NF Wastewater Q A 9 Dec 08 Site visit.doc

Pre-proposal Site Visit, 9 December 2008 Water/Wastewater Distribution System

Niagara Falls ARS, PA Questions and Answers

1. Question: If the Renewals and Replacements (R&R) schedule shows a material price increase of 30%, does the Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) indices consider just that specific material? If not how does it calculate one significant price increase in relation to stability in other material?

Answer: No. It does not consider specific price increases because the EPA indices take an overall rate of inflation for the specified time period. We believe that the prices will average out over 50 years.

2. Question: Does the EPA adjustment also get included for the Labor inflation adjustment or is it only the wage determination?

Answer: The wage determination will not be used but the EPA indices will cover the labor inflation as well.

3. Question: Does the AF have a copy of the Net Present Value calculation tool that contractors can have a copy of?

Answer: The AF evaluation tool is a standard life cycle cost analysis. We are not able to release this tool to offerors because it contains inventory equipment replacement cost data that is based on copyrighted industry publications. Specifically, the main equipment cost publication is R. S. Means that is readily available to subscribers of this service.

4. Question: Does the Initial System Deficiency Corrections (ISDC) need to be completed during the Transition Period?

Answer: No. You should propose a schedule as to completion of the ISDCs.

Question: If doing an R&R, does the contract account for partial payments for R&R or ISDC’s (separate from monthly charge)?

Answer: No

5. Question: If Labor is above the wage determination how is this considered in the evaluation process?

Answer: Contractor may propose any reasonable rate (wage determination is used as a minimum). We will assess the proposed amount for reasonableness.

6. Question: Does the offerors proposal have to be below the Government Should Cost Estimate (GSCE) for an award to be made?

Answer: Yes.

7. Question: What is the government’s expectation for the length of the Transition period?

Answer: The contractor may propose any reasonable time period for the transition period but the Government has an average expectation of 120 days.

8. Question: Can an offeror propose for both the Water and Wastewater system allowing for price reductions overall?

Answer: Contractors may offer proposals for both the Water and Wastewater systems. However, each proposal has to stand alone and each of the proposals must be under the GSCE (applicable to each system). Please note that the water system at Niagara Falls has been postponed until further notice.

9. Question: Is there a schedule for Initial Capital Upgrades?

Answer: Attachment J1 (section J1.11 of the inventory) lists the ISDC’s the government believes are required for successful operation of the system. While we have identified in the inventory the ISDC’s necessary you are responsible for proposing any other Initial System Deficiency Corrections necessary for successful operation of the system in schedule 3 (Attachment J4).

10. Question: If the system is awarded for privatization who will be responsible for the effluent running through the wastewater system (Government or Contractor)? Who is responsible for spills?

Answer: The government would be responsible for paying the UP provider for utility services/legitimate claims relating to the UP provider's provision of utility services for the benefit of the government. For example, if the government lines were contaminated with hazardous waste, which in turn contaminated the wastewater pipes owned by the UP provider at the specific base, the UP provider would submit a claim to the Government for any required repairs/remediation and the government would be responsible for funding payment of the claim. It would then be up to the government to recoup these funds from the party responsible for causing the contamination.

11. Question: Are the Wastewater Treatment plants part of the privatization effort?

Answer: No.

12. Question: What is the average population of the base? (Specifically including the weekend duty by the Reserves and Guard personnel) Also do you anticipate any significant increase in personnel in the future?

Answer: Monday –Friday combined civilian population is 550 people. On a UTA weekend there are approximately 1200 Reservists and 1000 Guardsman (but not on the same weekend)

13. Question: Please provide an electronic copy of the easement agreement with NFTA.

Answer: See attachment for easement

14. Question: Please provide a copy of the pretreatment/discharge permit for discharge of sewage to the NCSD No.1

Answer: See attachment for copy of permit 15.

Question: Please provide a copy of the fire hydrant color standards

Answer: The base is currently in the process of changing to NFPA 24 standard colors for fire hydrants. New hydrants and repainting should comply with the NFPA color standard.

16. Question: Please provide an electronic copy of the potable water systems design for the 914 AW side of the facility that is referenced in the RFP.

Answer: The Niagara Falls water system is now on hold and being deferred from consideration for privatization until the new system is installed.

17. Question: Please provide a map of the premises.

Answer: Maps are available for review at the Technical Library.

18. Question: What is the anticipated maximum instantaneous GPM from the Wheatfield water supply source. This is needed for design of the chlorination system.

Answer: The Niagara Falls water system is now on hold and being deferred from consideration for privatization until the new system is installed.

19. Question: I saw no mention of facilities for contractor offices or for warehousing off parts and equipment. Please address the available locations and clarify if the contractor will need to construct their own facilities. Would trailers be allowed?

Answer: Contractor is responsible for providing their own office and warehouse space—trailers are acceptable. Contractors will be assigned land for trailer and materials.

20. Question: There was no mention of who would be responsible for payment of the water and sewer bills from the three suppliers and POTW. On other bases, the utilities have been billed directly to the base and not to the distribution system contractor. Please note the added risk to the contractor should the water supply rates increase above the index rate. This risk would be outside of the control of the contractor.

Answer: The base should continue to be billed directly for the water and sewer commodities.

21. Question: Will the contractor utilities such as electric, water and sewer be provided by the base or will they be metered separately?

Answer: The base will provide reasonable quantities of utilities in accordance with the current practice for construction contractors.

22. Question: Will the contractor be able to purchase fuel (diesel, gasoline) on base or will we have to provide our own tank or go off base to purchase fuel?

Answer: Contractor will have to purchase fuel off base.