Q A for Amendment 0003.pdf

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (Q&A)

AG-9702-S-09-0005

Arcata Lab Buildout Project

Revised 28 Oct 09

Q1. It’s not clear that the scope of work is limited to the Second Floor Addition ("Alternate A").

Spec Section 01010 Summary of Work; please define what the "*" means. What work was completed in the earlier Phase I?

A1. The work completed in the previous phase included

• renovation of stair #1 and associated concrete work

• renovation of stair #2

• renovation of stair #3

• water heater replacement

• construction of the new front entrance

• construction of a new first floor conference room and concrete work

• replacement of the existing second floor roof

• renovation of the restroom on the first floor north end

• construction of the sheer wall on the first floor between grid lines 7 and 8 along grid line F and entrance doors

Q2. What are the plans for Occupancy of the first floor throughout the duration of construction?

A2. The Forest Service is still reviewing the possibility of moving all personnel out of the building. A decision has not been made.

Q3. A spec for fire sprinklers exists in this spec book (section 15300). The spec says to install a fire sprinkler system in the entire building. There are no plansheets that I see that address this, i.e. no fire sprinkler riser, no details or direction on where to place sprinklers, etc. It looks as if the spec book received a section on sprinklers but that the plans do not include them?

A3. On the Title page, under the Scope of Work column, Alternate A states that the addition includes all plumbing work. The Base Bid above, Line item #5, it states the fire sprinkler system will be a design-build, the tie-in point will be at the intersection of grid lines G and line 6.

Q4. Can you provide contact information for the GC working on the rest of the building?

A4. The contract has not been awarded; it will be provided if/when the contract is awarded.

Q5. Section 07200; what type of rigid insulation is to be used under the new roof?

A5. The roof insulation is polyisocyanurate (standard panels or composite) flat and tapered; recommended manufacturer is the Firestone Building Products Company.

Q6. Section 07550; need the roof specs showing how many plys and material specs to be used in the roof system--most suppliers will have a roof system number.

A6. No roof system number--conforms with Garland Company product; see attached

Specification Sections 07220, 07550 and 07600.

Q7. Can we cross the roof system to a hot tar spec instead of a cold adhesive spec?

A7. No.

Q8. What type of warranty is required on the roof system?

A8. See spec 07550 1.12 Warranty – the manufacturer will supply to the owner a 30 year labor and material warranty.

Q9. Section 1700 looks as though it has been cut off – a subsection has a header printed but no substance underneath it. Additionally, many of the spec sections in the 01000 section look as if they may have been cut off at one page in length.

A9. A new specification package has been uploaded along with Amendment 0002.

Q10. At the walkthrough, there was a mention of shutting down the project if the winter is wet.

Why not just start it in the spring rather than leaving a half-demolished mess all winter long?

That would at least allow the building to be useable for the winter and eliminate all the problems associated with leaving a job half done for months.

A10. We will explore that option further, after contract award.

Q11. It is difficult sometimes to know what is included in Add Alt A and what is not. The directive I have found that is most clear on the subject is the note on Sht T1 under “Scope of

Work” that states that all work is to be included in the base bid unless it is explicitly noted as an add alternate. This means that the only work to be done in Add Alt A is that work specifically noted as such?

A11. The note reads BASE BID (ALL WORK SHOWN IS IN THE BASE BID

UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED AS A BID OPTION): We are exercising the requirements of the ADD ALTERNATIVE A: SECOND FLOOR ADDITION. Upon completion a fully working second floor addition will be available for use.

Q12. The Add Alt A keynotes on sht A3.4 seem to be wrong. A3 indicates glulams but points to a mechanical symbol. A5 points to what appears to be ceiling beams but A5 is not defined in the keynotes. The keynote A1 does not appear to be used at all. Please advise.

A12. A1 is found between grid lines F & G and 6 & 7, A3 between grid lines I & J and 4 & 5 should be A4 and the three A5’s should be A3.

Q13. There is work in the M sheets that appears to be part of Add Alt A but is not noted as Add

Alt A. In fact, there appears to be no work on the M sheets noted as Add Alt A. Is all work on the M sheets to be excluded from this bid?

A13. All M sheet work for the addition is included. Plan to bring all piping to Grid line

5.

Q14. The plans show many glulams holding up the roof of the addition. I have not found a spec section for the glulams. It is possible the spec is in the rough carpentry section that I have yet to see the remainder of but they often put the specs for those things in a unique section. You will definitely want specs for this material since it is structural and exposed. Please provide those.

A14. See drawing S1. 1, G Wood Framing, Note 2.

Q15. What is this proposal supposed to look like? The specs give the criteria on which the GCs will be judged but little specific info about what exactly to put in the proposal. Is the proposal to be in 2 volumes, price and technical?

A15. In accordance with Section L, submit a separate price proposal and a separate technical proposal. The price proposal shall, as a minimum, contain a breakdown of the person hours, equipment, materials, overhead, profit and any other direct and indirect costs that substantiate the offeror's submitted prices (use the Blank Construction Cost Estimate provided in Microsoft

Excel format). The technical proposal shall be written so that it shows clearly how the offeror proposes to meet the requirements of the solicitation (including necessary personnel and equipment) and shall address any specific criteria identified in Section M for evaluating technical proposals.

Q16. What is to be done with form 336? This form came along with the SF1442. It looks to be a bid form but Section B is different.

