Questions&Answers.doc

Project: Building 800 JBER Asbestos cleanup and abatement

Subject: Questions and answers on bid documents and scope of work.

The building appeared to have a vermiculite spill at the North end with some subsequent cleanup of this debris by others. During the walk through we were taken through approximately two thirds of the building that is shown to require cleaning. During the walk through we did not see any additional vermiculite spills.

Q1. Why is two thirds of the building included in the cleaning scope when the spill seems fairly localized? Contractor will assure the Air Force that the area is safe to occupy and all accessible pipe insulation does not contain asbestos and has been reinsulated Q2. Would it be possible to limit the cleaning scope to the North Third of the building? No The space currently established as the area to be cleaned is completely filled with “stuff” from boats to trucks to lights to camping gear to nuts and bolts and everything in between. As compared to the previous contaminated cleaning scope of bldg. 802 this building space as at least 10 times the amount of stuff per SF based on initial observations. Maybe as much as 50 times as much stuff in volume.

Q3. Is it the intent of this project to clean every item within the roughly two thirds of the building? Yes, clean as many items as possible and return items to AF.

Q4. Is the contractor to throw away as asbestos contaminated all non cleanable items i.e. any porous item defined as not cleanable by EPA? Contractor will follow regulations on what is cleanable and what must be discarded.

Q5. If the contractor is to throw away the thousands and thousands of non cleanable items within the space how will the Owner require these items be tracked? Will these items require tracking? Yes all items discarded will be required to be document and a list will be provided to the Air Force prior to final disposal.

There are vehicles, boats, and trailers within the space to be cleaned.

Q6. Is the contractor to clean just the outside of these items? Contractor will certify the items are safe to be removed, handled and or occupied by Air Force personnel Q7. If the interiors of these items are considered contaminated as well the carpets, fabrics, and any other non cleanable items then is the contractor to remove all of thise non cleanable items from the interiors? Contractor will certify the items are safe to be removed, handled and or occupied by Air Force personnel Q8. Should the contractor assume the interiors are asbestos free and leave them close. If items are sealed only clean exterior. Contractor will certify the items are safe to be removed, handled and or occupied by Air Force personnel It was noted that the entire space is quite dusty but it is apparent that the dust present has built up over years.

Q9. Is it the intent of the project to make the entire area dust free? Contractor will certify the items/area is safe to be removed, handled and or occupied by Air Force personnel, Intent is to make area safe to occupy The scope of work in the project summary state to “Perform a single phase cleanup and abatement of asbestos in building 800, to include the following asbestos containing materials: Vermiculite, pipe insulation”

Q10. Other than the vermiculite on the floor and items in the north end of the building where is the vermiculite that is to be removed? Further investigation may be required by contractor to determine if there are other areas containing vermiculite.

Q11. Is the contractor only to remove asbestos pipe insulation or is fiberglass insulation to be removed as well? Intent of the SOW is to remove all ACM from the building’s exposed piping and components to the greatest extent possible. It is not necessary to remove non-acm insulation from piping but all piping with ACM must be removed and where insulation is removed must be re-insulated Q12. The scope also indicates that pipes are to be reinsulated and much of the pipe to be abated is steam and condensate so what type of insulation is to be used to re-insulate? Use industry approved/appropriate insulation for the type piping encountered Q13. Is different insulation to be used on different types of piping? Use industry approved/appropriate insulation for the type piping encountered Q14. Is the removal of All Pipe insulation confined to the roughly two thirds of the building identified on the attached project scope drawing or does it include the Entire building? The Air Force would like all accessible ACM pipe insulation throughout the whole building removed and reinsulated.

Project Summary General Requirements references lead work and lead based paint work as well as friable category I, Category II, and Category III non-friable asbestos with what seems to be an emphasis on Lead based paint work.

Q15. Is any lead based paint work anticipated in this scope of work? Lead base paint removal is not included required.

Q16. Will the AF provide locations and quantities of lead based paint to be disturbed or removed? Lead base paint removal is not included required.

Q17 Please clarify what is meant by Category I, Category II, and Category III as asbestos categories usually refer to only friable and non- friable? Category I, Category II and Category III reference non-friable asbestos materials.

Asbestos does have four classification of work: Class 1 Friable TSI and surfacing), Class II (non-friable), Class III (Operations and Maintenance), Class IV (Clean Up).

Q18. Will the work to be performed for cleaning be considered class IV? Contractor will determine proper class of work according to the regulations..

Q19. Will the pipe insulation work be considered Class I? Contractor will determine proper class of work according to the regulations.

The general requirements seem to be generally geared for a smaller renovation type project and in many ways appear to not really relate to the project as it has been presented as it includes lead paint, containment, and a requirement for 6 air changes per hour. It is very doubtful that even if all contractors considering bidding this project were to combine all their HEPA filtered negative air machines that they would have enough machines to get 6 air changes per hour within the space shown on the drawings as the work area. By rough calculation 220 HEPA filtered negative air machines would be required to put the entire space under negative air as roughly 19 million CF of air would need to be moved every hour and the typical negative air machine we all own will move roughly 1500 CF/min. Contractor will determine work and protection requirements following Federal and State regulations associated with asbestos clean-up operations.

