B301 Fall Protection Q A 15 Sep 20.pdf

B301 Fall Protection Q &A

1. Are there, or will there be made available and photos of the work areas and proposed install locations?

Gov’t Response: Negative, due to close-up access requiring a manlift or similar piece of equipment.

2. Does the structural analysis mentioned in PWS section 1.2 also apply to the structural members associated with the horizontal lifelines?

Gov’t Response: Negative, the existing structural study only applies to the structural members to be utilized for the ladder vertical self-retracting lifelines. Any additional areas requiring structural analysis are the responsibility of the contractor.

3. Clarification: This scope of work is for 9 – 600’ Overhead horizontal lifelines installed above the existing catwalks?

Gov’t Response: Affirmative, there are 9 catwalks of an approximate length of 600’ each that require a horizontal lifelines system. See Attachment 3 – Ladder and Catwalk Install Locations.

4. For this project, where will we be allowed to stage, park and otherwise cordon space?

Gov’t Response: Parking of a man lift (boom or scissor) or similar piece of equipment within B301 will be permitted. Parking for contractor employees will be available at any of the parking lots around B301. Exterior staging on paved surfaces is plentiful northwest of B301 for a container, and the interior of B301 offers very good vehicle access for transporting materials. Specific size (length by width, or square footage) of desired exterior staging should be included in the proposal. Interior staging of items beyond a job box or pallet of material is fairly impractical due to the recent influx of organizations and high density of storage already in B301. The COR will coordinate with the Contractor for short duration storage at various locations within B301.

5. In the drawings I was able to identify the 10 ladder stations/locations but not the entirety of the lifelines along the catwalks. There was one remark of a preference of a single 600’ span.

Am I to presume there is only ONE span?

Gov’t Response: Negative, there are a total of 9 catwalk spans that are approximately 600’ each. The preference for a single 600’ span of wire rope, with adequate supports, applies to each individual catwalk to minimize unclipping/clipping transitions between different sections of wire rope on the same catwalk. The DBI-SALA Sayfline system is named only as an example.

A revised drawing is attached to this Q&A. Red lines indicate catwalks to have horizontal lifelines installed, green dots indicate ladders requiring vertical lifelines. Total quantity of ladders and linear footage of catwalk are unchanged. There are some catwalks accessible by short ladders due to built up interior spaces, which is why some catwalks will have horizontal lifelines but not have any work associated with their connecting ladder. Drawing is best viewed at 11x17 printout, and the CAD file can be furnished upon request.

6. Looking at the documents within the project, I am able to locate where the 10 ladders are to be replaced and I see a page with catwalks and a note P3 but I am unable to determine the location for the 600” span (if this is the entire length). Please identify the catwalks associated with the 9 ladders that need lifelines, as the drawings are dense and do not appear to specifically identify.

Gov’t Response: An additional drawing with catwalks to have horizontal lifelines installed is furnished with this set of Q&A’s. Note that the numbers by each ladder match labels physically on or near each ladder for identification.

7. Can you provide us the fall protection program(s) for the group(s) requesting these systems?

Gov’t Response: Negative, without additional justification or reasoning the release of internal program documentation provides no perceived benefit for the purpose of submitting a proposal.

8. Has a walking-working surfaces integrity assessment be performed of the catwalks per 29 CFR 1910.22, 29 CFR 1910.28 and 29 CFR 1910.29? If so, can this be provided? If no, do you need one performed before the start of work to confirm all of the hazards are being addressed? The assessment would determine if further work is required on the catwalks useable.

Gov’t Response: An integrity assessment has not been conducted of the catwalk surfaces themselves, and one should be conducted by the contractor. It is known that the handrails are inadequate, which this project seeks to correct via horizontal lifelines.

9. Per 29 CFR 1910.23, 29 CFR 1910.28 and 29 CFR 1910.29, what type of ladder assessment has been performed prior to connecting the ladder climbing system? Is the replacement of any parts of the fixed ladders part of this contract?

Gov’t Response: The ladders have been inspected by Government personnel and have been found to be suitable for continued use, with the installation of an appropriate vertical self retracting lifeline. It is known that the cages are inadequate to satisfy OSHA requirements due to the openings being far too large, but the intent is to retain them. Replacement of fixed ladder parts is not part of the scope of this contract.

10. Do you anticipate needing to purchase PPE and provide training within this scope?

Gov’t Response: Negative, no additional equipment, beyond the items specified in the statement of work, need to be furnished. The Government employees who will utilize these systems already have and maintain fall protection equipment and training programs.

11. Do you want included in the fee proposal the equipment and training compatible with the horizontal lifeline system designed and per ANSI Z359, which is required by AFOSH 91- 203?

