4D_S17-0062__Prebid_Meeting_Questions.pdf

Questions from the 4D Pre-Bid Meeting at the Okeechobee NRCS Field Office:

1. Repost page 2 of plans. The current drawing is too faint to use.

2. Clarification: Clearing and land smoothing is not necessary and will not be done on this project.

3. Clarification: Clarify staging area location and if clearing and grubbing of palms and land smoothing is necessary to prep the staging area.

• Response: The staging area is proposed. The contractor may propose other areas for approval. The clearing of palms is not necessary in the staging area.

4. Will there be an extension for questions based on the updated plans?

• If the bid deadline is extended it will be included in an addendum to the solicitation.

5. Are the 120 days performance days, work days or calendar days?

• Response: The performance time is 120 calendar days.

6. Is invasive species removal necessary for the land smoothing area?

• Response: Land smoothing will not be performed as part of this project and thus the invasive species removal in these areas does not need to be done.

7. Is the contractor responsible to obtain any permits?

• Response: Contractor is responsible to obtain an NPDES permit along with a dewatering permit if dewatering does not meet the conditions outlined in the plans and specs.

8. Clarification: The solicitation outlines that the contractor is to, “provide with bid, bid item back up document(s) for detail price breakdown”. Price breakdown documents provided will support how the bid item price was established by the contractor including items such as labor hours, equipment hours, material estimates and estimated quantities. These back up documents are for NRCS use only. They allow NRCS to more effectively compare the contractor bid to the government estimate to ensure the bid submitted includes proposed work as intended by NRCS.

9. What is the type of contract for this job?

• Response: Low bid, Fixed-Firm Price

10. How will the work be required to be phased to address the working cattle ranch?

• Response: When the contractor is working in the north half of the project area, the cows will be kept in the south half of the easement. When the contractor is working in the south half of the easement the cattle will be kept in the north half. The south half is also split in half to provide additional flexibility in the south half of the easement area.

11. Will the CAD files of the site topographic survey be available to the contractor?

• Response: See attached.

Questions from the 4D Pre-Bid Meeting during Onsite Visit:

1. Where does the borrow come from to fill Fill Ditch (FD 6)?

• Response: FD6 is no longer to be completed. Please, see updated bid schedule.

2. Can the cabbage palms removed during clearing and grubbing be mulched and spread on the site?

• Response: Mulching will be allowed and disposal areas will be as approved by the COR.

3. Does a ditch to be filled need to be stripped of vegetation prior to filling?

• Response: Yes and stripped material is placed back on top when the filling is complete.

4. How will inspection be performed?

• Response: Contractor is responsible for providing a Quality Control (QC) Plan for approval and will follow this plan throughout construction. NRCS will provide a Quality Assurance inspector for the project who will be present for the majority of the work on the site.

5. Where ditch fill is specified surrounding the existing wetlands onsite, is silt fence required to be placed between the planned ditch fill and the wetland?

• Yes

6. Is silt fence necessary on the east side of the property? Is this silt fence possible to install on the easement property without going onto the neighbor? Will the contractor be able to clear prior to installing the silt fence?

• Silt fence is necessary where outlined in the plans. There is room on the property on the east side for this installation of silt fence. Contractor will be allowed to clear area to allow installation of silt fence.

7. Is there a weight limit on the bridge which is used to access the property?

• Response: The bridge is privately owned and does not have published weight restrictions. It has been used historically for agricultural purposes.

8. Can ditch fill be done in the wet or does dewatering need to be done in order to fill ditch?

• Ditch fill can be done in the wet unless a dike crosses a ditch. In this case the contractor will need to meet the requirements outlined in the earthfill specification.

9. In order to complete the ditch fills, is borrow required to be hauled from the borrow area?

• Response: No, borrow for ditch fills will be from adjacent spoil. No hauling will be required. If the adjacent fill material does not fill the ditch a depression or shallow swale may be left.