Attachment_6_-_Questions_and_Answers_-_1_Sep_17.pdf

MAINTAIN RUNWAY 8 AND 26 CLEAR ZONE DRAINAGE

SOLICITATION NO. FA4800-17-B-0004

In accordance with Section L, Clause 5352.215-9001, Paragraph (c), the following questions are submitted:

Section B, Item 0002 (Page 4) - Please incorporate the Wetland Fee into the Schedule of Prices.

Block 17 of the SF1442, AMOUNTS – references the Schedule of Prices; however, there is no line item for total price of Line Item 0001 plus Line Item 0002. The Wetland Fee is $2M.

Section H, Para. 6.0 (Page 7) – references Section J for the applicable Wage Rate Requirements; however, Section J could not be located nor could a Wage Rate Requirement be located. This is a Contracting question.

Section I, Clause 52.211-10 (Page 14) – requires all work complete NLT 300 calendar days after receipt of a notice to proceed.

Section 01 11 00 (Page 13), Paragraph 1.13.4.12 – potential security delays.

Section 01 11 00 (Page 23), Paragraph 1.28 – identifies the anticipated adverse weather conditions calendar days at 122.

Section H, Para. 10 (Page 8) – identifies 10 holidays.

Section H, Para. 10.1 (Page 8) – identifies two (2) potential work stoppages.

SUGGESTION: Therefore, based on the preceding information and taking into account weekends, potentially 50% of the 300 calendar days will be lost to non-production events. Suggest, the Government rethink the 300 calendar days and adjust to a more realistic number. The security delays and adverse weather days are included in the performance period for use as needed. However, in case of unforeseen events or site conditions, the Contractor can submit a request for no-cost time extensions.

QUESTION: Is there any Geotechnical Engineering Reports available for the Clear Zone Area’s A, B, C and D? If so, please amend the solicitation to incorporate them. No.

Questions from Spec Section 01-11-00

Para - 1.8.4 Fencing and Screening Contractor shall enclose the lay down area with a chain link fence that has been erected to a minimum height of six feet.

QUESTION: Is there a designated laydown area? Is a fenced laydown area required? The Contractor is not required to have a laydown area. However, if one is needed, the Contractor shall submit a request for designated location to the government for approval. The approved laydown area must be fenced.

Para - 1.9.7 Excavations All trenches/excavations shall be back filled and compacted to 95% of maximum Proctor density. Trenches will be top dressed with no less than 4 inches of sifted topsoil.

QUESTION: Is sifted topsoil required? No, but it must be raked and free from rocks and foreign matters.

633 CONS Response: Wage Determinations added to Section J of solicitation.

BRUCE HOWARD CONTRACTING, INC. – PAGE 1

Para 1.10.1.1 Contaminated Soil and Free Products Any material (soil) that is suspected of containing petroleum products shall be reported to the Contracting Officer or his/her designated representative. If discovered, the Contractor shall mitigate any potential threat to the workers, public and environment. The area that will be disturbed under this contract has the potential to have free product migrate into and under the construction site.

QUESTION: Will the contractor be paid on a unit price basis for testing, handling and disposing of petroleum contaminated soils, if encountered? This provision is only required for contaminated soils removed from site.

Contaminated soils can be returned to the original location, and no testing is required. This is a lump sump contract.

Para - 1.13.4.1 General …Full operational status of the mission and Security Forces will be maintained throughout the contract period.

To facilitate contract work while preserving strict security, a Contractor free zone will be established around each work area, and a combination of entry control, internal movement and surveillance techniques will be employed.

QUESTION: Will the contractor be required to take any direct action, or provide any physical plant or equipment, (fencing, etc.) in order to comply with the above? A free zone is not required for this project.

Para - 1.13.4.10 Overnight Storage of Construction Machinery All construction machinery that is self-propelled (tractors, backhoes, dozers, trucks, etc.) will not be allowed to remain within the Controlled Area overnight. Such vehicles must be parked in a designated area thirty feet beyond the boundary fence, locked and keys removed.

QUESTION: Please clarify what “Boundary Fence” is referenced. Plan sheets also make reference to “Equipment Not in Use” needing to be kept 500’ outside the “Clear Zones.” What amount of equipment movement, on a daily or nightly basis, will be required of the contractor? At the end of each workday, all equipment must be moved 500 ft (from centerline of runways).

