Addendum 4 - Questions with Answers.pdf

TOWN OF WAREHAM

FIBER OPTIC INSTALLATION IFB

QUESTIONS

September 24, 2026

1. Is new aerial fiber required to match the existing ADSS system, or should bidders price strand and lashed cable?

ADSS, or Strand/Lash are what we would prefer. It is left to the contractor to make the decision for the project, as ADSS, and strand/lash are both the industry standard and would be acceptable for use of this project.

2. Who owns the poles on each route? Will the Town provide attachment approvals and completed make-ready? If bidders must include make-ready, what work and costs should they assume?

The poles are owned by the utility companies. Make-ready and all other things necessary to do all work required for the completion of the work being bid in this IFB.

3. For each site, what footage requires new aerial cable, existing conduit, or new underground construction? Does the stated 64,046 feet include existing fiber?

We do not have the exact footage. The 64,046 feet in the IFB is an approximation.

4. May bidders use existing CATV or telephone conduit, or is a dedicated conduit path required?

Where new conduit is needed, what pavement and concrete restoration must be included in the bid?

Use existing conduit infrastructure wherever feasible. We don’t see any locations needing pavement. Any concrete work to enter a facility would need to be repaired.

5. The proposed routes appear to cross or follow Routes 6, 25, and 28. Which segments require MassDOT approval, and should bidders include the associated permits, design, traffic control, and fees?

YES.

6. Will the Town provide current fiber and conduit as-builts, splice records, and access to existing facilities? How will blocked or unusable conduit be handled?

What is in the bid is what the Town has for records. Use existing conduit infrastructure wherever feasible. If it is not feasible, it is up to the contractor.

7. Is there an existing fiber assignment or splice matrix? With Town Hall availability reduced to 18 strands by Addendum 3, what is the intended assignment for the base and alternate sites? May bidders propose additional feeder fiber where needed?

At this time, we do not have an existing fiber assignment. Additional feeder will be needed.

8. Please provide a revised bid form showing each base and alternate site. How should shared backbone, permitting, make-ready, and mobilization costs be allocated if individual sites may be awarded? Will alternates count toward bid comparison and the bid deposit?

The bid will be based on the six (6) required sites.

9. Does the 26-week completion period begin after permits, pole approvals, make-ready, and site access are available? How will delays outside the contractor’s control be addressed?

The 26-week completion will be for the six (6) required sites and will begin when the bid is officially awarded.

10. Are monthly progress invoices or invoices upon completion of individual sites permitted? How will unforeseen underground work, utility charges, or unusable existing facilities be authorized and paid?

Payment can be negotiated in the contract with the awarded bidder.

11. What as-built format and level of detail does the Town require? Please specify requirements for route drawings, splice and fiber assignment records, rack elevations, test results, and electronic deliverables.

Industry standard Route Drawings, Splice and Fiber Assignment Records, test results and any other documents that are created to complete the project.

12. Please confirm the bidders conference was mandatory as stated in the Legal Notice for the IFB.

Elsewhere in the IFB documents it states, “Attendance is strongly encouraged.”

The bidders conference was mandatory. The Legal Notice supersedes the IFB of Attendance is strongly encouraged.

13. The As-Builts provided in the IFB documents do not show the fiber strand counts installed on the routes. Information from the Bidders Conference indicated the backbone cable on Main Street is a 144 count SM from West Wareham, through Wareham, and continuing to East Wareham. Please confirm or clarify the existing strand counts on existing fiber installed.

The As-Built in the IFB is all we have.

14. Where there any fiber charts, or strand maps provided after the installation of the existing fiber? If so, will they be available for design/engineering purposes?

The only other document that we have that was not in the IFB is a fiber port index map for the head-end at the Fire Station. As other documents are received they will be provided.

15. The IFB states LC/UPC connector type and site surveys from the Bidders Conference indicated the connector type was LC/APC. Please confirm which type of connector is to be fusion spliced at the termination panels.

LC/UPC as stated in the IFB

16. Based on the site surveys during the Bidders Conference there are several remote locations where new underground conduit needs to be completed for pathways for the new fiber. Should these costs be submitted as a separate line item in the bid response?

These costs should be included with the exception of location #7, which was moved to the Alternate locations in Addendum #3.

17. Based on the IFB documents, the “base bid” should include sites #1 through #7 on pages 4 and 5, and alternate cost for the sites #8 through #12 on pages 5 and 6. Is this correct?

Addendum #3 moved site #7 to the Alternate locations. The new base bid sites are now #1 through #6 and the Alternate location sites are now #7 through #12.

18. During the Bidders Conference there was some discussion of licensing the pole attachment space for the new fiber installation routes. How does Wareham want to establish the pole attachment space for the new fiber cable?

The space on the poles is the area designated for Public Safety/Fire Alarm wire.

19. There are some routes that fall under Mass DOT jurisdiction. Should there be an allowance in the bid response for Mass DOT permitting and traffic control?

All MassDOT and Rail Road Crossing permitting and traffic control are to be included in the bid.

20. Can the Town provide the current prevailing wage schedules for the Town of Wareham? The IFB document requires all work to be subject to Prevailing Wage Law and the associated Certified Payroll Reporting.

Prevailing Wage schedule has been uploaded CommBuys and the bid on Town’s website.

21. The IFB does not specify what type of OSP fiber is to be installed. (Strand/Lash, ADSS, Fig 8). Does the Town have a preference in what type is installed, and what rating the fiber should be? Or, a specification sheet from the existing fiber installed previously?

ADSS, or Strand/Lash are what we would prefer. It is left to the contractor to make the decision for the project, as ADSS, and strand/lash are both the industry standard and would be acceptable for use of this project.

22. Assuming any required new fiber following an existing pathway be overlashed to the existing Town-owned strand/fiber?

YES

23. For new pathways, will the new attachment utilize the "muni space" / Fire Alarm attachment location on the poles?

The space on the poles is the area designated for Public Safety/Fire Alarm wire.

24. How will any pole owner or third-party make-ready charges be handled?

Make-ready and all other things necessary to do all work required for the completion of the work being bid in this IFB.

25. For poles with no available space, is the Town responsible for the pole attachment licensure (e.g., pole attachment applications, make-ready assessments)?

No

26. How will potential third-party make-ready delays be incorporated into the project schedule and overall completion date?

The project is to be completed in 26-weeks (six months)

27. Is the Town open to an ADSS / Self support fiber solution or is traditional strand/lash Construction required for all pathways?

ADSS, or Strand/Lash are what we would prefer. It is left to the contractor to make the decision for the project, as ADSS, and strand/lash are both the industry standard and would be acceptable for use of this project.