MAPS CETEP REMODEL SOW.docx

CETEP DORMITORY AREA

CETEP – COMAYAGUA, HONDURAS

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

PROJECT NAME: “CETEP DORMITORY AREA REMODEL,

COMAYAGUA, HONDURAS”

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION C: DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/WORK STATEMENT

PREFACE

The Embassy of the United States of America in Tegucigalpa, through the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Agency (INL), has a cooperation program with the Criminal Investigation Police School of Honduras (EIC). This program is focused on improving the academic resources in order to provide a better knowledge to the investigators. In this area of cooperation, INL will build a Dormitory area at the existing facilities located at ITP “Instituto Técnico Policial” (Nave 203), Colonia San Miguel, Comayagua, Honduras.

The objective of the project is to build a modular structure that can be transformed into different size rooms creating scenarios to simulate criminal investigation operations for students. These structures will be constructed inside the Criminal Investigation School, ITP Comayagua, Honduras.

The project shall be conducted in accordance with the plans and specifications detailed in this document. The contractor shall provide all materials, staff, tools, and equipment necessary for the construction of this facility.

The Contractor shall perform the following work:

SCOPE SUMMARY

A.- GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Embassy of the United States of America through its agency INL have a cooperation program with the CETEP of Honduras, this program is focused in improving the academic resources in order to provide a better knowledge to the Police Officer. In this area of cooperation, INL had decided to provide the adequate infrastructure by remodeling an existing building (Hangar) that had been designated to the CETEP Unit by the Government of Honduras.

The purpose of the contract is to remodel the existing building according to the architectural design that had been performed by the INL’s technical advisor.

The existing building (“Nave 202”) is located at Colonia San Miguel, Comayagua, Honduras at “ ITP “Istituto Técnico Policial”.

The project shall be conducted according to the plans and specifications detailed in this document. The Contractor shall perform the following work:

A.1.- Preliminary work:

Preliminary work includes the construction of temporary facilities according to the specifications detailed in chapter 1. These facilities shall be done inside the existing building.

Also preliminary work includes the demolition of the existing walls, windows and doors that are no longer needed in order to accomplish with the new architectural distribution.

The preliminary work shall also include a technical revision of the designs and the technical advice in order to nationalize the designs and accomplish with all the local requirements that the host country demands for construction approvals. Therefore the contractor shall provide all the qualified technical staff that will be responsible of all the designs, and will develop all the drawings according the local regulations based on the designs, drawings and specifications stated in this document.

A.2.- Construction of new walls:

The contractor shall build the walls according to the architectural drawings and these specifications, nevertheless the contractor shall guarantee the stability of the walls, therefore the contractor shall include any type of reinforcement that he considers and that is not included in this specifications and drawings.

The walls shall be finished with Masonry Structure according to the materials specifications, this type of finish will also be applied to the existing exterior and interior block walls in the areas that are visible and in the area of the improvement that are detailed in drawings.

A.3.- Floors & Coatings

The contractor shall demolish the existing floor and build a new concrete floor for the following areas: Bathrooms. The reconstruction of the floor will be by using a concrete layer (210kg/cm2) of 10 cm in thickness with a reinforcement of electro-welded mesh of 150x150x4mm.

Also a renovation of floors with an epoxy treatment shall be performed for the following areas: Dormitory areas for these areas the contractor shall first repair all the cracks and holes detected in the existing concrete floor, then shall clean the area and build a colored epoxy layer according to the specifications.

All the bathrooms and Laundry of the project shall be covered with new ceramic High Traffic floor tile according to the specifications.

Between the finished floors and the interior walls mop boards of timber shall be provided and installed by the Contractor , except for those areas that are covered with ceramic tiles.

A.4.- Coating for Walls and Countertops New ceramic wall tiles shall be provided and installed by the Contractor in all the bathrooms according to drawings. It is needed to clarify that at the bathrooms of the dormitories, the ceramic tile will be installed from floor to ceiling.

The new ceramic wall tile shall be according to the respective specification.

All the walls of the project shall be painted with acrylic paint according to the spec except for those that are covered with ceramic tiles or with aluminum panels. The paint shall include the existing walls at the interior and exterior areas that are part of the renovation.

Regarding the countertops for it shall be constructed with granite manufactured on site and according to the specifications, but just for the bathrooms can be accepted granite countertops manufactured at the factory. Granite Countertop shall be according to the respective specification.

A.5.- Ceilings

Ceiling type “gypsum - vinyl” of 2x4’ with metallic support shall be installed for the Entire Space.