A16. Optional Form 336 Continuation Sheet was generated by the USDA’s automated contract writing system and it is used for informational purposes only. In accordance with Section L, RETURN pages 1 & 2 of SF 1442, Section B (Schedule of Items), Section K (Certifications &

Representations) and the Response to Evaluation Factors sheet (or its equivalent) when submitting an offer.

Q17. The specs state that a CD of the submitted bid package is required. Is this true? Is there a certain format that is needed? Can the CD be delivered after the hardcopy or must it be delivered at the same time? This is quite difficult since price information is being determined very close to the bid time. Is it possible to only submit the qualification information on CD and hardcopy and the price info (e.g. SF 1442, Section B, K, L) on hardcopy only?

A17. In accordance with Section L, offerors must provide hard copy documents and electronic copy (CD-ROM) of all required submissions. No format is specified for the CD-ROM; however, it should contain the required submissions that were scanned and saved to the CD-ROM. The

CD-ROM should be included along with hard copy documents when submitted. The

FedBizOpps website (www.fbo.gov) allows for bids to be submitted electronically which can be done in lieu of the CD-ROM, as stipulated in Amendment 0002.

Q18. The scope of work is unclear. There are many alternates listed in the specs as well as on the first page of the plans. The bid form only has room for a base bid. Pg. 5 of the specs states

***ANY REFERENCE TO THE PHRASE “ADD ALTERNATIVE A” IN DRAWINGS OR

SPECIFICATIONS IS HEREBY DELETED IN ITS ENTIRETY”. The walkthrough stated that only the work in Alternate A was to be done.

A18. The Base Bid “Arcata Lab Buildout Second Floor Addition” listed in Section B was formerly referred to as “Add Alternative A: Second Floor Addition”. Any reference to “Add

Alternative A” or “Add Alternative A: Second Floor Addition” in the plans, drawings and specifications is hereby changed to read “Arcata Lab Buildout Second Floor Addition”, as stipulated in Amendment 0002.

Q19. Fire Sprinklers, Addendum #2, Q&A Answer #3: Is answer #3 regarding fire sprinklers stating that a new fire sprinkler system will be installed throughout the facility under a separate contract but the contractor for the 2 nd

Floor Addition must make arrangements to sprinkle the addition by attaching to piping at grid G and 6 provided by a previous contractor?

A19. 2 nd

Floor Addition contractor is to design-build the required fire sprinkler system for the addition and connect to the piping at grid line G and6 provided by a previous contractor.

Q20. Mechanical: M-sheet does not delegate responsibilities associated Mw/the Second Floor

Addition, is the scope limited to the ductwork, water piping, VA’s and associated components which run off of AHU-2, located in the new Second floor mechanical room?

A20. The 2 nd

Floor Addition contractor is to provide the work noted for “Add Alternate A.” The work include, but not necessary limit to, the modification of existing mechanical duct and equipment on top of existing roof within the addition area, and all mechanical equipment, ducts, and piping for the addition. Refer to Architectural drawings for approximate limit of work. The

Addition contractor is to connect the mechanical piping to the piping at column line 5 provided by a previous contractor. If the contractor needs to remove the ceiling in the existing corridor for the new work, the contractor shall minimize the demolition and repair the ceiling per details on

Sheet A7.4.

Q21. Roof Demolition: For bidding purposes, is the contractor to assume a flat roof over the first floor Mw/tapered insulation?

A21. Yes, the contractor to assume a flat roof over the first floor with tapered insulation. See

General Notes #1 on Sheet T1 for additional information.

Q22. Section 01010 1.3 Hazardous or Contaminated Materials: How does a contractor get a copy of the Hazmat report noted in this section?

A22. There is no hazardous material found at the project area. Refer to Hazardous Materials

Note on Sheet T1 for more information.

Q23. Details on A7.1 refer to new building paper. No specifications are given. Please clarify what type of building paper is required.

A23. See Floor Plan Legend on Sheet A2.1 for description of wall components, including building paper requirement.

Q24. Per A7.1, siding is to be 1 x 6 Redwood T & G. No specification is given. Per attached picture, existing siding has no face nails. Is contractor to assume nailing is through the tongue?

Are galvanized nails acceptable or do you require stainless?

A24. Yes. Provide Type 316 stainless steel nailing through the tongue.

Q25. Section 06100 2.4 and Drawing S1.1 specify 2 x 6 Commercial Douglas fir decking.

Architectural drawings note Redwood Decking. Which is correct?

A25. Provide Commercial Douglas Fir Decking per Structure Drawings and Specification.

Q26. Details 6 on S1.3 and detail 4 on A7.3 note 2 x 6 decking. Details 6, 9, & 10 on A7.3 appear to detail a double T & G 3 x 6. Please clarify.

A26. Details shown also refer to existing 3 x 6 decking. Follow text descriptions of materials.

Do not scale or interpret from the drawing graphic.

Q27. Is this a HUBZone set-aside acquisition?

A27. Yes.

Q28. Who is the contracting officer?

A28. Fred Weatherill.

Q29. Are liquidated damages incorporated?

A29. Not at this time.

Q30. Is the existing first floor roof the sub-floor for the addition?

A30. Yes, we have every indication that the wood is in an acceptable structural condition.

Q31. Where will the laydown areas be located?

A31. A portion of the parking lot will be blocked off for use.