ADDENDA #3

BOARD MEMBERS

Samuel F. Hart, Sr.

Chairman

Frank Patterson

Vice-Chairman

Dr. Anissa Jones

Desmond D. Brown

Dwight Jones

Valerie Wynn

Bill Howell

Joey Leverette

Executive Director and President

790 Second Street

P.0.Box 108

Macon, GA 31202

(478) 464-5600 Fax: (478) 750-2007

MaconWater.org

ADDENDA #3

JANUARY 24, 2022

To: ALL POTENTIAL PROPOSERS

Re: POTENTIAL PROPOSER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REQUEST

FOR PROPOSALS FOR AMR METER REPLACEMENT AND MIU

INSTALLATION SERVICES

Potential Proposer questions about the Request For Proposals, referenced above, are responded to in this document.

Proposers shall acknowledge receipt of, and compliance with, this addenda by signing below and returning it with a Proposal submission as Part K.

Sincerely, Barry Smallwood Barry Smallwood Purchasing Specialist

We hereby acknowledge receipt of, and compliance with, this addenda in conjunction with the above Request for Proposal.

Signature Firm Name

Addenda #3

1. (Ref: pg. 14, “Macon Water Authority_AMR Meter Replacement and MIU Installation Services” / Part B – Instructions to Proposers / B.12.3.2 Volume II – Section 2) Is it acceptable for the Contractor to include pricing notes for clarity purposes as part of their RFP response?

Response: The comments section starting on row 22 of the Payment Item Schedule spreadsheet Shall be used for pricing notes.

2. (Ref: pg. 73, “Macon Water Authority_AMR Meter Replacement and MIU Installation Services” / Part E – Special Conditions / E.6.3 Davis Bacon Act) It is our understanding that the prevailing wage requirement for here is the “minimum wage” requirement for the State of Georgia. Please confirm if correct, or if incorrect, please provide details regarding the applicable job definition under the Davis-Bacon act to which the Contractor is to base their employee compensation on for the purposes of this contract.

Response: More information is available at the Georgia Department of Administrative Services website. https://doas.ga.gov/state-purchasing/supplier-services/minority-business-enterprise-certification or Macon-Bibb County Small Business Affairs https://www.maconbibb.us/small-business-affairs/ .

3. (Ref: pg. 73, “Macon Water Authority_AMR Meter Replacement and MIU Installation Services” / Part E – Special Conditions / E.6.3 Davis Bacon Act) Is the Contractor required to utilize unionized field personnel under the terms and conditions of this contract?

Response: The Davis-Bacon Act does not require unionized field personnel, nor does the Macon Water Authority.

4. (Ref: pg. 94, “Macon Water Authority_AMR Meter Replacement and MIU Installation Services” / Part G – Project Specifications / G.2.2.1 Schedule of Events) What is the anticipated downtime between the completion of the “Start-Up Phase” and the commencement of “Installation Phase”?

Response: The downtime is expected to be minimal while the installation data quality is confirmed. The expectation is approximately one week, if the installation data quality is high.

5. (Ref: pg. 94, “Macon Water Authority_AMR Meter Replacement and MIU Installation Services” / Part G – Project Specifications / G.2.2.2 Start-Up Phase) Please provide the anticipated deployment term to complete the Start-up Phase (e.g., 2 month deployment term to replace 81 endpoints).

Response: According to Section G.2.2.2 Start-Up Phase B. “The Contractor shall define, document, and complete the establishment of all equipment, systems, https://doas.ga.gov/state-purchasing/supplier-services/minority-business-enterprise-certification https://doas.ga.gov/state-purchasing/supplier-services/minority-business-enterprise-certification https://www.maconbibb.us/small-business-affairs/ processes, and installer training tools, and test plans necessary to support the Test and the Installation Phase (if approved) of the project.”

