0112-S-14-0115Q A1.pdf

Tongass Log Transfer Facility (LTF) Reconstruction, Solicitation: AG-0112-S-14-0014 Questions and Answers

No information given on this document amends the solicitation.

Question 1: Can foreign material be used for the Steel products for the beaver slide, floats and settling basin outlet pipe? Steel Fabricators in Alaska and Pacific Northwest are using mostly imported steel for pipe fabrication as domestic steel is being priced out at 3 to 4 times higher than the foreign product.

Answer 1. In reference to the Buy American Act, an exception to purchase steel other than domestic has not been approved.

Question 2: What size, type and spec of bolts are to be used to hold the pipe float tubes to the ramp on plan sheet 6 0f 26?

Answer 2. See Amendment 4. Sheet 6 is reference only. Replacement of the HDPE, steel pipe, anchors, chain, and other slide materials is removed from the base items.

Question 3: What FSSS spec is to be followed for the Pipe Pile skids? If it is Section 555 of the FP-03, is the entire 555 section applicable? Or is 555.03, 555.08, 555.10 555.14, and 555.18 the only applicable Parts of the 555 Section of the FP-03 for this work?

Answer 3. All of the FP-03 Section 555 are applicable. The FSSS are a supplement and are in addition or make individual changes to the FP-03.

Question 4: Can we have a detail for the HDPE connection to platform?

Answer 4. See Amendment 4. Replacement of the HDPE and steel pipe is removed from the base bid.

Question 5: Development of a rock source at Upper Carroll would be very difficult. The rock source is very close to the slot canyon creek right behind it. Can material be brought from Shelter Cove since there seems to be excess?

Answer 5. Yes, excess material from Shelter Cove may be used at Upper Carol.

Question 6: Upper Carroll sheet 14. There seems to be a fair amount of solid rock where you want us to “scalp” material from. If we can’t “scalp” rock from the location as indicated what is the remedy?

Answer 6. See the answer 5. The intent of “scalping” is to provide a rough 2% grade to drain the site to the drainage ditch and settling pond.

Question 7: Most new ditch designs at the LTF show a 2% slope. At one location the ditch is 180’ long. If the LTFs are general flat and you have a 1’ minimum ditch at the upper end you will have a ditch 4.6’ deep (I would expect drill and shoot) at the lowest end. If you have 1 1/2:1 ditch slopes (fairly steep for ditch slopes) you will have a 14’ wide ditch. Your drawings don’t really reflect this much ditch. Would you consider a 1% ditch to ease construction and limit the area needed for ditches?

Answer 7. The slope may be adjusted to maintain reasonable ditch widths. However, incidental drill and shoot is to be anticipated at locations.

Question 8: Will it be your intent to accomplish surface water control, drainage pipes and sumps at Fire Cove for example, possibly cut the drive down to grade and hold on the steel structure if the price gets out of hand?

Answer 8. No, the base and the option items are complete and will not be separated.

Question 9: My greatest concern is with the angle of the slope on the Shelter Cove ramp installation. I overlaid the new plan over the existing and it appears that the new ramp seaward edge extends 5- 10 feet past the log bulkhead. I installed the bulkhead and fought like hell to get a ledge to set and secure the bottom log of the bulkhead. The slope is solid rock and drops off steep which if I am correct, would preclude being able to stack rip rap in the location as specified. If that is the case, do we have the option to shift the ramp in as required to have a toe for the rip rap to stack on? This ramp is parallel with the beach and may be a problem. I was attaching a buoy to a 200' pennant and a 5 ton anchor on that bank and the anchor slipped off the edge and ran down the slope. The buoy jumped out of the water twice and then kept going down as the anchor slid down the slope. We never did find it.

Answer 9. Yes, the ramp may be shifted with approval by the CO.

Question 10: At Fire Cove we have the same situation except that the ramp runs adjacent to the beach.

We struggled to keep rip rap in place on the present ramp at 0 to -2 elevation. There was 2-3 feet of mud over a steep rock slope and we lost several large stones trying to get them to key in. I don’t think it presents a problem for installation but might have to hold the bottom support back and have a little more overhang on the slide pipes or shorten the assembly a bit.

