13. YXTK 13-1806 Jade Creek (20231115) Govt Responses.pdf

Question & Answer

Solicitation: FA252123B0008

Project Number: YXTK 13-1806 Repair Electrical Distribution Lines

Feeder 5, AAAF

Contractor Name: Jade Creek Construction, LLC

POC: Hersel Myer, 703.766.6813 / Joel J. Gonzalez, 571.323.5200

1. IFB Section 01 00 00 Paragraph 1.6.2

SOW/Technical Specification/Drawings paragraph/page Page 6 Construction Area Access and

Control

Other (Specify) ___________________________

Question: Contractors without designated storage area, field office and parking for equipment will be assigned a designated area big enough for material storage, field office and parking.

Please advise the location and size of the ’designated area’.

Government Response: Desired location will be the responsibility of the construction contractor to identify for Government review and approval. All efforts will be made to accommodate the requested location and size.

2. IFB Section 01 00 00 Paragraph 1.17.1

SOW/Technical Specification/Drawings paragraph/page Page 9

Other (Specify) ___________________________

Question:

Article 2 of Section C of the RFP states that the period of performance is 660 days after receipt of the NTP which aligns with the 2nd paragraph of FAR 52.211-10 of Section I which requires completion of the work ready for use not later than 660 calendar days post NTP. However, Paragraph 1.17.1 of Specification 01 00 00 specifies that the length of time between the issuance of an NTP and the completion of work will not exceed 357 days and that on-site construction will not exceed 297 days.

Please reconcile this apparent discrepancy.

Government Response: Correct in the identification between the two period of performance timeframes exist within the documents. The number of days identified in Specification Section

01 00 00, Para 1.17.1 did not take into account the variable logistical timeframes associated with shipment of material from Port Canaveral to Ascension Island utilizing the contracted vessel that is limited to 5 sailings per calendar year. Further review by the Government determined that it was appropriate to increase the total period of performance from the stated 357 days to 660 days.

The stated on site period of performance of 297 should still be used as the basis for direct costs associated with on site performance. The Government will consider a no-cost revision to the period of performance to account for lead time and shipping if necessary, under the conditions of an excusable delay (FAR 52.24-10, Default (Fixed Price Construction)).

3. IFB Section 01 74 19 Paragraph _________

SOW/Technical Specification/Drawings paragraph/page ___________

Other (Specify) ____________________

Question:

Paragraph 1.2 of Specification 01 74 19 requires that a minimum of 60% by weight of the project construction waste and demolition debris be diverted from the landfill.

Since the preponderance of waste debris will consist of the removed 141 wooden poles, what should be the disposition of the wooden poles? Burn? Landfill? Stack for future use? There will also be other debris such as excess concrete and formwork, electric and communication wire/cable, wooden pole hardware, road asphalt, etc. Are any of these materials to be salvaged or are they to be disposed of in the landfill?

Government Response: None. All waste debris will be disposed of locally in the landfill.

4. IFB Section 03 30 00 Paragraph 1.6.6.1 Quality Manager Qualifications

SOW/Technical Specification/Drawings paragraph/page Page 11

Other (Specify) ___________________________

Question: Is the QCM required to have a PE license?

Government Response: Yes

5. IFB Section 03 30 00 Paragraph 2.5.1.J

SOW/Technical Specification/Drawings paragraph/page Page 15

Other (Specify) ___________________________

Question: Are we required to utilize red dye/orange dye for all electric/communication duct bank or are we allowed to just use warning tape?

Government Response: Top of ductbanks must be clearly marked in red/orange for all electric/communication ductbanks.

6. IFB Section ______ Paragraph _____

SOW/Technical Specification/Drawings paragraph/page Enlarged Plan View T C-103

Other (Specify) Facility 12240

Question:

The provided drawing does not account for the concrete roads and infrastructure inside the POL facility, it only shows the building 12240 and where the new underground communication lines are going.

Can the government provide as-built drawings, and will they provide a utility location service to assist in the location of all the underground piping and electric lines within this area? (Note: it appears that much of the piping in the area consists of gas and diesel pipelines).

Government Response: Locates will be done by the Government prior to the start of construction. Reference informational drawings incorporated as Attachment 18 and Attachment

19.

7. IFB Section 03 30 00 Paragraph 1.5.1

SOW/Technical Specification/Drawings paragraph/page Note 2 of Drawing C-001

Other (Specify) ___________________________

Question:

Paragraph 1.5.1 of Specification 03 30 00 and Note 2 of Drawing C-001 requires ‘cast-in-place’ concrete reinforcement to be ChromX (ASTM 615, Grade 75) reinforcing bars while Paragraph

1.5.1 of Specification 03 30 00, Note 3 of Drawing C-001, and Paragraph 2.3.2 of Specification

33 71 01.00 requires (prestressed/deformed) reinforcing bars (ASTM 614, Grade 60) for the concrete utility poles. No material designation (e.g., carbon steel, stainless steel, ChromeX) is specified for the concrete utility pole reinforcing steel.

Please advise the material characteristics of the reinforcing steel for the concrete utility poles.

Government Response: Per specification 03 30 00, provide cast-in-place concrete pads with

ChromeX reinforcement for all concrete placed on Ascension. Precast concrete, fabricated state side, can use ASTM A615, Grade 60 reinforcement.

8. IFB Section: Article 8 of Section C of the RFP Paragraph ___

SOW/Technical Specification/Drawings paragraph/page ____

Other (Specify) ___________________________

Question:

Article 8 of Section C of the RFP states that certain items will be provided by the Government at no additional cost to the construction contractor. That statement is further defined in part by

Article 8.1 which states that Government vehicles & equipment on AAAF are available for use on a non-interference basis. Paragraph 1.4.2 of Specification 01 00 00 further defines station

(Government) equipment availability as being very limited and that the Contractor should be prepared to provide all required equipment needed for the various placement processes. As such, it is our understanding that while Government equipment may be available of use by the construction Contractor at no cost, such use will usually be intermittent in short durations and that the Contractor cannot and should not depend on that equipment being available at any particular time or for any extended duration.