Q20. Can the cleanup portion of the project be considered a class IV cleanup operations and therefore not require negative pressure within the work area? Contractor will determine proper class of work according to the regulations and work plan.

Q21. Can the pipe insulation portion of the project be performed with glovebags? Contractor will determine proper class of work according to the regulations and work plan.

Q22. Where reasonable could the contractor perform pipe insulation removal in a containment specifically built for pipe insulation removal under negative pressure? Contractor will determine proper class of work according to the regulations and work plan.

No sampling information was provided to the contractor. Air Force will provide results of samples taken.

Q23 Has dust within the building be determined to contain asbestos? Assumed to contain asbestos. No dust samples have been taken.

Q24. Is there sampling that shows the levels of asbestos in the dusts and any pattern of dispersal that might be present? No sampling has been performed in work area except the vermiculite which came back positive for asbestos. Air Force will provide results of samples taken.

General Requirement section 2.2.21 states that “After larger amounts of lead based paint and asbestos have been removed from every surface….” Lead base paint removal is not required Q25. Where is the lead paint that is to be removed? Lead base paint removal is not required unless it is obstructing access to ACM Q26. Is the contractor expected to remove lead based paint in this project scope? Lead base paint removal is not required General Requirements 2.2.22 Final Cleaning And Visual Inspection section indicates that the visual inspection is to be performed in accordance with ASTM E 1368. This is essentially a white glove test and to pass all dust must be removed from all surfaces. There are many areas of dust accumulation that are impossible to reach without dismantling portions of the building. For instance much of the space is broken down into individual storage areas that are separated by framed wall with cyclone fencing on one or both sides and the visible framing is covered with dust. It will be impossible to clean the wood framing through the fencing to meet the ASTM E1368 inspection requirement. Fencing and framing will be cleaned using a hepa vac and wet wiped method. That will meet the requirement and contractor will report that area is clear for occupancy Q27. Should the contractor plan on removing fencing used to separate areas of work to access the dusty framing? No fencing will be removed, contractor will have access on both sides to do clean up.

Q28. If the answer to Q25 is affirmative then is the contractor to replace this fencing? If fencing is removed contractor will be required to replaced There is literally tens of thousands of items within the affected work space to either clean or dispose of if by definition they are not cleanable.

Q29. Where is the contractor to store cleaned items as they are removed from the work area? Contractor will coordinate with Air Force for removal of larger items once cleaned. Contractor will provide a clean area for remainder Q30. Should cleaned items be turned over to the Air Force once cleaned and thus storage of these items becomes the responsibility of the AF? Contractor must provide their own area/container or make a clean area within the facility to place the decontaminated items Q31. Will the Air Force have a representative on site to determine if items are clean and can be removed from the area? Contractor must determine this, as they are stating/certifying the item/area is “free of Asbestos” when they return the item/area to the Air Force control.

Q32. Will the AF have a representative on site to catalog items not cleanable that require disposal? Contractor will provide an itemized list and photos of items considered not cleanable for review by Air Force prior to disposal Q33. Will the contractor be required to utilize an independent third party for both air monitoring collection and analysis and visual inspections? Contractor will utilize an independent third party for these requirements.

During the walk through dozens of areas were fenced off and locked with no access for contractor to view contents within those areas.

Q34. Will the AF provide access to these spaces so that the contractor can view items to be cleaned or disposed? Yes Air Force will provide access.

Q35. Who will determine if a surface or item such as cloth items is “cleanable” per the SOW – Contractor must determine this, as they are stating/certifying the item/area is “free of Asbestos” when they return the item/area to the Air Force control.

Q36. Will a storage location and facility on base be provided for decontaminated items that are removed from the work area – Contractor must provide their own area/container or make a clean area within the facility to place the decontaminated items

Q37. Are M/E/P as-builts for the building available – Limited drawings may be available (accuracy may be limited)

Q38. Are photos of the train tunnel available. This portion of the building was not available for inspection during the site visit – some limited photos after the earthquake but 2nd Site visit may be required

Q39. SOW clarification: Is all vermiculite within the cavities of all exterior CMU walls to be removed or is the intent of the SOW to remove only the loose vermiculite associated with CMU wall damage such as loose material on the floor – If cavity’s are readily accessible (plywood, access panel, hole in wall) the material must be removed, if the cavity is sealed up with concrete it does not require removal.

Q40. ACM TSI has been removed from some of the pipe runs and re-insulated. Is it the intent of the SOW to remove all TSI to include non-ACM fiberglass.- Intent of the SOW is to remove all ACM from the building and components to the greatest extent possible. It is not necessary to remove non-acm insulation from piping but all piping with ACM must be removed and where insulation is removed must be re-insulated Q41. Will electronic submission of proposals be acceptable – Yes, quotes shall be submitted electronically to brian.nash.6@us.af.mil, jermaine.villareal.1@us.af.mil and steven.huffines@us.af.mil Q42. Can the bid date be extended – If necessary.

Q43. When is the expected award date, NTP date and period of performance – POP is 30 days, NTP date is 10 days upon contract award, and award date is within this month.

Q44. Will a bid bond be required, if so at what %. Will a P&P bond be required upon award – No, P&P bonds are not required.

Q45. Will liquidated damages apply to the contract, if so what are the terms – No, Liquidated Damages are not required. But see 52.219-16 if contractor is subcontracting.