Amendment_0002_Description_of_Changes.pdf

Gateway National Recreation Area Repair Park Telecommunications Damaged by Hurricane Sandy Richmond County, New York Solicitation No. P15PS00589

GATE 201049B

AMENDMENT NO. 0002

August 11, 2015

Responses to Questions

1. Question: Are we required to provide the option items or CLIN A to N? Can we only bid on CLIN 1 to 10. See section 52.236-28

Answer: Offerors shall provide pricing for all line items, including base and all options.

2. Question: Section L states 3 hard copies, however the details section states a total of 2 copies. Please confirm if you need 2 or 3 hard copies of each volume.a. can the proposal be emailed in by 11 AM with hard copies to follow by the same time the next day?

Answer: If the Offeror chooses to submit hard copies rather than emailing the proposal, 3 copies shall be provided. (see correction to RFP below)

3. Question: Can the proposal be emailed in by 11 AM with hard copies to follow by the same time the next day?

Answer: Yes (see correction to RFP below).

4. Question: Can the innerduct be mesh innerduct instead of corrugated innerduct?

Answer: Yes, provided that mesh innerduct of appropriate size is used. For example, a 4” 3-cell fabric innerduct would be an equivalent replacement for 3 corrugated innerducts in a 4” conduit.

5. Question: What is the Attenuation required at 1310 and 1550 wavelenghts?

Answer: Attenuation shall not exceed 0.5dB/km for any connection provided. The Contractor shall provide detailed link-loss budgets for each connection and include the calculated values as a comparison to the OTDR testing reports.

6. Question: Does the Fiber Optic Design need to be signed by a BICSI RCDD? As all USG telecom design are?

Answer: Yes, any design support documentation shall be signed by an RCDD.

7. Question: Are the installation technicians required to be BICSI Level Technicians? What certifications in particular should be presented?

Answer: Installation technicians shall have BICSI Installer 2, Copper certification for copper installations; BICSI Installer 2, Optical Fiber certification for fiber optic installations; and/or BICSI Technician certification for fiber optic installations and/or copper installations. These certifications are in addition to the certifications required in the drawings and specifications.

8. Question: Since the wage determination docs provided for both NJ and NY do not list fiber optic technician , please advise on what tittle or job is applicable to this contract since several could apply including electrician.

Answer: In instances as described, the Department of Labor (DOL) requires contractors to follow the DOL "conformance" process. Refer to www.wdol.gov/db_confrmnce.aspx for a description of the conformance process.

9. Question: Please provide further information on the applicable labor standard clauses.

http://www.wdol.gov/db_confrmnce.aspx

Answer: It is unclear what additional information is being requested. The applicable labor standard clauses are stated in the solicitation clauses and provisions. Additional information may be obtained from the Department of Labor.

10. Question: Please provide a list of the types of permits that you anticipate will be needed.

Answer: In accordance with clause 52.236.7 the contractor is responsible for permits. An NPDES permit for erosion control due to storm water runoff during construction is anticipated. The Contractor shall be responsible for any permits required for the construction of the new telecommunications ductbank, fiber optic cables, and associated infrastructure.

11. Question: Will the cost of the TIA reports be reimbursable to the contractor by the USG [U.S.

Government]?

Answer: The cost of preparing TIA reports shall be the responsibility of the contractor. The government will not provide additional compensation for TIA reports.

12. Question: Will REA [Request for Equitable Adjustment] requests be required once the TIA is accepted?

Answer: In accordance with clause 52.243-4 Changes it is the responsibility of the Contractor to assert its right to an adjustment.

13. Question: Why are the submittals (other than CQC, Daily reports, etc) being reviewed and approved by the CO and not the engineer of record if this is DB project?

Answer: The Contracting Officer delegates review of such submittals to a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).

14. Question: Please provide details, routes and final locations of existing copper lines serving park facilities.

Answer: Per Amendment 01, Final Project Scope, G10 1.2.1 Existing Site Utilities first paragraph clarifications, New Jersey One will mark utilities owned by the utility company and the contractor shall hire a third party to locate and mark Park-owned electrical and telephone lines at all facilities.

