Pre-bid_QA_FA4418-17-R-0003_11_Jan.pdf

1. Specification 01 45 00.00 20.1.4.1.5.4, Registered Fire Protection Engineer. Is it acceptable for a company that has qualified Fire Protection Engineers on staff as part of its design and quality team to waive the requirement to employ a “third party” entity to provide the same service?

Per Spec 01 45 00.00 20, para 1.4.1.5.4, the Fire Protection Engineer (FPE) shall be an independent third party. This means the FPE cannot be on the staff of the contractor or the subcontractor.

2. Site visit. During the site visit reference was made to a section of underground pipe, indicated on new construction drawings, that has already been installed. Comment indicated this information would be revised and provided in an Amendment. Please confirm this and indicate exactly what location of pipe was referenced.

An addendum is being prepared, deleting the existing new underground fire main between the southwest corner of building 700 and the 20" PVC stub out and plug that can be found approximately 70 feet from the north east corner of building 551, and 70 feet from the south east corner of building 700. This will be incorporated in a forthcoming

Addendum

3. Site visit. The existing fire pump room is in general poor condition (i.e. broken windows, paint, etc.). Is there any renovation work to this existing building that must be included in our scope of work?

The interior of building 516 is to be demolished. See drawing SB-102, view #1, "Building 516 Demolition Plan," the "General Notes" on that drawing, drawing FP-101

"Demolition Notes," View #1 "Fire Pump Demolition," View #2 "Existing Underground to Demo/Abandon" and drawing FP-102, "Fire Pump General Notes," item #20, and drawing E-102, "General Demolition Notes," items 1-17. However, no mention is made of replacing windows or interior/exterior painting. This will be incorporated in a forthcoming Addendum

4. Specification 01 50 00.2.1.3.b. Fencing. This specification addresses the “enclose the project work area…with an 8 foot high chain link fence…”. Please review this, enclosing the full work area for a utility project would be impractical. This clause may be NOT

APPLICABLE.

Spec 01 50 00, para 2.1.3 b addresses the need to block (screen) public view of the actual construction taking place. The construction areaencompasses approximately 5,000 linear feet, however, contractor will only be working on and will have a laydown area for a small portion of that length atany one time. Contractor is to provide a fence to block the immediate area where he is working. This means contractor will be responsible for installing/ removing/re-installing/removing/re-installing the section of fence where he is working as he goes along. No fence is required (to screen) that section of the construction area that has been completed.

5. Construction spoils. Is there a location on site for disposal of excavated construction spoils, or must it be transported off site for disposal?

Spec 01 50 00, paragraph 3.7: "Remove construction debris, waste materials, packaging material and the like from the work site daily."

6. Specification 33 16 15, Water Storage Steel Tanks, Paragraph 3.1 Foundations.

Specification 00 31 26, Information Available to Proposers, Paragraph 1.1.1.2

Geotechnical Report. Drawing SB-101, Storage Tank Foundation. The Water Storage

Tank specification references a 4-inch thick concrete base with 6-inch thickend edge.

This is to be installed with earthquake drains and drain pipes (the Geotechnical Report letter of Feb. 20, 2012 is referenced). The Feb. 20, 2012 letter in the Geotechnical Report appears to eliminate driven piles in favor of a shallow foundation and earthquake drains.

Drawing SB-101 shows driven piles. Drawing SB-101, note 4, references Geotechnical

Report dated 1-30-2012 and letter 2-20-2012, but the drawing makes no mention of earthquake drains. The tank foundation design information found in the specifications, Geotechnical Report, and on drawing SB-101 appears to be conflicting and inconsistent.

Please review and advise which information and detail will apply. Will driven piles be a requirement, or may they be eliminated as suggested in the Feb. 20, 2012 letter?

Driven piles are required in drawing SB-101, and earthquake drains are required in

Section 33 16 15, para 3.1.1 and the Feb 20, 2012 letter.

7. Specification 31 62 13.20 Precast / Prestressed Concrete Piles and Drawing SB-101. If driven piles are not required, will this specification be removed from the RFP?

Driven piles are specified in drawing SB-101.

8. Specification 33 16 15, Water Storage Steel Tanks. Paragraph 3.6 clearly states “Bolted tanks are not permitted on this project.” We have been contacted by vendors wishing to quote bolted tanks. Please confirm that bolted tanks will not be allowed.

Bolted tanks are not permitted on this project.

9. Specification 33 16 15, Water Storage Steel Tanks. Paragraph 2.1.4.5 Cathodic

Protection does not provide any specification for the type or design of cathodic protection required. The Project Table of Contents includes a reference under Division 26 –

Electrical to Specification 26 42 15.00 10 Cathodic Protection System (Steel Water

Tanks), but this specification section has not been included in the RFP. Please review this and provide the appropriate information.

