Questions_ _Answers.pdf

Questions & Answers

AG-0343-S-16-0003

December 11, 2015

Q1. What is the approximate magnitude of the Riley Pass project (Solicitation Number: AG-0343-S-16-

0003)? Will this solicitation be issued as an Invitation for Bid or a Request for Proposal?

A1. This project is projected to be between $1M and $5M. It will be issued as a request for proposals.

January 15, 2016

Questions not specifically answered in the solicitation

1. Q. Contaminated soils are up against the bluff, how clean does it need to be? Small excavator clean or hand clean?

A. Excavator clean

2. Q. Will we be able to construct temporary haul roads from the borrow area up the hill adjacent to the spoils coming off Bluff I, basically in between Bluff G and Bluff I and in between Bluff F and Bluff I? If yes, will they have to be reclaimed?

A. Yes you are able to construct temporary haul roads and they will need to be reclaimed

3. Q. Are we able to get copies of the soil borrow reports?

A. Two soil borrow reports will be posted on Fed Biz Ops.

4. Q. Will the design engineer be involved in the review of the proposals?

A. The design engineer will not be on the evaluation team, but may be consulted as needed.

5. Q. Describe how and why the NAICS(?) code was selected for this project and what the revenue values are associated with the NAICS code?

A. The NAICS code was selected based on the preponderance of the work being “dirt work”. The dollar threshold is $36.5M.

6. Q. On the value incentive, is that approved prior to letting the contract?

A. No.

7. Q. What is the timeline for the review of the proposals and when will we find out if we got the job?

A. Proposals are due on February 4, 2016. Proposal reviews and award decisions will be made as quickly as possible. It is not possible to determine a precise timeline.

8. Q. Will you post the bids?

A. This is not an invitation for bid so there will not be a public opening. Only the successful offeror’s prices will be made public.

9. Q. On page 134 of 141, Section L-5 (a)(4)(i), question was asked about what exactly needed to be submitted and signed of Sections A-K in the package?

A. The Standard Form 1442 must be filled-out and signed. The prices in Section B-1 must be submitted.

Contractor’s are required to be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to award of the contract. The appropriate box in Section K must be checked and submitted as part of your proposal. You do not need to send in Sections C-I as part of your proposal.

10. Q. Could we get a copy of the Powerpoint that was presented.

A. Yes, the powerpoint will be posted on Fed Biz Ops.

11. Q. On page 58 of 141 in Section 204.05 (b), Mine Waste Repository, regarding the oversize boulders it states “or placing them individually as required by (c) below.” There is no section (c) below.

A. That is correct that there is no section (c). The placement of rocks less than 24” is allowed in the mine waste repository if those rocks can be reduced to less than the 12” lift thickness. If they can’t be reduced to less than the 12” lift thickness, they will be either removed from the repository or placed randomly within the repository to prevent nesting.

Questions that are answered in the solicitation

Q1. Will the trees be reused and what are the requirements on that? And how will you incorporate the wood chips into the soil?

A. See Section 201 – Clearing and Grubbing, page 55 of 141.

Q2. Do you have to have a GPS on all of your machines?

A. Page 9 of 141, third paragraph discusses the use of equipment with survey grade Global Positioning

System (GPS) machine-control capability. There is a statement allowing “Contractor may propose alternative means and methods that will achieve the same level of precision …”

Q3. Where does the Digital Design Data come from and will they work with the contractors?

A. Digital data will come from the design engineer, Tetra Tech. Yes, the design engineer will work with the contractors to provide a format of data compatible with GPS equipment.

Q4. Will Tetra Tech do the final cross sections for quantities and payments? Will that be the Forest

Service responsibility or the contractor’s?

A. Pages 44 through 47 and 90 of 141 discuss the survey requirements. Section 204.10 – Measurement on page 63 of 141 states that the Contractor will be responsible for all surveying upon which payment quantities are based. The required surveyed surface data will be provided to the Forest Service. Upon receipt of the survey data from the Contractor, the design engineer on behalf of the Forest Service will do calculations for quantities and payment.

Q5. Will the Forest Serve conduct verification testing on contamination after grading? If there is a hot spot after grading, will the contractor be responsible for additional work?

