QA Grounds Final.pdf

Questions Answers

1. In the PWS 1.1.3 Trim – It states that “All areas shall be trimmed concurrent with mowing”. In Appendix A – Grounds Description/Workload Estimates, Mowing is listed at 24-36 times in the growing season and trimming is listed as 12-16. Can you please explain how often the trimming is to be performed?

2. On the top of page 2 of Appendix A – Grounds Description/Workload Estimates, there is reference to “22 Acres” with no other information. Please tell us what this refers to.

3. We do not see CLINs to price Military Family Housing (MFH) items separately from the Main Base or Cantonment Areas (O & M).

Is the pricing of the MFH to be figured into the Cantonment (O and M) pricing?

Generally, housing is a separate pot of money and priced on its own as MFH and the cantonment areas priced as O & M.

4. I see there is 384,013 Square Feet of sidewalk snow removal. Can you tell me the width of the sidewalks so that we can bid the appropriate size of equipment for these sidewalks?

5. Lawn Renovation, Will we be required to sod these areas to be restored or is seeding acceptable?

Lawn Renovation, Will we be required to sod these areas to be restored or is seeding acceptable

1. The workload Appendix A estimate sheet is an estimate only not an exact number.

Typically during the active early growing season trimming is accomplished in concurrence with mowing. As the summer season a progress trimming in full concurrence with mowing reduces to maintain the turf height standards. To summarize trimming must be performed as necessary to meet the turf height standards for the specified area.

2. On the top of page 2 of Appendix A, 22 acres refers to ITEM #16 the surface acreage of the drainage ditches. The page cut off incorrectly.

3. The bid schedule provided is the standard bid schedule that will be utilized for contract bidding purposes. All areas (Base-Side, Hospital, and MFH) are combined in the current bid schedule CLINS.

4. The sidewalk width on base varies between 3' and 20', approximately 90% of sidewalk footage is in the 3' or 4' range. Some sidewalks and entrances to facilities are large concrete areas. The sidewalk map Appendix B attachment 7 highlights the areas where sidewalk snow removal is required.

5. PWS Paragraph 1.1.9. Lawn Renovation.

The Contractor shall renovate lawns in improved grounds as identified by the COR.

This work will be issued via a separate work order. Renovate deteriorated lawn area to match surrounding areas. We do not stipulate the method of renovation used by the contractor only that the end result is to match the surrounding turf.

6. Regarding the snow areas found in the attachments it is listed at 384,013 sq ft of snow, but measurements of the roads and the number is close to 10 times that. I wanted to make sure that just that number of square feet is the amount to be mowed as it will certainly change our numbers.

7. The highlighted areas around the military housing show what appear to be common areas but nothing directly surrounding the homes? Are we to assume that only the highlighted areas are to be included and that areas directly surrounding the homes are maintained by other?

8. The Oil Companies drilling for oil in ND are taking jobs because of the high wages they are paying, has or will retaining a labor force been a concern for this requirement?

9. Paragraph 1.1.2. During the site visit your government representative stated and stressed that (crack-grass) is highly monitored and that hard surfaces are to be maintained free of vegetation at all times. You have only 6 annual events for this service to be accomplished! What happens in between servicing events if all 6 events are fully accomplished and the growing season still produces un-wanted vegetation within area of responsibility?

10. Paragraph 1.1.2. Your quantity in the Appendix A item 2 totals 154 acres the map indicates you are not including housing areas, you include streets, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots and areas of main base only correct!

6. Section 1.6 of the PWS explains the standards and requirements for snow removal on the Sidewalks. Appendix A shows the estimated amount of sidewalk square footage at 384,013 SF, and Appendix B attachment 7 is the map of the sidewalks where snow removal is currently required.

7. Only the highlighted areas as identified on the map in Appendix B Attachment 1 are to be mowed as part of this contract. Current estimated acreage is identified in Appendix A as 560 acres Improved, 263 Acres Semi- Improved and 973 Acres Unimproved grounds.

8. Check Page 63 of 131 in the original solicitation SF 1449 for local area labor conditions under the heading LOCAL AREA.

9. See the unit of issue of the CLIN. Unit of issue is 6 Months, not Each.

10. See Map Appendix, Attachment 2 for identified areas.

11. Paragraph 1.12. Edge your map indicates

13,609 ln ft at 18 different bldg locations with

6 annual events is this correct?

12. Paragraph 1.1.4.2. If a pump/controller is damaged, will the prohibition stated in paragraph 1.1.4.1 be waived to allow the contractor to maintain the health of turf without additional unknown costs?

13. Paragraph 1.1.4.2. During the site visit it was indicated that the Hospital/Clinic lawn is the only area requiring this service. How many total systems are there at the hospital/clinic that requires maintenance?

Paragraph 1.1.4.2. What are the sizes of each individual system? Paragraph 1.1.1.4. The requirement is too ambiguous on actual repair/replacement of broken, damaged, or non-working worn out items of automated systems. Paragraph 1.1.4. & 1.1.4.2. The automated systems are property of the Government/Minot AFB. In the event materials (parts) are needed to perform any needed repair will you the Government reimburses the contractor of all needed materials, specialized equipment, and labor?

11. See the unit of issue of the CLIN. Unit of issue is 6 Months, not Each.

12. In the event of a occurring maintenance or repair action that may affect the operation of the irrigation system while the repair is pending, the contractor would be allowed to provide and attach watering hoses to any available spickets or hydrants as long as the proper hose bib or backflow prevention devices are included and attached.