A new specification: "Cathodic Protection System (Steel Water Tanks)" will be added to the project on the addendum. This will be incorporated in a forthcoming Addendum

10. Specification 33 16 15, Water Storage Steel Tanks. Paragraph 2.1.8 Lightning Resistance.

Is it the intent that the water storage tanks be grounded?

Yes.

11. Specification 33 16 15, Water Storage Steel Tanks. Paragraphs 2.2.1.4 and 2.2.1.6 appear to require redundant accessories. Is it the intent to require both a 360-degree handrail and a 180-degree catwalk, or just one or the other? Please confirm.

Spec 33 16 15, para 2.2.1.4 states: "The ladder for each tank shall be oriented or installed in close proximity to each other, to allow maintenancetechnicians easy access to (the ladder on ) either tank." Para 2.2.1.6 states: "Install a 24" wide steel walkway, extending from the (upper end of the) ladder completely across the top of the tank."

Para 2.2.1.4.1 states: "A 42" high guardrail shall be installed completely around the perimeter of each tank dome..." Both the walkway across the dome of the tank and the guardrail around the perimeter of the dome are specified.

12. Specification 33 16 15, Water Storage Steel Tanks. Paragraph 1.2.5.3 Tank Bottom and

Chime. Please review the requirement for the use of Polyguard or similar on the bottom of the tank. This reference appears to be to the bottom steel resting against the tank foundation. This would not be feasible after welding the roughly 30 foot diameter tank base.

Tanks are to be fully assembled, welded and cooled prior to installation of the Polyguard material.

13. Specification 33 16 15, Water Storage Steel Tanks. Paragraph 2.2.1.1 Pipe Connections.

This section states the outlet pipe will extend 24" above the tank bottom. Section 1.2.3

Welded Steel Reservoir or Tank-States the reservoir shall have a storage capacity of

150,000 gallons. The 24" below the outlet will not be usable. Is the 24" below the outlet included or not included to make the 150,000 gallons?

150,000 gallons is the usable capacity of each tank.

14. Specification 33 16 15, Water Storage Steel Tanks. Paragraph 1.2.3 Welded Steel

Reservoir or Tank. This section states the reservoir shall have a shell height and diameter as will meet the requirements for the 150,000 gallon capacity. Does the diameter have to remain 28'-6" or can it be adjusted to meet the capacity requirements?

Diameter should remain 28' 6."

15. Specification 33 16 15, Water Storage Steel Tanks. Paragraph 2.2.1.4.1 Guardrail around

Top of Each Tank and Section 2.2.1.6 Roof Walkway. These sections state utilizing 1.5" steel pipe for handrails. Can an angle iron and flatbar constructed handrail be utilized in lieu of a pipe handrail? These sections state a 4 1/2" toe-board to be used. Can a 4" flat bar be used and set at 1/4" above the 1/4" thick steel raised diamond plate?

1.5 inch diameter steel pipe should be used for the guardrail and the roof walkway. The toe-board can be 4" flat bar, set at 1/4" above the diamond plate.

16. Specification 33 16 15, Water Storage Steel Tanks. Paragraph 2.2.1.6 Roof Walkway. Is the walkway to match the curvature of the roof or be level?

Walkway is to be level.

17. Specification 33 16, Water Storage Steel Tanks. Paragraph 1.2.5 calls for certification to

“either ISO 9001 or SSPC QF1 [QP1] and AAPC QS1…”. This wording is awkward.

Please clear up the intent. Is certification to SSPC QP1 an acceptable qualification for this project?

Specification 33 16 15, para 1.2.5, first sentence, after SSPC QF 1 the word "and" will be changed to "or" in the addendum. This will be incorporated in a forthcoming

18. Specification 33 16, Water Storage Steel Tanks. Paragraph 1.2.5 calls for slurry blast of all surfaces to SSPC SP10 standard. It is difficult to obtain and keep an SSPC SP10 blast using wet blasting, especially on the interior of the tank, even while using a rust inhibitor.

Will dry blasting be acceptable if the tank is scaffolded and contained?

Dry blasting is acceptable, however that method will incur more dust, so additional containment must be provided to keep the dust from leaking out of the contained area.

19. Specification 33 16, Water Storage Steel Tanks. Paragraphs 1.2.5.2 and 3.5.4 list conflicting coatings for the tank surfaces. Can the exterior system and interior systems be clarified?

Spec 33 16 15, para 3.5.4 will be deleted. This will be incorporated in a forthcoming