A-005 S-10-0194 Pre Bid Mod.doc

Attachment to amendment No. 5, AG-82B1-S-10-0194 A pre-bid meeting for Solicitation Number AG82B1S100194, Kalispell Riparian Road Removal & Stream Rehab project was held 30 April 2010. We had about a dozen contractors attend – copy of the sign in sheet is attached. Below are the questions/concerns raised and the responses provided during the walk through:

1. In stream Habitat Structures (Rootwads/Logs) – Specification 645, Materials, 645.02 Requirements. "Logs shall be of sound quality and free of insects, rot, and decay".

Several contractors had concerns with this language. The Forest Service also has a concern about this language, but there is no perfect language that can be used at this time. The Forest Service plans on being fair and reasonable regarding this requirement. The Forest Service will not accept logs that are have insects or are full of decay or rot. On the other side we are not looking for 100 percent sound logs since they are hard to locate.

2. Specification 645.02 Requirements, continued - "Logs will be supplied with 30% to 50% of each log type supplied by the contractor as Cedar species".

This generated concerns related to the availability of Cedar. While Cedar may be a little harder to locate there should be enough Cedar available to meet the needs of this contract. The Forest Service will still be looking to meet this specification as it relates to the percentage of Cedar to be incorporated into the finished job.

3. Type 1 and Type 1R logs with and without rootwads "shall be 24 inches in diameter and a minimum of 45-feet". There is a range of diameter on all other materials (logs) why not this one? – We agree that we should go with a range for these logs. As such the range for these logs is hereby made: 18" to 24".

4. Specification 210.08, Wetland recontouring. "This work shall consist of removing and hauling the existing roadbed material from wetland areas as SHOWN ON THE DRAWINGS. Recontour the ground to match conditions that existed prior to construction of original road".

The concern here is that there is no provision for endhaul associated with moving unsuitable material to the waste site/s. Also there are no quantities defined for this item in the contract.

This specification was designed and designated similar to Specifications: 210(03) and 210(04). Since all of these designed items do require that a contractor view and make their estimate of the level of effort to complete the specification requirements all contractors are on a level playing field as it is their decision as to the amount to bid for this item. Since it is a DQ (Designated Quantity) the amount to be paid will be the amount bid.

In addition: "Item 210(06) - Wetland Recontour specified in drawings from Station 60+10 to 62+91 (281 LF) and Station 141+52 to 143+00 (148 LF) includes excavation, and disposal of existing roadbed material as detailed on Sheet 10A of 12A. Haul of wetland material to disposal site is incidental to Pay Item 210(06).

Use of equipment rental is specified in other sections of the contract drawings but not specified for use in conjunction with the work under Item 210(06) - Wetland Recontour."

5. The rental equipment is broken out by the three types of equipment to be used, but are based on a set number of hours. Are those the hours you are expecting the equipment to be used, or will there be a change order for the actual number of hours used for the equipment.

Those are the numbers that we expect the equipment to be used, but since they are listed as AQ (Actual Quantity) they will be paid for by the actual number of hours they are used.