A. Page 89 of 141, 4th paragraph states that that the Forest Service will conduct the verification sampling. Additionally, based on results of verification sampling, the CO may direct the Contractor to perform additional work.

Q6. Where do we find the levels of contamination at the site?

A. On page 12 of 141 in the solicitation.

Q7. Will any erosion control measures be required and will they be at the contractor’s expense?

A. An Erosion Control Plan, including the implementation, inspection, repair or replacement and removal of erosion control structures, is required under Pay Item 157 and discussed on Pages 52, 53 and 90 of

141.

Q8. Will a grading plan be required for the borrow areas and any temporary haul roads for borrow hauling?

A. No, a grading plan for the borrow areas and temporary haul roads is not required, but reclamation of these areas must conform to the narrative description for reclamation found in Specification 668 –

Reclaim Borrow Source , page 76 of 141, and on pages 93.

Q9. What permits are the contractors required to get?

A. See page 9 of 141, section (m), under Forest Service Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), no permits are necessary, but the Contractor must comply with the substantive requirements of any permit.

Q10. Will there be a Forest Service representative to classify what is spoils and what is not?

A. No there will not be a representative to classify spoils. The drawings depict what is waste and what are spoils.

Q11. Will the Digital Design Data include the locations of the waste and spoils materials?

A. Yes

Q12. What is the difference between waste and spoils?

A. Mine spoils and mine waste are defined on page 12 of 141.

Q13. Is the volume of the water in the 4 ponds sufficient for the project?

A. Yes.

Q14. Can we drill a well on the forest?

A. Forest Service would need to review the proposal to construct operate and reclaim a water well prior to its approval. At this time the Forest Service cannot guarantee a well would be approved.

Q15. What are the required elements in the proposal?

A. Section L and M on pages 132 to 141 were presented in detail.

Q16. Are all items in section L what you are evaluated on and are these items weighted the same?

A. On page 134 of 141, Section L-5 describes the items to be evaluated Past Performance and Company

Experience, Technical Approach and Understanding of the Project, and Biobased Products. On Page 141 of 141 under Section M-2 is information on how the evaluation factors are considered in their importance.

Q17. What are the biobased products?

A. On page 18 of 141, section C-6 provides an example list of the different products to use that are more bio based in place of others.

Q18. What exactly is going to be done with the stumps from Bluff F?

A. Page 91 of 141, 201 – Clearing and Grubbing – work for this item includes “removal of timber, brush, stumps…”. Additionally, page 55 of 141 – 201 Clearing and Grubbing – stumps shall be either used in channel construction or scattered over the reclaimed surfaces. Stumps not used for this purpose shall be stacked at a location designated by the CO.

January 28, 2016

Q1. Page 89 seems to limit the additional work to the placement of additional borrow in certain areas. We are assuming this would be because of the amount of radiation detected by the verification sampling.

A1. Correct

Q2. This also implies that additional excavation of wastes will not be required, that might affect the grading plan.

A2. Not correct. The co reserves the right to direct the contractor to excavate additional waste or spoils depending on site conditions.

Q3. Are these assumptions correct?

A3. Not entirely. See preceeding responses

Q4. If not, there is no place on the bid schedule for additional removal and grading costs. Would this all be negotiated as a change order should these circumstances arise?

A4. After contract award, changes to the contract would be handled in accordance with the Changes

Clause (52.243-4) of the contract.

Q5. On the Summary of Estimated Quantities, Item No. 204.3 – Bluff I Spoils Grading at Designated

Areas the estimated quantity is 20,116 CY. Sheet number C-08 of the Drawings provides regrading volumes for Bluff I of 40,480 CY of cut and 22,650 CY of Fill, which leaves an excess of 17830 CY of material needing transported to the repository.

A5. Your interpretation is correct. The quantity of spoils grading under pay item 204.3 is represented by the sum of the “fill” regrade volumes listed in the quantities table on sheet c-08. The sum of fill quantities from this table is 22,650 cy. Pay item 204.3 on the schedule of items should be 22,650 cy, not 20,116 cy. The excess spoils cut volume of 17,830 cy in the table on sheet c-08 is removed to the repository and is included as part of the 28,920 cy in pay item 204.2.