At the first floor in areas code the existing ceiling is the second floor that is supported over metallic beans and panels, this ceiling shall be painted with enamel including the metallic beams and the horizontal metallic panels.

A.6.- Hydraulic and Sanitary Systems a.- Construction of a potable water system:

Following the specifications stated in the project and drawings, the contractor shall provide, place, connect, fix and test all the pipes, accessories and special items, as well as the required valves, which together will serve to conduct potable water from the existing water supply that is located in front of the building to the different sanitary devices. The Contractor shall include all the accessories needed to connect the building to the existing water system.

Also, the contractor shall provide and install all the pipes and accessories for the hot water system that provide the supply for the showers. The heaters system will be provided by INL in a future; therefore the contractor shall deliver one outlet for the cold water, and two outlets for the hot water according to drawing W-03. In these water outlets the contractor shall provide and install 3 gate valves with a cap.

The system shall follow the local regulations and the regulations of the American Water Works Association (AWWA), and the National Standard Plumbing Code (NSPC).

b.- Construction of the sewer system:

The Contractor shall provide, place, connect and satisfactorily test the pipes, revision points, and other devices of the entire sewer systems for the building. The sewer systems to be built are detailed in drawing. Requirements include a connection to an existing sewage system located in the corner of the building to provide appropriate drainage of wastewater from the building.

Also the contractor will repair the existing metallic gutter that collects the rainy water from the roof. The contractor can use the existing metallic gutter that does not have holes or that is not bent.

A.8.- Construction of the Electric System:

The Contractor shall design and build the electric system according to the local electric company regulations, the designs shall be developed by a certificated Electric Engineer.

The internal electric system of the building shall be designed and built according the basic requirements detailed in drawings EL-01, EL-02, and EL-03. Also the contractor shall design and build the electric connections (outlets, pipes and cables) for the air conditioning and ventilation systems. It is needed to clarify that the ventilation system and the air conditioning system shall be designed by the Contractor, for this design review section G.9.c.

The electric supply for the building shall be from the high voltage line that is in front of the building. The contractor shall also develop the design of the high voltage transformation to provide the appropriate power connection. The required transformer will be provided by INL once the contractor delivers the final electric design and the specifications for the transformer and connections. The type of connection will be according to the local regulations for an aerial supply.

Also, INL is going to provide the connection from the transformer to the electric meter and from there to the main electric board. The contractor shall provide and install the main electric board and all the secondary electric boards and their respective connections.

A.9.- Construction of Special Systems a.- Construction of the Emergency Power System:

Also the contractor will design a power emergency system that should provide electricity through a diesel generator. This emergency system will provide power to the offices area and the academic area that includes the following areas.

INL will provide the generator, the transfer board and the respective contentions to the transformer and to the main board according to the designs performed by the contractor. Therefore the contractor shall prepare and deliver the specifications required for the acquisition of the mentioned equipment.

The generator will be located in area 300, the connections shall be aerial and shall accomplish with all the requirements and regulations of the NFPA and those from the local Electric Company.

b.- Construction of the Fire Protection System:

The fire protection system includes a fire alarm system with smoke detectors, and Fire Host Cabinets that should be according to drawings EL-04 and EL-05.

The contractor shall design this system according to the mentioned drawings. Based on the final design delivered by the Contractor, INL will provide and install all the equipment and materials for the fire alarm system, while the contractor provides the power connection for the fire alarm central panel.

Finally the Contractor shall provide and install all the equipment and pipes for the Fire Host Cabinets according to the drawings and specifications (Also review the water system).

c.- Air Conditioning and Ventilation System:

INL is going to provide an air conditioning and ventilation system to the building to have acclimatized areas. All the equipment for this system will be provided by INL, while the contractor will provide the electric outlets in order to connect the equipment.

The contractor shall design the air conditioning system considering the following requirements:

· All the remodeled areas of the building will have an air conditioning system that will provide a temperature of an average of approximately 20˚ C, except for the following areas that will use fans: halls and for the laundries.

INL will provide and install all the equipment and ducts for the different air conditioning systems designed by the contractor. Also INL will provide the fans for the halls (104, 202, 213) and for the laundries (109), while the Contractor shall provide and install all the required power outlets in order to connect these equipment.

Regarding the ventilation system, the contractor shall design an appropriate system in order to extract the odors from the toilets. INL will provide the extractors, while the contractor shall install it and also shall provide and install all the ducts and power connections. The ducts shall conduct the odors to the exterior of the building.