Para - 1.13.5.2 Radio Communication with Tower Two-way radio contact on VHF Radio capable of communication with the Air Traffic Control Tower on the ramp net (163.4625 MHz) is required at all times for all personnel and groups of personnel working on the flight line, taxiways and runways. Contractor shall coordinate radio issuance with the project inspector.

QUESTION: Please clarify if the radio systems are furnished by Government or contractor? If radio communication is required, the device will be provided by the Government.

Para - 1.18 UTILITIES All reasonable amounts of water and electricity required for this work will be made available to the Contractor if such utilities exist at the project site.

QUESTION: Are water and electricity available at the project site? Electricity is not available at the site.

However, the Contractor will have access to water.

BRUCE HOWARD CONTRACTING, INC. – PAGE 2

Questions from Spec Section 01-12-00

Para - 1.1.2.2. Soil. ALL soil must be tested to determine if it contains any contaminates prior to relocating it on base or disposing of it off-base.

QUESTION: Does this also apply to topsoil or other soils that are stockpiled for later use in the same area/zone they came from? No, provided soils will not be removed from site.

Questions from Spec Section 31-00-00

Para - 1.1.2 Piping Trench Excavation …Replace unstable trench bottoms with a selected granular material.

QUESTION: Will unstable trench bottoms be considered a changed condition, and will the contractor be compensated for stabilizing them? No.

Para - 1.5.1 Satisfactory Materials Satisfactory materials comprise any materials classified by ASTM D2487 as GW, GP, GM, GP-GM, GW-GM, GC, GP-GC, GM-GC, SW, SP.

Para - 1.5.9.1 General Requirements Select granular material consist of materials classified as GW, GP, SW, or SP, or by ASTM D2487 where indicated.

QUESTION: Is it the Government’s intention to utilize SW/SP or better materials for fills in ALL areas of this project, not just those supporting asphalt or concrete pavements? (Since the vast majority of this site is a “green” area and does not appear to support structural loads, it seems like an unnecessary expense to import such high-quality fill materials for use in turf areas). The SW/SP or better materials for fills shall be used only in locations supporting asphalt or concrete pavements.

3.3.2 Geotechnical Engineer

Hire a Professional Geotechnical Engineer to provide inspection of excavations and soil/groundwater conditions throughout construction. The Geotechnical Engineer is responsible for performing pre-construction and periodic site visits throughout construction to assess site conditions

QUESTION: Is the expectation that the Contractor have a full-time Geotechnical Engineer on the project site?

If not, please clarify what level of “inspection” will be expected. A Geotechnical Engineer is not required for this project. However, competent QA & QC leads are required for shoring excavations.

Para - 3.9.1.4.2 Sidewalks, Turfed or Seeded Areas and Miscellaneous Areas Deposit backfill in layers of a maximum of 12 inches loose thickness, and compact it to 85 percent maximum density for cohesive soils and 90 percent maximum density for cohesion less soils. Apply this requirement to all other areas not specifically designated above. This paragraph applies to all areas in this project, except for trenching.

Para - 3.11.3 Compaction Finish compaction by sheep’s foot rollers, pneumatic-tired rollers, steel-wheeled rollers, vibratory compactors, or other approved equipment. Except for paved areas and railroads, compact each layer of the embankment to at least 95 percent of laboratory maximum density.

QUESTION: Please clarify the functional compaction requirements for subgrade and fills for (non-paved) turf areas for this project. Para 3.11.3 does not apply to this project.

BRUCE HOWARD CONTRACTING, INC. – PAGE 3

Para - 3.11.2 Construction Shape subgrade to line, grade, and cross section, and compact as specified. Include plowing, disking, and any moistening or aerating required to obtain specified compaction for this operation….. After rolling, the surface of the subgrade for roadways shall not show deviations greater than 1/2 inch when tested with a 12-foot straightedge applied both parallel and at right angles to the centerline of the area. Do not vary the elevation of the finish subgrade more than 0.05 foot from the established grade and cross section. This paragraph does not apply to this project.

QUESTION: These are very strict requirements. Please clarify the functional subgrade tolerances for (non-paved) turf areas for this project. This paragraph does not apply to this project.

