QnA 12 9 2025.pdf

Questions and Answers during Advertisement for

NM BR AAO EL VADO HERON & EL VADO ROAD REHABILITATION

December 4, 2025

Questions Answers 1 Reps & Certs: Will the government please confirm that offerors do not have to fill out and provide representations and certifications?

Reps and Certs information is provided by SAM.gov.

2 Due to complex pricing and the requirement for hardcopy submission, will the government please provide an extension of 10 days to the due date?

No extensions.

3 Will the government allow offerors to submit a cover letter that does not count toward any page limitations?

This is a Part 14, sealed bid, page limitations are not applicable.

4 RFP states: "you must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to submission of a bid in response to this solicitation. Must offerors provide any proof of this with the proposal submission?

No

5 VETS 4212 Reporting: Do offerors merely need to select one of the checkboxes and provide that with proposal submission?

Refer to https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/vets4212#verify

See Confirmation of Filing section, specifically Upon the successful submission of VETS-4212 Report(s), federal contractors will receive an email confirmation of receipt for their records. Provide the email confirmation.

6 D-4: The plans call for demolition of the existing concrete curb at the Willow Creek boat ramp but do not indicate whether it is to be reconstructed.

Please confirm whether curb replacement is required.

If yes, provide curb type, dimensions, and layout limits.

If not, confirm the required pavement edge condition.

Removed curb will not be reconstructed. Refer to Sheet A-9 and D-4.

7 D-4: The earth along the edge of the Willow Creek boat ramp parking lot is significantly sloped toward the lot and shows signs of long-term erosion.

Will the contractor be responsible for regrading this area to establish and maintain a proper slope away from the parking lot?

a) If regrading is required, please provide direction on the intended drainage pattern, acceptable slopes, and any required erosion control measures.

b) Please confirm if additional work (import fill, export, erosion matting, seeding, riprap, etc.) is expected as part of this correction.

No, Contractor should construct improvements shown in the advertised plans.

8 D-6: The existing sidewalk outside of the Visitor Center has deteriorated.

Should this sidewalk be removed and replaced?

a) If asphalt elevation changes, how should the transition be handled?

Option A: Excavate ~4" to maintain current elevation.

Option B: Raise asphalt and provide a compliant ramp/transition.

No, Contractor should construct improvements shown in the advertised plans.

9 D-1: Plans for Option X do not clearly indicate whether curb is required.

Please confirm if curb installation is included in this option.

If yes, provide curb type, dimensions, and layout.

If not, confirm intended pavement edge treatment.

No, Curb is not required.

10 C-1 to 10: The plans reference ditch reconditioning but provide no details.

Are there specifications describing acceptable methods?

a) Should the ditch be reshaped to a specified depth, width, or slope?

b) Is seeding, riprap, or erosion matting required?

Please clarify the intended scope.

Refer to FP-14 Section 303.

11 C-11: At the entrance to the Willow Creek boat ramp access road (Option X), no culvert is shown despite the existing slopes indicating drainage flow through this area.

Please confirm whether a culvert is required.

If yes, provide size/type and invert elevations.

Culvert is not required.

12 C-11: At the same entrance, there is a small road section leading to a sign.

This area appears to fall within the reclamation boundary.

Please confirm whether this section should be included in reclamation, grading, and paving costs.

If included, clarify the exact limits and required finish.

The improvements are limited to main line of Willow Creek Boat Ramp Access Road.

13 C-1 to 10: Clarification is needed regarding water supply for Full Depth Reclamation (FDR) stabilization:

Where are contractors allowed to pull water for FDR operations?

Can water be pumped directly from the lake, or do we need permission to do so?

Is there an approved on-site water source we may tap into?

If no on-site source is available, will contractors be required to haul water in via water trucks?

Please confirm acceptable water sources and any restrictions, permits, or environmental considerations.

Refer to Section 105.02 of the SCRs.

14 E-49 Section 401: Asphalt Additives, Base Course Material, and Pay Factor Requirements

Lime is required. Bid as advertised.

Lime vs. Liquid Antistrip in Hot Mix Asphalt The specifications appear to require lime as the antistrip agent in the Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA).

