ITB 26-VSW-UNK-011 Amendment 4.pdf

State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

Village Safe Water Program 555 Cordova Street

Anchorage, AK 99501 evan.patterson@alaska.gov

September 29, 2025

To: Vendor List

Re: Amendment 4

ITB 26-VSW-UNK-011

Unalakleet Water System Replacement Project ITB Due Date: October 9, 2025 @ 2:00 PM AST

The following are vendor questions and the department’s response and required changes:

1. Vendor: Is there a designated area within the village for a job shack, laydown area or staging area, and material storage? Is there a dedicated staging area that is at least 2 acres in size?

Department: It is up to the contractor to coordinate with the city on a suitable staging area for materials.

2. Vendor: Is there local housing available that the contractor can utilize, as known by the village? If so, what is the associated cost? If not, is there a suitable site or lot where a man camp could be installed?

Department: There is local housing available. It is up to the contractor to coordinate with the city and local hotel owners on long term rates.

3. Vendor: Could you please quantify the expected amount of contaminated soils for each lump sum item for bidding purposes?

Department: The amount of contaminated soils is unknown.

mailto:evan.patterson@alaska.gov

4. Vendor: Is it permissible to dispose of contaminated soils locally? Will there be any cost to the contractor for use of the local landfill.

Department: Please review the Contaminated Soil Management Plan.

5. Vendor: Does the local fill meet the specifications for classified fill, backfill, and pipe bedding and leveling material?

Department: The intent of the design is for the contractor to utilize the locally available processed fill for construction purposes. Recent past projects have successfully utilized locally processed fill to meet the required gradations.

6. Vendor: Is it permissible to reuse the original fill material as classified backfill?

Department: Excavated material may be utilized as classified backfill if it meets the gradation requirements noted in Section 31 05 13 or is otherwise approved by the engineer for use.

The design intent is to reutilize excavation for backfill to the extent possible.

7. Vendor: If all or a portion of the project is awarded, would it be permissible to complete all asphalt work at one time, regardless of which alternative the work falls under? Consolidating asphalt operations would allow for cost savings by mobilizing asphalt equipment only once.

Department: Asphalt paving can be completed for all awarded portions at one time.

8. Vendor: If construction on a loop is initiated during a given construction season, is it required that the loop also be completed within that same season?

Department: Optimally, loops started during a given season would be completed and started up that same season. However, we understand this may not be possible in all situations. At minimum, all customers shall have continuous, reliable, code compliant temporary water service throughout the project. If temporary services are operated into the cold season / winter the contractor is fully responsible for maintaining continuous service throughout the winter which may require burying and/or insulating and heating temporary service lines.

9. Vendor: Given that this is expected to be a multi-year project, potentially extending over five years, there is a high likelihood of encountering material cost escalations, particularly when materials are procured seasonally or on an as-needed basis. These cost fluctuations may be driven by factors such as inflation, tariff changes, or supply chain disruptions.

If the contract allows us to procure and stockpile all required materials for awarded portions of the project upfront, we may be able to mitigate these escalation risks. However, this approach would require approval to deliver and store large quantities of material on-site, as well as having a sufficient laydown area for secure storage, which may exceed 2 acres of land due to the scale of the project.

Additionally, will it be permissible to procure and deliver materials for all awarded portions of the project at once, in order to stockpile them on site and mitigate future cost increases?

Department: Material cost escalation will be handled in accordance with 00700 General Conditions of the Contract for Buildings, Article 10 – Contract Price; Computation and

Change and Article 15 – Claims for Adjustment and Disputes. It is permissible to procure and deliver material for all awarded portions of the project at once.

10. Vendor: Are there any local permits or access approvals required for this project?

Department: All known permitting requirements are identified in the Project Contract Documents. The Engineer is not aware of any local permit requirements but the bidders are encouraged to contact the City of Unalakleet to confirm prior to bidding.

Easements have been obtained for all work outside of existing rights of way. Contractor shall notify property owners prior to beginning work within easements and shall work with property owners to minimize disturbance during construction.

11. Vendor: Is all existing pipe to be abandoned in place and filled? If not please quantify amount of pipe to be disposed of for bidding purposes.

Department: See section 00 43 22 for estimated quantities.

12. Vendor: Does traffic control require a licensed or certified individual?

Department: Bidder is required to follow all applicable laws regarding required training for traffic controllers / flaggers operating on public roads in Alaska.

13. Vendor: Detail 1 on Sheet C505 states: “CLASSIFIED BACKFILL OR APPROVED FILL EXCAVATED FROM TRENCH.” For bidding purposes, should contractors assume 100% reuse of excavated trench material as fill? If not, please clarify the type(s) and quantity of classified fill that we should bid to be imported.

Department: For the purposes of bidding, bidders may assume that, on average, 50% of trench excavation will meet the requirements for Classified Backfill, suitable for placement above the pipe bedding material.

14. Vendor: It appears that allowances have been made in the specifications for Classified Fill, Backfill, Pipe Bedding, and Leveling Course to permit the use of locally available or locally processed aggregates, rather than barging in Aggregates that may be required with stricter compliance of the standard specifications. Please confirm that this was the intent of the design team?