Answer 10. See Answer #9.

Question 11: Both the Shelter Cove and Fire Cove slides will require excavation of solid rock to achieve grade and another 36" solid rock removal will be required for the support structure. I believe that the plans call for bedding in granular material. Was the thought that the contractor will use decomposed material sometimes found on the slopes or should we plan to bring or make D-1?

Answer 11. Bedding material shall meet the FP-03 and FSSS specifications for granular materials.

Question 12: There appears to be recent torch work on the West Arm slide. It looks like someone hi-graded one of the cross support I beams and was working on the 2nd. The cut area hasn’t rusted yet but maybe it is built of cor-10 steel and the torch work happened long ago. Will this be a repair that the USFS will want completed as part of the project?

Answer 12. Once the condition of the slide is affirmed, the government will seek negotiations under this contract to complete repairs as stated in solicitation amendment 2.

Question 13: I did not find the length of the chain for the West Arm anchors. The spec references the sheet showing them deployed but not length unless I use a scale. It almost appears that the length may vary based on the water depth of where the structure is installed so that the anchors sit on the bottom at low tide. If that is the case, you may want to specify a total length of replacement chain to stockpile at TNB

Answer 13. See Amendment 4. Replacement of the HDPE and steel pipe is removed from the base bid.

This includes the anchors and chain.

Question 14: I would like to discuss the galvanized steel structures in particular the requirement that all pieces are hot dip galvanized AFTER fabrication. This requirement makes for fabrication in Washington or Oregon. I think that you could achieve the same requiring that pipe and plates be hot dip galvanized and then allow a hot zinc process (there are several other than paint) to treat the areas where the plates are welded to the pipe. This would allow fabrication in SE Alaska.

Answer 14. A hot zinc process will be acceptable after approval of the method and materials by the Contracting Officer. Paint is not approved.

Question 15: I have identified the number of anchors but still need chain length.

Answer 15. See Amendment 4. Anchors and chains are removed.

Question 16: The HDPE logs attach with bent rod bolts but I do not see a detail. I assume that they are either a U bolt or a J. The spec on sheet 9 calls for 6 per float. The existing structure is under water and no way to tell if the skid beams are already drilled for these bolts or not. The sheet note refers to (appended image 1) but I need help to find where it is. What diameter are the bolts?

Answer 16. See Amendment 4. Replacement of the HDPE and steel pipe is removed from the base bid.

Question 17: The spec calls for (2) 36" steel logs but I do not see an attach detail. Do they use the U or J bolt attachments or do they have a bolt plate.

Answer 17. See Amendment 4. Replacement of the HDPE and steel pipe is removed from the base bid.

Question 18: The plans call for cutting the galvanized cable that is wrapped around the riser logs that support and secure the upland base of the slide. I do not see a requirement to remove either the cut galvanized cable or support log system.

Answer 18. The log support system and cables are to remain.

Question 19: Will it be your intent to accomplish surface water control, drainage pipes and sumps at Fire Cove for example, possibly cut the drive down to grade and hold on the steel structure if the price gets out of hand? It appears the total project addresses site water control, then addresses watering logs. I would hate to see any single location cut in its entirety due to cost but instead, at least get the new drive down ramp dirt work done so they all have good barge access and would facilitate a timber sale with barging of the logs.

Answer 19. The optional items are not separable. Bid per the schedule.

Question 20: From sheet 8, I assume “moved to Thorne Bay LTF/Sortyard location directed by COR” does not mean install. Is that correct?

Answer 20. Yes.

Question 21: From Sheet 5, what length of 7/8” proof coil chain are we to furnish?

Answer 21. The chain is removed from the base bid.

Question 22: On plan sheet 9 for this project, the Float manufacturer needs to know if the (2) existing

36" Steel Floats for the West Cholomondley Float need to be replaced with "galvanized Steel?

Answer 22. See Amendment 4. Replacement of the HDPE and steel pipe is removed from the base bid.

Question 23: Page 4 C.2b “includes excavation and installing deadman anchor foundation for the floating log slide”. Will the Forest Service furnish the logs for this? It wasn’t clear on the plan sheet that this was part of the work. Is It?

Answer 23. This requirement was removed by amendment 1.