Clarification Questions jhc 82310.pdf

Clarification Questions Concerning Solicitation NIHOF2010283

RFP for Groundwater Monitoring and Modeling, Bitterroot Valley Sanitary Landfill, Ravalli County, Montana

1. Re: Item (b) under the Introduction in the Statement of Work indicates that, notwithstanding the specific tasks listed in the RFP, a broad scale of work is involved under this contract. Should the bidder provide a description of qualifications indicating experience for these likely broader scale efforts? Will these qualifications be considered in the evaluation, or only qualifications directly related to the Tasks listed in the RFP (Tasks 1.1 through 1.6)? Answer: Services requested and qualification criteria are adequately described.

2. Re: Task 1.1, 2nd to the last sentence – Should the costing only include one revision to the plan, not any subsequent revisions of the “final approved plan” as referenced in the 2nd to the last sentence of this section? Answer: One revision is sufficient. In the off chance another is required it will be the subject of a separate task to this contract.

3. Re: Task 1.1 –Is modification of the current monitoring plan subject to a public hearing requirement or process and if so is this to be included in the costing? Not to NIH present knowledge. Answer: No hearing was required for the previous monitoring plan

4. Task 1.2 – How many separate property owners must an access agreement be obtained from to address all wells to be monitored under the existing plan? Answer: Under the current plan – 28.

Revised plan will reduce this considerably ( approximately 14). Is the scope of this task limited to obtaining written permission from each property owner to perform periodic sampling?

Answer: No. Is the level of effort to obtain legal filings as may be necessary to specify that the access permission “shall convey with the property in the event of the sale” excluded from the scope of work? Answer: No

5. Task 1.3 – Does NIH already have a lab under contract for the monitoring program? Answer: No Are we to include lab costs in the bid? Answer: Yes. Can SW-846 laboratory methods be used instead of Drinking Water Methods? Answer: As prescribed in the Amended Groundwater Monitoring Plan until revised with approval of NIH and MDEQ. Do the lab costs include the cost of shipping samples to the lab or should we include this? Answer: All lab work and costs shall be considered part of this contract.

6. Task 1.4 - Can electronic copies of maintenance logs and Field Monitoring Forms listed in Appendix E of the O&M manual be provided for review? Answer: Yes

7. Task 1.5 - What hydrologic computer codes are used for the current groundwater flow and transport model (for example, MODFLOW and MT3D, MODFLOW and Surfact, etc.)

and what platform/graphic user interface is used (Visual MODFLOW, Groundwater Vistas, GMS)? Answer: still staffing the answer.

8. Task 1.5 - Would it be possible to get copies of all groundwater modeling related reports, letters, addendums, and other correspondence listed under Groundwater Modeling (Box/locator number 22-05-02-03 in Records Management) in attached Montana DEQ Facility File Index)? Answer: This is more properly the MDEQ decision.

Requested information may be available for on-site review at MDEQ.

9. Task 1.6 - The statement of work lists Iron and manganese as naturally occurring in Bitter Root Valley. Is scaling observed within the treatment system (air stripper trays), or on the groundwater pumps? Answer: Not to a degree necessitating replacement of equipment.

10. Task 1.6 - When were the Iron and Manganese filtration units installed in the 19 residences? Answer: Approximately 1996-97 Have any of these units or the filter media been replaced since installation? Answer: Yes What size Birm filters were installed in the residences? Answer: To be determined at the Site Visit?????

11. Task 1.4 and 1.6 - Should capital costs for replacement of instrumentation, equipment, or filters be included in the estimate for this solicitation? Answer: Yes – as required for maintenance and operation under Task 1.4 and maintenance under Task 1.6.