Please confirm whether lime may be substituted with a liquid antistrip additive, provided it meets moisture susceptibility and stripping resistance requirements.

If substitution is allowed, please provide the approved dosage rate, type, and testing requirements (e.g., TSR minimums).

Use of 1" Minus Commercial Base Course

15 E-49 Section 401: Please confirm whether 1" minus commercial base course is acceptable for this project.

If not acceptable, please specify the required gradation, spec section, or approved aggregate base course standard (AASHTO, DOT spec, etc.).

If testing or certification is required, please confirm those requirements.

See FP-14 Section 302, SCR Section 302, and FP-14 Subsection 703.06.

16 E-49 Section 401: Hot Mix Asphalt Pay Factor Applicability Please confirm whether the Hot Mix Asphalt is subject to pay factor adjustments.

If pay factors apply, please provide the specific criteria, including:

Density requirements Asphalt content tolerances Air voids Smoothness specification (if any) Testing frequency and acceptance methods If pay factors do not apply, please confirm that HMA will be paid at the contract unit price without adjustment.

Covered in Sections 106 and 401 of the SCRs and FP-14.

17 It states in the solicitation that Rd 5001 is seasonally closed and to contact they CO for access for site visit. I can not find CO contact information. We would like to visit the site on 12/8/2025. Please advise.

To access the site please contact Mark Schichtle at (802) 793- 9419.

December 5, 2025

1 Is the government stuck on using all of the full-blown testing in the specs per fed. highways?

Yes. All testing required by the FP-14 and SCRs are required for this project. Bid as advertised.

2 Will the government allow an anti-stripping agent in place of lime in the mix?

No. Lime is required. Bid as advertised.

3 The spec calls for 3" asphalt mat but wants it paved in two lifts. Our opinion is that two lifts using 1/2" asphalt mix will not be an ideal structure and using 3/4" mix doesn't allow for compaction because the largest aggregate is larger than the 2.5x factor in industry standards.

You want the mat thickness 2.5x deeper than the largest aggregate.

Will the government allow using a 3/4" mix and lay it in one lift?

A) If allowed, that affects the smoothness pay factor. Will the government wave the smoothness spec in this case?

All 3” asphalt to be placed in two lifts regardless of the aggregate size selected by the Contractor. The roughness pay adjustment to be in accordance with Section 401 of the SCRs and FP-14. Bid as advertised.

4 For smoothness it is ideal to pave using two lifts, but now we have kind of paradox. Maybe we pave a 4" mat in two lifts using 3/4" mix?? That would give sound structure and smoothness.

No. Plans call for a 3” asphalt mat. Bid as advertised.

December 9, 2025

1 Specifications state only 22,000 gallons of water will be available for duration of Schedule A and 11,000 gallons for Option X. That is only 8- 4,000 gal water truck loads for the entire project. Anticipated water needs far exceed those amounts for dust control, compaction, reclamation and paving. Was this amount supposed to be per day? If not, what other water source options are available?

Additional water can be obtained from waters sources listed in

105.02 after coordination with CO and BOR.

2 We have physically investigated the site and would like to request a bid extension of 7 days.

Bid extension will not be granted.

3 Is there an anticipated NTP date for this project?

Anticipated NTP date is January 26, 2026.

4 153.04 Quality Control Manager. Delete the second sentence and substitute the following:

The QCM may perform other roles on the project including managing and superintending the project. Provide a QCM with no responsibilities for performing operations on the project.

This statement seems to contradict itself. Can you please clarify if the QCM can have responsibilities on site including managing and superintending the project?

QCM should not have responsibilities performing construction activities on the project. QCM can manage and superintend the project.

5 Section 725.19 Weathering Agent lists Natina® products as acceptable for rock, cementitious, and galvanized surfaces. However, we do not see any bid items or plan notes specifically requiring weathering agent or staining on this project.

Please confirm whether any surfaces are required to receive weathering agent under this contract.

No surfaces to receive Natina. The language referring to Natina has been removed and replaced with 725.19 Boulder. See Amendment A001.