13. The irrigation system at the hospital is 1 system consisting of 15 zones and an estimated 375 sprinkler heads to irrigate 6 acres of turf. The control box is located inside the hospital maintenance shop and a schematic drawing showing the layout of the zones is hanging on the wall. There are no pumps used with the system just water pressure. The control/timer box is a "Rain

Bird" digital timer model ESP-LX Modular to use when programming time for each of the

15 zone valves. The zone valves are operated by solenoid connected to the digital controller. Responsibilities include draining system dry in the fall and filling pressurizing system in spring. Past history of routine maintenance is to replace approximately 5 sprinkler heads each season and patch a damaged 3/4" to 2" pvc line every couple of years.

14. Paragraph 1.1.5.1. The protocols need to be provide with the solicitation not after award for the contractor to evaluate the procedure via; costing materials/labor time.

15. Paragraph 1.1.6. You state that leaf removal is to be a part of policing as well, as leaf is indentified on appendix B 6 annual events annual, how do you anticipate you’ll issue a work order as you have stated in the

SOW.

16. Paragraph 1.1.8. Addresses the contractor's responsibilities for an Integrated Pest Management Plan for improved grounds;

is this service to include all trees/shrubs etc in these areas as well as grass areas?

14. According to the base Pest Management representative, the protocol for disposing of dead animals on base is to use gloves and double bag any dead animals and place into nearest trash dumpster. Any dogs, Cats or family pets that contain a collar tag, it's advised to call the Law Enforcement Desk on base to contact the owner. The majority of dead animals are road kill rodents or rabbits.

Unusual situations should be brought to the attention of the COR for further advisement.

15. The work request to remove leaves will occur in the fall months for the areas identified on the Appendix B map. The estimated workload is defined in Appendix A item #7 as 20 acres with 3 occurrences.

16. The current requirement includes only the grass turf areas surrounding the hospital as identified on the Appendix B attachment 3 map.

17. Paragraph 1.4. Appendix B map indentifies 24 map 15 are indicating the contractors areas of responsibilities for both Rock beds and Bedding areas by issuance of work order 12 events annually. You need to provide anticipated fertilizations, mulching, plant replacements, and plant varieties w/sizes. Also what type of flowers do you want planted/installed? If a contractor plants a variety and you the Government does not agree with their selection you have an issue/problem! It was noticed during the site visit that Marigolds where in place in a couple of planters, but as prospecting bidders we do not know if that is the commonly desired or used variety. For costing this clarification is needed! Also in the appendix B attachment 6 you have 6 locations where flowers are to be planted and maintained totaling 760 flowers annually one time. Do anticipate more than one planting annually above the 760 plants listed at the 6 locations?

18. Paragraph 1.6.1. Snow removal of sidewalks in conjunction with street snow removal can become troublesome, as cleaning the walks sometimes the only place to push or clear it is into the street, and the street workers push it back onto the walks. You state there are accumulations points for excessive snowfall and to be identified by COR these points need to be provided to the contractor for costing purposes when or if excessive removal or hauling becomes required for the stated areas.

17. Appendix B (Attachment 6-1) estimates a total of 880 flowers to be planted 1 time per season for the 6 flowering areas, and as long as the flowers are kept healthy no additional plantings will be necessary. Types of flowers planted are of the low cost variety(marigolds, petunias, begonias, geraniums, etc.) and is left to the contractors decision, although certain colors are recommended for a few areas.

Each spring the COR will inform the contractor of types and colors to be planted.

Appendix B (Attach 6-1) also identifies

37,746 SF of landscape beds and 11,485 SF of rock beds. No plants are contained in the rock bed areas. Tree and shrub plants contained within the landscape beds will require pruning each growing season, and any dead plants will be replaced with a similar low maintenance indigenous type, and will require fertilizing and watering to establish growth. The landscape & rock beds on base also require monitoring for weed removal 2 times per month.

18. The contract requires snow to be cleared from sidewalks and pushing or blowing of snow onto streets or parking lots is not permitted. Snow removal clearing of streets and parking lots will be accomplished by other government heavy equipment and takes priority over sidewalk clearing operations. In the event of unusual amounts of snow, the COR will provide the contractor with a area of disposal on base and the contactor will be required to transport snow to the area in order to provide room for future sidewalk clearing operations.

19. Paragraph 1.6.1.1 Removal of ice can the contractor use chemicals for se of melting the ice in lieu of sand, as sand does not actually make ice melt and clear off to provide sound for traction for pedestrians from the hard surfaces during cold winter temperatures staying consistently below the freezing point?

20. Is there a page limitation for this section of the proposal (Technical Proposal – Logistics Plan)? Will the Government require a specific format, i.e. - minimum font size and line spacing?

21. I have reviewed Amendment 4 that was issued and need clarification listed under, II.

Specific Instructions, A. Technical Proposal on page 3, letter d, shown below. In reading this the Technical Proposal is limited to 2 pages.

Should this be listed as a requirement for Past Performance? Thank you for your assistance.

19. The use of chemicals would be allowed in limited quantities. All chemicals will require approval from the 5CEs Environmental Dept prior to use.

20. See Amendment 5 Addendums to 52.212- 1 and 52.212-2 for the page limitation on the Technical Proposal Logistics Plan.

21. No, as per addendums 52.212-1 and 52.212-2, the Technical Proposal Logistics Plan is limited to two pages. Not the Past Performance. There should be no additional information on Past Performance provided by the Offeror other than completing Attachment 4 which will demonstrate compliance with Recency and Relevancy.