QandA_08-04-2026.pdf

Project No. MT PRAIRIE 2016(3)

Project: Milwaukee Bridge Resurfacing and Replacement

# General Technical Question Answer Date

1 x

Does the FHWA have an anticipated advertisement date along with an anticipated bid date for this project?

Anticipated advertisement date of

May/June 2026.

3/2/26

2 X

In regards to the above referenced project is there any Geotechnical information for this project? If so can you please publish it with the advertisement.

No geotechnical information is available for this project. A surfacing memorandum for the road approaches to the new bridge deck is included in the Physical Data.

7/1/26

3 X

In Section H of the SCR’s the letter from Army

Corps of Engineers states that the permit obtained by FHWA “ Does not authorized dewatering or temporary construction access”

This authorization can typically take up to 90 days. With the NTP shown in the contract of

10/08/26 if the authorization does take the full

90 days that would not leave us enough time to complete the project by the fixed completion date of 04/13/27. In the time of year we could expect to get this permit will be close to high water and we will likely not have time to complete the work until high water passes.

Would FHWA extend the contract to 09/30/27?

The Government has the authorization as long as the dewatering and access is completed according to the plans and impact footprint in the original permit submittal. If the dewatering or access deviates from what was in the permit, then there will need to be additional time for coordination with the USACE. The

Government will extend the Fixed

Completion Date to 9/30/2027 in

Amendment A001.

7/2/26

Check General or Technical

4 X

Is there any geotechnical data available? If so would FHWA please provide that data so we can properly plan for the temporary work access?

No geotechnical information is available for this project. A surfacing memorandum for the road approaches to the new bridge deck is included in the Physical Data.

7/2/26

5 X

On page E-10 of the SCR’s “e) Temporary works supporting public traffic.” Replaces

“(d)Temporary bridge structures for public use” from FP-14. On page E-46 of the SCR’s it states

“close road for the length of project during construction. What is meant by temporary works supporting public traffic?

Public traffic is not anticipated on any temporary work, see Section 156 for traffic restrictions. The Section 104 SCR is a standard edit/change included on all bridge projects.

7/2/26

6 X

On page E-46 of the SCR’s it states “Procedures for facilitating passage of emergency vehicles through the project limits.” If we are allowed to close the road for the during of the project does this mean we are required to provide a proper detour around the project for emergency vehicles?

An improved detour around the project is not required.

7/2/26

7 X

I think the language from page H-3 of solicitation contradicts the answer to question

#3. Are temporary works/access currently permitted?

The Government is calculating quantities to capture the impacts of the temporary access road, work platform and cofferdam.

We anticipate receiving the amended permit prior to issuing the Notice-to-

Proceed (NTP).

If the contractor develops a plan in which the permitted quantities will be exceeded, contractor is responsible for submitting a revised permit application.

7/7/26

8 X Is there any data available on typical water depth at Pier 4?

The Government does not have data regarding the typical water depth at Pier 4.

7/13/26

9 X

Plan sheet S.7 – Deck Framing Layout references a total of 124 floorbeams. If you apply the spacings noted across all 4 truss spans, I am coming up with a total of 268 ea. The only way you would get to 124 is if you are only installing floorbeams across the two end chords in each span (L0-L1, L1-L2, L7-L8, L8-L9). Plans indicate floorbeams across all chords, which is necessary for the designed grid deck plan. Please review and clarify.

This will be addressed in Amendment A002.

The corrected quantity is 268 floor beams, totaling 98,892 pounds.

7/13/26

10 X

Ref. Sheet 7 0f 13 Deck Framing Layout; The

Floor Beam Estimated Weights table states there are 124 floor beams. We find there to be

268 floor beams calculated as follows:

See the answer for question 9. 7/13/26

11 X

Plan sheet S.12 shows details for bridge rail.

