Attachment_7_-_Questions_and_Answers.docx

Pre-Proposal Offeror Questions and Government Responses QJVF 07-6017, Install MAF Cable Fence

FA4528-16-R-0002

2 March 2016

DRAWINGS:

1. From the Site Fence Plans drawings sheet # 2, 3 and 4, can you please verify that the new cable barrier quantities called out in each Fence Plane Area Detail is the quantity we need to propose pricing for.

A: Linear Feet measurements on Sheets 2,3, and 4 are for a single strand.

2. In Section 2.3 and section 2.3.1 it mentions contractor responsible for all permits and fees. What permits may be required for this project?

A: If the area of disturbed soil per site is greater than an acre, a stormwater construction permit is needed.

3. At each site will there be room to store materials, vehicles, and equipment, and a concrete washout area?

A: There will be space onsite for materials, small pieces of equipment, and/or a trailer but no vehicles. Concrete washout shall be provided by Contractor.

4. Will a stand-alone crash rated cable barrier behind the fence be acceptable?

A: No.

5. What crash rating is required for the cable barrier?

A: K4P2

6. Is it possible to get pictures of the gates, and gate locking mechanism?

A: Pictures will be uploaded with answers of offeror questions.

7. It was mentioned that the current fence line posts are not set in concrete, can that be verified?

A: No line posts are set in concrete.

8. Will there be any clearing or grubbing, grading be required, such as tree removal?

A: No.

9. The approach to the facility is a fast straight approach; will a vehicle barrier be required to be installed behind the front gate? If so what crash rating?

A: Yes, see sheet C-5, details 1/6 and 2/6.

10. What is the current gate locking mechanism? I did not see any specs for a gate locking mechanism.

A: No work is to be done on the gate lock except repositioning.

11. Is there a maximum haul time requirement for the concrete?

A: 90 minutes.

12. What is the minimum and maximum penetration distance requirement for the cable barrier?

A: See question #5.

13. In regards to the electrical for the gate locking mechanism, will a new panel/breaker be required to be installed inside the FSC Office 101 Control Board?

A: Per Revision 1, no wires to be pulled from, or work accomplished in, FSC office.

14. Is there any spare conduits, we can use to pull the new wire from the gate to the FSC Office 101 Control Board? Or will existing conduit be used?

A: See question #13.

15. Will we have to excavate a new trench for the conduit and wire from the gate to the FSC Office 101 Control board?

A: See question #13.

16. What will the requirements be for any asphalt patch back?

A: No asphalt work is included in this project.

17. Can we get the distance at each location from the gate to the FSC Office 101 Control board?

A: See question #13.

18. What are the requirements for controlling the gate from inside the FSC Office 101 Control Board, such as push button controls, or key pad?

A: See question #13.

19. What are the power requirements, and wire requirements for the gate locking mechanism?

A: See question #13.

20. Is a temporary lay down yard, with temporary fencing acceptable outside of each facility?

A: See question #3.

21. Are contractors required to have a TERO license for sites on the reservation?

A: No.

22. Are contractors required to obtain a performance or cash surety bond?

A: IAW FAR clause 52.228-15, performance and payment bonds will be required.

23. Is there an order the sites need to be completed in?

A: No.

24. Can the site superintendent perform QC duties or is a separate QC Manager required?

A: A separate QC Manager is not required.

25. Does the contractor need an MAF inspector and an EAL to work outside the gate, or are those requirements only engaged when entering the gate?

A: Inspector/Escort is required at all times, EAL only required for work inside fence.

26. Is there a maximum time the gate can be without electronic locking capability?

A: Electronic lock must be functional at the end of each work day.

27. Are there restrictions on when contractor can be modifying the gate, either in the open or closed position?

A: No.

28. Can contractor be working multiple sites, inside the fence or outside the fence (if there are fewer requirements for working outside the fence)?

A: The contractor can only work at one site at a time.

29. The relevancy requirements for past performance projects indicate a 36.5M contract threshold. Please indicate if that is a typo, and if the 36.5M applies to the NAISC code. In that case, what is the threshold for contract relevancy?

