RFI1.pdf

Request For Information (RFI) 1

IFB LEW-0015

Replace Underground Utilities USP Lewisburg

1. The original project is 2005 provided many of the same bid documents that are currently provided, with the exception that there was an attachment dealing with work associated with rehabbing and repainting of the 3 existing water towers/tanks. Is the painting and rehabbing of the water tanks to be included in this proposal? The current bid documents do not state that it is, however the bid doc's did not specifically state that it was required last time either?

Painting and Rehabbing the water towers will not be part of this project.

2. On plan sheet 4B it shows that the new 10" waterline crosses an existing tunnel. Please provide some specifics as to the depth and dimensions of this existing tunnel. Is the tunnel positioned deep enough that the new water line crosses over it without impact, or are we going to need to run under the tunnel? What is the approx. depth of the tunnel from existing grade?

The new 10" water line is located outside the tunnel area.

3. On plan sheet 4, it indicates that the new 4" water line running to the training facility is to cross the corner of the baseball field.

Could this pipe run be repositioned to eliminate trenching through the ball field?

Yes, providing existing utilities and buildings provide clearance.

4. On plan sheet 4, showing the overall site, there is a 2" water service line running to House #42, yet the plan cuts off the house and does not exactly depict what length of pipe run is required to accomplish this work. Could you provide an exact quantity for the new 2" service line, and show how the tie in is required to be made?

All utilities will be connected apprx 5' from the exterior of house. Utilize the scale provided on drawings.

5. On plan sheet 5A, there is nothing accurately depicting what work is required under this contract, verses what extent of work was completed in the phase 1 work that is currently on going. Please provide some method of identifying where our work starts and stops in regard to the work being done inside the prison walls.

The new water main will connect inside the wall at a new valve. All other work is located outside the wall.

6. Is the intent that all new sanitary and waterline tie ins connect at the exterior of each home?

All utilities will be connected apprx 5' from the exterior.

7. Is all of the force main and water service work to the guard towers, part of this project?

No, all this work is complete, also the new water line to the Wardens house has been completed.

8. If the water services to the guard towers are part of this contract please indicate the extent of the work required to get the new service into the guard tower, as we did not physically look at the guard towers during the pre-bid meeting?

All utilities to the towers has been completed.

9. At pre-bid, it was mentioned that we would have be bore a hole through the prison wall to achieve a tie in. Please provide specifics as to what the wall is constructed of, and what the expected thickness of the wall is at the point of tie in.

The wall is reinforced concrete approx 2' thick.

10. On Plan Sheet #1 Under General Notes, Note #19 states that "All Utilities to be abandoned must be properly cut and capped in place. To what extent are the existing abandoned utilities to be cut and capped?

Are all of the existing manholes, inlets, etc. to be left in place and just the pipe to be entrance to be poured shut with concrete? Please indicate exactly what method of abandonment will be acceptable.

If it is deemed that abandoned pipe cannot be removed, the agency would like the pipe to be plugged and capped in such a way as not to let infiltrating water enter the interiors of buildings.

11. Will the BOP provide an area for the contractor to get rid of any spoils material from trench excavation? If so, where is it at on the property?

There will be a designated area for CLEAN FILL to be placed on the agency property. The site will be determined and shown to the selected bidder. Please note all foreign material will be hauled off the agency grounds by the contractor.

The contractor will follow all applicable laws, codes & regulations.

12. Being that the contractor's crew is going to be supervised by a guard, is there any restriction from having multiple crews working on different locations on the job site, at the same time?

Yes, all work will be co-ordinated through the project rep.

13. Section 01410 of the specs denotes that the contractor, at his expense, is required to hire an independent testing lab for inspection and testing of the work. However the spec does not indicate exactly to what extent the testing lab is required to be onsite. Please clarify if the testing is required 100% of the time the work is going on, or to what extent they are to be onsite?

Refer to spec section 01410

14. As one contractor mentioned at the pre-bid meeting, some contractors would prefer to work (4) 10 hour days in lieu of the (5) 8 hour days. Will the contractor be able to choose which duration he prefers to work?

All work will be bid on 5 eight hour days excluding weekends and holidays

15. On page 5 of 10 in spec section 02225 Part 2.6 under Utility Trench Pipe Bedding lists: Plastic Pipe: Natural Sand shall be used for pipe bedding, yet on plan sheet 20 the typical trench detail indicates that gravel bedding is required to be placed. Please indicate if crushed gravel will be acceptable for trench bedding of pipe, and if so what size gravel is required?

Crushed gravel is acceptable according to manufactures recommendations

16. There are some real discrepancies with the scale on some of the contract drawings. Is it possible to get a quantity tabulation of the installed pipe lengths required for this project as a basis to bid from?

The agency does not have a tabulation on quantities.

17. The force main indicated on 5A around the perimeter of the prison wall, indicates that it is to be placed under the entrances at the South East & North sides of the prison wall, could the force main be repositioned around these entrances to avoid the great cost and inconveniences of removing portions of fencing and concrete pavement to trench through & restore these fenced in entrance points?

The force main has be omitted from this project, all work to towers has been completed.

18. There are light poles and exposed electrical conduits around the perimeter or the prison walls, will the contractor be given any as built drawings to help assist him in the trenching of new utilities, in hopes of avoiding hitting anything that is buried?

The agency will work closely with the selected bidder in locations of existing utilities. The selected bidder shall conduct their own on site utility locations.

19. Plan sheet 11 depicts the existing utilities in the reservation area, yet nothing is shown for existing domestic water. What services each home with drinking water?

Refer to sheet 12

20. Is a double check valve required for each residential service line, as listed on page 2 of 4 under spec section 02667 Water Supply Line?

Water line shall run to a new curb stop then continue to tie in within 5' from home.

21. Would you consider allowing the contractor to work a 4 day work week Monday through Thursday at 10 hours per day to reach 40 hours?

All work will be bid on 5 eight hour days excluding weekends and holidays

22. Would you change the project bid from a lump sum bid to an itemized unit bid price? With this all contractors bidding will be bidding the same quantities instead of quantities that each contractor takes off individually? With this you will receive a more accurate and more competitive bid.

The project shall be a lump sum bid as stated in bid documents.

23. If the bid is to remain Lump Sum, would you issue the quantities that your organization has anticipated and has taken off?

All bids shall be based from the documents provided.

24. Would you please issue the mandatory site visit attendance sheet to all the contractors?

The site visit was not mandatory and the names are contained in the meeting minutes that have been posted to FEDBIZZOPPS.