Inside Elevation of Rail view shows tube rail ending 4” past the last post at the bridge end with rail extending beyond that to some un-detailed post off the end of the bridge. Appears to show like we are tying into bridge approach guardrail, but there is none. If rail ends at end of tube rail, I only come up with 2,152’ of rail

(plan qty is 2,170). Please provide additional details for rail at bridge ends, including any post details off the bridge end and required terminal or end shoe as there is no bridge approach guardrail or bid item shown in the plans or bid schedule to tie into.

This will be addressed in Amendment A002.

The corrected quantity is 2,152 lineal feet.

There is no approach rail; the rail will end at the delineators.

7/16/26

12 X

Is dewatering of the cofferdam anticipated and/or required for the Pier 4 bent scour countermeasure work?

Yes, dewatering will be required. 7/17/26

13 X

If inadequate sheet pile penetration or seepage requires additional excavation and placement of a concrete seal, is that work considered incidental to the Cofferdam pay item, or will additional compensation be provided?

Work is considered incidental to the

Cofferdam pay item 7/17/26

14 X

Would FHWA consider replacing the riprap section with concrete to eliminate the need for increasing the depth of the excavation to include a concrete seal in addition to the riprap section?

No, riprap scour mitigation is required. 7/17/26

15 X

If available, please provide any geotechnical or foundation information used to establish the cofferdam requirements and anticipated sheet pile embedment depth at Pier 4.

No geotechnical or foundation information is available.

7/17/26

16 X

As a follow up to question #12 and 13: If dewatering of the cofferdam is required for riprap placement, a concrete seal will be required in order to control seepage up from underneath the cofferdam. Reference is made to the USACE Nationwide Permit Verification on sheet H-3. This project is only permitted for

1,900 CY of material to be excavated/placed within the stream bed. With an estimated

1,600 CY of excavation and riprap placement for the permanent work, the additional excavation and placement of a concrete seal to control the water in this location would push the quantity well over the 1,900 CY permitted for this project. Will WFL be obtaining a modification to the Nationwide Permit for this work?

Yes, WFL is obtaining a modification to the

Nationwide Permit for this work, which will be based on revised temporary impact quantities. If the successful contractor proposes something different or proposes additional temporary impacts over what is in WFLs amended permit, Contractor will be responsible for submitting a revised amended permit application.

7/20/26

17 X

As a follow up to question #12 and 13:

Dewatering is a subjective requirement. Is the contractor required to perform the excavation and riprap work at Pier 4 in the dry?

WFL's assumption for the permitting of this work has been that the area will be dewatered and excavation performed in the dry before placement of riprap. This was driven partly by SCR 107.10.(e).14 and the requirement to sweep for the endangered pallid sturgeon and relocate them outside the cofferdam if present. The successful contractor can propose alternate ideas to accomplish the same objective, however for the 404 permit the successful contractor will have to submit an amended permit application if a different means and method is proposed.

7/20/26

18 X

Special Provisions Section 555.03A includes the following Language “Design and fabricate the bridge such that the components may be assembled in the field with basic tools and skills”. What part of the bridge design is the

General Contractor or Fabricator responsible for

Designing? Does the use of cranes to lift and place the floor beam system constitute basic tools and skills?

The intent in SCR 555.03A is for the steel bridge deck to be assembled in the field with basic tools and skills. The wording in this SCR section should read "Design and fabricate the bridge steel grid deck...." This will be corrected in a future amendment.

7/21/26

19 X

The plans call for structural design of the steel grid deck with a Licensed Professional Engineer.

Are there any acceptable standard steel deck alternatives that can be used to save on the design and fabrication costs of implementing a custom designed steel grid deck?

No. Please bid per the solicitation documents.

7/21/26

20 X

Plan sheet S.10 indicates minor concrete fill at the floorbeams to pour in the new steel grid deck panels. There is no bid item for this work.

Where does this measure and pay? What are the structural requirements of the concrete mix? Can a pea gravel type mix be used to aid in placement in these small/congested locations? Please clarify.

Bid per solicitation documents. See SCR

Section 601 for Minor Concrete specifications.

21 X

Section 107.10(e) of the general requirements

(page E-17) states no in water work will be performed between May 15 and July 15. Based on the work access plan shown on sheet G.3 and spring flows in the Yellowstone River, it is reasonable to anticipate that work access to

Pier 4 would commence, at earliest, on July 15

(perhaps later depending on river flows).