A.10.- Doors and Windows:

The contractor shall provide and install the doors and windows according to the architectural drawings and the respective specifications detailed in this document If the Contractor has to provide other type of model it can be done by a simple COR authorization, but the materials and the main concept shall remain the same as it is established in the specifications. Before the Contractor manufactures these items, the Contractor will provide samples for the COR approval.

A.11.- Renovation of the main façade:

The architectural design for the remodeling of the building includes a renovation of the existing façade located at the main entrance. The renovation includes new elements constructed with aluminum sheets that will provide another aspect to the building. The contractor shall build the new façade according to the architectural drawings and the specifications stated in this document. Also the Contractor shall design and build the structural supports for the new elements.

A.12.- Optional Item:

The following Items shall be an option that will be added to the contract by the Contracting Officer in case that the Government decided to perform it.

Optional Item 1: New Roof for the Existing Building:

The existing roof shall be changed by a new thermal and acoustic roof according to drawings and to the material specification. This change shall be performed from axis “A” to axis “J” as it is detailed in drawing AD-08. In the joint between the new roof and the existing roof (axis “J”), the new roof shall be located under the existing roof with an overlap no less than 20 cm. All the existing roof sheets that will be disassembled in the area of the renovation shall be properly stored and delivered to the beneficiary by a signed inventory. Also in the area of the renovation the Contractor shall paint the existing metallic structure of the roof with anti-rust paint.

Optional Item 2: Roof for exterior hall

According the architectural design, the Contractor shall design and build a cover at the entrance of the barracks and dormitories. This cover shall be constructed with a metallic structure and a thermal & acoustic roof according to the materials specifications. The structure shall be with metallic shapes of no less than 3mm in thickness, painted with two layers of anti-rust paint and two layers of enamel. Also the columns shall be constructed over a reinforced concrete foundation.

B.- COMPLIANCE WITH SPECIFICATIONS

All work shall be carried out in strict compliance with all contract clauses and these technical specifications. In the event that the Contractor discovers discrepancies contained in the various design/technical documents, Contractor must immediately notify the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) before taking any other action.

C.- QUANTITIES

This contract is based on a lump sum priced solicitation. Any quantities indicated in the specifications and drawings are for reference only and the Contractor is responsible for providing quantities needed to complete the work, without any price adjustment after award.

D.- TRIALS AND TESTS

Materials, permanent equipment, its accessories and other elements destined to the work, shall be subject to trials and tests necessary to verify their compliance with specifications, properties and characteristics, in accordance with permitted requirements and tolerances, in line with the use for which they have been intended. Materials, equipment, accessories or elements that have not been accepted by the COR, shall be withdrawn from the work site or replaced, at Contractor’s cost.

E.- WORK EXECUTION

The different items of the construction program shall be carried out in a gradual and progressive manner, without initiating work that could later be affected by other items that have not been concluded or that lack an adequate support or safety, taking care that work that has been finished is not affected by weather or other elements.

Contractor shall be responsible for maintaining quality of work by following proper operation procedures in construction.

Throughout the different stages of construction work, Contractor shall obtain approval, either from the COR, in order to continue with subsequent stages of construction. Before receiving approval to continue through various stages of work, samples of completed work shall be tested to verify the quality of the work.

The Contractor shall provide a construction schedule in which all the works shall be detailed with the date of performance and delivery. For this purpose the contractor shall consider that INL will require at least 3 months in order to provide the equipment that INL is being committed to deliver. This period is considered from the date that Contractor provides the respective designs (drawings and specifications). If for some reason INL does not deliver these equipment at the programed date and it will cause a project’s delay, the government will approve a performance extension, but it will not approve any cost adjustment.

F.- COST OF THE PROJECT

The Contractor should include all the costs of the materials, labor, transportation, and materials testing that will be needed to complete the project and comply with all the specifications stated in this document.

All the equipment that will be provided by INL and that are specifically appointed in the general description are not part of the cost provided by the Contractor, other equipment that are not mentioned and is required for the project completion according to drawings and specifications shall be included by the Contractor in his costs.

PRELIMINARY CONSTRUCTION WORK

Preliminary work includes the construction of temporary contractor offices/facilities according to the specifications detailed in Section C.3.3. Area for these facilities shall be provided inside the Criminal Investigation School where the modular facility will be constructed.

Preliminary work includes the demolition of the concrete floor and minor excavation according to structural drawings in order to build the respective foundations for the main structure of the tactical area.

The preliminary work shall also include a technical design review to confirm that the designs and specifications comply with local and national construction codes and guidelines.

The contractor shall provide a technical review and construction documents for the structural and electrical drawings, taking into consideration the possibility of streamlining the building foundation and structural steel framing.