A: IAW Section M of the solicitation; the relevancy threshold is $500,000.00.

30. The site plans are diagrammatical only, with no dimensions where cable fence is terminated near lagoons. Is the contractor required to put in the approximate quantity in those cases, or how are the termination points determined with respect to the listed approximate quantity?

A: The approximate quantity listed is the minimum length of a single strand of cable to be installed at each site.

31. Regarding details 1 and 3 on sheet 5, can the deadmen be used to anchor fence in both directions? I.e. can deadman B in detail 3 have two sets of cable termination, or is another deadman required?

A: Another deadman is required – see revised details.

32. Is the location of an i-beam post critical in relation to deadmen, corners, or terminations?

A: No, as long as I-beam spacing requirements are met.

33. Can USPS addresses or coordinates be given for the sites?

A: Location information (Sec/Twp/Range and 911 addresses) has been provided to 5 CONS.

34. What size wire is to be used for the gate latches and are we to assume we can use the existing conduit for the new wire?

A: Maximum wire size is 12 AWG. Existing wire between FSC office and lock to remain, new wire for lock relocation requires new conduit.

35. How long are the wire pulls?

A: See question #13.

36. Bollards are required for outside corners, will they be required for inside corners.

A: No.

37. Do bollards and W beams have to be primed and painted complete or just the exposed 4’?

A: Below grade only needs prime coat, above grade requires paint.

38. Since this project involves fencing work at several remote sites, will the government (Owner) consider allowing the use of a storage area (laydown yard) at Minot AFB for the storage of material and equipment?

A: No storage area will be provided on Minot AFB.

39. Will the Owner make arrangements for the underground utility survey at each site?

A: Contractor will be provided an AF Form 103 at the Pre-con meeting to arrange utility locates.

40. Will the Owner provide water and electricity at each site?

A: Yes.

41. As per the pre-bid conference last week, can the Owner provide photographs of various site conditions noted on the job walk?

A: Pictures will be uploaded with answers to offerors questions.

42. Will the list of pre-bid attendees be posted to FedBiz?

A: No.

43. Sheet 5 of 6:Detail 8/5- Do the anchor plates and U bolts need to be stainless steel?

A: All details have been changed to galvanized hardware.

44. Detail 5/5- Does the anchor plate need to be welded in place then galvanized?

A: See question #43.

45. Sheet 6 of 6: NOTES below DETAIL 6/4 and 5/6 state wire rope to be black vinyl coated? Please clarify.

A: Note has been removed.

46. DETAIL 11/6- States that the U bolts are to be galvanized, please clarify.

A: See question #43.

SOLICITATION:

47. Pages 1 (11) and 5 (52.211-10) - Can you clarify how the winter exclusion affects the 365-day performance period?

A: The winter exclusion dates are not included in the 365 day period of performance.

48. Page 3 - Are we to fill in the NET AMOUNT or is there a price schedule?

A: The offeror will need to provide both. The total amount should be entered in Section B under CLIN 0001, and the Construction Cost Breakdown (Attachment 6) should be submitted in accordance with pg. 39 of the solicitation.

49. Page 16 (52.228-1 (c) - Will the Owner consider lowering the bid guarantee to 10% in lieu of the listed 20%?

A: The bid guarantee will remaing 20% in accordance with Federal Statute.

50. I see where a 20% bid bond is required but it does not specify any performance bond. Am I to assume that it only needs to be at 20% like the bid bond or is it not required?

A: Payment and Performance Bonds need to be 100% of the proposed amount.

51. Are the funds available for this project?

A: Funds are not presently available see Section L of the solicitation for more information.

SPECIFICATIONS:

52. Page 2, 3.1 - Does the Owner foresee the requirement for any major traffic control?

A: Only traffic control will be required for vehicles entering/exiting the MAF.

53. Page 9, 3 .15 - Is the interpretation of this state that Fridays are not considered normal working days?

A: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Federal Holidays are non-work days.

GENERAL:

54. Will the Owner require Environmental and Storm Water Program Permits? If so, can you provide the estimated fees for such permits?

