B08_-_ATT_10_-_Midway_RIPRAP_2023_QA_.docx

Various Questions and Responses to providing Riprap to the USFWS at Midway NWR:

1) Question: What are some of the challenges of barge operations at Midway?

a. Response: Midway presents some unique requirements for vessel re-supply. It is important for vessel owners and their Captains to familiarize themselves with these requirements and plan accordingly. Though not difficult to complete, it does require a shipper’s due diligence to coordinate and obtain approval to travel through the monument, this information is summarized in various maritime information. USFWS will provide available documents, but the barge/ship operators are responsible for researching with various ports, coast guard, and other agencies the specific requirements for their vessels.

b. All ships entering the monument under USFWS charter as maritime vessels are required to have undergone all PMNM vessel requirements, which may include (but are not limited to):

i. Compliance Information Sheet

ii. De-Rat Certification for each deployment

iii. Hull Inspection

iv. VMS Verification by NOAA OLE

v. PMNM Pre-Access Briefings at Midway Atoll NWR

c. Biosecurity for the barge and tug vessel at departure port and while at Midway.

d. Ships transiting through Hawaii that make port must comply with Hawaii’s transit requirements. Exposed materials such as rock may require additional biosecurity (cleaning) again in Hawaii or prior to departing Hawaii.

e. Midway’s channel can be a bit tricking to navigate, it’s recommended new shippers contact previous ship captains that are familiar with the nuances of the route and weather challenges.

2) Question: What if the barge gets stuck?

a. Response: The contractor is responsible for any delays and or recovery costs associated with the barge getting “stuck” or grounded during the delivery operation due to weather, shipping channel restrictions, port/harbor delays (outside of Midway).

3) Question: What dimensions are required or what are you looking for regarding the armor rocks and the fill rocks?

a. Response: Please see rocks specifications, rock size is determined by density and weight of materials.

4) Question: What size barge is required?

a. Response: The contractor is responsible for determining the barge size, configuration, etc.

5) Question: Is rock testing required as outlined in the specification?

a. Response: Rock provided from Dutra Materials in San Rafael, CA has been tested on previous purchases by the USFWS, additional testing of material from this quarry is required for this procurement. Though rock from this quarry is acceptable, the USFWS is requesting updated testing results for this procurement. This does not constitute federal endorsement of this quarry. This is just a quarry that has provided acceptable rock materials in the past. Rock provided by other quarries will require testing IAW the specifications.

6) Question: Is it necessary to employ the services of a petroglyph if all other tests are passing?

a. Response: Yes

7) Question: What fuel options are available on Midway for Contractors use/purchase?

a. Response: There are very limited fuel options available at Midway and rates are charged at the Midway Reimbursable rate. JET A is the primary fuel available on Midway. Diesel is NOT available, and gasoline is available in limited quantities (50 gals or less) Contractors are responsible for all fuel purchases.

8) Question: Can contractor’s partially bill after inspection and loading of the materials?

a. Response: Yes

9) Question: Is contractor expected to completely manage the unloading and dropping of rocks at site designated by the government on Midway (1/2 mile from barge)?

a. Response: Yes

10) Question: Will gov equipment will be provided at Midway for unloading?

a. Response: Possibly, Midway has two CAT 950M loaders and a RT14R-2 Terramac tracked crawler carrier that maybe made available to the contractor if in operational status (i.e., not broken-down awaiting parts) and not assigned to another project on Midway at the time of delivery. The contractor would be responsible for any damage and repairs while in their use, it is recommended the contractor provide the minimum equipment to complete of-load operations and if available utilize the Midway equipment to accelerate the unloading process. Midway’s posted rental rates would apply.

11) Question: Is contractor to work on the premise that there will be NO government support on island (lodging, food, etc.).

a. Response: No Lodging will be available on Midway during the performance of this contract. Meals maybe be available at the published per diem rate depending on the barge arrival/departure dates. Midway has limited lodging available, and priority is given to USFWS mission staff, during this contract’s PoP all Midway lodging is expected to fully occupied. All contractors visiting Midway are required to attend a 1-hour island orientation and sign standards of acceptable behavior while on Midway.

12) Question: What support services are available to the contractor on Midway?

a. Response: USFWS operates Midway as both a National Wildlife Refuge and National Historic Site. USFWS manages a contract support staff and USFWS staff. There are limited services available on Midway such as lodging, MWR facilities, limited medical staff, bikes, carts, vehicles, etc. Availability and access will be based on contract specifics and/or availability during the contractor’s time on Midway.

13) Question: Is there any training required to work on Midway?

a. Response: Yes, upon arrival all persons visiting Midway are required to attend a mandatory island orientation (2-4 hours). Failure to comply with Midway standards will result in the immediate removal from Midway at the contractor’s costs. This usually required the charter of an aircraft to remove the person(s) from Midway.