The Park does not have current utility maps and the location of electrical and telephone lines will require the use of utility locator equipment. The Park will mark out existing park-owned water and sewer lines only.

15. Question: Please provide the final demark location in each building getting service as they are not noted in the drawings. Or provide a not to exceed distance for the penetration into each building.

Answer: Per notes 31 and 32 on Drawing G.001 General Notes, the contractor is responsible for identifying interior building telecommunications termination panel locations and mounting heights in each building during construction. Final termination location for each building to be coordinated in the field with NPS staff and anticipated length of interior cabling is approximately 50 feet from the building penetration to the termination enclosure for most buildings.

16. Question: Can the qualified testing organization be the testing equipment manufacturer?

Answer: Yes, provided they comply with all requirements listed in the specifications.

17. Question: Please explain how the NETA ATS is applicable to Fiber Optic Testing equipment such as an OTDR. Fiber Optic systems by definition are not Electrical and thus not covered under the National Electrical Testing Association. Page 162 of the ATS is the only page that address fiber optic cables and is ½ a page.

Answer: Test all fiber optic cables in accordance with ANSI/TIA-568-C-0. Tier 2 (OTDR) and TIA- 526-7-A testing standards.

18. Question: Although the contractor is responsible for the survey for unexploded ordinance, who shall cover the cost of the actual removal?

Answer: If the contractor finds unexploded ordinance, the custody of that MEC item is the responsibility of qualified Park law enforcement (NOT the contractor).

19. Question: Will the TEP panel be comprised of the CO, and other introduced to the bidders during the site survey? Will there be a different panel evaluating the price and technical proposals separately?

Answer: We are not permitted to reveal the identity of evaluation panel members. Both technical proposals and price proposals are evaluated by the same technical panel. Technical proposals will be evaluated prior to analysis of price proposals. Subsequently the trade-off process will be conducted in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations Part 15.

20. Question: We are having trouble getting a quote on the fiber. The ITU TG 652D design has been updated. There are other manufacturers that meet the ITU-TG.652D enhanced single mode. Yes it is common to use the dry cable with gel in the tubes. It only takes a second to wipe off the glass strand.

Our core is dry and that is where the old designs used to fill up the core with the gel and it was very messy to work with. Please advice who quoted the USG during the IGE or if another fiber can be used as part of the substitution request in the proposal.

Answer: Fiber Optic Cables by Corning or an approved equal for 1) ALTOS Loose Tube, Gel-Free Cable, or 2) ALTOS Loose Tube, Gel-Free, All-Dielectric Cable with FastAccess Technology. Both cable types are single mode, outdoor, loose tube dry filled (no gel) fiber optic cables conforming to

ITU-T G.652.D

21. Question: JV: if two small business concerns are presenting a proposal together does the JV had to be formal and populated?

Answer: Yes

22. Question: Can the JV be informal with a commitment to formalize if awarded?

Answer: No

23. Question: Can a formal teaming agreement be acceptable to the USG in liew of a formal JV or informal JV?

Answer: Yes, a teaming agreement can be proposed however, teaming agreements and joint ventures are treated differently.

24. Question: Can a subcontractor be part of several proposals? or is said sub only limited to be part of one proposal? same applies to vendors of material:

Answer: The Federal Government does not limit the number of proposals that subcontractors and suppliers can be a part of.

Correction to RFP:

Language contained in the RFP cover letter had indicated that proposals should be submitted electronically, although the instructions contained in Section L of the clauses and provisions required Offerors to submit 3 hard copies of their proposals and a thumb drive that includes an electronic version of their proposal to the following address:

National Park Service, Denver Service Center Attention: Robin Fuchs 12795 W. Alameda Pkwy Lakewood, CO 80228

In consideration of the above circumstances, Offerors may submit their proposals either electronically to Robin Fuchs at robin_fuchs@nps.gov and copied to John Chaney at john_chaney@nps.gov OR you may submit 3 hard copies with the electronic thumb drive to the address shown above.

Correction to Amendment #1:

G10 1.8.1 UTILITY TERMINATION (Page 66), replace with the following: The Contractor is responsible for hiring a third party to survey and mark park-owned electrical and telephone lines. New Jersey One Call will not mark privately owned utility lines.