QA_2_Gopher.docx

Q&A for GOPHER/ CORNHUSKER Solicitation 693JF725R000009; 693JF725B000006

1. Would it be acceptable to berth vessels together (side by side) on one side of our pier?

a. Yes.

2. The port facility includes a secure heavy-lift maritime berth, an upland area and developable land. The Authority does not intend to directly provide port-related or maritime services. Does the Authority’s proposed preliminary arrangement align with MARAD’s expectations for a compliant layberth solution, given the following conditions?

a. The Authority would sublease or license the use of the berth facility to MARAD under their ground lease agreement with the property owner.

b. The Authority anticipates subcontracting all required maritime and port services to a qualified third-party operator(s). This may include port facility security, pilot services, ship-assist tug services, and line handling. The Ship Manager will arrange pilot services, tugs, and line handlers. The Layberth contractor is responsible for Section C and H.4 (Indemnity and Insurance).

3. What is the minimum term of lease MARAD would consider aligning with MARAD’s expectations for a compliant layberth solution? 5 years

4. When quoting a fixed contract price for the layberth facility over the term of the agreement, should this figure reflect an aggregate of required port facility line-item costs (e.g., power, utility usage fees), or does the solicitation prefer a detailed breakdown of individual service line-item costs?

C-13 CONTRACT PRICE

1. The price shall include the cost of providing all items in Section C and H.4 (Indemnity and Insurance) except for items identified in Section C-14. Section C identifies specific items for which the Contractor must bear all costs. Certain items are specifically identified in Section C for emphasis only. Contractors must include all items in Section C (except Section C-14) and Section H.4 in the per diem berthing fee including but not limited to:

0. A safe berth (including resilient fenders), adequate to provide a safe mooring.

0. Casualty, accident and liability insurance, as specified in Section H.4.

0. All handling charges and fees for reimbursable services.

0. Costs related to upgrading the offered facility and installing separate electric power lines, transformers, and meters. These include, but are not limited to, costs billed by power companies on a monthly basis or paid in a lump sum to cover the installation of power lines, transformers and meters, and costs incurred directly by the Contractor to install the power lines, transformers and meters.

1. When vessels leave and return to the layberth, the prices for connecting and disconnecting power, telephones, water, and sewer are separate line items that are not part of the per-diem rate and are paid according to the rates specified.

1. Security services, per day, when a ship is at layberth facilities.

5. Please confirm the number of gallons per day specification for metered potable water service connection for each vessel. C-5. 6(B)3. The Contractor shall provide a metered potable water service connection for each vessel with a minimum requirement of 200,000 gallons per day at a minimum constant pressure of 40 psi at each ship(s) deck connection simultaneously, via a 2 ½” hose no further than 200 feet from each ship(s) potable water connection.

6. Given that discharge of MSD effluent into local layberth waters is not permitted, Authority understands that the only viable method of sewage removal would be through subcontracting a licensed service provider to pump and haul the effluent offsite. Please confirm the anticipated frequency of this service per vessel per month. Sewage removal is cost reimbursable and varies roughly 1-4 removals per month per ship.

7. Not all first responders or maintenance and repair vendors may be located within the exact preferred proximity or transit time specified for the proposed layberth port facility. In such cases, would this still be considered compliant with MARAD’s expectations for an acceptable layberth solution? Requirements are that: All first responders shall be located within a 15-minute transit time of notification to the layberth. There shall be at least 3 existing ship repair companies that in their normal course of business perform ship repair services for comparable ocean-going vessels. Company facilities shall be located within 30 miles driving distance from the layberth.

8. Given that the proposed port facility is retained by the Authority under a long-term ground lease, and the governing ground lease restricts handling certain hazardous materials and chemicals, can MARAD provide a list of anticipated foreign garbage and any hazardous materials expected to be on the property or that would require specialized removal services over the course of the contract? This is addressed as cost reimbursable: Additional Services. Specialized removal services such as "foreign garbage," as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), or hazardous materials removal must be available to the vessel(s) upon request. Charges for such special services are reimbursable. All items/findings subject to specialized removals, shall be disposed of and documented in logs, in accordance with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations. The Government reserves the right to conduct inspections of the Contractor’s specialized removal facilities and processes.

9. Based on the provided location coordinates of the proposed port facility, can MARAD evaluate the operational viability and identify a preferred vendor for maritime services, including ship-assist tug operations, capable of reaching vessels within 120 minutes and a maximum distance of 15 nautical miles via navigable waterways from the layberth site? There shall be at least 3 existing ship repair companies that in their normal course of business perform ship repair services for comparable ocean-going vessels. Company facilities shall be located within 30 miles driving distance from the layberth.