Please confirm

Government Response: Correct. Specification 01 00 00, Para 1.4.2. shall take precedence and will need to be followed for the purposes of contract performance, whereas all equipment shall be furnished by the construction contractor. Access to Government equipment will be very limited. The areas identified as station support furnished through the base support contractor

(ABOS / Yang Enterprises) areas are:

-Transport of concrete poles from the material staging area to the installation locations

-#57 Stone for concrete (local aggregate)

-Red Hill Fill (local fill material. mining and stockpiling only)

An alternative approach may be to contact the Asension Island Government for availability of equipment. That arrangement is at the discretion of the construction contractor and is made directly between the construction contractor and AIG. Their resources are limited for outsourcing. Contact for AIG is Kitty George, Shipping and Operations Officer, kitty.george@ascension.gov.ac

9. IFB Section ____ Paragraph ____

SOW/Technical Specification/Drawings paragraph/page E-003

Other (Specify) ___________________________

Question:

Note 2 states “TERMINATE NEW FIBER TO EXISTING FIBER OPTIC PATCH PANELS IN

EACH FACILITY.” Can we get the make and model of these units, or shall we provide?

Government Response: Contractor responsibility to identify

10. IFB Section ____Paragraph ____

SOW/Technical Specification/Drawings paragraph/page Div 27 2.2.1

Other (Specify) ___________________________

Question:

Is the replacement cable attic stock to be turned over?

Government Response: Reference SF 1442, Section C, Para 9, Excess Material. Contractor shall turn over all excess material using the DD Form 1149. Turn over will be coordinated through the Contracting Officer.

11. IFB Section __________ Paragraph _________

SOW/Technical Specification/Drawings paragraph/page _C-502

Other (Specify) ___________________________

Question:

Please confirm what size communication Hand Holes are required.

Government Response: Communication handholes shall be a minimum of 4’x 4’ x 4’

12. IFB Section __________ Paragraph _________

SOW/Technical Specification/Drawings paragraph/page C-502

Other (Specify) ___________________________

Question:

It was observed on the site visit that there were several guy anchor blocks laying on top of the ground. Per the guy anchored detail, are these to be buried, or can they be located as needed to achieve proper tensioning?

Government Response: Guy anchors may be installed as required provided all proposed guy anchors and medium voltage cabling are tensioned in accordance with Specification Section 33

71 01.00 40 Section 2.2.2 and Section 1.3.2 Sag and Tension Calculations.

If above grade anchorage is proposed, ensure the engineer of record for the pole is in agreement with the method of anchoring and that the location of the proposed anchor does not conflict with or obstruct existing to remain infrastructure or pathways and is not located within five-feet or a buried utility.

13. IFB Section __________ Paragraph _________

SOW/Technical Specification/Drawings paragraph/page E-001

Other (Specify) Grounding Note

Question:

Can the new sea ground be routed atop the ground and routed U/G at road crossings? Please confirm the size of the existing sea ground conductor.

Government Response: Grounding general note 4 pertains to when ground conductor is installed under roads or designated areas called out in the drawings. Flag note 7 on sheet E-410 is an example of new #4/0 AWG sea ground conductor is installed on top of soil.

14. IFB Section __________ Paragraph _________

SOW/Technical Specification/Drawings paragraph/page C-501

Other (Specify) General Notes

Question:

Multiple communications and electrical raceway sizes are noted throughout the details and drawing notes. Please confirm 5” PVC is an acceptable raceway size for use for both communications and electrical systems on this project.

Government Response: Sheet E-001, Electrical General Note 3 states all new MV underground ducts are 6-inches trade size.

For communication, UFC requirement is for a minimum of 4” and is the design intent; however, this is a minimum and if 5” facilitates constructability it is acceptable.

15. IFB Section __________ Paragraph _________

SOW/Technical Specification/Drawings paragraph/page E-101

Other (Specify) Flag Note 1

Question:

All direct buried communications cable is to be removed. Can the Government provide an estimated as to how much is U/G and approximately how deep?

Government Response: Design team believes there is direct buried communications at the following locations:

- From existing HH-11 at Catherine Point Road and Gannet Road Junction to Facility 12240 at

RAF POL site and SURE Facility.

- From existing pole 52A at command control to Facility 12225

- From existing pole 72 to Facility 41011

- From MH-53 to Facility 16545

16. IFB Section __________ Paragraph _________

SOW/Technical Specification/Drawings paragraph/page ___________

Other (Specify) __Sales Tax_________________

Question: _ Please confirm whether Offerors should include 7% sales tax on material.______________________________________________________________________

Government Response: The Import-Export clause of the U.S. Constitution and Florida Statue

212.06 is applicable with the material/equipment used for this requirement having a final destination of Ascension Island, which is outside the U.S. Application of this immunity is ultimately the decision of the construction contractor. The requirements that must be met are listed below and are responsibility of the construction contractor to ensure fulfillment.

In order to use this immunity from tax, documentation must establish that property was committed to the export process at the time of sale or import, and that the process remained continuous and unbroken until the property leaves Florida. It is important that proper documentation be maintained reflecting:

1. Identify the property sold;

2. Identify the delivery destination of the property;

3. Establish that the property was not commingled with the mass of property in Florida;

4. Document that the property was committed to the exportation process at the time of sale; and,

5. Document that the exportation process is continuous and unbroken until the property is exported from Florida