Para - 3.13.1 Fill and Backfill Material Gradation One test per 100 cubic yards stockpiled or in-place source material. Determine gradation of fill and backfill material in accordance with ASTM C136.

Para - 3.13.2 In-Place Densities

a. One test per 500 square feet, or fraction thereof, of each lift of fill or backfill areas compacted by other than hand-operated machines.

QUESTION: Please reconsider these requirements. Given the size and scale of this project, along with the volume of fill and square areas being filled (90 acres = 3,920,000 Square Feet) make these requirements seem unduly strict, particularly for large “Turf” areas. The Contractor shall perform one test per 1000 cubic yards stockpiled or in-place source materials, and one test per 10,000 square feet of each lift of fill or backfill.

Questions from Spec Section 31-32-11

1.1 SUMMARY

The work consists of furnishing and installing soil surface erosion control materials, including fine grading, blanketing, stapling, mulching and miscellaneous related work, within project limits and in areas outside the project limits where the soil surface is disturbed from work under this contract at the designated locations. This work includes all necessary materials, labor, supervision and equipment for installation of a complete system.

QUESTION: This spec refers to a “Complete System,” and plan sheets C-117 / C-118 show details for Silt Fence, Construction Entrance, Drop Inlets, etc. However, there do not appear to be any design features shown on plans for these devices. Please provide the required Erosion and Sediment Control design plans. Please refer to Section 01 12 00, paragraphs 1.6.1 and 1.6.2.

Questions from Spec Section 32-05-33

Para - 3.2 GROUNDCOVER ESTABLISHMENT PERIOD Groundcover establishment period will commence on the date that inspection by the Contracting Officer shows that the new turf furnished under this contract has been satisfactorily installed to a 95 percent stand of coverage. The establishment period shall continue for a period of 365 days.

QUESTION: This is a 300-day project. The above section would seem to indicate that the Contractor is responsible for mowing, watering, weeding and fertilizing a 90-acre area for an entire year after the majority of the work is complete. Is this the actual intent of the contract? The Contractor is required to provide an established site after construction, and responsible for all ground repairs during the warranty period.

However, the Contractor is not required to mow and water the sites once they’re turned over to the Government.

BRUCE HOWARD CONTRACTING, INC. – PAGE 4

Questions from Spec Section 32-92-19

Para - 2.2.3 Composition Containing from 5 to 10 percent organic matter as determined by the topsoil composition tests of the Organic Carbon, 6A, Chemical Analysis Method described in DOA SSIR 42. Maximum particle size, 3/4 inch, with maximum 3 percent retained on 1/4-inch screen. The pH shall be tested in accordance with ASTM D4972.

Topsoil shall be free of sticks, stones, roots, and other debris and objectionable materials. Other components shall conform to the following limits:

QUESTION: Is it the intent to require screening / sifting of the existing onsite topsoil prior to re-use? (Given that most of the near surface soils are likely to be wet, this will pose an extremely difficult challenge.) No, but the topsoils must be raked and free from rocks and foreign matters.

Questions from Spec Section 33-40-00

Page 1, Paragraphs 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3, 1.1.4 and 1.1.6 – indicates items will be paid for at the contract unit price.

However, the schedule of prices only has Item No. 0001, Maintain Runway 08 and 26 Clear Zone Drain and Item No. 0002, Wetland Fee. Please advise.

Questions from Plan Sheets

Plan Sheet C-104 Inset A shows an existing 24” storm drain and End walls to be removed. It also says “Existing Conduit in Pipeline.”

QUESTION: What is the “Existing Conduit in Pipeline” and what are the requirements to remove or relocate it?

Existing conduit in pipeline shall remain. The Contractor shall perform demolition and in stallion of new storm pipe around this existing conduit. See Sheet C-112 and photo below of the existing conduit in the storm pipe.

Plan Sheet C-110 Directly west of Manhole (A-4) is a note that says “Utility Offset Required.” The pipeline in question appears to be a 20” Cast-iron waterline.

QUESTION: What is the size and material type of the existing waterline to be relocated? We cannot find the “Utility Offset Required” note on sheet C-110. Please clarify.

BRUCE HOWARD CONTRACTING, INC. – PAGE 5