Department: See above department response to question # 5.

15. Vendor: Will substantial completion be granted for all alternates prior to paving, allowing all alternates to be paved together as a single final completion item?

Department: Substantial completion of each phase can occur for each phase prior to asphalt paving. Asphalt paving can have a separate substantial completion once it is completed.

16. Vendor: How will costs for contaminated soil and water management be addressed under this contract? If this work is to be considered lump sum, please provide:

• Expected quantities of contaminated soil to be removed (in tons).

• Anticipated groundwater pumping capacity (in gallons per minute).

• Expected quantities of granular activated carbon (GAC) required.

Department: See above response to question #3 for contaminated soil. See below response to question # 18 for groundwater. Quantities for GAC is unknown. See 00700 General Conditions of the Contract for Buildings, Articles 4 Lands and Physical Conditions and 9 Changes.

17. Vendor: If RCRA-regulated contaminants are encountered, how will costs be addressed under the contract?

Department: See 00700 General Conditions of the Contract for Buildings, Articles 4 Lands and Physical Conditions and 9 Changes.

18. Vendor: Should we expect groundwater dewatering? If so what pumping capacity (GPM) should contractors anticipate in preparing their bids?

Department: The city rarely encounters groundwater during maintenance of the existing water and sewer systems. However, for bidding purposes, the contractor should assume that a solids handling trash pump or combination of pumps with a combined pumping capacity of at least 150 gpm shall be maintained on site for use if required.

19. Vendor: Please provide specifications for concrete and rebar, none provided.

Department: Concrete shall have a 28 day strength, Fc, of 3000 psi for type I cement.

Minimum cement content shall be 6 sacks per cubic yard.

Reinforcing shall be ASTM A615, grade 60 rebar installed in accordance with ACI 318.

20. Vendor: Please provide specifications for lumber, Pressure treated timbers, T1.11 and other wood products, none provided.

Department: See below specifications.

a. Lumber: Lumber specifications are provided on the drawings where appropriate.

SPF #2 or better for all nominal 2x lumber. Plywood shall be CDX thickness as specified. T1-11 shall be 5/8” thick exterior rated with 8” groove spacing with smooth exterior finish, or approved equal.

b. Pressure Treated Timbers: Doug fir No. 2 or better, with pressure treatment in accordance with AWPA Std. LP-22, 0.60 min retention, rated for ground contact.

Field treat cut ends in accordance with AWPA std. M4. All wood connections shall be made with ASTM A123 (G90) hot dipped galvanized bolts or lags with washers unless otherwise noted on the plans.

21. Vendor: Please provide specifications for Bar Grate Stair shown on M411, none provided.

Department: Bar grating selection by Contractor as approved by the department. However, we would recommend a 12ga, 2.0” thick grip strut product similar to McMaster Carr item #

6855T66 OAE.

22. Vendor: Please provide specification for work table with service sink shown on M411, none provided.

Department: ULINE Model #H-9652R OAE or State approved equivalent.

23. Vendor: Please provide specifications for sheet metal roofing of arctic boxes, none provided.

Department: 26 gage galvanized. Sheet metal as shown on sheet C612.

24. Vendor: Please provide specifications for EPDM, tapes and weather barriers at arctic boxes, none provided.

Department: Rubber strip shall be Black, Ethylene Polypropylene (EPDM) rubber sheeting, Shore A Durometer Hardness of 55-65, 1/8" Thick x 8" Wide (See Dtl 1, Sht C601). Top gasket shown on sheet C613 shall be McMaster Carr Part Number 4812N13 OAE or State approved equivalent.

25. Vendor: Can city owned property be used for laydown or parking? Can available space to use be marked on plan?

Department: See above response to question # 1.

26. Vendor: 0100000 General Conditions 1.7 B on site work hours. Can work hours be 7-days a week and 12-hours a day? Crews will not want weekends off and if contractors have to pay them, there should be work progress.

Department: Approved.

27. Vendor: Can we partially replace a water loop and tie-it into the existing system for service if we don’t get the entire loop done in one season or want use a hybrid of new and old piping to maintain water services?

Department: That approach would be acceptable only if it can be shown that alternate temporary service approaches are not feasible, and if the following conditions are met:

• The system pumps and add heat systems can provide sufficient flow and heat for adequate freeze protection. The contractor may be required to provide engineering calculations showing that adequate freeze protection is afforded by the proposed temporary system.

• The existing (old) pipelines are flushed (same as new pipeline) prior to connection with the new system to prevent sediment or iron bacteria from transferring into the new system.

• The department agrees in writing to the approach prior to implementation.

28. Vendor: Are there existing fire hydrants in the water system, if so can we use them for flushing water and or temp water services?

Department: The existing system has 2” diameter flushing ports at regular intervals consisting of camlock and ball valve assemblies connected to the main using strap on service saddles within insulated enclosures. It is unlikely that sufficient flow could be achieved through the hydrants for flushing purposes. The hydrants could potentially be utilized for supplying temporary water service.

