Question and Answers CA ERFO NP DEVA 2022-1(2)_10 15 2024.pdf

6982AF24B000019

CA ERFO DEVA 2022-1(2)

SALT CREEK INTREPRETIVE TRAIL

10/15/2024

Question Answer

Received September 11, 2024

1. I wanted to find out if and when a scheduled site showing will occur or has occurred for the above referenced project at Death Valley NP; the Salt Creek Trail Boardwalk?

A non-mandatory site visit is scheduled for Tuesday, September 24, 2024, from 11:00am to 2:00pm PST when NPS staff will be onsite to unlock the gate. NPS staff will not be answering bidder questions. Submit all questions to CFLContracts@dot.gov by the question due date. If planning to attend the Site Visit, please send an email to cflcontracts@dot.gov and Charles Thompson at charles_thompson@nps.gov to RSVP.

The project site is also accessible by foot (approximately five (5) miles roundtrip hike on the road) if accessing at all other times. The road is ladened with sand and difficult to pass. Arrive in the early a.m. hours when it is much cooler.

Provide Name and License Plate information to Charles Thompson at charles_thompson@nps.gov (charles_thompson@nps.gov) at least 24 hrs. prior to accessing the project site for safety concerns.

**Updated 9/25/2024**

Received September 13, 2024

2. I am not finding any details on finishing for the thermally modified wood decking.

Should this wood be coated with either a wood stabilizer or waterproofing per the same standards as regular lumber? Or should it be bare thermally modified wood?

See SCRs Subsection 716.01A.

3. I was looking to run up and take a job walk. Is there a way to open the access gate so we can drive closer, or would we need to hike all the way in?

See response to question #1 above.

Received September 16, 2024

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4. According to Helical Specifications 582.06, “one (1) test pile is to be installed, and a static load test is to be conducted prior to the production pile installation.”

Please confirm if only one test is required before beginning the production pile installation or if there is one test per pile size required?

An amendment will be issued to clarify that one (1) test pile is required for each pile diameter.

Received September 17, 2024

5. Standard cross sections show the boardwalk centered within a 15’ wide construction limit; is it possible to adjust/ offset the construction limit to one side to possibly allow construction equipment access around helical piers in place?

As per Plan Sheet A7, Note 8 an additional 6 ft. of room to the construction limits may be requested on either side of the boardwalk.

Propose the location(s) and side of the boardwalk this space is to be requested.

6. The specification requires commercial ready mix concrete which is likely not feasible for this project due to specified delivery timeframes and location. Please provide the commercial ready mix provider identified under the project due diligence and/ or include a volumetric mix design provision within the specification.

See FP-14 Table 552-4 for remixing and discharge time limits and allowable admixtures. Hydration retarder is allowed.

7. Is there any map of paleontological sensitive areas or are we to assume that the entire project will require monitoring / protection when excavation is in progress?

See Invitation for Bid Appendix B

8. 107.15 (b) limits the GVW for equipment used within the boardwalk construction limits to 12,000 lb. Is it possible to specify a maximum ground pressure limitation as the site damage potential of a 36,000 lb GVW piece of equipment may be much less than one with 12,000 lb GVW depending on

Requirements will be revised in Amendment A002: only rubber tracked equipment, such as skid steers, mini/small excavators, mini cranes, and rubber tired equipment such as off-highway utility vehicles with trailers may be permitted within the boardwalk construction limits. Do not exceed a Ground Pressure of 5.5 psi and Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 32,000

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configuration. Also, can clarification be provided on the difference between rubber track and steel track equipment under the specification limitations with consideration for the previous comment. Track equipment has much lower ground pressure than rubber tire equipment even with steel tracks.

lb for tracked equipment and GVW of 5,000 lb combined for off-highway utility vehicles and trailers.

Received September 18, 2024

9. Page E-14 Paleontological Monitor Specifications Instruct the Contractor that the Monitor has the Following Education:

“Provide a paleontological monitor who possesses a graduate degree (MS, MA, PhD) with emphasis in paleontology, in combination with one year or more of paleontological mitigation in experience in California, Nevada, or a geological province similar to the project area.”

The following Paragraph States the following :

“ If a monitor is not available for field monitoring, provide a paleontological technician who possesses a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with emphasis in paleontology, in combination with one year of experience in; laboratory preparation, curation and in field monitoring with fossil salvage and treatment.”

There is a substantial cost difference in the Different Levels of Education vs a Bachelor’s Degree.

