75F40120R00012_0004 Attachment 2 Site Visit 2 Questions Answers.pdf

Attachment 2 ‐ Questions & Answers from 2nd Site Visit

NCTR Road & Drainage Improvements

75F40120R00012

1. Is the possibility of the bid date being pushed back at least a week to give time for these questions to be addressed and leave time for us to react to the answers?

Answer: Yes, it’s extended to 12:00 pm CT, 12 November 2020.

2. Time limitations on ditch excavations ‐ When ditches are cleaned, what are the time frames for the area to be stabilized, sod/seed? Depending on the time of the year that the work is performed, if we have 14 days to establish ground cover, may not be possible. Plans do not state a time frame that I can find.

Answer: 14 days is acceptable.

3. Utilities ‐ We would need utilities marked wherever possible, where the utility companies have jurisdiction, where the utilities are considered private, possible location before bid of known utilities, approximate locations of any unknown items, etc.

Answer: NCTR may provide drawings of the areas that are available. Utility location is the responsibility of the contractor.

4. Manholes & Water Valves ‐ any above ground structures that need to be maintained during construction, we need time to locate and count these items before the bid.

Answer: Access to manholes must always be maintained for emergency purposes. Contractors may view manholes during site visit #3 if needed; *Site Visit #3, 9:00 am CT, 02 November 2020.

5. Quality Control Testing ‐ Need clarification on the testing on leveling courses and reinforcing. Per

AHTD testing is not applicable on these areas, due to the inconsistencies of the existing surfaces, leveling courses are not tested for density. Are the specifications for this project in line with this?

Answer: Per ARDOT specifications, densities are only waved if the thickness of leveling course is less than 3 times the maximum nominal size of the specified aggregate of the mixture. All other testing will be required even if the densities are waved.

6. Usage of the Spoil Pile & Ditch Excavation ‐ Indications during the meeting yesterday were that the spoil pile and excavated material were to be hauled offsite. If this material is suitable, can it be used for construction, as the plans indicate?

Answer: Yes, if it is determined by NCTR and the engineer of record that material in the spoil pile is suitable for construction. It may be used.

7. Permanent Fence ‐ Perimeter security fence, can the existing fence be reused or does new fence need to be installed in the areas drainage structures are installed?

Answer: Existing fence may be reused if care is taken and it is not damaged.

8. Asphalt Surface Courses ‐ Can we get the different areas broken up into quantities? Parking areas, driveways, roads, etc. Total project sum quantity is currently listed. Also, can this pay item be converted to tons in lieu of square yards?

Answer: No.

9. Storm Drain Backfill ‐ Would it be acceptable to use B stone for this in lieu of class 7?

Answer: Yes, B stone is acceptable.

10. Grading Existing Ditch ‐ Can this be converted to cubic yards in lieu of linear feet?

11. Leveling Course ‐ Can we get a finer graded mix design for the leveling course? 1/2" leveling course may not be practical as leveling by definition is correcting deficiencies that in most cases may exceed more than 1/2", therefore more material will be required in most locations. A separate pay item for leveling would also be desirable for accountability purposes.

Answer: ½” is an expected average. Therefore, there are areas that are expected to not need any leveling.

12. Testing requirements of pipe ‐ if the B stone is not acceptable for pipe backfill, are we required to test the backfill compaction per quantity feet of pipe or per quantity feet of each diameter of pipe?

Answer: Testing is to meet the requirements of section 606.03(f) of the ARDOT specifications.

Each 6” lift on run of pipe is to be tested for density. Density requirement is 95% of the maximum density, as determined by AASHTO T 99.

13. Flared end sections ‐ are the lengths of the pipes shown inclusive of the flared end sections? There are several instances where the mouth of the pipe is at the centerline of a perpendicular ditch, therefore existing slopes may not allow room for a flared end section.

Answer: The length of pipes does not include the flared end section.

14. Reconstructed Pavement Section ‐ What is the depth of demolition/reconstruction? What is the depth of scarify?

Answer: Depth of existing asphalt surface is unknow. Scarification and recompact the top 6 inches.

15. For maintenance of traffic and resurfacing gravel drives, can a pay item be added for aggregate base course?

16. The testing requirements of the existing base course are in question. It is old, fines may have settled, and can be inconsistent from place to place. In the event of a poor test result, reworking the base course could go from bad to worse, with the best opportunity being the first rework.