Considering the amount of worktrestle to be installed, along with cofferdam construction, dewatering, excavation and riprap placement, then removal of both cofferdam and worktrestle; we do not believe a contract completion date of September 30, 2027 is reasonable for the amount of in water work involved. We respectfully request that the owner consider extending the contract completion date to at least November 15, 2027 to allow all this work to be completed.

The Government will extend the Fixed

Completion Date (FCD) to 11/15/2027. This will be addressed in Amendment A003.

22 X

With the lack of geotechnical information the design for the cofferdam located at bent 4 can range from a simple sheet pile cofferdam to a highly complex sheet pile cofferdam that would include a robust multi-leveled interior wale frame and strut design that would have to be installed systematically while the cofferdam is being dewatered. This puts the contractor at a high level of risk as the cost of construction of these designs would be orders of magnitude different and that is not taking into account the potential for needing a sealing slab to shut the water off in the cofferdam. Can the FHWA give the contractors an expected bedrock elevation to utilize for bidding purposes? This does not seem unreasonable as geotechnical reports giving this data are standard practice for construction projects of this scope and size, allowing the contractor to make these risk assessments to the best of their ability. As it stands right now there is insufficient geotechnical information for even the most competent of contractors to bid this work at anything less than the worst case scenario.

Bid per the solicitation documents. FHWA does not have an expected bedrock elevation available. The work area does not necessarily need to be completely dry.

However, the work area must be adequately isolated, capable of being dewatered and drained, while preventing the discharge of turbid water into the surrounding waterway.

7/22/26

23 X

Bid schedule and traffic control quantity table in plans reference Temporary Traffic Control (River

Traffic) LS. Section 635.04 (page F-23) makes general reference to Furnish, install, and maintain aids to navigation and other traffic control devices used for river traffic. However, it provides no specific details on what is to be provided. Please clarify required work under

Temporary Traffic Control (River Traffic) bid item. Number of signs, details, locations, any required buoys on site, etc.

Bid per the solicitation documents. SCR

635.04 references - "Use river traffic control devices identified in the U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers Sign Standards Manual (EP 310-1-

6a) current edition, or by the U.S. Bureau of

Reclamation Sign Guidelines for Planning, Design, Fabrication, Procurement, and

Maintenance of Signs for Outdoor Public

Use (current edition)."

24 X

I reviewed the sign standards manual prior to writing the RFI. It provides no clarification or details for temporary river navigation signs that would be relevant to this project.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sign

Standards Manual (EP 310-1-6a) specifies the placement of navigational signs under the section titled "Water View Safety

Signs". U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Sign

Guidelines for Planning, Design, Fabrication, Procurement, and Maintenance of Signs for

Outdoor Public Use has general guidelines for navigation sign colors and sizes.

The resource agencies - specifically

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks - wants the river channel between Pier 4 and the abutment to be open to river traffic. The

Contractor is responsible for designing, fabricating and installing the notification signs. FHWA envisions directional signs hung from the bridge (on both sides - ie upstream and downstream face) with directional arrows pointing to the channel between Pier 4 and the abutment, plus an advanced sign both upstream and downstream of the bridge face at the locations identified in EP 310-1-6a.

7/22/26

25 X

We are hearing from qualified suppliers that the lead times for the W-beams could be extensive and is unknown. Would FHWA consider accepting C-channel bolted back to back as an acceptable alternative to W-beams?

No. Please bid per the solicitation documents.

26 X

After visiting the site, it appears an access problem exists for constructing the worktrestle and riprap scour protection at Pier 4. Existing bridge is currently load rated at 22 tons (signs posted at the ends of the bridge). It appears construction access is only possible from the

Terry end of the bridge, as Milwaukee Bridge

Road becomes a private road approximately 1 mile south of the bridge (see attached photo).

