ESBD_361404_1717174873546_QA Tower 3.18.24.docx

Q: RFP Page 14 Heading: Additional Site Requirements Provide and install one 25’ x 8 ft ice bridge Is this accurate? If so, would it be 25’ in length x 8’ in width?

A: Yes, this should be 25 feet in length x 8 feet in width.

Q: Tower Specifications:

1. "Solid Rod Truss Legs Steel construction of leg members" is called out. Are solid rod legs acceptable? Solid rod truss legs are only available from a single manufacturer but the majority of towers in Texas that we build are either "Solid rod legs" or "truss legs" but not "Solid rod truss legs". Please clarify.

A: Only solid rod truss legs are acceptable for this RFP

2. The Waveguide ladder and climb ladder are specified on different sides of the tower. This can be easily done however on towers this size it is almost always requested to have the climb ladder next to the cable ladder for ease of use.

A: The sides specified in the RFP are correct.

3. Under the FAA lighting kit you request ice shields. Confirming you would like ice shields over the side marker lights?

A: Yes

Q: Additional Site Requirements:

1. You requested a 12' x 8' steel reinforced concrete shelter. Do you have any requirements or are you looking for an empty building without any interior finishings or HVAC? These buildings can vary widely in price depending on electrical and HVAC requirements.

A: It will be an empty building but will need prefab conduit into the building for later electric and HVAC installation

2. What size propane generator do you request?

A: 22KW with an automatic transfer switch Lamar County Radio Infrastructure Equipment and Installation Q & A

Q: Do you have a Geotech study available for the proposed tower location? If so, please provide for tower design

A: There is not a Geotech study specifically for the tower, but we do have one for a building that will be built within 300 feet of the tower location. Please let us know if that would be of use.

Q: Would you like the tower to accommodate any future loading beyond the specified (8) antennas and lighting kit?

A: Yes, it will need to be able to accommodate additional items including microwave dishes, wave guides, and control station antennas.

Q: Where will the portable towers be located? For I presume that we’ll be charged with getting them to their respective sites.

· The portable towers are located somewhere and must be moved to the sites. So, the questions that arise are –

· Where are they going to be staged for pickup?

· Who delivers them to the sites?

A: This bid does not include any additional site staging. There will be available storage on site for staging.

Q: So we are not going to move the portable towers to the site.

A:That is correct. We do not have portable towers in place right now.

Q: “Would it be acceptable to design this with a 3’ pier at the base and 315’ of steel?” Apparently, the tower design works better in 5’ increments.

A: Yes, that would be acceptable.

Q: Can the County please confirm that the “equipment installation” requirements referred to in the RFP include only the items listed in the Required Elements in Response Format section under item 2?

o No land mobile radio equipment is to be provided and installed?

A:No mobile radio equipment will be provided to be installed.

Q: Can the County please confirm that no microwave dishes are required to be purchased and installed on the new radio tower?

A:No Microwave dishes will be installed with this RFP.

Q: Has the County performed a soil analysis study on the ground on which the tower will be installed? If so, can the County please provide a copy of that study?

A:Yes, a Geotech report was completed and will be provided.

Q: Has the County performed and received approval for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to validate the height of the radio tower? If so, can a copy of the FAA approval be provided?

A: Yes an FAA approval was received.

Q: Regarding the required 12’ x 8’ Steel Reinforced Concrete Shelter, what, if any, are the requirements for an HVAC system for the shelter?

A:No HVAC is needed.

Q: Regarding the required backup propane generator, what is the wattage requirement for this generator?

A: Propane, exterior 22 KW.

Q: Does the County require the vendor to also provide and install a propane fuel tank? If so, what are the propane fuel tank capacity requirements?

A: Not required to install Propane tank in this RFP Q: Can the County please provide a site plot drawing of the land on which the tower will be installed?

A:Yes, attached (this is now available on the website).

Q: Is the County willing to accept lease options? Allo Towers would be happy to build this new radio site and lease it back to the County with attractive and simple terms to help reduce the total capital cost of the proposed upgrade project.

A: No, we would not be interested in this process.

Q: Would Larmar County, and/or it associated counties in the Ark-Tex Council of Governments (Bowie, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Hopkins, Morris, Red River, and Titus Counties in Texas as well as Miller County in Arkansas) be open to a sale leaseback model whereby we would acquire Lamar County’s owned towers for a lump sum payment and lease the sites back to the County for a monthly fee to help reduce the capital cost for the upgrade? If so, can the County identify the sites that are owned by the interested Counties?

A: No, we would not be interested in this process.

Q: The coordinates plot in a heavily treed area at the back of the property. Can you please confirm whether this is the desired tower location? Or is it perhaps intended to be within the open area of the land? (See screenshot below.)

A: Trees have been cleared from the area.

Q: Has a Geotech report been completed for the tower? If so, can you please provide a copy? If not, should this be included in the contractor’s scope of work?

A:Geotech has been completed.

Q: Please confirm the actual tower structure height desired. The SOW indicates 318’, but the FAA Determination also states 318’ tip, which would include the lightning rod. Is the structure itself to be 300’, perhaps?