10. Based on the current limitations of the proposed port facility ground lease, waterborne bunkering services may be restricted, including barge delivery of bunkers within a defined range of the port. Landside bunkering, using trucks is possible limited to 8,000 gallons per delivery. In such a case, would this be viable for MARAD to accommodate required bunkering as part of an acceptable layberth solution? MARAD will review.

11. Please confirm the total draft inclusive of underkeel clearance at the berth required for the subject vessels in scope for the solicitation. We understand the specification to be at least four feet greater than the stated deep draft of the type of vessel to be located at the layberth (per section J for ship characteristics). ESTIMATED DRAFT AT BERTH: 20’ FWD, 25’ AFT. Required soundings of 24’ FWD and 29’ Aft

12. Is MARAD willing to participate in or provide assistance with maintenance dredging at the layberth facility to make the facility ready to accommodate the vessels? The contract requires the layberth operator to plan, fund, and oversee dredging that is required to meet the required depth over the contract period.

13. If in-water dredging is necessary to meet the vessel depth requirements outlined in Section C-8, does MARAD prefer that contractor responses include dredging details within the Plan of Action and Milestones section of the solicitation response, specifically identifying the proposed timeline from award to facility readiness and/or completion of required dredging activities? Yes

14. The proposed port facility has a Phase 2 dredging program currently under permit review with USACE. The Authority believes it would be beneficial for a potential strategic partner such as MARAD to provide commentary to USACE on our in-water dredge application. Such support could underscore the importance of completing the full scope of dredge work to ensure the port’s operational viability for alternative maritime and logistics uses aligned with MARAD’s layberthing solicitation. MARAD will review.

15. Would MARAD be willing to submit a letter of support or formal comment to USACE on our application for this matter? MARAD will review.

16. To align with MARAD’s requirement for a compliant layberth solution, can MARAD procure and/or provide any required installation and decommissioning activities of a waterside barrier, should its use be deemed necessary during the contract period?

a. MARAD’s intent is for the contractor to provide all preparation activities. The contractor may price these activities/ factors into the cost of the Contract Line Items throughout the base and all option periods. Be sure to add details of the externalities in the technical proposal.

17. To align with MARAD’s requirements for a compliant layberth solution, the lighting specification at the layberth access control point requires a minimum of 10 foot-candles. The proposed port facility currently provides 5 foot-candles. Would MARAD consider the use of portable light poles to meet the remaining illuminance requirement? Yes temporarily, provide a plan for permanent lighting in the Plan of Action and Milestones.

18. Will MARAD anticipate the vessel mooring plan will be consistent with heavy weather mooring only if heavy weather is forecast, or is the heavy weather mooring standard required at all times during the berth contract period? At all times.

19. Can MARAD provide a schematic model of the anticipated mooring plan? Low bidders can be provided with the current mooring arrangement if requested when Section M documents are requested.

20. If the Authority provided MARAD with required proposed port facility dimensions and specifications, would MARAD be capable of providing berth pocket and turning basin dynamic simulation modeling and or analysis for the subject vessel? MARAD will review.

21. Would MARAD consider extending the solicitation submission deadline date? Yes, please provide a date.

22. Please confirm if bid submissions will only be accepted via mail or if E-mail submissions are acceptable. MARAD’s preference is to receive bids via mail, if submitting through email, be sure to allow for ample time to be received by MARAD. If any bids come in after the bid due date, it will not be accepted. Emails come with a time stamp when received, please seek confirmation of receipt when submitting by email.

23. Page 20, paragraph 5. Sewage – The referenced paragraph lists discharge rate at an average of 300 gallons per day per ship, then in parenthesis (total capacity of 1,000 gallons per day per ship). Please clarify the exact quantity of gallons per ship expected for bidding purposes. Page 20 paragragh 5 Sewage should read “Where discharge of MSD effluent into layberth waters is not permitted, the Contractor shall provide for direct connection for vessel effluent discharge at an average rate of 300 gallons per day.”

24. Page 21, paragraph 11. Fire Fighting Capability – Please clarify if the intent of this paragraph is for firefighting agency or hydrant to supply or if this requirement is for supplying fire line to vessel for fire main purposes. Requirement is that local firefighting agency will have firefighting capability at the layberth either by a tested hydrant onsite or through equipment supplied by the local agency.