29. Vendor: Please clarify water meters. Detail 2 on C506 shows a Fuji electronic flow meter as part of the flush port assembly. Spec 40 91 23.33 2.5 states Endress-Hauser as the meter manufacturer. Is the meter at the flush ports powered? How are they read? What is the basis of design?

Department: The flow meters specified in in spec section 40 91 23.33 are intended for installation within the water treatment plant. The flow measuring device shown on Detail 2 Sheet C506 is a strap on device that the City utilizes to locate leaks in their system. The meters are read via a portable receiver that the City already owns. For the purposes of bidding, eliminate the requirement for providing the fuji electric flowmeter detectors at each hydrant.

30. Vendor: C506 detail 2 flush port assembly, should a second main line butterfly valve be added to service / isolate the main into sections for flushing and chlorination, plus allow isolation for the Fuji Flow meter?

Department: No.

31. Vendor: While we reconnect buildings that have fire suppression, do we need to provide fire watch?

Department: Contractor to coordinate with building owners to determine the requirements for fire watch, if any.

32. Vendor: For temporary water services to buildings that have fire suppression systems, do we need to provide full firefighting water capability, and can you provide what the required flow rate is for sprinkled buildings?

Department: Temporary services to buildings with sprinkler systems must have the same, or greater, water service flows as the current system.

33. Vendor: 05 General Conditions 6.6.2 shop drawings. What is the expectation of shop drawings? The water treatment plant work is minimal and the water loops will be asbuilted.

Department: Shop drawings will be required for all control panels, assemblies (pump skid assemblies, etc), contractor designed components (such as the grating assemble), etc.

Manufacturer cut sheets will be required for all components integrated into the work as listed on the submittal registry and noted in the specifications.

34. Vendor: Please clarify Fire hydrants in the new design. C506 detail 1 notes a hydrant, which is looks like a 2” ball valve. Spec 331419, has requirements for a typical fire hydrant which would connect below ground and rise up to street level. Typical hydrant installations are 10-feet deep and well supported by backfill. C506 is above grade and mounting a standard fire hydrant could pose freezing issues as well as torque to the water main when used. On the water loop layout, I see symbols for blow downs, however I see hydrant notes on drawings (I.E C315).

Department: Replace all references to hydrants in the drawings and specifications with “flushing ports”. The flushing ports are not designed to provide flows traditionally required for firefighting purposes.

35. Vendor: 01 74 19 – 1 1.3 C 1 calls for trash disposal by weight. Are there truck Scales in Unalakleet?

Department: Contractor to coordinate with the City regarding local rules and costs for disposal of construction debris. We are not aware of any truck scales in the City.

36. Vendor: What are the dump fees, and can we dispose of the demolished water treatment equipment / pipe & arctic pipe in the dump?

Department: See response to question #35 above.

37. Vendor: Please confirm that the city water treatment plant will provide all water needed for hydrotesting, flushing and chlorination.

Department: Water stored in the City’s water storage tank is available for these purposes.

Contractor is responsible for paying for the water at the City’s commercial rate. The contractor’s use of the water shall not endanger the City’s water treatment system. When temperatures are below freezing, the contractor’s use of water shall not reduce the level in the 1-million gallon tank to less than 50% full.

38. Vendor: Can we use sewage manholes to dispose of hydrotesting, flushing, and chlorination water?

Department: Yes, however chlorinated water will need to be dechlorinated prior to disposal.

39. Vendor: Will preliminary air testing be sufficient for covering pipe joints and therefore minimize open trenching?

Department: Air testing of the pipelines will not be allowed due to public safety concerns.

40. Vendor: Drawing C001, Temporary water service notes 1.6. Please explain the intent or logic of engaging an engineer for a cover letter. What is the cover letter to contain?

Department: The intent is for the temporary water service plan to be stamped by an engineer registered in Alaska. The cover letter would simply state that the engineer has reviewed the temporary water service plan and approves it. This is a department requirement.

41. Vendor: Will existing arctic pipe abandoned in place need to be sealed or filled?

Department: Yes, where existing arctic pipe is encountered and severed, contractor shall cap or seal the open pipe ends. If the pipe is not severed then it can be abandoned in place as-is.

42. Vendor: Drawings C300, Pink marker showing buildings requesting a water service. Are we to plan services to these buildings?

Department: For the purposes of bidding, contractor may assume that only the buildings noted in black as “to be served” will be served by the project.

43. Vendor: Drawings C203, through C211, is this the definitive list of services? Does this list overrule the loop plans if there is a conflict?

Department: The intent is for the list on sheets C203 – C211 to show an equivalent number of services as those shown on the plan view detail maps. However, for bidding purposes, if there is a conflict, the resource showing the larger number of services shall rule.

44. Vendor: Please issue a drawing with the new main and services overlaying the existing main and services.

Department: This request is rejected. Sheet C-101 presents the existing service lines and sheet C-102 presents the proposed service lines. Combining them into one sheet would be difficult to interpret given the quantity of information and overlap between the new and proposed service lines.

Evan Patterson

Procurement Specialist