Public_Works_Site_Showing_QandA.docx

TUNNEL STREAM TIMBER SALE SPECIFIED ROAD CONSTRUCTION -- PUBLIC WORKS SITE SHOWING 8/10/16 Questions and Answers from Site Showing

1. Can contractor work in the winter?

a. The Contractor can work as long as weather conditions and the Forest Service (FS) allow. Once site conditions are such that the FS determines that conditions do not allow for acceptable construction practices, the FS will shut down the project.

2. Can the FS provide an electronic copy of the plans to the winning bidder for layout purposes?

a. Yes.

3. What is the timeline for this work?

a. The FS has a firm deadline of September 30, 2017. There is a timber sale contract that is dependent on these roads being completed.

4. How is clearing going to occur?

a. Contractor will identify any trees beyond what the FS has already identified and marked for removal for road construction. Any tree that is over 5.5” in diameter must be marked by the FS prior to cutting. Contractor will cut, limb, top, deck, and stack the wood in staging areas. Limbs and tops are to be chipped and spread on-site. Staging areas will be agreed to between the Contractor and the FS and will be marked by the FS. The lumber becomes the property of the timber sale purchaser.

b. Stumps from the trees will be buried in a spot that is agreed to by the FS and the Contractor. Stump dumps can occur off the shoulder of the road. Stumps are to be buried by any stripped topsoil.

5. How do we coordinate removing the “temporary items” after the timber sale?

a. The Contractor will not be responsible for removing the temporary items noted in the plans. The plans were written for construction by the timber sale purchaser. The Contractor’s contractual obligation is over at the end of the contract. Please note that the Contractor for this project is not responsible for upgrading roads in the plans labeled “pre-haul maintenance”. Pre-haul maintenance is the responsibility of the timber sale purchaser.

6. Can you post the temporary bridge specifications to the website?

a. Yes. The bridges are FS-owned and are stored in Bartlett, NH. The Contractor is responsible for collecting and installing them. There are two bridges on the project: an 80’ and a 40’ bridge. The FS will post the specs of the bridges.

7. Don’t see loam as a line item. Please elaborate.

a. The existing topsoil will be stripped and used for covering stump dumps and other disturbed areas. Typically there is not enough on-site to cover all the disturbed areas. However, no additional topsoil or loam will be brought on-site.

b. Borrow for the project will probably be limited. The FS must approve any borrow area prior to disturbance.

8. What happens if we hit ledge?

a. There is not an allowance for ledge. If we hit it, we will try to shift the road to avoid any additional expense to the Government.

9. Can the Contractor chip trees if it is OK with the timber sale purchaser?

a. Yes.

10. How much is the bond on the project?

a. Performance bond is 100% of the contract price and payment bond is 100% of the contract price.