6. (Ref: pg. 96, “Macon Water Authority_AMR Meter Replacement and MIU Installation Services” / Part G – Project Specifications / G.2.2.4 Installation Phase) Under the terms and conditions of this contract, will the Contractor be replacing 100% of the Authority’s meter population? If no, please provide additional supporting details (e.g., Authority only replacing meters installed prior to 20???).

Response: According to Table 8: Meter Sizes in Section 6.3.1, the scope of the project is for the installer to replace approximately 40,997 meters.

7. (Ref: pg. 96, “Macon Water Authority_AMR Meter Replacement and MIU Installation Services” / Part G – Project Specifications / G.2.2.4 Installation Phase) It is our understanding that if the MIU is confirmed as communicating at the time of the installation, the Contractor would not be required to perform drive-by read testing. Please confirm.

Response: According to Section G.2.2.4 Installation Phase, the Contractor is required to “Test AMR drive-by reading for all MIUs.”

8. (Ref: pg. 96, “Macon Water Authority_AMR Meter Replacement and MIU Installation Services” / Part G – Project Specifications / G.2.2.4 Installation Phase) If the Contractor is to be responsible to perform a drive-by read test post-installation, is this to be performed on a per route or per cycle (or other) basis. Please confirm.

Response: The AMR drive-by testing is required to be performed and submitted for each endpoint prior to billing for the installation.

9. (Ref: pg. 96 - 97, “Macon Water Authority_AMR Meter Replacement and MIU Installation Services” / Part G – Project Specifications / G.2.3.1 Read Success Rate (RSR)) Based on this section, is it the Authority’s intent to only compensate the Contractor for completed installations following a period of 2 “successful” consecutive month billing periods?

Response: Yes, according to Section G.2.3.1 Read Success Rate (RSR).

10. (Ref: pg. 98, “Macon Water Authority_AMR Meter Replacement and MIU Installation Services” / Part G – Project Specifications / G.2.3.2.1.1 Work Order Statuses / Item M Warranty) In the case where the warranty work is not related to the installation (e.g., proven that meter product is faulty / defective), how is the Contractor to be compensated by the Authority for said warranty related service requests (e.g., per applicable hour or

Response: The installation labor rate will need to be inclusive of labor required to replace defective equipment during the warranty period.

11. (Ref: pg. 108, “Macon Water Authority_AMR Meter Replacement and MIU Installation Services” / Part G – Project Specifications / G.3.4.6 Project Meetings) Are there any mandatory Authority hosted training sessions for the Contractor’s field personnel (e.g., Authority hosted “health & safety orientation”)? If yes, how long is the session or sessions (e.g., ½ day)?

Response: Yes. The Authority will be responsible for installer orientation for the Contractor’s installation staff. The Contractor should plan on ½ day training per installation employee. The training can be conducted in multiple groups, if necessary.

12. (Ref: pg. 112, “Macon Water Authority_AMR Meter Replacement and MIU Installation Services” / Part G – Project Specifications / G.6.2.2 Work Type Criteria) Please confirm who is to be responsible for the provision of the new, pre-drilled meter lids (ref:

Contractor or Authority)?

Response: According to Section G.6.2.2 Work Type Criteria, the Authority will provide a lid with a hole and a lid mount.

13. (Ref: pg. 112, “Macon Water Authority_AMR Meter Replacement and MIU Installation Services” / Part G – Project Specifications / G.6.2.3 Approvals for Extra Work) A reference is made here to an “hourly request” charge but the pricing schedule does not have a line item for this type of charge. Is it the Authority’s intent to provide a revised pricing schedule to accommodate a “per hour” charge, or should the Contractor include this as a separate line item (or note) in their RFP response?

Response: According to Section G.6.2..3 Approvals for Extra Work, “The Authority will review the information and approve or deny specific requests.” Contractors shall not add a new line item to the Price Item Schedule but may make comments.

14. (Ref: pg. 113, “Macon Water Authority_AMR Meter Replacement and MIU Installation Services” / Part G – Project Specifications / G.6.2.5 Adapting to Existing Plumbing) Please confirm who is to be responsible for the provision of meter boxes (ref:

Authority or Contractor)?