A:Top of the tower cannot exceed 318’ including lightning rod and lights Q: Please confirm whether the 238’ and 298’ heights provided are mounting heights or tip heights for the antennas.

A: Mounting heights.

Q: Please confirm whether all 8 antennas shown in the Loading section are to be provided and installed as part of the SOW for this project.

A:Page 14: Yes listed as: Install (4) Andrew DB-224 @ 298’ with (4) 1 5/8th feed line with pipe mount, Install (4) Andrew DB-224 @ 238’ with (4) 1 5/8th feed line with side mount.

Q: Please provide the following clarifications relative to the shelter:

a. Is a new shelter required, or would ATCOG/County consider a refurbished shelter?

Revised 3.18.24 - Both refurbished and new will be accepted

b. What are HVAC requirements? (3 ton? 5 ton? Dual units?) No Hvac within this RFP.

c. Is Motorola R-56 grounding required for the shelter (interior halo, exterior ring, etc.)

Page 14: “Provide and install tower grounding in accordance with R56 “ with interior halo.

d. What is desired for ladder rack inside the shelter? Is there a known equipment layout? No known equipment layout at this time.

e. Is any equipment to be provided with the shelter (racks? UPS or DC power?)

Interior lighting for the building, tower lighting equipment, no racks, UPS or DC power needed.

f. Please confirm industry standard items should be included, such as receptacles (interior & exterior), smoke detectors, alarm wire run to punch down block for door entry, HVAC,smokes, etc.

Page 13/14 “TIA-H grounding using appropriate length lightning rod & extender. FAA Code E-1 Dual LED Medium Intensity Light Kit with Two LED Top Beacons, LED Side Marker Lights, ice shields, interior mounted controller, alarms, photocell, SO cord wiring, and all necessary mounting hardware.

Q: Please provide the following clarifications relative to electrical items:

a. What is the status of electrical service for the shelter (and tower light). Is electrical service intended to be part of the SOW for this project? If so, what size service is required (phase and amperage) Lamar county will provide the electrical service from the power provider to the meter. This RFP is for electrical from the meter into the building and tower. The vendor is responsible for all lighting and electrical to the tower, building, breaker boxes, with a 200 amp electrical service.

b. The generator is presumed to be an exterior install; what size (kW) generator is desired? Propane, exterior 22 KW.

c. What size propane tank (gallons) is desired?

County will have local vendor provide and install tank.

d. Is fueling the propane tank within contractor’s SOW or will ATCOG/County contract this directly with a fuel supplier?

Lamar County will take care of all fuel for propane tank.

e. Is there a specific ATS requirement (manufacturer, alarm capability, etc.)? No specific manufacturer but with alarm notification.

f. Is MTS/generator plug/camlock functionality required?

Generator is permanent mount automatic transfer switch.

Q: Is there compound finish (weed barrier/rock? Fence?) desired surrounding the tower and shelter?

A: Fence and rock surrounding the tower and shelter.

Q: The RFP lists installation of antennas. Is the contractor responsible for procuring the antennas, feedlines, and/or mounts?

A: Yes, the contractor is responsible for procuring the antennas, feedlines, and mounts.

Q: Is the contractor responsible for procuring and/or installing radios, uninterruptible power supply, or other equipment in the shelter? If so, what equipment is needed?

A: This equipment needs to be installed and operational: FAA Code E-1 Dual LED Medium Intensity Light Kit with Two LED Top Beacons, LED Side Marker Lights, ice shields, interior mounted controller, alarms, photocell, SO cord wiring, and all necessary mounting hardware.

Q: Does the contractor need to procure and supply equipment racks or cable ladders inside the shelter? If so, what equipment is required?

A: No racks or cable ladders is needed inside the shelter.

FAA Code E-1 Dual LED Medium Intensity Light Kit with Two LED Top Beacons, LED Side Marker Lights, ice shields, interior mounted controller, alarms, photocell, SO cord wiring, and all necessary mounting hardware. This needs to be operational.

Q: The RFP calls for a 25’ x 8 ft ice bridge. This is 4x the typical width. Can you confirm the size, approximate height, and purpose?

A:. This is larger to allow for protection of equipment.

Q: Can you confirm the power specs for the shelter and generator? Typical is 120/240 vac single phase, 200 amp. Separate equipment purchased with the radios is usually dedicated to rectifying AC power to - 48V and/or -58V DC to power radios.

A: provide 120/240 single phase with auto transfer switch to 200-amp breaker box by/at the shelter.

Q: Should the contractor also supply an Automatic Transfer Switch in the shelter?

A: Yes, Automatic Transfer Switch inside or outside.

Q: What size LP tank would you like for the generator?

A:not supplying LP tank.

Q: Does the contractor need to design & install a gravel and/or fenced compound to house the tower, shelter, and generator?

A: Lamar County will design and install gravel and fence.

Q: Is contractor responsible for clearing and grading the site?

A: No site is cleared.

Q: Can you please supply photos to bidders of the proposed site?

A: Site map is posted.

Q: Will the tower host emergency, 911, or FirstNet services?