Possibly the better judge of suitability of the existing base course is the stability of it, observed by rolling loaded trucks etc, rather than a test that may indicate failure. Tests are performed to validate stability, so if it is stable, wouldn't stability rule over a test result? That is fairly standard on road reconstruction, per highway department procedures.

When the asphalt is removed there is a small window of time to get this area covered back with asphalt so that the base course and subbase experience no degradation due to weather.

Answer: This is acceptable.

17. Will the government consider consolidating or substantially reducing the required breakout items on Attachment J3 Cost Proposal Bid Schedule? The requirement to break out pricing into this many line items is extremely time consuming and does not include places for general conditions.

Therefore, each line item becomes cost loaded with those costs, providing an inflated view of the cost of each line item. Will NCTR please provide a line item for general conditions?

Answer: No

18. Will the government provide the number of spotlights requested around the flagpole(s)? What type (basis of design) of spotlights are the be used?

Answer: Drawing C14.3 shows three light poles with solar spotlights to be attached. Also reference the specifications page 23 for flagpole lighting.

19. What is the spotlights location in relation to the poles?

Answer: Attached to pole, see detail on drawing C6.2. Also reference the specifications page 23 for flagpole lighting.

20. Should the spotlights be hard wired backup? If so, what panel should they feed from? Is there an available breaker to be used?

21. How will these spotlights need to be controlled?

Answer: Internal sensor, also reference the specifications page 23 for flagpole lighting.

22. Will NCTR please add a line item for General Conditions on Attachment J3 Cost Proposal Bid

Schedule?

23. Will the government please clarify: In the area that is to receive new pavers, there is currently concrete sidewalk in that location. Does NCTR want that sidewalk to be removed before pavers are put in place? Can the contractor utilize the existing base under the sidewalk for the paver installation?

Answer: Existing base cannot be reused.

24. Will the government please clarify: The existing pavers have what appears to be grout in between course lines. The detail in the drawings show that the space between pavers should be filled with sand. Since the detail differs from what is currently there, is it NCTR’s intent to match the existing paver detail with masonry grout or use the design detail and infill the courses with sand?

Answer: Match existing.

25. Will the government please clarify: For the paver around the flagpole, does NCTR want these pavers to be filled with masonry grout (similar to inside of compound) or match the detail on the drawings?

Answer: Match drawings.

26. Section L‐7 Submission of Offers, item a) states: “Shall include the Prime Contractor and the Sub‐

Contractor ONLY if the sub contactor is performing the Improvements & Paving work.” Will the government permit the Prime Contractor to submit the requested 3 Past Performance

Questionnaires from their intended subcontractor (Improvement & Paving subcontractor), so long as there is a Subcontractor Letter of Commitment or Teaming Agreement included?

Answer: This question appears to be in line with what is already permitted.

27. Some areas of the asphalt paving are in poor condition (Davis Rd. for example), indicating failure of the subgrade. The proposed reconstruction detail will not provide sufficient structure for the new road. Will NCTR add an undercut item (CY) to the proposal?

28. Can the existing spoils area be used as a temporary spoils area for this project? All spoils would be hauled away by end of the project.

Answer: Yes.

29. The concrete that is around building 5 that is to be overlaid shows cracks and wide joints that are likely to reflect through the asphalt. How should this be addressed before laying pavement?

Answer: Overlay of Concrete Driveway Section calls for the use of Asphalt Reinforcement Mat.

30. Plans show for ditches to be hydroseeded after grading. Given the proposed slopes of the ditches and likelihood of rain before seeding can be established, we recommend sodding these areas for erosion protection. Will the engineer specify ditches to be sodded, paid for by the square yard?

Answer: No

31. There is no contract line item for the paver portion of this project. We have calculated approximately 1,200 square feet of paver required to be installed but no line item to bill and account for them. This line item could be included in the landscapers bid but that would be a lump sum. Will NCTR please clarify what they want for this and how to list it on the cost breakout sheet?

Answer: Include in landscape portion.

32. All of the grading is scheduled and priced to be seeded per the line item breakout, however, this method will fail and all of the dirt will wash out the first time it rains. To maintain proper erosion control and bank stabilization the effected areas should be sodded versus seeded. Will NCTR please allow a CLIN line item for sodding along the ditch and bank lines versus seeding?

Answer: Answered in question 30.