Q A_Round_1.docx

IBM14B0002

Questions & Answers

1. Can arched culvert sections throughout the project be cast-in-place to specifications or must they be precast?

2. Will the levee be available for possible BPS traffic by-pass where needed? River material only to be used?

3. I respectfully request the consideration of extending the bid date due to the holiday? Industry practice is to price the day before to maintain a competitive edge on materials and services from suppliers, venders, and sub-contractors. You consideration would be greatly appreciated.

4. Will the 10% price evaluation preference by applied under the HUBZone Program; FAR 19.1301-19.1308? ANSWER: No. This will not be included in the Solicitation.

5. Per the RFP a field office is to be provided for the IBWC/USCOE. Please identify and provide location.

6. Would IBWC consider incorporating the following clause as part of the contract for the Reconstruction of the American Canal Lining Lower Segment (IBM-14-B-0002) bid? 52.219-4 Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns (JAN 2011) ANSWER: No. This will not be included in the Solicitation.

7. With regards to the pre-cast Items, would you accept a cast in place substitution if the materials, designs and end results were equal to those indicated?

8. Can the use of Cast-In-Place methods be listed an Alternate price rather than Pre-Cast?

9. Specification 03-41-00 Precast Structural Concrete requires a PCI plant Group C certification. Group C is designated for Commercial products. According to the PCI website http://www.pci.org/organization-search.aspx there are currently no plants located in or near El Paso, TX. There are 14ea companies (17ea plants) that meet the requirements but this is a group that includes mainly architectural suppliers that do not fabricate culverts. The same companies are located as far as Dallas or Houston. This requirement means a great amount of shipping costs for both the owner and contractor.

a. Austin Pre-stress cast box culverts in El Paso for the previous IBWC project and was not PCI certified.

b. In order to reduce the costs of the project, will the IBWC and design engineers allow the use of TXDOT approved precast and pre-stressed manufacturers, such as Austin Pre-stress?

10. Most, if not all, of the plants that meet the PCI Group C Requirements do not have the forms or experience required for culvert work. Many of the plants that have been contacted cannot furnish the culverts because the forms must be purchased or leased. The custom design makes it cumbersome to fabricate and ship. In either case this means additional costs to both the owner and the contractor.

a. In an effort to save money and improve constructability, will the IBWC consider an alternate design using box culverts that meet or exceed the hydraulic capacity within the same footprint?

11. On Sheet SS-3001: The concrete and reinforcing steel notes call for all reinforcing steel to be epoxy coated. Will this also apply to the reinforcing in the precast structures? Will the IBWC consider waiving the epoxy coating for all structures and/or cast in place slab?

12. Can you please identify who will be considered the Contaminated Soil and Water Generator?

13. How many days after the bid has been received will the contracting officer issue the Notice to Proceed? (Is there a typical rule of thumb that can be provided?)

14. The bid opening is scheduled the day after Labor Day, a national holiday. Many suppliers/subcontractors will be closed several days before the holiday. Will the IBWC delay the bid opening by a week so that the best possible pricing can be obtained?

15. If the excavated material meets the specifications, will the IBWC allow the contractor to use that material as fill in areas not requiring structural or special fill?

16. Line Item 001 - No Cost Receiving Line, 30 EA: Can you please clarify that the unit price and total cost will be zero on our bid form? Answer: Yes, you may record the unit and total cost as $0.00. This is a no cost receiving line used by our agency for invoice processing.

17. Will you define the measurement and payment to each line item? Do you expect any other revisions to page 7 of 47?

18. On sheet of 17 of 47 for the proposal: It calls for the contractor to pay for any overtime incurred by inspectors for work outside of the normal working hours. Can you please state what the average hourly rate will be charged is and if that will include truck and/or labor burden? Is there a minimum amount of time that will be charged?

19. The project call for a registered surveyor to provide intermediate data and final calculation for earthwork as shown on page 01-22-00-2. The project is set up for a lump sum measurement and payment. In order to save the owner and tax payers money will the IBWC exclude requiring the measurement of items paid for as lump sum?

20. Will certified payrolls be required on this project and if so, how often?

21. Specification 01-32-00 requires a full time scheduler to provide weekly, biweekly, and three week look ahead schedules at every progress meeting. The schedules are required to be cost loaded to match the schedule of values. The project may have substantial non-work phases during the irrigation seasons. Will the progress meetings and scheduler be required during non-work phases?