Gov’t Response: No additional equipment, beyond the items specified in the statement of work, need to be furnished. Training will be internal to the Government and is not included in the scope of this project.

12. What is the budget of the project?

Gov’t Response: The Government does not provide budget information.

Design related questions:

13. Because this system is being attached to the building structure, do you require this work to be stamped by a PE in the state of Nebraska?

Gov’t Response: Affirmative, since AFMAN 91-203 section 13.6.7 states that a qualified person, typically an engineer, shall certify anchorage points. The PWS has been amended to include the attached reference page.

14. Are you requiring the systems be designed per section 13.4.6.1 of AFOSH 91-203, including ANSI Z359.6 for the design of active fall protection system to make sure the complete system is designed per ANSI Z359?

Gov’t Response: Affirmative, adhere to all guidance as given in AFMAN 91-203 throughout section 13.4 and all referenced standards. The PWS has been amended to include the attached reference page.

15. Is the analysis of the existing roof structure required as part of this contract?

Gov’t Response: A government procured analysis of the roof structure will be furnished. Contractor will be responsible for additional analysis if they determine the supplied analysis is insufficient.

16. What minimum qualifications do you require to ensure the qualified person has the appropriate experience and expertise? Examples from other federal agencies can be provided if needed.

Gov’t Response:IAW FAR 52 212.-2 in the solicitation: Contractor shall demonstrate: - Special Qualifications: The Contractor shall be experienced in the installation of Fall

Protection Lifeline Systems and their components, and can demonstrate this experience with project documentation of at least five successful installations of horizontal, vertical, or mixed systems. These successful installations can include temporary worksite systems or permanently installed systems. - Proven Specialty training received from manufacturers or safety centers. Construction, general industry, or maritime fall protection experience/training would be considered appropriate and applicable.

17. Per section 1.4 of the scope, you request that, “overhead lifeline shall be as continuous as possible, preferably a singular 600’ wire run to eliminate the need to transition between horizontal systems.” As stated below, the manufacturer specifically limits this to 180’. With our extensive experience and expertise in the field of HLLs (the teams has past and present committee chairs for ANSI Z359.6 for the design of active fall protection systems and ANSI Z359.17 for horizontal lifelines), we can definitely meet the 600’ requirement but we will need to be given flexibility. Is this acceptable? If so, how will this be evaluated when the contractor is selected?

Per section 1.2A of the product instruction manual,

• “The maximum horizontal lifeline total length is 180 ft. (55 m) with a Zorbit HLL energy absorber installed on each end of the system. See Figure 1. Systems that are more than 30 ft. (9 m) in length must include an intermediate bracket for every 30 ft. span (9 m). The span length must be reduced when clearance is limited. See section 3.3 for clearance information.”

Gov’t Response: The Government will evaluate the technical merits of each proposal and understands that flexibility is required when retrofitting modern systems to vintage structures. The DBI-SALA Sayfline system is named only as an example. A singular 600’ run is highly desired.

Installation related questions:

18. Should the scope need to be amended due to new issues presented outside of what was seen in the site visit and what was defined in the RFP, will a contract modification be available? Is the fee negotiable with the modification?

Gov’t Response: If there are any changes to the scope or PWS prior to award, a modification to the solicitation will be posted. This is a Firm Fixed Price contract type, there are no fees. The Contractor has up to the proposal due date and time to provide/amend its proposal.

19. Do we need to account for potential base exercises that may limit access to the work site?

Gov’t Response: No exercises are known or scheduled at this time that would limit access to the work site. The multi-use and relatively open nature of B301 means that it is rarely, if ever, completely closed off for exercise purposes.

20. Is the award based on best value or lowest price?

Gov’t Response: IAW FAR 52.212-2 in the solicitation: Technical and past performance, when combined, are equally important to price.

21. How much work does the prime need to perform?

Gov’t Response: IAW 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting (CD 2020-O0008) Rev 1; By submission of an offer and execution of a contract, the Contractor agrees that in performance of a contract assigned a NAICS code for— (1) Services (except construction), it will not pay more than 50 percent of the amount paid by the Government for contract performance to subcontractors that are not similarly situated entities. Any work that a similarly situated entity further subcontracts will count toward the prime contractor’s 50 percent subcontract amount that cannot be exceeded.

When a contract includes both services and supplies, the 50 percent limitation shall apply only to the service portion of the contract. Other direct costs are excluded to the extent they are not the principal purpose of the contract and cannot be obtained from small business concerns. (full text is available at https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/class_deviations.html ).

The Solicitation will be amended to include this clause in the 52.212-5.

https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/class_deviations.html