SF 30 - Amend 001.pdf

(x)

DTFH7111B00010

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0 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT

THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

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Sterling VA 20166-6511

EFLHD-CO

21400 Ridgetop Circle Construction Office Eastern Federal Lands Highway Div.

Federal Highway Administration

Sterling VA 20166-6511

EFLHD-AC

21400 Ridgetop Circle Acquisitions Office Eastern Federal Lands Highway Div.

Federal Highway Administration

NATR 3H23, J1006/08/2011001

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

05/11/2011

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

The purpose of this Amendment is to provide a summary of responses to questions/clarifications asked by potential bidders. The bidder open day and time remains unchanged.

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

Prescribed by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

NSN 7540-01-152-8070

Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

Amendment No. 001

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION

EASTERN FEDERAL LANDS HIGHWAY DIVISION

Project PRA-NATR 3H23, J10

Natchez Trace Parkway Solicitation: DTFH71-11-B-00010

The purpose of this Amendment is to:

1) Provide a summary of responses to questions/clarifications asked by potential bidders.

Questions/Clarifications

The following questions and issues were submitted via email at eflhd.contracts@dot.gov. The Government response or clarification is provided. The wording of the questions may have been revised and some questions have not been included. The Government’s direct response to the sender may also have been updated below for better clarity.

1. On Schedule A, there is a pay item labeled: “Temporary Traffic Control, Portable Message Signs”. Those are electronic display message boards that needs to meet part 6 of the MUTCD. At the end of the project, do these boards become property of the Natchez Trace?

Or the Contractor?

Response: All temporary traffic control devices are to be removed upon contract completion or when approved; portable message signs will not become the property of the Park. See Subsection 635.03(h) of the FP.

2. It is stipulated in the Geotechnical Report, that there are several areas throughout the project with “low shoulders”. Some 2” or greater below exiting top of pavement. Once contract is awarded, and prior to commencing the milling and other misc. items, will the contractor be required to bring material to make these areas safer for the public? And if so, how will the contractor be paid for this work?

Response: Pay item 30501-0000, Aggregate-Topsoil Course, is included in the bid schedule to bring the final shoulder to the same level as the final pavement. Typically edge of pavement drop-offs are corrected after asphalt overlay work is complete.

Aggregate-topsoil ordered by the CO to be placed prior to asphalt overlay will be paid for at the unit price bid.

mailto:eflhd.contracts@dot.gov�

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3. Is the Tack Coat an absorbed item, or will there be a pay item for it?

Response: Asphalt tack coat is required between asphalt pavement lifts as shown on the Typical Sections (Plan Sheets B01-B06) and Subsections 401.06 and 401.15 of the FP. There is no direct payment for asphalt tack coat. Please see Subsection 109.05 of the FP for further information regarding scope of payment for direct and indirect work. Each bidder will have to determine where they absorb their indirect costs.

4. There are several water valve tops and other miscellaneous lids located all around the entrance part of Jeff Busby Park. Since ½” overlay could possibly take place in this area, riser will be needed to have the utilities flush with the asphalt. Because of the odd sizes of these lids we have been unable to locate risers for them. Does the Trace has a specific place that they use to buy these or will the Government provide risers to the Contractor?

Response: Most water valves can be easily adjusted and it would be considered a subsidiary item to the contract; as stated previously, see Subsection 109. If additional materials and/or significant manpower is required for the adjustment, a price adjustment for the additional work can be submitted to the CO under Subsection 109.06.

5. It is stipulated in the bid documents that a BPI (Base Price Index) for Liquid Asphalt Cement 67-22 will be use for this project, however there is not an actual number to use. The contract documents make reference to an average that price that will be obtained from Potent and Partners, Inc and will average the weekly high and low selling prices for the Gulf Coast/Mid South and the state of Mississippi and that price will be used for establishing the BPI and the MPPI for this project. I have visited Potent and Partner’s website but was unable to find this information. There is however, reference to obtaining this information, but a yearly subscription is required. In order to accurately bid the project will you provide the contractor with the MPI number that will be used to determine the adjustments prior to the bid or can you advise us on how to obtain this number?

Response: As stated in Subsection 109.06, the Base Price Index for asphalt cement will be provided by the Government after contract award. Bidders can determine their own BPI’s for estimating purposes by contacting the appropriate service. It is our understanding that temporary (free) subscriptions can be obtained from Poten and Partners, Inc. (PPI) for asphalt cement BPI’s.