For Bidding Purposes this specification allows contractors to not comply with sourcing the required monitor and gives an advantage to contractors not trying to Bid per the Requirements of the Contract.

Estimator requests that this specification remove the ability to use a technician and require the owner to request a credit back from Industry Standard Rates so that all proposals are weighted evenly.

Requirements will be clarified in Amendment A002.

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10. There are 2 Bid Items for Bridge Railing :

55601-1300 Bridge Railing Timber (Curb Railing ) 55601-1300 Bridge Railing Timber (Pedestrian Railing) Is this Correct or Should there be a different FHWA Code for each one.

Pay item numbers are correct. Items have unique item codes.

11. A full geotechnical report is requested for the purpose of Helical Pile design.

See the Geotechnical Evaluations and Recommendations Technical Memo dated 7/31/2024 that was included with the Invitation for Bid and attachments included in Amendment A001.

Received September 20, 2024

12. Please clarify the boulder supply. Will the FHA / NPS be providing the boulders for our use, or will the contractor need to procure the boulders? If so, what color and type of boulders need to be provided?

The contractor will need to provide boulders. Requirements will be clarified in Amendment A002.

Received September 26, 2024

13. During a site visit, I noticed that a good portion of the roadway is covered in blown sand. The cut-to-fill tables in the plans list the excess material in the roadway prism as re-use. Are there any gradation requirements for the re-use material, or is that material pre-approved for use?

The existing sand can be incorporated into the work if it is suitable material for the specific items of work. See FP-14 definition of Suitable Material and see Section 204 for roadway embankment requirements.

14. Traveling west from Beatty to the park entrance on N- 374/Daylight Pass Rd, there is a sign prohibiting trucks. Please confirm if trucks are not allowed on this route. Please also let us know if there are any other route

Commercial trucking is permitted on California Highway 190 through the park. The use of all other park roads by commercial trucking, when such use is in no way connected with the operation of the park area, is prohibited, however trucking is allowed on park roads (including Daylight Pass Road) when hauling materials for use on this project within the park.

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restrictions within the park that would affect construction and material hauling vehicles.

15. Plan sheets D17-D19 (Boardwalk Removal Plan/Quantities), debris items EB 1 thru EB 6, and EB 79 are shown outside the wilderness boundary but also outside the construction limits of the parking lot/trail. Will the Contractor be allowed outside the construction limits to gather these debris with rubber tracked/tired equipment? If not, how are these debris to be removed?

Amendment A003 will clarify the requirements for removal of boardwalk debris outside the wilderness boundary and outside the boardwalk, parking lot, and roadway construction limits.

16. There is a lot of sand that has drifted over Salt Creek Road. The sand will impede the Contractor’s ability to harvest the existing berms adjacent to the roadway for use in the roadway (as depicted in the typical section for roadway reconditioning). Will this sand be removed by others prior to construction? If not, is the sand to be incorporated with the existing berm material?

There is no maintenance planned on Salt Creek Road prior to the project work. The existing sand can be incorporated into the roadway reconditioning work.

September 27, 2024

17. Please clarify if we can dispose of the unsuitable blown sand currently on the road somewhere on the site or in the park, or if it will need to be hauled off site?

See responses above to questions 13 and 16.

September 30, 2024

18. In consideration to the Government’s response to question number 6, we have reached out to every commercial ready-mix supplier we could find within a 3.5-hour radius of the project site and none will quote. Please reconsider allowing the use of volumetric mixers.

See response above to question 6.

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October 2, 2024

19. I am working with vendors bidding on the Salt Creek Timber Project and all of us collectively cannot find a dimensions of the following line item. Can you please provide the exact dimensions of the 58 MFBM? Typically, projects have an itemized column of lumber needed for the work, is that available or was it put together by the engineering firm?

Here is the spec from the FP-14:

FP - 14: 716.03 Treated Structural Timber and Lumber.

Furnish wood according to Subsection 716.01. Make dimensional cuts, holes, and incise wood before pressure treatment. Treat the wood according to AWPA Standard U1, Use Specification for Treated Wood and T1 Processing and Treatment Standard. Use the type of treatment shown in the plans.

Treat timber members according to the requirements of the current edition of Western Wood Preservers Institute’s Best Management Practices for the Use of Treated Wood in Aquatic Environments.

Treated timber members must have a quality mark approved by the American Lumber Standards Committee for individual pieces or sealed pallets assuring that treatment conforms to the appropriate AWPA standards.

As per FP-14 Subsection 109.02(p) Thousand board feet measure, MFBM, 100 board feet. Measurement equal to 1,000 feet of wood that is 12 inches wide and 1 inch thick.