Q6. With respect to the table of quantities, what does the quantity of 20,116 CY refer to (i.e – fill placement, excess soil, etc.)?

A6. The quantity 20,116 cy should be 22,650 cy. This quantity represents the amount of spoils regraded in place at bluff i.

Q7. On the Summary of Estimated Quantities, Item No. 204.6 – Bluff G Spoils Grading at Designated

Areas the estimated quantity is 15,035 CY. Sheet number C-05 of the Drawings provides regrading volumes for Bluff G of 20,830 CY of cut and 15,470 CY of Fill, which leaves an excess of 5360 CY of material needing transported to the repository. With respect to the table of quantities, what does the quantity of 15,035 CY refer to (i.e – fill placement, excess soil, etc.)?

A7. Your interpretation is correct. The quantity of spoils grading under pay item 204.6 is represented by the sum of the “fill” regrade volumes listed in the quantities table on sheet c-05. The sum of fill quantities from this table is 15,470 cy. Pay item 204.6 on the schedule of items should be 15,470 cy, not 15,035 cy. The excess spoils cut volume of 5,360 cy in the table on sheet c-05 is removed to the repository and is included as part of the 38,960 cy in pay item 204.5.

Q8. Section 204.07 of the Special Project Specifications states: “On completion of spoils regrading, there will be excess spoils material at both Bluffs I and G. This excess material shall be treated as mine waste and hauled and placed in the Bluff I repository as described above. Payment for these excess spoils shall be made under the applicable Mine Waste item.” Is this excess spoil included in the volume estimates for Bid Items 204.2 (28,920 CY) and 204.5 (38,960 CY)?

A8. Yes, the excess spoil is included in pay items 204.2 and 204.5. Please see the response to questions

2 & 3 for more detail.

Q9. Thus, can bidders assume the total amount of Mine Waste needing removal in Bluff I is only 11,090

CY plus the addition of 17,830 CY of excess spoils for a grand total of the provided estimated quantity of

28,920 CY?

A9. YES

Q10. Similarly, can bidders assume the total amount of Mine Waste needing removal in Bluff G is only

33,600 CY plus the addition of 5,360 CY of excess spoils for a grand total of the provided estimated quantity of 38,960 CY?

A10. YES

Q11. Bid Item 204.2 is described in the proposal as “ Bluff I - Excavate Mine Waste at designated areas and consolidate material in the repository”. The bid item includes 28,900 cy of mine waste. Mine waste is clearly defined in the contract on page 56 of the special provisions. My question is, is there really

28,900 cy of mine waste to be excavated in the bluff I foot print or is part of the 28,900 cy in this bid item mine spoils?

A11. Part of the 28,920 cy in pay item 204.2 is spoils. The breakdown of spoils and waste under this pay item is as follows: waste = 11,090 cy, spoils = 17,830 cy. Total = 28,920 CY. Please notice that the

17,830 cy of spoils corresponds to the amount of excess cut listed on the quantities table on sheet c-

08.

Q12. The last paragraph on page 61 of the special provisions states “ On completion of the spoils regrading, there will be excess spoils materials at both bluff I and G. This excess material shall be treated as mine waste and hauled and placed in the bluff I repository as described above. Payment for these excess spoils shall be made under the applicable mine waste item.” If bid item 204.2 is a combination of both mine waste and mine spoils would it be possible for you to break out the quantity of each in bid items 204.2 and 204.5.

A12. The breakdown of spoils and waste under pay item 204.2 is as follows: waste = 11,090 cy, spoils =

17,830 cy. Total = 28,920 cy. The breakdown of spoils and waste under pay item 204.5 is as follows:

waste = 33,600 cy, spoils = 5,360 cy. Total = 28,920 cy. Please notice that the 17,830 cy of spoils corresponds to the amount of excess cut listed on the qunatities table on sheet c-08.

Q13. Also bid items 204.3 and 204.6 are for grading spoils on bluffs I and G respectively.