Based on this, it appears the only access available to perform the wortrestle and riprap work is by crossing the bridge itself. Based on current load rating, this could only be contemplated after the deck replacement work is complete. What will be the load carrying capacity of the bridge once the floorbeam and grid deck work is complete?

Yes, this is correct.

7/28/26

27 X problem exists for constructing the worktrestle and riprap scour protection at Pier 4. Existing bridge is currently load rated at 22 tons (signs posted at the ends of the bridge). It appears construction access is only possible from the

Terry end of the bridge, as Milwaukee Bridge

Road becomes a private road approximately 1 mile south of the bridge (see attached photo).

Based on this, it appears the only access available to perform the wortrestle and riprap work is by crossing the bridge itself. Based on current load rating, this could only be contemplated after the deck replacement work is complete. What will be the load carrying capacity of the bridge once the floorbeam and grid deck work is complete?

Montana Department of Transportation

(MDT) will update the load rating, but the bridge will be open to state Legal Loads after rehabilitation. MDT must issue any overload permits. See SCR Section 104.05.

28 X problem exists for constructing the worktrestle and riprap scour protection at Pier 4. Existing bridge is currently load rated at 22 tons (signs posted at the ends of the bridge). It appears construction access is only possible from the

Terry end of the bridge, as Milwaukee Bridge

Road becomes a private road approximately 1 mile south of the bridge (see attached photo).

Based on this, it appears the only access available to perform the wortrestle and riprap work is by crossing the bridge itself. Based on current load rating, this could only be contemplated after the deck replacement work is complete. What truck and haul loading will be allowed during construction?

Current load restrictions are in the bridge inspection report on MDT's website. Bridge inspection reports can be obtained via

MDTs Bridge Structure Management (BrM)

System at:

https://mdt.mt.gov/business/contracting/b ridge/brm.aspx

29 X problem exists for constructing the worktrestle and riprap scour protection at Pier 4. Existing bridge is currently load rated at 22 tons (signs posted at the ends of the bridge). It appears construction access is only possible from the

Terry end of the bridge, as Milwaukee Bridge

Road becomes a private road approximately 1 mile south of the bridge (see attached photo).

Based on this, it appears the only access available to perform the wortrestle and riprap work is by crossing the bridge itself. Based on current load rating, this could only be contemplated after the deck replacement work is complete. Does existing contract schedule and completion date take this construction scenario into account?

Yes. 7/28/26

30 X

We have been advised by the structural steel fabricators that based upon an October mill order for the W12 beams, the rolling would likely be late 2nd QTR 2027 and possibly 3rd

QTR 2027. Even with the early rolling, steel delivery could not be made until late 4th QTR

2027. As a result, the overall 11/15/27 cannot be met. Please advise.

Bid as per the solicitation documents. After contract award, the Contractor may submit a Value Engineering (VE) proposal for changes to structural elements for FHWA's consideration.

7/29/26

31 X

The Contract Documents and Q&A responses reference the "original permit submittal," “the joint permit application and drawings titled MT

Prairie 2016(3), Milwaukee Bridge Resurfacing and Rehabilitation”, an anticipated amended permit, and WFLHD's efforts to obtain a modification to the Nationwide Permit.

However, the solicitation does not include these permit documents or sufficient details regarding the proposed temporary access, other than the non-dimensioned schematic shown on Sheet

G.3.

Because the proposed work within the

Yellowstone River requires authorization of temporary access, work pads, and other in-water activities, please provide all permit applications, supporting documentation, agency correspondence, and associated drawings that have been submitted to or reviewed by the permitting agencies, including documents related to any Nationwide Permit modification and/or SPA 124 authorization.

Bid per the solicitation documents. Section

H of the Invitation for Bids (IFB) contains permitting information. WFL has applied for an amended 404 permit with the US Army

Corps of Engineers and expects to receive it soon. Until that is received, impact areas are as specified in Section H and plan sheet

G.3 for temporary access for the pier 4 riprap work.