CONSTRUCTION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS

Concrete rebar reinforced Foundations will be composed of Isolated Footing with a concrete resistance of F’c= 280kg/cm2 with a thickness of 30 cm and Strip Footing with a concrete resistance F’c= 210 kg/cm2 with a thickness of of 20 cm.

CONCRETE FLOOR

Concrete floor will be completed in all areas where it has been demolished for excavation. The finished floor level must match the current floor level. This floor will be constructed with concrete of 210kg/cm2 of resistance in a thickness no less than 15 cm. The floor finish will match the finish of the existing floor. Provide isolation joints at all columns.

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW CONCRETE MASONRY (CMU) WALLS

The contractor shall build the walls according to the architectural drawings and specifications. The contractor shall include all vertical and horizontal reinforcement that is required by the contractor’s drawings. The contractor shall guarantee the structural integrity of all walls using a licensed structural engineer to perform all necessary calculations prior to construction. Provide isolation joints. The block walls shall be finished with plaster according to the materials specifications, and to the architectural and structural drawings.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM

The contractor shall build the electric system to meet the basic requirements identified in drawings EL-01, EL-02, and EL-03 and according to the Local Electric Code.

The electric supply for the building shall be from the main electric service that is located in the back of the Criminal Investigation School. The final connection from the electric supply to the main electric boards shall be installed by the Contractor.

All electrical equipment and materials and work procedures for the installation thereof will faithfully comply with the laws, norms, codes and regulations in force:

· The Republic of Honduras,

· The National Electric Power Company - ENEE (Regulation of Extension of Lines, Rules of Construction of Lines, Norms of Measurement and Regulation of Electric Service.

· The National Electrical Code of the United States (National Electrical Code - NEC; NFPA 70) in its latest edition.

· Structured wiring regulations ANSI/TIA/EIA.

DOORS AND WINDOWS

The contractor shall provide and install the doors and windows according to the construction drawing S-01 and the respective specifications detailed in this document. A summary of doors and windows are detailed in drawing S-01. Before the Contractor manufactures these items, the Contractor will provide samples for the COR approval.

CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

Points of Contact (POC) Points of Contact for this solicitation are:

{Provide all INL contact information for CO, Procurement Officer, COR, etc.}

Period of Performance Period of Performance (POP) The Period of Performance for this requirement is XX calendar days from the issuance of the Notice to Proceed. The Bidder is required to provide a Proposed Construction Schedule that adheres to the estimated timeline. Deviations due to weather or site conditions from the Bidder's Proposed Construction Schedule will be reviewed and considered by the CO on a case by case basis.

Contractor’s Role and Responsibilities The Contractor’s role will consist of providing services to include, but not limited to the design review and construction of the Dormitory Area to include final shop drawings, Bill of Materials, schedules, manpower estimates and cost estimates.

The Contractor shall submit two (2) CV (Curriculum Vitae) packages for each required discipline to INL. The packages shall contain the following minimum information:

a. Most recent professional experience

b. Education, including all relevant degrees awarded and institutions attended with dates.

c. Copies of all current certifications and licenses

d. Relevant work experience for the past five years

e. Copy of engineering/construction report written by the candidate.

f. The Contractor shall identify a Project Manager/Lead Engineer as a POC (Point of Contact) to coordinate with INL for the submission of candidates. The Project Manager will reside in Comayaua during the entire construction process and be present at the site while construction works are in progress.

g. The Contractor shall provide pricing for design review and construction.

h. The pricing schedule shall be inclusive of all direct and indirect costs to place the required staff on the project. The Contractor assumes all expenses for its engineering staffs, including but not limited to: travel to project sites (air, automobile, etc.) accommodations, per diem, security (if required by the Contractor), communications (telephone, computer, etc.).

j. The US Government will not assume any costs over and above the pricing schedule submitted on the Contractor’s proposal.

k. The Contractor shall provide the following documents with the proposals for review by INL:

a. Quality Control Plan (QCP) - The QCP describes the internal staffing and procedures that the prospective provider will use to meet the quality, quantity, timeliness, responsiveness, customer satisfaction, and other service delivery requirements in the SOW.

b. Past Performance – Provide examples of past performance within the past five (5) years previous performance on work comparable to that being competed for the purpose of predicting the quality of future performance relative to other offers.

c. Management Plan - describes the processes used by the contractor to assure the USG that the terms and conditions of the contract are met. The processes addressed are those necessary to fulfill contract management responsibilities and ensure that performance is adequately monitored

Type of Contract

This will be a Firm Fixed Price contract. No additional sums will be payable due to escalation in the cost of materials, equipment, or labor. Nor will the contract price be adjusted on account of fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Modifications to the contract pricing or duration of services shall be authorized by the CO (Contracting Officer). The Contractor shall not deviate from the terms of the contract. Any deviation by the Contractor without written documentation and authorization from the CO will put the Contractor at risk.

