Site_Showing_Questions_and_Answers.pdf

Ingham County Wetland Restoration Project 2 Solicitation Number: AG-5D21-S-13-0007

Questions and Answers from Site Showing Date: 7-11-13

1. Is the project already funded?

A. Funds have not been obligated but the money for the project has been budgeted.

2. What document is required to be submitted for the bid?

A. Completed SF1442, Section B (bid schedule), Section K (certifications & representations), and Bid Bond.

3. Will microtopography areas be seeded when excavation is complete?

A. Yes, the areas shall be seeded according to Construction Specification 6

Seeding, Sprigging, and Mulching. Oats will be added to Construction Specification 6 as a temporary seeding to be used during the no seeding date, September 30 to October 25.

Clarification – A temporary seeding of oats shall be performed between September 30 to October 25 at a rate of 96 lbs/acre or 2 lbs/1000 ft2. The permanent seeding shall be seeded over the oats as a dormant seeding after October 25 until the seedbed cannot be properly prepared due to wetness, snow or frozen soil.

4. Can the existing drive off of E. Main St. / Morton Rd. (outside the work limits) be used to park equipment?

A. The agreement with the landowner is to use the existing drive as a temporary access to the Stockbridge site during construction. It is up to the landowner whether the existing drive can also be used to load/unload and park equipment.

It would be the responsibility of the contractor to approach the landowner for this additional agreement.

5. Is there a staging area for putting trees?

A. The trees shall be placed around the shallow water wildlife areas

6. Do the tires in the ingress/egress at the Stockbridge site need to be removed?

A. Yes. They need to be disposed of offsite. Unformed wood that has not been through a sawmill or treated with a preservative can be left onsite.

7. How much of the fence and trees need to be removed from the ingress/egress at the Stockbridge site?

A. Approximately the last 100 ft of fence encroaches the width of the ingress/egress and needs to be removed. There are some trees that are along the east side of the ingress/egress that need to be removed and others could be trimmed.

Clarification – Further information regarding the Structure Removal for the fence and trees in the Ingress/Egress at the Stockbridge site will be included in a future amendment.

8. What material is to be used for the ditch plugs?

A. Fill material should be taken from the shallow water wildlife areas.

9. How much material will be removed for the Road Removal?

A. The Road Removal should match the level of the adjacent ground.

Clarification – Road Removal will not exceed 1 ft.

10. Will the tile breaks be laid out?

A. Locations of the tile on the drawings are an approximation based on aerial photography and information from previous land operators. Actual locations of tile for tile breaks will need to be found on-site. Inspectors will help with the staking of tile breaks once they are located.

11. How deep is water table?

A. If the fields are not pumped, the water table is likely close to surface. Any pumping during construction is the responsibility of the contractor.

12. How big are the sump pumps?

A. From the renter - The pumps belong to landowner. The pumps are 20 hp with floats and pump at 20-30 gpm. Power was in the renter’s name. Monthly costs are around $250 per pump.

13. How long of a section needs to be excavated for the tile breaks, and how far down are the tile located?

A. Tile breaks will need to be 150 ft. and deep enough to remove the tile.

From the renter – The main tile is 4 to 5 feet deep and the laterals are 2 feet or less.

14. Can clay tile be left onsite?

A. Plastic tile must be removed and disposed of offsite. Broken clay tile pieces may be left onsite if they are less than 3 inches in diameter and mixed well with earthfill material prior to compaction so there are no voids in the tile trench.

15. Will NRCS be out during all phases inspecting?

A. There are some items that are continuous inspection and some that are periodic inspection.

Clarification – The continuous inspection items are Structure Removal, Tile Breaks, Ditch Plugs, Rock Chutes, and Drain Tile. Periodic Inspection will be allowed on the other inspection items after the contractor has displayed conformance with the specification.

16. Will shallow water wildlife areas be staked out?

A. Yes.

17. What will be done with removed pumps?

A. The landowner has until the notice to proceed to remove any structures from the site. After the notice to proceed, the pumps shall be disposed of offsite by the contractor.

18. Will NRCS handle all permits?

A. NRCS is working with DEQ and the County Drain Commission to obtain permits. All other permits will be the contractor’s responsibility.

19. Can reed canary grass be sprayed?

A. As long as it is within the work limits.

20. When will road removal be completed?

A. Road removal will be completed in the Spring of 2014.

21. When will work start and is there any flexibility with this timeframe?

A. Work is planned to start August 15, 2013. Inspection will be done by a contracted inspector so all work needs to be completed within the specified timeframe.

22. Does the timeframe for the project include rain days?

A. Yes.

23. Are trees and shrubs to be planted in the field?

A. Yes, 230,000 trees and shrubs will be planted in the fields.

24. Is there a guarantee required on the trees?

A. No, but plantings will be inspected.

25. How is the east side of Field 3 accessed?

A. The east side of Field 3 must be accessed within the work limits. Trees may be removed, as necessary.

Clarification – The contractor may acquire access from outside the work limits to access Field 3. Access from outside of the work limits would be the responsibility of the contractor.

26. Are there any limestone quarries nearby?

A. Rock sources will be listed in the Q&A

Sunrise Aggregates, 2100 Swan Rd., Dansville, MI 48819 517-623-1000 Aggregate Industries, 15215 Day Rd Ste 1, Dundee, MI 48131 734-529-5876 F.G. Cheney Limestone Co., 9400 Sand Rd., Bellevue, MI 49021 269-763-9541 Ted Watters & Sons, 4839 E M 36, Stockbridge, MI 49285 517-851-7730

27. What are the requirements for well closure?

A. The contractor will need to work with the County Health Department. Well decommissioning needs to be completed by a certified well driller according to Construction Specification 451.

28. Do fences go around buildings?

A. No, fences end on side of buildings and do not encircle them.

29. Can seeding be done with airplane?

A. As long as it meets the Seeding Specification.

30. Is there an access lane to the windmill in Field 1?

A. No, not that we are aware of.

NOTES:

Further questions must be submitted to Gay Mullen, NRCS Contracting Officer, via email gay.mullen@mi.usda.gov.

Contractors must fully complete the SAM registration to bid on a project. This can be completed at https://www.sam.gov.

The Davis Bacon Wage Determination is included in the solicitation.

In the SF1442, make sure to complete sections B and K.

Bid (20%), payment and performance (100%) bonds required.

This is a small business set-aside.

The Bid Opening is scheduled for August 8, 2013 at 2:00 pm. Bids must be submitted prior to this time.

Completion dates will be added to the Construction Specifications.

Pumps were running in Field 1 and 10 as of July 10, 2013.

The landowner has until the Notice to Proceed date to remove any structures from the site.

The existing drive can be used to access the Stockbridge site during construction. The ingress/egress still needs to be cleared for future access to the site. The contractor will be responsible for contacting the telephone company and having the two telephone boxes removed from the ingress/egress.

mailto:gay.mullen@mi.usda.gov https://www.sam.gov/

The Road Removal at the Stockbrige site will be placed at the south end of the ingress/egress instead of in the ditch upstream of Ditch Plug 8.

In Field 8, the above ground irrigation pipe has been removed except the section crossing the ditch which will still need to be removed and capped.

In Field 9, the CMP by the pump will be removed 150 feet.

All fields, except Field 14, have microtopography. Microtopography is in 20-25% of the designated areas, evenly distributed throughout the area.

The sump outside the work limits in Field 7 will not be filled in.

Rock chutes are planned where there is a cut in the spoil along the ditch. These areas will be armored using D50 = 6-inch, crushed limestone.