14) Question: What is the bio-security requirements for the rock, what cleaning requirements are there?

a. Response: per the provided specifications, Rock cleaning requires: A. US Fish and Wildlife Service adopted an implementation plan as part of the Seawall Long- Term Maintenance Project located at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) to mitigate the impacts associated with the seawall repair. This plan requires that all rock material being used for the repair is clean and free of organic materials, insects and seeds of invasive species. As required by this plan, all rock shall be sourced from a quarry that is free of insects and seeds. Since this is unlikely, the CONTRACTOR shall pressure wash all rock (3,500 PSI minimum) on a concrete or clean rock surface prior to loading onto barges. CONTRACTOR shall limit the amount of time that rock is stored after cleaning and before being transported. CONTRACTOR shall ensure that all materials are stored on clean concrete/asphalt if not immediately loaded onto the barge after cleaning.

15) Question: Are there roads from beach unloading point to delivery point ½ mile away or will roads need to be built?

a. Response: Roads exist from all unloading locations.

16) Question: Is it acceptable to drive off-road rock trucks on roads or on unimproved portions of island—will any kind of restoration be required if delivery takes place off improved roads?

a. Response: It is acceptable to drive on the existing roads in most cases. Roads consist of gravel and improved pavement. Regarding restoring roads, please identify the type of equipment and loaded weight that will be present. If the barge is moored in the harbor near the historic seaplane ramp, then there is no concern since that entire area is paved with thick concrete.

17) Question: Is it allowable to drive spud piles from our barges near the shoreline?

a. Response: No

18) Question: “Transport and Delivery will be to Midway Atoll NWR with offloading occurring at the Lagoon port located on the east side of Sand Island” is this location the inner harbor marked with Site used Nov. 2019, Site used Jan. 2019, Potential site if trees are removed?

a. Response: offloading will occur in the lagoon port. Please see attached map.

19) Question: “The Contactor shall verify all lagoon data prior to sailing but for bidding purposes, the contractor can assume a maximum depth of the lagoon to be 8’ deep +/- 1’ for tidal variances”. The chart am looking at (updated 02/29/2020) has the average depth of the inner harbor at 27’ with The Jan. 2019 site at 29’. Please let me know if I’m looking at the wrong area for offloading.

a. Response: The January 2019 (27-30 feet as indicated on the chart provided) site is deeper than the November 2019 site which indicates 13 feet about 20’ away from the seawall and shallows up to 7-8’ alongside the seawall. The November 2019 site is the preferred mooring because it is located at the concrete pad where the rocks will be placed for long-term storage regardless of which site is selected for mooring. Ability to moor the barge at the November 2019 site will greatly reduce travel distance offloading the rocks and provides a solid concrete surface for all activities.

20) Question: Is contractor expected to completely manage the unloading and dropping of rocks at site designated by the government on Midway (1/2 mile from barge)?

a. Response: Yes, USFWS staff and on-site contract support staff will be available to coordinate activities and assist in docking, but the contractor shall be responsible for all loading/unloading. Except for fueling if this option is awarded.

21) Question: Is there any government furnished equipment available at Midway for the contractor to rent/use?

a. Response: See responses above, limited equipment, labor, or materials maybe available on Midway to support the unloading process, prior coordinate ins required for this support and may not be available. Limited fuel and meals may be purchased at Midway, current rates are available on the Midway website. Fuel consists of gasoline and JET A, no Diesel #2 sources are available on Midway.

22) Question: Is this material going to be used as jetty or breakwater material?

a. Response: “Jetty” or “Breakwater” are not commercial classifications of riprap and are not relevant to this procurement. The objective of the procurement is to ensure the rock quality meets the requirements of the specification then the terminology used to describe it is moot except to differentiate between filter rock and armor rock.

23) Question: Who is going to unload the rock? Govt or contractor?

a. Response: The contractor shall be responsible for procuring, loading, transporting, and unloading all materials at Midway. Per the procurement documents, contractors shall provide all equipment, labor and resources necessary to transport the material from the transport vessel. Contractor shall transport the materials up to ½ mile onto Midway Atoll for storage. Roads are available for contractor’s equipment to use on Midway. Harbor information is provided. Traditionally unloading at Midway requires the use of ramps to connect transport vessel to Midway, no loading ramps are available on Midway. Contractors shall plan for 2-4 hours of mandatory training at Midway prior to be allowed to operate on the island proper. If COVIN-19 issues are still present, all contractors maybe required to provide COVIN-19 negative testing prior to departure and proof of vaccinations.

24) Question: Can you provide any harbor information?

a. Response: Below you will find a link to a NOAA chart for Midway Atoll, with last updates indicated in 2014. The inner harbor is also included in this chart. Also attached is a close-up of the inner harbor, as well as the same inner harbor close-up with penned in notes indicating approximate mooring locations of the November 2019 equipment barge, January 2019 construction project barge, and a potential location that could be made available if that was cleared trees along the seawall in 2021. The "boneyard" where the piles of back-haul debris, and location where we will want to stage the rocks being delivered are in the vicinity of the November 2019 mooring site. Thus, a great deal of time will be saved if the rock barge is capable of mooring at the November 2019. The second choice would be at the "Potential Site if trees are removed" location, and last choice would be the January 2019 site, both of which would require moving each stone greater distances than our preferred option.

25) What is the condition of the harbor for offloading?

a. Response: A barge damaged the concrete adjacent to the sheet pile harbor, a metal deck has been installed and must be used for the barge ramp. Photos of the harbor and rock storage site will be provided.

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