Staffing and Personnel Requirements The Contractor shall make available qualified Engineers for the design review and construction of the Dormitory Area.

The Contractor shall submit candidates within required engineering disciplines and with the minimum qualifications outlined below:

a. BS in Engineering – Architectural, Civil and Structural. BS degrees in one or more of the categories will be considered on an individual basis.

b. Five years of verifiable experience working in their assigned discipline area.

c. Intermediate to advanced skills with design/scheduling software platforms (Microsoft Project and AutoCAD).

d. Verifiable ability to produce clear and concise inspection reports.

The Lead Engineer will be registered and hold a license recognized by either Honduras or the United States. Engineers supervised by the Lead Engineer do not need to be licensed, but must meet the minimum requirements described in Section 8.

Submittals Requirements Work shall not proceed on any component until required submittals (product data, details, shop drawings, etc.) have been approved by INL. Contractor to provide submittal schedule prior to start of construction.

Reporting Requirements

a. Trip Reports: Trip Reports (electronic) shall be in sufficient detail to identify dates, locations, points of contact, attendees, directions received, and areas of concern and salient items of interest identified at the meeting or on the trip. All minutes or trip reports shall be submitted to the COR within seven (7) working days of completing the Government-authorized trip. Trip reports shall be in English only.

b. Monthly Reports: The Contractor shall provide Monthly Status Reports (MSRs) to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). Reports shall include at a minimum an executive summary, team personnel, skill levels, schedule tracking, travel conducted, and any issues, recommendations and updates/changes. The MSR shall also provide a chart showing the actual work completed versus the planned work completed as noted on the original schedule submitted to INL for review and approval. The MSR is to provide information on work completed, work in progress and work outstanding, as well as highlighting problems encountered and anticipated. Monthly progress reports shall be in English only. Draft deliverables for the Monthly Status Report shall be submitted five (5) working days following each month to the COR. The COR will respond within five (5) working days with comments. The Contractor shall incorporate the comments within five (5) working days. For final deliverables, the COR will either accept or reject them within five (5) working days of submission. Final MSRs shall also be provided to the Contracting Officer. In the event of rejection, the COR will notify the Contractor in writing of the reasons for such rejection. Absence of notification will be construed as an acceptance.

a. Weekly Updates: Contractor shall provide weekly updates of accomplishments, plans of actions, outstanding tasks, problems encountered and solutions, recommendations for process improvements regarding assigned tasks, and future or projected tasks or issues. Weekly updates shall be in English only General Specifications All work shall be carried out in strict compliance with all contract clauses and these technical specifications. In the event that the Contractor discovers discrepancies contained in the various design/technical documents, Contractor must immediately notify the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) before taking any other action.

Quantities This contract is based on a lump sum priced solicitation. Any quantities indicated in the specifications and drawings are for reference only and the Contractor is responsible for providing quantities needed to complete the work, without any price adjustment after award.

Trials and Tests Materials, permanent equipment, its accessories and other elements destined to the work, shall be subject to trials and tests necessary to verify their compliance with specifications, properties and characteristics, in accordance with permitted requirements and tolerances, in line with the use for which they have been intended. Materials, equipment, accessories or elements that have not been accepted by the COR, shall be withdrawn from the work site or replaced, at Contractor’s cost. Laboratory tests can be carried out, according to the specific case, at the work site or in laboratories previously authorized by the COR. Materials that bear quality certificates issued by ISO or its equivalent, do not need to be routinely tested. Costs of laboratory trials and tests shall be for the account of Contractor. The COR shall be able to carry out special trials and tests at any time if it is needed to clarify the quality of any item.

Work Execution The different items of the construction program shall be carried out in a gradual and progressive manner, without initiating work that could later be affected by other items that have not been concluded or that lack an adequate support or safety, taking care that work that has been finished is not affected by weather or other elements.

Contractor shall be responsible for maintaining quality of work by following proper operation procedures in construction.

Throughout the different stages of construction work, Contractor shall obtain approval, either from the COR, in order to continue with subsequent stages of construction. Before receiving approval to continue through various stages of work, samples of completed work shall be tested to verify the quality of the work.