A13. Spoils grading volume under pay item 204.3 should be = 22,650 cy, not 20,116 cy. Spoils grading volume under pay item 204.6 should be = 15,470 cy, not 15,035 cy.

Q14. I believe the intent is for this bid item to include only the fill material in these areas and not the payment for quantities of excess spoils materials that must be hauled to the repository as these quantities will be paid as mine waste per the discussion above.

A14. CORRECT

Q15. On sheet D-01 “Erosion Control Mat Overlap Detail” it shows the blanket being installed horizontally. Can the blanket be installed vertically on all slopes and horizontally on all flat areas?

A15. Yes, as long as the overlap specification is followed.

Q16. How are the boundaries of the regrade and borrow areas being determined?

A16. Electronic files with the boundaries will be provided to the Contractor, but it is the Contractor’s responsibility to locate these boundaries in the field as per Section 152 – Construction Survey and

Staking of the solicitation.

Q17. Will the surveyors be supplied approximate coordinates for these areas?

A17. Yes. Please see above response.

Q18. Also, it is my understanding that an original surface will need to be created, then the quantity of waste removed will need to be determined by creating another surface of either the repository or the regraded areas, and lastly, will a final surface need to be created to verify depths of the cover placed over the excavated areas or will just a second surface of the borrow areas suffice for quantity removed for cover?

A18. Please see section 204 – Excavation and Embankment, Sub-section 204.10 – Measurement, on page 63 for a description of the surfaces to be surveyed.

Q19. We have access to compost that has been “turned” regularly to aerate the manure for expedited composting. Either is available but due to freight distances the cost difference will be significant. I simply wanted to get comfortable with how demanding your specifications were going to be to help assess what our input costs would to be.

A19. The compost must meet all the specifications outlined in Section 713.04 of the solicitation.

Q20. 201 Clearing & Grubbing, “Other clearing & grubbing debris shall be salvaged for use in channel construction and for placement on finished surfaces of the repository and regarded spoils.

Woody debris not used for channel construction shall be uniformly scattered over the reclaimed surface of the bluff I repository…”

Question is does the slash and debris have to be ground, chipped or otherwise reduced in size before placing?

A20. No

Q21. Can branches and pieces up to 6” just be spread over the surfaces?

A21. Yes

Q22. As part of the survey requirement there is a line item pertaining to HAZWOPER 40 training. In reading thru the reg’s on that, has a preliminary site evaluation been done for required PPE?

A22. It is the contractor’s responsibility to develop a Health and Safety Plan for the project based on the hazards at the Site. The levels of contamination are found in the Solicitation on Page 12 of

141. Additionally, Waste Characterization Evaluation Report, dated November 18, 2015 is posted on the

FEDBIZOPS website and contains additional information on the contamination at the site.

Q23. I was wondering if I can get the actual PPM and amount of hazard at the site so I know how to protect the guys who might be mitigating.

A23. The levels of contamination are found in the Solicitation on Page 12 of 141. Additionally, Waste

Characterization Evaluation Report, dated November 18, 2015 is posted on the FEDBIZOPS website and contains additional information on the contamination at the site.

Q24. Any recommendations for PPE?

A24. It is the contractor’s responsibility to develop a Health and Safety Plan for the project based on the hazards at the Site, including PPE.

Q25. Also what kind of firefighting PPE do they need? I am putting them all through a s130/s190 course do they need packs and shelters or just tools?

A25. Page 99 of 141, Section H-2 describes the contracts requirements for fire control.

Q26. What is the forest services suggestion for decontamination?

A26. The decontamination plan is the responsibility of the Contractor.

Q27. Will run off water be ok in an evaporation pond that is lined?

A27. Please see page 16 of 141 (f) for further direction. Contractor’s suggested approach would be reviewed at the time of submittal.

Q28. Also for vehicle refueling and maintenance does there need to be a specific area designated for refueling on site or does that have to be off site?

A28. Page 13 of 141, Section C-1 (y), page 34 of 141, 107.10 and page 100 of 141, Section H-2 (7) discuss the handling and storage of Petroleum products.

Do to the offer submittal date of 4 Feb 2016, this is the last question that will be answered on this project. No more questions should be submitted.