32 X

Construction of the proposed cofferdam appears to require temporary access beneath the bridge within Span 4. Please confirm whether the Contractor will be permitted to temporarily restrict the waterway opening width for river traffic between Pier 4 and the riverbank at Bent 5 to less than full width to accommodate construction access, cofferdam installation, and associated work operations prohibiting river traffic to pass between Pier 4 and the riverbank at Bent 1. If river traffic restrictions are limited at Pier 4 and the riverbank, please identify the width constraints required for river traffic.

Yes, confirmed. The Contractor will be permitted to temporarily restrict the waterway opening width for river traffic between Pier 4 and the riverbank at Bent 5 to less than full width to accommodate construction access, cofferdam installation, and associated work operations prohibiting river traffic to pass between Pier 4 and the riverbank at Bent 1. The Contractor may establish a closure area beneath Spans 1, 2, and 3, along with a 50-foot no-access buffer around the highlighted cofferdam area at

Pier 4. This will allow approximately 50 feet of access between the work area and the riverbank under Span 4.

7/29/26

33 X

We are planning to mail our bid packet today for the MT Prairie 2016(3) Milwaukee Bridge

Resurfacing and Rehabilitation project to ensure that it arrives on time. I read in the Q & A that an Amendment 003 was mentioned, but it has not been released yet. How would we go about acknowledging addenda that come out after our bid packet is mailed? Would we just submit an updated version of the SF1442 via email?

Yes, you can submit an updated version of the SF1442 via email acknowledging the amendments.

34 X

Is there a list of interested contractors who may be bidding the referenced project?

If so, please let me know where I may access the list.

The Government does not provide this since bidders may obtain the registered vendors list (aka planholders list) from sam.gov after linking their entity to their registration. If you are signed into

SAM.gov with your registered entity and you cannot see the Interested Vendors List, you will need to be assigned the Contract

Opportunities Administrator role for your entity in SAM.gov.

Go to https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp if you need additional assistance.

Thank you.

7/29/26

35 X

Based on how these questions (Q: 26, 27, 28 and 29 in QandA_07-28-2026.pdf posted on

07/28/2026) were posted to SAM.Gov, they make little sense to anyone who hasn’t seen the full email (original). As such, you could argue they put us at a competitive disadvantage.

We will amend the question / response to show the full context.

7/29/26

36 X

Section 555.07( c ) Stiffener fit, references girder end bearing stiffeners and concentrated load bearing stiffeners are to have full bearing on the flanges to which the load is transmitted or received.

Can you clarify if this is to be used for the floorbeams?

No, it does not apply to the floorbeams. 7/30/26

37 X

If it does apply to the floorbeams, are the stiffeners to be full bearing to both top and bottom flanges, full bearing bottom and tight fit top, or full bearing top and tight fit bottom?

No, it does not apply to the floorbeams. 7/30/26

38 X

The Plans do not call out a specification for the stiffener weld on the floor beams. Should we assume that spec is a 1/4" fillet weld only as per

AWS D1.5?

This will be addressed in Amendment A004.

Yes, a 1/4" fillet weld per AWS D1.5 must be used for the stiffener. Weld annotations have been added to Sheet S.8. and will be included in Amendment A004. Amendment

A004 will also extend the bid opening due date to Thursday August 6th 2026 @1400

PST.

7/30/26

39 X

We mailed our bid before Amendment 004 came out that changed the bid date. Since you will have our original copy of our bid bond, are we able to email our updated copy of the bid bond showing the correct bid date?

You do not need to update the date on the bid bond, as long as it is dated before the bid opening date (08/06/2026).

7/31/26

40 X

I have been trying to get a hold of the interested vendors list for the above bid opportunity through SAM.gov without success. Would it be possible for you to send via email to this address? We are a supplier seeking to bid to all interested prime contractors, and want to make sure they get a competitive price for the materials that are specified in the contract documents and that we supply.

The Government does not provide this since bidders may obtain the registered vendors list (aka planholders list) from sam.gov after linking their entity to their registration. If you are signed into SAM.gov with your registered entity and you cannot see the Interested Vendors List, you will need to be assigned the Contract

Opportunities Administrator role for your entity in SAM.gov. Go to https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp if you need additional assistance.

8/4/26