The Contractor shall provide a construction schedule in which all the works shall be detailed with the date of performance and delivery. For this purpose, the contractor shall consider that INL will require at least 3 months in order to provide the equipment that INL is being committed to deliver. This period is considered from the date that Contractor provides the respective designs (drawings and specifications). If for some reason INL does not deliver this equipment at the programed date and it will cause a project’s delay, the government will approve a performance extension, but it will not approve any cost adjustment.

C.3.0 Project Cost The Contractor should include all the costs of the materials, labor, transportation, and materials testing that will be needed to complete the project and comply with all the specifications stated in this document.

C.3.1 General Construction Standards The standards shown below are not all-inclusive but shall be used for project construction as appropriate:

i. American Concrete Institute (ACI)

ii. Portland Cement Association (PCA)

iii. American Welding Society (AWS)

iv. American Standards for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

v. American Institute for Steel Construction (AISC)

vi. Underwriters Laboratories (UL)

vii. National Electric Code (NEC)

viii. National Electrical Manufacturer Association (NEMA)

ix. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

x. Codigo Hondureño de la Construcción (CHOC-08)

C.4 TASK SPECIFICATIONS

C.4.1 LAYING OUT AND LEVELING

Prior to initiating construction, the Contractor and INL COR will define the boundaries of the components of the project in accordance with the project drawings. The Contractor is solely responsible for verifying all elevations and locating all benchmarks within the project site.

Before beginning the construction, the Contractor shall verify all drawings and specifications for accuracy. Any discrepancy between the drawings and contractor analyses will be reported immediately to the COR who will provide further guidance.

(Include “Locating of underground utilities” in a separate paragraph The construction axes and levels shall be marked in the building in a safe manner. The marks should be precise, clear, and safe and remain throughout the duration of the project.

To comply with these requirements, the Contractor shall provide an expert topographer/surveyor, supported by precision equipment such as: total station, levels, measuring tape, etc. as required for the placement of benchmarks and layout points of the construction project.

C.4.2 WARNING SIGNALS

The Contractor shall provide all the necessary signs and announcements to prevent accidents according to the safety plan, which shall have the approval of the COR. Signs shall be made of acrylic or galvanized sheets painted with a yellow background and with red or black letters.

C.4.3 TEMPORARY STRUCTURES: OFFICES, SANITARY FACILITIES & WAREHOUSES

The Contractor will implement provisional offices, sanitary facilities for the personnel, and a guardhouse with a temporary connection to electricity and potable water and sewage system prior to commencing construction. The offices should provide adequate space for the Contractor’s personnel, the COR, the Government Technical Advisor (GTA). One sanitary facility shall be implemented for every 10 workers, and one for the technical staff, the COR and the GTA. The Contractor will provide a 9 square meters office for the exclusive use of the COR, the GTA or his authorized .It is the Contractor’s responsibility to keep all temporary facilities clean and safe for use.

The materials to be used for these provisional facilities can be of metal, concrete, or wood, and must be secure and lockable. The COR can demand changes or improvement of the provisional facilities at any time if he determines that the Contractor is not providing a clean area with sufficient privacy and safety.

C.4.4 EARTHWORK, EXCAVATION AND BACKFILLING

The work described in this chapter includes excavation and backfilling, as well as carrying, piling up and removing excavation material necessary for the construction of the building, channels, piping, and all elements indicated in the project drawings.

C.4.5 LEVELING AND CLEARING OF LAND

This section refers to land modifications required for the execution of building construction in accordance with the project drawings.

To determine final levels, theodolites or precision instruments will be used. If there are considerable differences with the specifications in the drawings, the COR shall be notified and only through a report of mutual agreement will the new levels be determined.

The residual material must be removed and placed outside the construction site in places approved by the local authority.

C.3.4.1 SLOPE CONFIGURATION

Not applicable for this project.

C.3.4.2 EXCAVATION

Generally, excavation is understood as the removal of volumes of land or other materials for the purpose of forming spaces for construction, foundations, structures, buildings, roads, etc.

Excavation shall be done according to the heights, limits, elevations, gradients and sections set forth in the structural, architectural, and sanitary drawings, save for different or real conditions of the project.

During excavation, material satisfactory for backfilling shall be stockpiled in an orderly manner at a distance from banks of the trench equal to ½ the depth of the excavation, but in no instance closer than 60 cm. Excavated material not required or not satisfactory for backfill shall be removed from the site, without affecting the adjacent properties.

The material produced from excavation will be temporarily disposed of on the sides of excavations, so that it will not impede the execution of other work.

The final excavation to be performed in the places where specific concrete, exterior works are to be built shall be carried out as close to the pouring of concrete to avoid any alterations due to bad weather.

