Attachment 4 - Questions UPDATED.pdf

Attachment 4 - Questions

RH - Hot-Mix Asphalt, Tack and Prime - AVON PARK FA481426Q0011

1. Mix Design Approval: Will the government accept a standard FDOT Type B mix design, or must the contractor submit a project-specific mix design formulated strictly according to UFGS 32.12.15.13?

All asphalt submittals must be compliant with UFGS 32.12.15.13, as this is the Department of War’s approved asphalt specification for runways;

while the private sector often refers to this mix as FAA P-401 Plant Mix Bituminous Pavements, it is only suitable for use on military projects if the submittal strictly adheres to the UFGS requirements. Ultimately, the asphalt must be exceptionally durable because the significant point loads generated by aircraft routinely taxiing on the runway will cause severe rutting if the material is not properly engineered in accordance with these established standards.

2. Binder Adjustment: Given the performance requirements, will the government allow the use of a modified binder (e.g., PG 76-22) in place of the specified PG 67-22 if it improves stability and meets UFGS standards?

PG 67-22 can be replaced with PG 76-22

3. Aggregate Source: Are there specific approved aggregate sources or "Qualified Products Lists" (QPL) required for this airfield project, or is any FDOT-approved source acceptable?

There is no QPL list.

4. Recycled Content: Does the government have a maximum allowable percentage for Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) in the Intermediate Course, Type B mix for this specific airfield application?

IAW the Uniformed Faciality Guidelines, there cannot be any RAP in the newly proposed Design Mix. However, if the vendor cannot produce a mix design without the use of RAP, still submit the proposal, as the

Government can procure a waiver to use RAP on certain asphalt project site.

5. Tack/Prime Specifications: Attachment 3 mentions Bituminous Tack Coat.

Can the government clarify if diluted or undiluted emulsion is required, and provide the specific application rate (gallons per square yard) expected for the Prime and Tack coats?

Prime Coat – .25 Application Rate / Tack Coat - .15 Application Rate / No dilution is allowed.

6. Testing Responsibility: The SOW mentions contractor responsibility for lab testing per 1,000-ton lots. Does the government require an independent third-party laboratory, or can the contractor’s certified plant lab perform the QC testing

The certified plant lab can perform the QC testing

7. On-Site Testing: Will the government be performing independent QA testing at the delivery point (Avon Park), and if so, what is the protocol if a load is rejected after arrival but before unloading?

The asphalt will be tested for every 400-ton lot. Measurements taken from these sublots will be compared against the Job Mix Formula (JMF) provided by the vendor. If a significant discrepancy is detected between the proposed asphalt mixture and the sublot test results, a secondary test will be administered to verify the findings. If the discrepancy is validated by the project engineer's analysis, the contractor will be required to remove the non-compliant sections. The vendor must then provide and install new asphalt that meets the agreed-upon specifications for those areas.

8. Temperature Compliance: The SOW specifies a minimum delivery temperature of 290 degrees. Will temperature readings be taken at the gate, at the paving machine, or in the truck bed?

The readings will be taken at the pavement machine.

9. Core Sampling: Are core samples for density testing required to be taken by the material supplier, or is that the responsibility of the paving contractor?

Material suppliers will be responsible for the core samples. There will not be a paving contractor for this operation.

10. Delivery Window: The SOW notes potential for night and weekend work.

Will the government provide a 48-hour or 72-hour notice for shifts requiring night/weekend delivery?

Yes, the government will provide 48 to 72 Hour notice for shifts requiring night / weekend delivery.

11. Gate Delays: Given the strict temperature requirements (290 degrees), how will the government handle potential "gate time" delays for security inspections? Will these delays be considered "excusable" in the event of a temperature-related load rejection?

Answer: For the main base there is not a manned gate. However, for the Airfield gate, a service member will be manning the gate during all hours of operation. The gate can be mechanically opened so the time delays are negligible.

12. Haul Route: Is there a designated haul route within the Avon Park Air Force Range that the trucks must follow, and are there weight or axle-load restrictions on the range roads?

There are no weight or axle load restrictions on any of the roads on or around Avon Park. There is not a designated haul route. Once the contract is awarded, the gate to the airfield will be identified to the company. The project site where the paving takes place is on or around 200 meters away from the gate.

13. Staging: Will the contractor be permitted to stage a mobile "hot storage" silo or heated tanker on-site to ensure material temperature and continuity of supply?

A hot storage silo will be logistically challenging due to the power generation requirements for such equipment, as the project site is not located near existing infrastructure. A separate meeting will be required to discuss the feasibility of this course of action further.

14. Guaranteed Minimums: Are the quantities listed (8,001 Tons HMA, etc.)

guaranteed, or is this a Requirements Contract where the government only pays for what is ordered via delivery orders?

The quantities are guaranteed.

15. Incremental Delivery: What is the maximum and minimum daily tonnage expected for delivery? This is vital for plant production scheduling.

The minimum is 500 tons; the maximum is 2,000 tons.

16. Performance Period Extension: If weather or airfield operations prevent paving during the June–September window, will the government allow a performance period extension without penalty?

Yes.

17. Economic Price Adjustment (EPA): Given the volatility of liquid asphalt (bitumen), will the government include a Price Adjustment Clause (similar to FDOT’s fuel/bitumen index) to protect the contractor and the government from market fluctuations?

No

18. Demurrage/Standby Time: In the event of government-caused delays at the paving site (e.g., equipment breakdown by the government's paving crew or airfield emergency), will the contract allow for truck standby/demurrage fees?

Risk mitigation measures will be implemented to ensure that government-caused delays do not transpire; therefore, the government will not compensate the vendor for demurrage fees. In catastrophic circumstances caused specifically by government negligence, the Contracting Officer will authorize the reimbursement for the cost of ineffective material resulting from such delays.

19. Billing Unit: For the Prime and Tack coats, will billing be based on "Gallons in the Tanker" (certified weight tickets) or "Gallons Applied" as measured by the distributor spray bar?

Gallons applied.

20. Incumbent: Is there a current or recent incumbent performing this requirement, and if so, what is the incumbent name, contract number and / or award amount? If there's an Incumbent, has there been any significant "Change in Scope" or increase in the numbers between the incumbent's award solicitation and this 2026 solicitation?

There is no incumbent to fulfilling this requirement.

21. Will the government supply the labor (paving the materials)?

Yes, active-duty service members will be paving with government equipment.

22. Would any deviation on the Hot-Mix Asphalt Type B with PG 67-22 binder spec be acceptable? (For example: 76-22 Binder)

Yes, a submitted proposal that deviates from the specification will be approved to disapproved by AFCEC engineering teams.

23. The solicitation describes "deliveries may be required during nights and weekends". Are there specific work hours we may refer to or will we need to arrange deliveries to be made at any time 24/7.

There are currently no specific nights or weekends scheduled for construction activities. However, if the project falls significantly behind schedule, project leadership will determine whether to extend working hours. In such an event, the contractor will be provided with a 10-day advance notification to allow for the appropriate reallocation of their resources.

24. Is there an incumbent Hot-Mix supplier for the Avon Park Air Force Range?

There is not an official incumbent Hot-Mix supplier for Avon Park.

25. Is SP 12.5 or 9.5 required?

Superpave 12.5mm is the mix type required for this project.