MW Q_A final.docx

Questions and Responses

RFP 2016000096

Microwave Replacement

• Provided Design/Build Contracting services within the last five (5) years for at least two (2) projects each in excess of $ 10,000,000 (hard costs), utilizing the expertise present in their current office.

In Section IV. - EVALUATION CRITERIA, Item 4. The PRIOR PROJECT EXPERIENCE/SUCCESS section is requesting that the proposer provide three (3) most relevant projects and provide, at a minimum, the following:

• The project/contract name

• Description of services provided

• Overall design/construction cost of project, as applicable, including initial contract value and change orders including reasons for change orders

• Organizational structure of service delivery under the contract (include the owner’s organization as it interfaced with the respondent’s contract)

• Key assigned in-house staff (name and title)

• Subcontracts (service) used in the performance of the contract

• Schedule history

• Reference(s) for Owner as described in IV.A.3

• Continuing services, if any.

Is it a requirement that the third project identified in Section IV be valued in excess of $10,000,000 (hard cost)?

Yes

Are the Submittals (Prequalification: Step I) Due on 1/21/2016 or 1/26/16?

A new schedule will be provided

This statement was pulled from Appendix D Technical Specifications and inserted below,

2.6 Proposal Evaluation

1. Qualifications and corporate experience, 70% of the scoring matrix.

5. c. Cost is 30% of the scoring matrix QUESTION 8: Final ranking discrepancy noted within RFP and Appendix D Technical Spec documents. Which is the correct criteria?

Qualifications and corporate experience, 60% of the scoring matrix. Cost will be 40%

1. To ensure sufficient information is available to teams preparing submittals, a mandatory pre-submittal conference has been scheduled. The intent of this conference is to distribute the confidential appendices and to have the OIT staff available to discuss the project. Teams preparing submittals must attend and sign-in in order to have their submittals accepted. The pre-submittal conference will be January 14, 2016 2016 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm MST held at:

Q: Will there be another window to submit questions based on review of confidential appendices distributed at pre-submittal meeting or will questions need to be presented to the OIT staff at that time?

Yes

HAVE THE OPTION TO RESPOND TO THESE REQUIREMENTS. CONTRACTORS ARE REQUIRED TO RESPOND TO ALL OPTIONAL REQUIREMENTS TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE.

Q: The antenna work mentioned above will be installed by the state on critically loaded towers. How many towers fall into this category?

This will be provided at the pre-bid conference.

It shall be the responsibility of the State to provide a structural assessment of towers identified as 100% or above maximum member stress in Appendix D5. Contractors are encouraged to consider using the smallest equipment possible such that the load on the existing towers can be minimized in an attempt to bring towers that are currently overloaded into compliance with current TIA-222 standards. The State will be responsible for installing all new tower-mounted microwave antenna equipment and transmission lines ordered under this RFP and identified in Appendix D5.

Q: Is the contractor to provide any tower related installations?

Yes except for the critically loaded towers. We will expect the awarded contractor to install equipment at all other identified locations.

List of Current awarded Tower Vendors;

EasTex Tower Inc. Colorado Springs, CO 719-632-8822 Rex Industries Golden, CO 303-324-4199 Advanced Tower Services, Albuquerque, New Mexico 505-244-3321 Hudspeth & Associates Inc., Rifle CO 970-625-5310 Q: Can the contractor and/or its subcontractor become a qualified tower vendor and be added to this list?

No not at this time.

Q: Can this only be completed by utilizing one of the qualified tower vendors listed above?

Yes

1. The Contractor shall design, supply and construct all necessary components for a fully functional tower foundation/anchor system, compliant with all applicable laws, codes and standards. The Contractor shall supply all equipment necessary to transport and construct the foundation(s)/anchor(s) according to all applicable laws, codes and standards.

Q: Can this only be completed by utilizing one of the qualified tower vendors listed above?

Yes

Q: Can this only be completed by utilizing one of the qualified tower vendors listed above?

Yes

Q: Can this only be completed by utilizing one of the qualified tower vendors listed above?

Yes

1. Copies of all permits obtained by the Contractor. Contractor and the State shall coordinate permit process as to avoid duplication.

Q: Does the State perceive minimal permitting on the contractor’s behalf or will the majority of permits be obtained through the Contractor’s efforts?

All permits will be obtained by the contractor.

Appendix D, 3.3, FF The capacity on the existing network is variable depending on link or path. Most of the existing microwave components transport circuit switched, TDM data from a minimum of one T1 circuits, to at most, three DS-3 circuits. Please reference RFP 4.3.D for requirements.

The contract included in the RFP appears to be a form of contract which would cover a major design/build construction project such as a new office building. Although a limited number of towers will be built as part of this project, the main purpose of the RFP appears to be the purchase of a microwave backhaul network replacement, the basic design of which is included in the RFP documents, and not a construction project.

Would you consider using a contract form typically used for information technology systems such as the purchase of the microwave network? Differences between a System contract and a Construction contract include different types of warranty provisions. For example, a system contract typically includes both equipment and software warranties and also typically includes a warranty that the system will operate as designed. System contracts also include software license agreements under which the State would have the license to use the software that operates the system. In addition, rather than provisions discussing the right of occupancy or final inspection, typically a system contract will include System Acceptance provisions that describe system functionality tests and operational burn-in tests as discussed in Sections 7.6, 7.7, and 7.8 of Appendix D.

In addition, the construction contract form appears to have sections that are not applicable to a contract to build a microwave system such as the requirement in Section 2.5.13 for 30%, 60% and 90% construction documents. Certainly these are necessary for a construction project, but to build towers, which is the only “construction” element to this project, one round of drawings is typically sufficient.

No, at this time we anticipate using the standard construction contract attached.

Is it the State's intent to complete the five phases by June 30, 2019; or do you prefer the vendor to suggest the most realistic schedule based on the design, topology, past experience, etc.?

The State desires that the Contractors propose a schedule as part of the RFP response.

This section indicates the State will be responsible for installing all new tower-mounted antenna equipment and transmission lines ordered under this RFP. However, section 1.3.A indicates the State will install transmission lines and microwave dishes (antenna network) associated with critically loaded towers. Will the State install microwave antenna systems on all towers or just the critically loaded towers?

Just the critically loaded towers.

This section indicates the need for an independent inspection and testing firm. Will the State provide an independent verification entity, as is typical of past projects? Or, is this requirement intended to be performed by the Architect/Engineer and Construction Manager (superintendent) disciplines described in Appendices B1 and B2 RFP 7.4.G.1 states, "The State and the Contractor’s Project Manager shall conduct an inspection of each installation upon substantial completion, and shall document any deficiencies on a single punch list provided to the Contractor for resolution."

These sections indicate staging will occur in the field (7.2.C.2) while also requiring the Contractor to fund the travel and per diem costs for State personnel to attend a remote staging event. Is it your intent to stage the system in the field, or do you prefer staging to occur at the Contractor's staging facility? If acceptable, we prefer staging to occur at our staging facility.

Per RFP 7.2.C.2 " Staging of the subsystems shall take place in the United States. The intent of the staging tests is to demonstrate to the State that the system is ready for shipment and installation."