As per Plan Sheet S2 all timber dimensional lumber is specified as nominal size (i.e. 8x8, 6x6, etc.). As per the plans the dimensional lumber under pay item A1050, 55701-2000 Structural Timber and Lumber, Treated, consists of 4x12 pier beams, 3x12 edge joists, 3x10 joists, and 2x10 blocking. An itemized summary of quantities for the specific lumber sizes is not available.

As per FP-14 Subsection 557.21, When measuring untreated and treated structural timber and lumber by the thousand board feet measure, measure in the structure. Compute the quantities from nominal dimensions and actual lengths, except for transversely nail laminated decks and glue laminated panel decks. Measure transversely nail laminated decks and glue laminated panel decks in place after dressing.

October 3, 2024

20. Oil-type preservatives are commonly used for applications such as utility poles, bridge timbers, railroad ties, pilings, and laminated beams such as for bridge applications. They are less frequently used for applications that involve frequent human skin contact because they may be oily or have a strong odor and are not considered particularly “human-contact friendly”. The above-deck surface wood components can be treated with the specified Copper naphthenate (CuN), but

An amendment will be issued to only allow Use Category 4B, (UC4B) treatment with Copper Napthenate (CuN).

SALT CREEK INTREPRETIVE TRAIL

wanted to make sure FHWA/NPS are aware of the potential for undesirable in-service qualities. FHWA/NPS may want to reconsider using the oil borne preservative currently specified and to perhaps, switch to a waterborne preservative, or a naturally decay resistant wood species for these areas.

October 4, 2023

21. Amendment A003 provided clarification for removal of debris outside the construction limits and outside the wilderness area, specifically track and tire equipment is not allowed outside the construction limits to collect these debris. Looking at plan sheets D8, D9, and google earth images, there appears to be about 300 feet of existing boardwalk intact (debris removal item EB-1) that is to be removed. A significant portion of this existing boardwalk is outside the construction limits. Debris EB-3 thru EB-6 also appear to be intact boardwalk debris that are outside the construction limits and outside the wilderness area. These debris will be difficult to remove without use of equipment, including the posts we presume are embedded in concrete. Please consider allowing access to these debris with equipment, or pay for their removal by helicopter and provide quantity.

An amendment will be issued to clarify that track and tire equipment is not allowed for boardwalk debris removal outside the construction limits of the boardwalk and parking lot, and within paleontological resources high intensity zones. Equipment access for boardwalk debris removal will be allowed in medium and low intensity zones for paleontological resources.

October 9, 2024

22. SCR 650.03(b) is ambiguous. Please clarify the intent by illustrating crossing designs that meet the specified criteria.

Crossings could consist of temporary bridge structures, construction matting/timber used as temporary bridges (with small sections of matting placed within the stream, parallel to the flow to support additional perpendicular matting or timber), or other proposed crossing options meeting the requirements of Subsection 650.03.

23. The geotechnical memorandum was “based on visual observations and the limited measurements taken during the site visit”. No subsurface investigations were

Please bid as per the plans, SCRs, and bid schedule.

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conducted. Placing the engineering on the Contractor with no subsurface information available while paying for the helical piles by the EACH puts significant risk on the Contractor, requiring prospective bidders to price this risk into their bids accordingly. This will lead to the Government receiving less competitive, inflated bid prices as each bidder weighs risk differently. Please change the method of payment for helical piles to the LINEAR FOOT.

24. Will this Project be tax exempt?

No. See FAR Clause 52.229-3 Federal, State, and Local Taxes. (FEB 2013)

25. A0650 - Embankment Construction (3,300 CY) - The amendment mentioned that the material on site can be used if suitable. Is this line item for the movement and placement of onsite borrowed material? If it is deemed unsuitable, would a Modification be made for necessary fill to be delivered and placed?

As per FP-14 Subsection 204.10, When the supply of suitable roadway excavation is exhausted, furnish unclassified borrow to complete the embankment. Also, see FP-14 Subsection 109.05 Scope of Payment, and plan sheet B3 Grading Summary.

26. For Roadway embankment, NDOT typically specifies 2" minus, please confirm that this will not be required.

See FP-14 Subsection 204.10 for embankment requirements and see Subsection 704.06 for unclassified borrow requirements.

27. For borrowed material onsite, please advise if this will need to be sifted under the observation of the paleontologist and stockpiled prior to placement.

See Subsection 107.14 for Paleontological Monitoring requirements.