Bidders Questions_Batch 4.pdf

Water Security Barriers Bidder's Questions

BATCH 4

Batch #4 Question NAVSEA Answer

Please advise as to the amount of the Performance and Payment Bond required for the Contractor to provide to the Navy for this Barrier Contract ‐ is it necessary to provide a 100% Performance and Payment Bond?

This is not a construction contract. This is an equipment fabrication and installation contract.

The statement is made that: “Eelgrass is present within the vicinity of the project footprint.”

It is requested that we be provide with the most recent eelgrass survey conducted in the vicinity of the project footprint.

The Government will fund, schedule, and perform pre‐construction eelgrass and caulerpa surveys and post‐construction eelgrass surveys as necessary. The Contractor shall ensure close coordination of the construction schedule with Government environmental staff to provide the Government adequate time to perform pre‐construction surveys per appropriate protocols. Attachment J‐1 Performance Work Statement has been updated accordingly in Amendment 0002.

Please confirm that any mitigation required due to eelgrass that is damaged during installation of the new barrier system will be the responsibility of the Government at no cost to the Contractor(s).

The Government intends to provide mitigation for eelgrass impacted by the structures and installation provided that eelgrass impacts are not due a failure to implement avoidance and/or minimization measures, best management practices, or negligent practices by Contractor personnel. The Contractor shall provide an Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) for written approval by Government environmental Staff prior to the start of construction which includes, but is not limited to, all measures to be employed by the Contractor to ensure compliance with all applications prepared by the Government and permits, consultations and authorizations issued by the resource agencies including, but not limited to, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regional Water Quality Control Board, National Marine Fisheries Service, and California Coastal Commission. The EPP shall also include specific measures to avoid impacts to eelgrass including the location for equipment staging and storage which avoids existing eelgrass beds, an anchorage plan in shallow water habitat designed to avoid impacts to eelgrass, and best management practices for vessel operation to avoid impacts to all marine resources, including eelgrass. The Government will determine if eelgrass mitigation is necessary, and if so, the amount of eelgrass mitigation prior to the start of construction based on the Contractor's accepted design and the project‐ specific pre‐construction eelgrass survey. Attachment J‐1 Performance Work Statement has been updated accordingly in Amendment 0002.

Is this solicitation being issued as a construction contract, therefore requiring performance and payment bonding?

This is not a construction contract. This is an equipment fabrication and installation contract.

Have the necessary permits been obtained to allow for this work? If not, whose responsibility is it to apply and pay for the permits?

Refer to sections 3.1.5, 3.5, 3.6, 3.6.1, 3.10.2, 3.11.3, 3.11.5, and 3.11.6 of Attachment J‐1, PWS, to clarify permitting requirements and responsibilities.