A: County emergency services, radio communication equipment.

Q: Will primary power be supplied to the shelter by others and/or does the contractor need to provide a meter rack?

A: Yes, Lamar County will have a temporary pole. Contractor will provide from there.

Q: Will telco (usually underground fiber-optic) be supplied to the shelter by others, or is this site a microwave relay?

A: Lamar Co will be handling this.

Q: Can you confirm that a geotechnical boring has not been conducted and the contractor will be responsible for such?

A: Geotech report is posted.

Q: Has any topographic or lease survey been performed and/or will the contractor be responsible for such?

A: Geotech report is posted.

Q: Will the county supply applicable permits and/or fees, or is the contractor responsible for such?

A: Contractor is responsible for permits.

Q: Is the contractor responsible for obtaining a FRN number from the FCC, notifying the FCC of tower construction, or filing FAA form 7460-1 to obtain a No Hazard Determination? If this process has not been started, the County's July 26 deadline may not be attainable due to bureaucratic processing times.

A: Lamar County has obtained this already.

Q: Have NEPA and similar environmental/historic surveys been conducted?

A: Yes

Q: Are there any other applicable site maps, construction drawings, or similar documents you can provide to bidders?

A: Site map has been posted.

Q: Are there any particular local requirements or permits contractors should be aware of?

A:unknown at this time.

Q: It states that the equipment is to be installed and tested prior to July 26, 2024. Current lead times for generators through various manufacturers are 24+ weeks at this standpoint and new shelter production is approximately 32+ weeks. Is there any exception given to that July 26th timeframe due to these constraints?

A:This date was set because of current grant requirements. Once bids are received an extension maybe possible per SOW.

Q:What size generator is required? Are we to provide conduit runs for electrical and telco into the building?

A:Generator should be 2200 KW. Shelter must provide ports for 8 COAX cables and (2)- 4 inch conduit runs to be later installed by Lamar County. Lamar County will run the telco into the building at a later date.

Q:Also, if exceptions for material procurement are allowed I would like to set up a site visit for later this week if possible.

A:The site map has been posted at: https://www.co.lamar.tx.us/page/lamar.BidPublications If you would like to set up a time for visit please let us know.

No exceptions for material procurement are allowed.

Your email response to me indicated that the Geotech report was attached, but it was not in the Answers pdf nor a separate attachment. Could you please resend that? Sent (this on the website at: https://www.co.lamar.tx.us/page/lamar.BidPublications

Q: You have stated that you do not want HVAC installed, but you want the shelter to be “ready” for it. Can you please confirm what this means? It is typical to provide HVAC installed on a prefabricated shelter such as this, but if you don’t want it now, we will need to know what you DO want provided. Shelter walls constructed so that you can knock out the concrete sections at some future point? A hole in the wall with a basic plywood (or similar) temporary cover if you plan to install them soon? HVAC controller? AC power wiring to the breaker panel? We would strongly recommend having them included in the scope since you would presumably need cooling in this location for a shelter with radio equipment inside, but ultimately that is the County/ATCOG’s decision, of course.

A: Lamar County plans to install a mini split unit at a later date.

Q:

Electrical service

a. Is the service going to be single phase or 3 phase?

A: Single phase

b. You have indicated in Addendum 1 that contractor is to “Provide and install 12’x8 Steel Reinforced empty building with prefab conduit into the building for later electric and HVAC installation” but your responses to my questions state that we are to install electrical equipment from the meter to the building & tower. Can you please clarify this discrepancy? We want to be sure we’re providing what you need, but not including more scope than other proposers will or our pricing will seem out of line.

A: Lamar county will be running paired wiring in the future to the emergency services building thus requiring (2) 4 inch conduits prepped to be ran to the new building. We will be installing the mini split unit later. We need power from the meter to the building breaker box to be included so the tower can be powered and lighted upon completion. All radio equipment will be installed at a later date.

c. Just a reminder that the FAA requires that the tower light be functional when the tower is erected, so electrical service will need to be in place at that time unless you have an alternative means of power in place.

A: Yes, we agree that is a requirement for this.

Q: Propane tank: are we to provide a concrete pad for the tank? What about piping from the tank to the generator?

A: No Concrete pad is needed. Lamar County will be using a local vendor to install the propane tank. We do need the wiring from the generator to the transfer switch.

Q: Addendum 1, in the Tower Specifications section, you state “Tower should accommodate any future loading beyond the specified (8) antennas and lighting kit, including microwave dishes, wave guides, and control station antennas.” Unfortunately, there is no way to accommodate “any future loading” as it can vary so widely. (Some contractors will assume “any” means 3 antennas, others could assume 15 – yielding very different structure costs.) We can provide an additional percentage of loading (i.e. an additional 25%, 50%, etc.), or we can use some assumptions regarding antenna types, sizes, quantities, and heights when doing the tower design. We would strongly recommend that the County/ATCOG provide more specific guidance on this to aid in your receiving apples to apples proposals. The final design can be modified upon award, but with some more specific guidance, you are at least assured all proposers are operating from the same expectations.

A: up to 30%