicitation release (https://sam.gov/). To receive automatic notification through SAM, you must login and select “Follow” feature and follow the steps as indicated.

5‐Oct‐21

4 X

Thank you for the reply and thank you for advising to view the sites before the weather changes.

We recently visited the sites and will have some electrical questions regarding solicitations 10(44) and 10(45). Should we submit our questions now or wait until the solicitations are published?

Please wait for the solicitation documents to be posted.

Solicitation documents are the officials documents that should be used for questions and bidding purposes. Please monitor (https://sam.gov/) for the official solicitation release. Should you still have questions once the solicitation is released, please do not hesitate to inquire at wfl.plans‐spec e‐mail address.

5‐Oct‐21

Check General or Technical

5 X

Being that this proposed project is located in the State of Montana, on July 1, 2021, Montana passed House Bill 702, which is:

“AN ACT PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION BASED ON A PERSON'S VACCINATION STATUS OR

POSSESSION OF AN IMMUNITY PASSPORT.”

This law prohibits “Discrimination based on vaccination status or possession of immunity passport prohibited ‐‐ definitions. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), it is an unlawful discriminatory practice for: (a) a person or a governmental entity to refuse, withhold from, or deny to a person any local or state services, goods, facilities, advantages, privileges, licensing, educational opportunities, health care access, or employment opportunities based on the person's vaccination status or whether the person has an immunity passport….”

Will the vaccine mandate requirements and enforcement of FAR Clause 52.233‐99 and Safer Federal Workforce Task Force be waived for this project?

This will be addressed under Amendment A001 and A002. 10‐Dec‐21

6 X

I am trying to navigate the sam.gov website and need a little assistance. How do I view and get on the plan holders list for the above‐mentioned project?

There is an interested vendors tab on beta.sam. You have to be signed in and have tied your entity to your registration when you signed up. If both of those things don’t happen the interested vendors list tab won’t be visible.

We don’t maintain a separate plan holders list.

You can call the federal service desk if you need further assistance. The number is1‐866‐606‐7828.

13‐Dec‐21

7 X

It is a little unclear what work is included in Phase 1 bridge work vs. Phase 2 bridge work.

Would you please clarify?

Phase I and phase II work is depicted on plan sheets L.1, L.4, L.5, L.7, L.9, & L.15. Also see section 108 of the Special Contract Requirements (SCR’s). Please bid appropriately.

15‐Dec‐21

8 X

What is the load rating of the existing bridge? The posted PUBLIC legal load capacity for the existing timber bridge is 15 tons (1430‐001P Upper McDonald Lake Bridge Safety Inspection 2019.pdf). For Contractor use, use the load rating report found in the Upper McDonald Creed Bridge Constructability Report.pdf from the physical data. Per section 104.05, an oversized and overweight permit request will need to be submitted for approval for any vehicle crossing the bridge that weighs over the posted limit of shown in physical data report Upper McDonald Creed Bridge Constructability Report.pdf. If the existing bridge is used as temporary works per Section 562, submit a plan with supporting calculations for approval per Section 104.05. Please bid accordingly.

17‐Dec‐21

9 X Would a precast bridge deck be acceptable No. Please bid accordingly 17‐Dec‐21

10 X Would FHWA consider extending Phase 1 completion deadline 30 days to allow for possible delays in procuring structural steel?

will be addressed under Amendment A003 17‐Dec‐21

11 X

Section 157.04 states to “assume responsibility of maintenance, management, and improvements of the existing erosion control measures on site…..” Can the government provide a list of all existing erosion control measures that Contractor will become responsible for?

fiber rolls, silt fence and check dams. 17‐Dec‐21

12 X items A0120, A0140, B0120 and B0140 are for silt fence and fiber rolls. If other erosion control devices or action is necessary, how will they be paid?

will be addressed under Amendment A003 and see FAR Clause 52.243‐4 Changes (June 2007)

17‐Dec‐21

13 X

The existing timber bridge has a restricted load capacity and is currently posted for a 15‐ ton limit. A load rating completed by the Federal Highway Administration in July of 2016 calculated a load capacity ranging from 15 to 29 tons depending on the standard AASTHO legal load vehicle analyzed, controlled by the moment capacity of the 70‐ft roadway stringers at mid‐span. A refined analysis was completed by Robert Peccia and Associates in June of 2020 increased that load capacity to a range of 19 to 33 tons based on the same design vehicles. Please clarify what the actual load capacity limit will be.

The posted PUBLIC legal load capacity for the existing timber bridge is 15 tons (1430‐001P Upper McDonald Lake Bridge Safety Inspection 2019.pdf). For Contractor use, use the load rating report found in the Upper McDonald Creed Bridge Constructability Report.pdf from the physical data. Per section 104.05, an oversized and overweight permit request will need to be submitted for approval for any vehicle crossing the bridge that weighs over the posted limit of shown in physical data report Upper McDonald Creed Bridge Constructability Report.pdf. If the existing bridge is used as temporary works per Section 562, submit a plan with supporting calculations for approval per Section 104.05

17‐Dec‐21

14 X

The quantities shown in the “end area volume report” for GTSR do not match the quantities shown on sheet D1 for excavation and embankment. Which document is correct?