Response: The Authority will be responsible for the provision of meter boxes.

15. (Ref: pg. 113, “Macon Water Authority_AMR Meter Replacement and MIU Installation Services” / Part G – Project Specifications / G.6.2.5 Adapting to Existing Plumbing) There does not appear to be a provision for this service requirement on the pricing schedule? Is it the Authority’s intent to provide a revised pricing schedule that reflects this service requirement, or should the Contractor include this as a separate line item (or note) in their RFP response?

Response: According to Section G.6.2..3 Approvals for Extra Work, “The Authority will review the information and approve or deny specific requests.” Contractors shall not add a new line item to the Price Item Schedule but may make comments.

16. (General) Will the Contractor be required to perform appointment calls? If yes, under what (primary) format will appointment be booked by the Authority (ref: “window” scheduling format (e.g., 3 hour window to complete) or specific-time appointments)?

Response: The Contractor will not be required to perform appointment calls.

17. (General) As part of the Authority’s download file for the Contractor, will there be account specific notes (special instructions) and codes indicating physical meter locations, access issues, safety issues/alerts, etc. (e.g., “key” numbers, “bad dog”, “meter in backyard”, etc.)?

Response: Yes.

18. (General) As part of the Authority’s download file for the Contractor, will all meters be “blended” within the same route/route sequencing structure (ref: residential and small commercial metering applications)? If no, please provide the associated details regarding metering applications that are to be downloaded as a separate file for the Contractor (e.g., 5,000 small commercial meters to be downloaded as a separate file).

Response: According to Section G.2.2.2 Start-Up Phase A. e. The Contractor is responsible for submitting plans including an installation Plan. “i. A detailed plan of how the scope will be achieved on installations and RTUs. Documentation of a plan to complete whole routes between billing cycles.”

19. (General) Will the Contractor be required to physically enter underground meter vaults / pits to upgrade existing metering applications (Ref: “2 person” confirmed spaces regulations)? If yes, please provide the total number of anticipated sites.

Response: All meters being replaced will be in meter pits and not in confined spaces.

20. (General) Given the general size/scope of this RFP, plus to allow the Contractor adequate time to complete detailed on-site analysis of the various service divisions, would the Authority consider an extension to the RFP due date (e.g., 2 week extension)?

Response: The Authority is not making the service area available for analysis, which is not required for proposals.

21. (General) Are there any unique meter installation service requirements (e.g., boats, ferries, ATVs, etc.)? If yes, please provide associated details including total applicable metering applications.

Response: All meters being replaced will be in meter pits.

22. (General) What is the current approx. meter saturation percentage of the total available customer base within the Authority’s service area (e.g., 90% of all available customers have a water meter)?

Response: The requested information is not required for proposals.

23. (General) It is our understanding that the in-field service requirement is to be contiguous (Ref: premise-to-premise), versus sporadically located throughout the Authority’s service area. Please confirm, or if our understanding is incorrect, please provide additional supporting details here.

Response: Section G.2.2.4 Installation phase describes, “The Installation Phase shall progress on a per-route basis using a schedule that has been agreed to by the Authority.”

24. (General) Assuming that the Authority’s download file to the Contractor will mimic that of their manual meter reading routes / route sequencing structure, is the current meter reading route sequencing structure considered as efficient allowing for optimal in-field productivity (e.g., contiguous, “premise-to-premise” with no skips and minimal “dead walks”/downtime)? If no, please provide associated details.

Response: The Authority believes the current meter reading route sequencing structure is efficient.

25. (Ref: “MWA_Addenda_1” / Q&A 20 & 21) Based on the Authority’s responses here, it is our understanding that the Contractor will not be responsible and/or required to replace meter boxes as part of their service require under the terms and conditions of this contract. Please confirm.

Response: The Contractor will not be required to replace meter boxes.