A: If the area of disturbed soil is under an acre per site the contractor will not need to pursue a construction stormwater permit. There is no cost for a permit should one be required.

55. Can we get some pictures of an existing install, including the deadmen and how the cable overlaps?

A: There are no existing installations that we can provide pictures of.

56. Can we get some pictures of the existing site fence and site conditions, as many as you feel like you can send?

A: Pictures will be uploaded with answers of offeror questions.

57. Are new 4" Nominal Pull and Anchor Posts required at 200' intervals and at ends and corners or can we use the existing 2 3/8" posts?

A: 4” diameter is required.

58. To explain the difference between Deadman Post A and Deadman Post B can we get a better drawing of how the cable overlaps so we can prevent 6 runs of cable and know how continuous protection can be provided? Our interpretation of the drawing shows 6 cables for every 100 feet and 3 every other 100 feet. It would be beneficial to have a drawing that shows a third dead man and also an elevation drawing that show 300 to 400 feet of cable fence.

A: Drawings have been revised.

59. Domestic cable clamps and turnbuckles are 3 or 4 times the price of import. What are the Buy America requirements for this project and can import be used?

A: Buy American Act (FAR 52.225-9) is included in the solicitaion.

60. What are the wage rate requirements for this project and can we get a copy of them?

A: Attachment 3 is the wage determination and it is included on the FBO page.

61. Can we get a paint code for the brown paint?

A: FS 595B 20040.

62. How do you plan on installing the cable on the side of the gate that opens? Can we put a deadman there?

A: See Sheet C-5. No deadmans are to be installed at the gate.

63. At the end of the fence line where the cable ends but the fence continues and gets no cable because of the ponds is there to be bollards?

A: No.

64. Are I beam posts supposed to be on the inside of the fence? If so this means the cable will have to go to the inside then back out correct.

A: Correct.

65. Do the I beams need to be next to a post or can they be in the middle of two line posts?

A: Detail 4/5, Sheet C-4 has been changed for I-beam installation between posts.

66. Is the Contractor responsible for removing excess soil from the site or can we spread it on site?

A: Contractor is responsible for removing excess soil from the site.

67. Does one site need to be complete before moving to the next site?

A: Yes.

68. Can crews be working on more than one site at the same time? Will more than one inspector be available so that additional sites can be worked on at the same time?

A: See question #28

69. Will additional bollards be needed where the anchors terminate at a corner where cable fence does not continue? If yes, how many?

A: No.

70. If a crop exists within the 25' easement are we allowed to still work in this 25' area? Or do we need to wait until after harvest to work on this site? If we have to wait will we be given extra days to complete the project?

A: Work is still allowed within the 25’ easement.

71. What is an approved emergency flashlight? Brand and model?

A: Any flashlight meeting ANSI FL-1 standards.

72. Will extra days be given if lost for alert status or missile movements?

A: Delays such as those noted in Specification Section 01000 para. 3.13.1 will not be held against the Period of Performance.

73. Picture request- existing gate latch post, all angles.

A: Pictures will be uploaded with answers of vendor questions.

74. By chance do these sites have mailing addresses, or do you have Longitude and latitude coordinates to plot on google earth? I was able to find site b-01, not so fortunate with the other sites?

A: Location information (Sec/Twp/Range and 911 address) has been provided to 5 CONS.

75. The only item that would require entry that we may want to take a look at would be the re-wiring of the lock box, specifically the junction box (if there are any), and the control board connection in the FCS office.

A: See question #13.

DRAWING SHEET C-4:

77. Detail 7/5, 8/5- The u-bolts and hardware are noted as “stainless steel”. The note references tack welding threads after installation then galvanize paint repair on the weld. Can all u-bolts and hardware be galvanized finish to match the existing fence and new cable?

A: See question #43.

78. Detail 10/5, 11/5- Can the W10x39# and the 8” Bollards be galvanized finish only- not painted?

A: Galvanized is not acceptable.

