PREVIOUSLY_ASKED_VENDOR_QUESTIONS_7-10-15.pdf

PREVIOUSLY ASKED VENDOR QUESTIONS

NOTE: The numbered items are questions and the lettered “a.” information is AOML’s response.

1. Can NOAA provide the water depth for the individual site locations?

a. Yes, 22 to 24 ft. depending on tides

2. Please confirm only two sites need removal. Puerto Rico and St. Croix?

a. Puerto Rico and St. Croix are the only two sites that need removal under this solicitation.

3. Please confirm main section (yellow colored) of pylon is constructed of fiberglass materials?

a. YES. Fiberglass 10inch tube filled with 2lbs closed cell foam with internal & external 2 inch square tubes. Bottom 3 ft. is solid fiberglass with delrin insert, above that is 650 to 700 lbs. of resin encapsulated lead. (See attached Picture)

4. Will electronics be secured during by NOAA personnel prior to diving operations or are the structures currently in active?

a. Each location has ladder rungs and safety harness for climbing pylon to reach electronics bay at the top. There are aluminum masts which must also be removed. They are keyed and held in place with 1/4 20 screws which hold the atmospheric instruments. Contractor will be responsible for removing the electronics from the structure. GCP will be awaiting ashore for the electronics.

5. What is the overall weight of the pylons?

a. At or about 1200lbs

6. How is the pylon base plate attached to the sea bottom? Please provide any specifications for any mounting hardware? Will this plate along with hardware be required to be removed as well?

a. Base plate is 3/8inch 2ft x 2ft 316 stainless steel (ss) which is through bolted into the reef substrate with 3/4 inch all thread held in place with marine epoxy and leveled with hydraulic cement. This is surrounded by eight (8) outer pins that are also of 3/4 inch 316ss at about 20ft from center of Base Plate. All will be left in place for possible deployment of Buoy and other future endeavors.

7. Please confirm attachment from the base plate to the pylon is via bolts with attaching tie rods? The drawing provided depicts single rod with eyes on each end bolted to plate? Please confirm total number of bolts and specifications from pylon to base plate.

a. The "Upper Hounds" winch are 3/4 inch (quantity 4) all thread with ¾ inch eye nuts screwed down to delrin washers which are then attached to 1 inch 10ft section of galvanized chain attached by 5/8 inch shackles which is then attached to spectra 3/4 inch rope. All of these items can be unscrewed. There is no need to cut any of these items. All together there are a total of eight (8) ¾ inch shackles, sixteen (16) 5/8 inch shackles, four (4) sections of ¾ inch allthread that are bolted through the hounds (upper and lower). (See attached picture)

8. Please confirm chain hound attachment extends from pylon down to independent base plate. Will the chain hound base plate need to be removed as well?

a. No it doesn’t. The Pylon is attached to the base plate by 1/4 inch spectra rope woven through the base plate eye bolts and the lower hounds on the pylon, about 1 .5ft length. The pylon rests on a stainless steel knuckle (i.e trailer hitch ball). The 1.5 ft length spectra keeps the base of pylon from jumping off the knuckle. No, the base plate will not need to be removed as well. (See attached picture)

9. Are any cutting methods approved for the site location? Manual, pneumatic, and/or hydraulic?

a. Yes. Please note a 110vac Water cooled 14 inch diamond saw will be provided by GPC.

10. Can the chain hound section of the pylon be cut with any approved method?

a. Chain is attached to hounds by 5/8 inch shackles each 10 ft. section weighs approximately

100lbs. No cutting needed. The eight (8) chains can be lifted into the vessel after they are disconnected from shackles. (See attached picture)

11. Are any components of the pylons going to be reused in the future?

a. No, only the electronics will be reused and should be provided to the GPC. The other items that are removed shall be disposed of and/or salvaged by the Vendor.

12. Please confirm any additional mounting hardware besides the pylon base plate mounting and hound chain mounting not clearly depicted within the drawings provided, if any.

a. Refer to question 3 explanation (See attached picture)

13. NOAA stated it will provide necessary lift bags. Can you provide the weight tolerances along with style of lift bag i.e... dimensions / specifications?

a. One (1) 1000 lb. pillow bag, one (1) 1400lb "Banana" bag, two (2) 500lbs pillow bags

14. Is the removal requirement to submerge the pylon and float to a certain location for removal and disposal? Or can the pylon be transferred to a safe work vessel for transport to a certain location for removal and disposal?

a. Either question stated can be done however the electronics must be removed before submersion and provided to the GCP who will be ashore. This step is at the discretion of the Vendor and should be outlined in the proposal the Vendor provides.