In no case shall excavation be performed to a depth so that the base soil is loosened or removed. If this happens, it will be considered as an “over excavation” that should be corrected by the contractor according to the project specifications.

If, in the Contractor’s or COR’s opinion, the bottom of the ditch is not strong or is unstable, over-excavation will be carried out until solid ground is reached, otherwise another solution shall be jointly agreed upon by the Contractor and the COR.

It is the Contractor’s duty to protect the stability of the adjacent properties while excavation is carried out. This should be done in such a way as to guarantee the stability of those buildings without causing any damage.

Excavation shall be protected against rain, landslides and other excavation. The Contractor shall protect the personnel executing the excavation in ditches and, if for safety reasons it is deemed necessary, the contractor shall provide timbering and shoring.

This shoring shall be reviewed and approved by the COR, and the Contractor will protect the shoring and will be removed after the excavation has been performed.

The standards for the provisional shoring in excavations are the following:

When assemblages and props are used, these are placed at intervals no greater than 2.50 meters, measuring the timber lengthwise, and should penetrate the land enough to withstand the push of the walls in the excavation.

Metallic cribbing shall be used for excavations greater than 5.00 meters deep or when the lateral push on the excavation walls is great.

Whenever the conditions of the land demand so or when the structural drawings states, the excavation walls will be protected with stakes or projected concrete. This will be subsequently refilled according to the requirements established for the filling process.

For piping placement in excavation, the filling will be laid as a first step to cover a height of at least 20 centimeters above the highest part of piping and shall be compressed in accordance with the article of this section. Excavation will be done from the ditch in accordance with the gradient slope and required transversal lines for placement of piping as indicated on working drawings.

C.3.4.3 OVER EXCAVATION

The term over-excavation, for the purposes of the job to be carried out, is understood as excavation outside the lines and levels set forth in the drawings, the specifications and/or the COR’s instructions.

If over-excavation is done, removal should go up to the required level and filling with soil, granular material or concrete or any other material approved by the COR; compressing will be done with adequate water content, in layers that will not exceed a thickness of 15 cm, using an appropriate mechanical compressor. The compression process shall be done according to the regulations established by the standards of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO T-130).The material to be used shall be granular selected material according AASHTO 145.

The Contractor agrees not to receive any additional payment for over-excavation that may result from the conditions of the land, the action of natural agents, operations that are executed to facilitate the construction, and mistakes made by the Contractor.

C.3.4.4 EXCAVATION IN CONGLOMERATE STRATUMS AND ROCK

The process of excavation when hard materials are found which cannot be loosened through ordinary methods is understood as conglomerate and rock excavation where the use of shovels, pickaxes, backhoes, or excavators is not sufficient and explosives, mechanical hammers, wedges, or sledge hammers or other similar are absolutely necessary.

If a rock is found in pieces, only fragments greater than 200 cubic decimeters will be considered a rock.

When removing rock or masonry fragments from a ditch is necessary, and if they form clusters that do not have to be totally extracted in order to erect structures, those pieces excavated within the presumed boundaries will be considered as rock, although their volume could be smaller than the one indicated in the above paragraph.

If the bottom of the trench (made to install pipes lines) is made up of conglomerate or rock, excavation will be carried out up to 0.15 m below the seat of the pipe and it will be filled later with sand and fine gravel.

When excavation is carried out on fixed rocks, the use of explosives will be allowed, provided that they do not alter the land adjacent to the excavation works and with a prior written authorization from the COR.

C.3.4.5 EXCAVATION WITH WATER PRESENCE

The excavation with presence of water may be caused by water coming from the underground, rainwater, floods, operation of the construction, sewage and others.

Excavation cannot be executed in the presence of water, whatever its origin, and therefore due precautions and protections must be taken, as construction techniques advise in these cases. Excavating during the rainy season shall be prohibited.

When placing stone masonries, concrete structures, or any structure, the Contractor will insure that water is not present in excavations, and that it will remain so until mortar and concrete have set.

The presence of water makes work more difficult and the safety of the people and the projects themselves decreases. Therefore, the Contractor is required to take due precautions to eliminate water in excavation sites by using stake boards, cofferdams, pumping, drainage, curbs, etc.

Excavation is forbidden during the rainy season. None of the excavations should have water present before placing the pipes, and under no circumstance will they be placed under water. The trenches shall remain dry until the pipes have been totally coupled and the welded junctions are completely dry.

C.3.4.6 EXCAVATION FOR FOUNDATIONS

This section refers to the depth of the excavation needed for foundations that will be lower than that marked for cleaning and leveling, down to the depth established by the structural drawings or by recommendation of COR. Excavation will be done in a fashion to satisfactorily build the structures. The excavation sides will be according to drawings and the bottom will be clean, free of waste, and correctly leveled.