Quantities on D1 are correct. see question 24 below. Will be Addressed under Amendment A003

17‐Dec‐21

15 X And, it appears that the project is short material for Unclassified Borrow; how this will be paid?

See FP‐14 Subsection 204.10 regarding unclassified borrow.

Please bid accordingly

16 X

On Sheet D1, Conserved Topsoil quantity is shown as 1062 CY and Placing Conserved topsoil, 4” depth item shows .2 Acres, based on 4” – these quantities do no match. Please clarify which is correct?

Both are correct. An estimated 1062 CY of topsoil will be excavated, but only 0.2 acres of conserved topsoil is required to be placed. The remainder is covered under the furnishing and placing topsoil item 62402‐0300. Please bid Accordingly.

17‐Dec‐21

17 X

After item 41301 and item 30402 are complete, and if the gravel grade is not at the planned elevation, how will the necessary import/or export of base rock, item 30202, Roadway Aggregate, Method 2 be paid for with regard to the GTSR mainline?

Importing and exporting of base rock is not anticipated. Please bid accordingly

17‐Dec‐21

18 X

After a recent site visit, there is running water in the ditches located along the shoulders of existing PTW where curve enhancements/excavation/embankment is to take place.

Would the Government please consider adding a bid item for water management and any necessary bypass pumping that may be required to construct these areas.

No. please bid accordingly 17‐Dec‐21

19 X

After a recent site visit, it was noted that near station 327 there are several large dips in the existing PTW over existing water crossings. How will sub excavation and the necessary grading repair be paid for in this area?

No sub excavation is anticipated, please bid accordingly. 17‐Dec‐21

20 X

Will the Government pay for all necessary traffic control to allow the contractor to setup areas for the safe and efficient turn‐around of hauling units, even though they may be outside the immediate construction zone?

The Government has flagging hours and pilot car hours set up in the bid schedule and pays for these items of work under Section 635‐Temporary Traffic Control. Please Bid Accordingly

17‐Dec‐21

21 X

308.03 states to use asphalt concrete millings that have maximum particle size of 1.5.”

Generally milling machines won’t produce 100% top size products. Will additional stockpiling, crushing/screening be required to meet the 1.5” maximum size?

For the milling reused as 308 follow the specification of 1.5” max size. Please Bid accordingly

17‐Dec‐21

22 X

Section 413.03 states to use sweeper immediately behind the milling operations. It is our understanding that asphalt will be milled full depth and therefore it won’t be necessary to sweep. Please advise.

Sweeping is required in areas that existing asphalt isn’t removed.

Please bid accordingly

17‐Dec‐21

23 X

Per the specs from #9 above, please confirm that a maximum particle size of the millings will not be required for the millings which are to be hauled away to locations per 413.03.b thru 413.03.d.

will be addressed under amendment A003 17‐Dec‐21

24 X

The quantities shown in the “end area volume report” for GTSR do not match the quantities shown on sheet D1 for excavation and embankment. Which document is correct?

The revised response to question 14 is: quantities on D.1 are incorrect and will be addressed under Amendment A003 as well as the End area volume report for GTSR.

21‐Dec‐21

25 X

The project specifications section 257 – Contractor‐Designed Retaining Walls states that, “Only black or black coated wire‐faced mechanically‐stabilized earth walls are acceptable.” We can offer hot dipped galvanized (typically what is required in FHWA’s standards for permanent MSE walls), commercial galvanized, or non‐galvanized wire. Non‐ galvanized is often referred to as black wire, which is a common industry term, but it is not actually the color black. Galvanized wire will have a zinc coating and metallic look, whereas non‐galvanized (aka black) is raw steel and a rusty/weathered look. Would FHWA like a non‐galvanized MSE wall for this application? If not, will you please clarify the wire type/coating requirement, desired aesthetics and provide any possible suggestions on how to achieve them?

Please refer to Subsection 720.01(b) of the FP‐14 and Special Contract Requirement’s (SCR’s). Please bid accordingly

21‐Dec‐21

26 X

Thank you for the reply. However, this does not clarify the color requirements noted in the SCR.

Subsection 720.01(b) of the FP‐14 requires hot dipped galvanization, which is not the color black as the SCR suggests. These two requirements seem to contradict each other.

Does the wall not need to be the color black then?

SCR 720.01(b) revises the requirements of this FP‐14 Subsection 720.01(b) to read as follows.

(b) Wire Facing. Fabricate from welded wire fabric conforming to AASHTO M55, except that Subsection 7.4. applies for longitudinal and transverse wire sizes. Provide black wire or black coated wire.

Please bid accordingly.

22‐Dec‐21