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6. Looking at the pay items and number of calendar days allowed for this project, it appears that Turf Establishment could possibly take place later part of the year and or beginning of next. As you know, it would be extremely difficult to establish grass during those winter months. Assuming that all pay items are completed (including Aggregate Top Soil) and while waiting for grass to grow, will the contract time be stopped.

Response: Please see the definition for substantial completion (Subsection 101.04).

Typically contract time is stopped when substantial completion is reached and waiting for the establishment of turf to be acceptable according to Subsection 625.10 would not be counted against contract time.

7. In the bid documents, referenced is made to a subcontracting plan which has several “proposed” goal percentages for Small Businesses (23%), SDB (5%), HUBzones (3%), etc..

Is the contractor required to meet these goals or is the contractor encouraged to try to meet these percentages?

Response: Bidders are not required to submit a subcontracting plan with their bid package, but are encouraged to submit one with their bid as it will speed up the award process should they be the apparent low bidder. The contractor awarded the project is required to submit a subcontracting plan prior to contract award and is encouraged to meet the goals as specified or provide documentation of a good faith effort towards meeting the goals.

8. There is saw cutting and joint sealant that needs to be done at the bridge ends, bridge approach slabs and bridge expansion joints. The required method for performing this work varies significantly based on the width of the crack. If the crack is 3/8” simply saw cut and install joint sealer in accordance in plans, specs and manufactures specifications. However, if the crack is larger than 3/8” and up top 3”, a plug expansion joint needs to be applied, the saw cutting is almost 1” deeper and an 8” steel plate has to be put in prior to asphalt overlay.

As you can imagine, there is significant price difference between both methods. Because the contractor cannot make the determination of what method to use until the bridges have been milled, will the Natchez Trace entertain the idea of separating the Saw Cutting and Joint Sealant pay item into two (2) items with the same quantities? That way, both of these methods can be bid accurately and the Natchez Trace would only pay for the ones that are actually used.

Response: The “Wide Joint (Up to 3” Wide) Sawcutting and Joint Sealing at Bridge Expansion Joints” detail on Plan Sheet S08 will not be used on this project.

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9. From MP 181 to approximately 186, there are several areas showing grass growing along the centerline joint of the existing pavement. Will the Contractor be required to repair these areas prior to overlay? And if so, will we get paid under the Asphalt Pavement Crack and Joint Sealing item that was originally intended for the expansion joints along the bridge approach, slabs, and bridge ends?

Response: Mainline asphalt pavement crack and joint sealing is not included in this project.

10. Along the length of the entire project, there are several trees down, brush piles, limbs, etc along the edge of the road. Also, there are trees down and blocking the entire road in an area around Jeff Busby Park. Some of this debris will be in the way during aggregate topssoil and shoulder reconditioning work. Will the Trace contract with someone to ensure that this debris is out of the way in order to complete the work?

Response: This type of debris removal is covered under the Natchez Trace Parkway's standard maintenance procedures and should be cleared by the time construction starts. If not, it can be addressed at the preconstruction meeting.

11. Looking at the bid schedule outlined in the proposal book, and assuming that the contractor chooses to use the maximum number of days stipulated in the contract, and assuming that NTP is August 1st, it looks like Schedule C could take place sometime between October 24th and January 11th and Schedule D could be from January 1st (10 days before completion of C) to April 10th. As you may be aware of, between November and sometimes March, the temperatures are not very favorable to allow asphalt paving, therefore we could lose a lot of time just “waiting” on weather that’s suitable for paving. However, looking at the quantities, scope of work I believe we could finish the paving on Schedule C and D before the cold temperatures set in if we could do the projects in conjunction with one another. It is basically the same mainline and this way it could possibly minimize the amount of joints that have to be put in. Do you think that this can be worked out? Also, another possibility could be to be able to stop time when temperatures become unfavorable (winter months). Is this an option?

Response: Bidders are required to submit calendar days necessary to complete the schedules of work as instructed in the solicitation.

The contract calendar days established in the solicitation were based on the following assumptions:

- Contract NTP starts in August 2011.

- Schedule B is constructed concurrently with Schedule A.

- Schedule C and Schedule D are both constructed in series after each other and after Schedule A.

These assumptions were used to calculate the maximum/minimum calendar days required to perform the work. The Contractor does not have to follow the assumptions

Info Page 6of 6 as long as the work is performed within the contract time set in the contract; the contract time for each schedule of work will be the number of calendar days specified by the successful bidder.

How the Contractor chooses to construct the project will be dependent on when and if each Government Option is awarded. The Contractor will have to determine their schedule of work based on the calendar days set in the contract; they can choose to perform each schedule of work awarded in series or concurrently according to the approved schedule of construction submitted under Section 155.