In no case will machine excavation be performed to a depth so that the soil of the bottom is loosened or removed. The final material to be excavated must be removed by pickax and shovel to a depth of 50 centimeters, also known as “conforming the plinth or ditch bottom”.

If landslides or collapses due to the depth of excavations or inconsistency of soil happen, shoring shall be built to prevent further damages or accidents.

Ditches shall remain clean and no work will be executed in them if waste, loose dirt, water, etc. are found. After casting the foundation and pouring the foundation, the gap caused by excavation shall be filled and compressed with the extracted soil until reaching the initial level. This work shall meet the specifications detailed for “compacted backfilling with natural soil”. Leftover material shall be removed or placed as filling if acceptable by COR.

The Contractor shall take all necessary precautions to prevent water from entering excavation sites awaiting concrete pours. However, if soil deterioration is caused by unforeseen circumstances, the Contractor will perform necessary studies and analyses of the soil to deepen excavation.

C.3.4.7 REMOVAL OF WASTE AND/OR EXCAVATED MATERIAL

Waste removal is defined as the method of transportation of the materials produced by excavation, which should have a specifically determined place for disposal approved by the local authority.

When there is an excess material, the Contractor shall remove it and place it outside the area of construction where such material will not obstruct watercourses or cause detriment to the neighboring areas.

Excess or waste material should not be located in properties adjacent to the construction site unless the Contractor receives written authorization from the owners of such properties.

The material produced by excavation that will not be used for the construction of the project shall be removed from the site using heavy mechanical equipment in good condition, without causing vehicle transit interruption or neighbors’ annoyance.

C.3.4.8 BACKFILLING

Backfilling is defined at the sections indicated by the project, the existing gaps between structures and excavations, or between the structures and the natural soil in such a way that any point of the finished section will remain at a distance greater than 10 centimeters from the corresponding section of the project.

The backfilling process will be carried out using earth, gravel, sand or rock with approval from the COR.

Prior to backfilling, the land shall be free of debris, trunks, branches, etc., and in general of all organic material and all the material that is not appropriate for backfilling. The COR will approve the material that will be used for backfilling in advance and the material will come from the excavation itself or other extraction sites.

The backfilling will be done according to the project specifications and according to the lines, levels and gradients described in the architectonic and structural drawings.

The Contractor is required to obtain, transport and maintain the necessary material for backfilling, either from the excavation site or from qualified quarries.

Special care will be given by not using the mechanical compactor in areas close to buildings or existing construction inside or outside of the property. If any damage occurs, this shall be repaired and costs assumed by the Contractor.

The refill and/or cover of any excavation that contains lines or pipes installations and other services will not proceed until they have been placed and tested as well as approved and accepted by the COR.

The backfilling for subflooring will be placed and mechanically compacted in beds of 0.20m thick according to the D698-64Tspecifications of the American Society for testing and Materials (ASTM).

Backfilling with gravel, sand or ground stone for formation of drains or filters shall be consistent with the grain grading specified in the working drawings; materials will be sieved and washed if required. For filter formation, the materials will be placed in such a way that the higher grade particles remain in contact with the structure and the ones with lesser diameters in contact with the natural terrain, unless otherwise indicated.

The backfilling of rock placement shall be made with fragments of healthy, dense, and exposure-resistant rocks, with angle formation satisfactory to COR. The minimal size of the stones shall be 20 centimeters, and the maximum determined by the project, always protecting the structure.

C.3.4.9 COMPACTED BACKFILLING WITH NATURAL SOIL

Compacted backfilling with natural soil is defined as placing horizontal layers of the existing soil, with a thickness of 20 cm. Each layer shall be evenly compacted on the entire surface by manuals rammers or other construction equipment until obtaining the maximum compression possible with the use of these tools. The material to be used in this backfilling shall be free of organic residues and waste. Prior to backfilling, the land shall be free of debris. The COR will approve in advance the material that will be used in the backfilling process.

If the approved material for this backfilling is not enough to reach the levels specified in the project design, the Contractor shall complete the volume needed, with granular material according to the specification for “Compacted backfilling with granular material.”

The Contractor shall carry out laboratory tests to guarantee the compliance with the aforementioned specifications and the cost of these tests will be assumed by the Contractor.

C.3.4.10 COMPACTED BACKFILLING WITH GRANULAR MATERIAL

Compacted backfilling with granular material is defined as placing horizontal layers of sub-base to a thickness of 20 cm.