Amendment_Questions_and_Answers_6-9-2014.pdf

Solicitation DE-SOL-0006920 Amendment 003

Spec. No. 818

Blythe-Headgate Rock 161-kV Transmission Line Reroute

Inquiry received on June 09, 2014

Question 1. We are a subcontractor that specializes in Mojave/Sonoran Desert restoration. I noticed that in the project documents it references avoiding any protected plant species. Will there be any required plant salvage on this project? Or any restoration i.e. seeding? Thank you for taking the time to review my questions.

Answer 1. See Division 13 for avoiding sensitive plants, restoration activities and seeding.

Question 2. I have looked over the purposed Horizontal post insulator and have found that with the cable that is used and the armor rods needed there is no trunnion clamp sized big enough to use. I would purposed using the HS1-F with the needed connections or stay with the purposed HF1-F and using the suspension assembly on HS1-F, Please Advise.

Answer 2. Amendment 002 changes the Horizontal Post Insulator requirements from HF1- F to HS1-F with clamps for high temperature usage. There is no requirement for armor rods to be used on this project.

Question 3. Please confirm all poles are 2-piece

Answer 3. Amendment 002, Division 5 includes information on the pole structures having three (3) shaft sections.

Question 4. In attachment B-Project Drawings, insulator details do not show armor rod installed on tangent suspension clamps and jumper post clamps for conductor/ground wire. Is this required for 230kv rated installations?

Answer 4. Armor rod is not a requirement on this project.

Question 5. One of the insulator manufacturer’s is questioning the “minimum dry arc distance without grading ring (inches) 0.0921.

They are telling me that seems very low and they want to confirm that is correct.

Answer 5. Amendment 002 corrects the Minimum Dry Arc Distance characteristic in Division 10, Table 10-1.

Question 6. Will the contractor have designated work site limits for the areas of construction at each site location? If so, what will the dimensions at each site be?

Answer 6. Access near work sites will be marked and limited. See Division 13.

Question 7. Can you please confirm/clarify that we are responsible for developing and implementing the SWPPP?

Answer 7. Yes, see Division 13, paragraph A.3.a.

Question 8. a. Can trees, shrubs, brush, etc. that are cleared for workable site access be stockpiled and placed in windrows along the edge of newly cleared roads/sites?

b. Can the green waste be chipped and spread throughout the site?

c. Do all cleared materials need to be removed from project and disposed of?

Answer 8. a. No. See Standard 13, section 13.9 Disposal of Waste Material.

b. No. See Standard 13, section 13.9 Disposal of Waste Material.

c. Yes. See Standard 13, section 13.9 Disposal of Waste Material.

Question 9. a. Pertaining to the earthwork portion of this project, due to the existing site conditions, there will be extensive earthwork required in order to perform necessary construction. Since there are no engineered drawings for grading, are there any limitations to the amount of disturbance, cut and fill, work area, for the grading necessary to perform the proposed project construction?

b. Also, can the contractor use existing soils from any location onsite for grading at any location onsite?

Answer 9. a. See Standard 2.

b. No.

Question 10. Will graded sites and access roads be required to be restored to their original conditions prior to commencement of the proposed work?

Answer 10. Yes. See Division 2.

Question 11. Are there any specific permits required from any agencies prior to performing access road washout repairs between site 50-1 and 50-2?

Answer 11. See Division 13.

Question 12. Will there be any environmental/geotechnical/soils testing requirements for grading? If so, who is responsible?

Answer 12. No.

Question 13. Will there be any permits, civil engineering design required for grading? If so, who is responsible?

Answer 13. No. Any permits required are the responsibility of the Contractor. See FAR 52.236-7.

Question 14. Is the Owner providing a secured laydown yard? If so, please identify the location.

Answer 14. No.

Question 15. Can groundwater extracted from the wet drilled auger excavations be spread out over the Right Of Way to be used as dust suppressant?

Answer 15. No. See Standards 2 and 13.

Question 16. Based upon the current concrete specification requirements for this project, the local concrete vendors within a 2 hour radius of the project do not provide fly ash in their concrete mix designs. Will you allow the contractor to submit an approved equal mix design without the use of fly ash?

Answer 16. Yes, if it is not readily available.

Question 17. Are there any undisclosed fees/costs/taxes for CRIT that should be anticipated and included in our bid?

Answer 17. Contact the CRIT office in Section J, attachment G.

Question 18. Is the contractor required to perform slump, air entrainment, and compression tests for concrete that will be placed for this project?

Answer 18. Yes, see Standard 3.

Question 19. Will the contractor be permitted to install permanent CMP casing for wet drilled auger excavations?

Answer 19. No. See Standard 2, Section 2.5.10.

Question 20. Just want to verify that Western does want grading rings at the hot end of the insulator strings. Normally with porcelain insulators grading rings are not required except for extremely high voltages for example 500 KV and some times 345KV, where they are used to minimize noise not as protection for the insulator. Grading rings are used at 230 KV and up with polymer insulators to protect the insulator.

Answer 20. Western only requires grading rings on porcelain insulators for 345 and 500-kV. On polymer insulators, Western requires them on 115-kV and higher operation.