79. Detail 9/5- Can the “turnback and clamp” detail shown be used at all cable ends instead of the “swaged eye end” noted on detail 5/5? Would like to use the “turnback and clamp” detail at all anchor rod/turnbuckle jaw connections. The swaged ends must be installed on the individual cable ends at a factory in Indiana after the anchors are installed and field measurements have been taken. This is VERY expensive with significant time delays between field measurements of installed anchor rods and delivery of cables with swaged eye ends. Our cable supplier has furnished these products to the Navy, Army Corps of Engineers and numerous other agencies over the past 14 years. The “turnback and clamp” method is the connection method on all projects to date.

A: Detail has been revised to remove swaged eye ends and use turnbacks and clamps.

80. Detail 5/5- Can the three anchor rods be fabricated and use a continuous anchor plate at the bottom and mid-way to form a 3 rod welded unit? This will facilitate installation to keep all 3 rods in proper alignment and uniform spacing between rods during concrete placement of the deadman.

A: This is acceptable.

81. Note No. 2 – Cables to be installed on the exterior on the side of the fence post and the exterior side of the chain link mesh. The chain link mesh will be between the new cable and the fence post correct?

A: Correct.

82. Note No. 7- Is it known that some sites have brace posts that are not set in concrete? If so, is the existing brace post driven?

A: All brace posts are set in concrete.

83. Not noted - but does the existing fences have animal barrier?

A: No animal barriers.

84. Not noted - but when the deadman is at end of line similar to 5/5 will it need bollards to fill area to the end?

A: No.

85. 4/5 was the intent to pull the existing line posts to move it outside of the fence and out of line with other line posts?

A: No, line post stays in line, I-beam is offset to inside.

DRAWING SHEET C-5:

86. Detail 9/6- How long are the (8) 1 ½x 1 ½ x ¼ galvanized attachment angles?

A: 12”.

87. Detail 6/4, 5/6- What is the intent of this note?

A: Note has been removed.

88. Detail 6/4, 5/6- The new structural wire rope is galvanized finish? What is black vinyl coated?

A: Note has been removed.

89. Detail 6/6- What type of lanyard is desired to attach the lock bar to the post?

A: Galvanized 1/4” – 3/8” chain, 24” length.

SPEC AND DRAWING DISCREPANCIES:

90. 2.1.3 - Corner posts - 2.875", Brace post - 2.375" / 4" nominal for both?

A: Corner, Pull, Brace, and Anchor posts shall be 4”.

91. 2.1.3.1 - flange beams would galvanized only be acceptable? Deleting brown paint would lessen price significantly.

A: Galvanized only is not acceptable.

92. 2.1.9 - Cable notes galvanized and black vinyl coated, manufacture has not provided this prior. Will the cold weather have an effect on this cracking?

A: Reference to vinyl coating has been removed.

93. 2.1.10 - hardware notes galvanized / note Stainless Steel. Galvanized would able to be tack welded in field and touched up with galvanized finish.

A: See question #43.

94. 2.1.12 - notes 1.25" turnbuckles / notes on diagram 5/5 note 1-1/2"? 1.25" is normally used with 3/4" cable, 1-1/2" uses 1" cable as a rule.

A: Detail has been changed to 1.25”.

95. 3.2.1.1 notes Flange beams set in ground 48" / 10/5 shows depth of hole 6'?

A: Specification Section 02444, para. 3.2.1.1 has been changed to match drawing detail.

96. 3.3 - turn back with thimble and (4) clips / 5/5 notes swagged eye ends? Can turn back with thimble be used on all ends?

A: Detail has been changed to allow turnback and clamps.

CONSTRUCTION COST BREAKDOWN:

97. What are the quantities?

a. #12 is the lf quantity going to be x3 or per lf to include all 3 cables?

A: It includes all three.

b. Should there be an item for Bollards?

A: Bid schedule has been updated.

c. How is the item for CY of concrete determined? Actual needed? Or installed? What if someone over excavates?

A: Line item shall be based on plan dimensions.

d. Same ?'s as above for Excavation?

A: See question #93c.

e. Dead man excavation to include rods?

A: No.

f. Are the cables and hardware for the gates included in Item #12?

A: Yes.