QandA_as of 01_19_2024.pdf

Solicita�on No. 1240LU24B0001

Final Question and Answer Document As of 01/19/2024

Q1. Are as-builts required?

A1. Not from the Contractor. The FS will have a representa�ve conduc�ng inspec�ons to document appropriate devia�ons in the approved plans.

Q2. Regarding the bid guarantee (20% of bid proposal) do we need the send the original hard copy of the bid guarantee to your office? Are you ok with the electronic version atached with the proposal package (if we submit electronically)?

A2. No, a signed/scanned copy is fine to be emailed in with the bid, at or before �me of closing.

Q3. Does excess soil from well drilling/excava�on needs to be hauled off site?

A3. Yes, to a FS provided disposal site.

Q4. Is there any specific loca�on to stockpile or spread-out?

A4. Excess material will be disposed of at the Forest Service’s Big Creek Pit across Interstate 90, less than 1 mile away.

Q5. Is construc�on water available at the job site?

A5. Water is available onsite via several frost-free hydrants and hose spigots.

Q6. I no�ced that under 1.9 Water Supply Wells, Drilling Contractor shall have a Water Well Contractor's license issued by the Montana Board of Water Well Contractors, as required by law.

o What license or permi�ng is required for the sep�c system?

o What license or permi�ng is required for the electrical system?

o What license or permi�ng is required for the HVAC system?

o Will any other permi�ng be required?

A6. Licensing requirements is the responsibility of the contractor. Contractor must determine what is required for the state/local county they are working in.

Q7. In sec�on 16420 Service Entrance it is stated that the Contractor shall arrange with the serving u�lity to provide permanent electrical service. The Owner shall be responsible for all charges or fees levied by the serving u�lity rela�ve to this project. Where should we put the cost of electrical coordina�on with u�lity company in the bid schedule?

A7. Pay items are aligned with the specifica�ons. We do not tell contractors where to include items in their bids but recommend that they look at the specifica�ons and put the costs where they are referenced in the specifica�ons.

Q8. Can you tell us who the u�lity company is that services that area?

A8. Northwestern Energy supplies power to Haugan, MT.

Q9. What are the requirements for Abandon Exis�ng Sep�c system, will this be an abandoned in place and if so, what will be the specifica�ons for this work?

A9. Exis�ng sep�c tank will be abandoned in place. See Project Note #8 on Sheet 3 of the Construc�on Plans.

Q10. Are geotechnical reports available?

A10. No Geotechnical data was collected. No reports are available.

Q11. Is rock excava�on to be expected?

A11. Substrate composi�on is unknown.

Q12. Over the Holiday’s we received very litle response from subcontractors and vendors, is it possible to extend the bid due date.

A12. Amendment 0001 extended the bid due dates to 01/25/24 at 1300 MST.

Q13. We are looking at the specs for this project and the well driller exper�se doesn’t think they will work for this project, he thinks you need to change the drilling method from a mud rotary to a top head drive with a casing hammer or a dual rotary method, ad doing so we will not be able to develop the well prior to se�ng the screen of use casing centralizers.

A13. The well drilling specifica�on does not specify what drilling method is to be u�lized.

Q14. Which bid items the electric heaters are to be supplied for and paid in. The heaters seem to appear both in the HVAC and Well House Electrical measure and pay defini�ons pages 13&14.

A14. Pay items are aligned with the specifica�ons. We do not tell contractors where to add items in their bids but recommend that they look at the specifica�ons and put the costs where they are referenced in the specifica�ons.

Q15. Where do we submit the electronic bids...do I email our bid to you?

A15. The bid and your bid guarantee can be scanned and emailed to me 1 day before closing date.

This assures I have it already logged on my bid opening tabula�on.

Q16. When is the deadline for asking you ques�ons regarding this project?

A16. The solicita�on states 5 business days before closing which is now 1/25. Therefore, it would be 1/19 a Friday.

Q17. What is the amount for Liquidated Damages?

A17. There is no LD required for this project due to the dollar amount.

Q18. What percentage is the retainage?

A18. N/A

Q19. Where is power source supply for Op�onal Item 1 Sprinkler Irriga�on System to ini�ate from to feed the Irriga�on Controller?

A19. Install irriga�on controller in front of Building A or any building in the courtyard with available breakers.

Q20. Are the wage rates correct for 2024-2025 project years

A20. See updated Davis Bacon Wage Rates MT20240078 dated 01/05/24 on htps://sam.gov/wage-determina�on/MT20240078 website. These are applicable to this solicita�on & any resul�ng contract.

Q21. For electrical code compliance, is the well house building, or por�on of the building, designated as a “wet loca�on”?

A21. Yes, consider the well house as a “wet loca�on” when choosing components.

Q22. New Well House appears to have pitched roof. Light fixtures are called out as “surface mount”.

Please clarify if these should be suspended or remain surface mount at angle of roof?

A22. Surface mount the light fixtures at angle of roof unless they can be surface mounted horizontally on ceiling/trusses if possible.

Q23. The closest U�lity Power to the Well House appears to be at least 600’ away. How close to the new Well House will the u�lity company be placing their supply?

A23. The u�lity power approximately 600’ away will be used for well house power.

Q24. Please clarify the voltage and op�ons for the specified Orenco dosing pump?

A24. Per Sec�on 11600 of Specifica�ons, pumps will be 230 volt nameplate voltage submersible effluent pumps capable of conveying 38 gpm at 100 � TDH.

Q25. Appears the power and control panel for the exis�ng li� sta�on may be located in the basement of the Administra�on Building “A” however access was unavailable. Please verify the presumed loca�on in Building “A” is correct.

A25. Control panel is located in Building “A”.

Q26. On plan page 22 there is a note for the room where electrical panel “A”, heater, and louver will be located. The note states “Storage Area/Future Treatment Room”. Please clarify if this https://sam.gov/wage-determination/MT20240078 https://sam.gov/wage-determination/MT20240078 treatment room will be classified as a corrosive area and if electrical materials for the future treatment plans will need to comply for a corrosive environment?

A26. This treatment room will be classified as a corrosive area, components should u�lize corrosion-resistant materials.

Q27. There does not seem to be great access for excava�on equipment up to the new drainfield following the path of the new force main. Are there limits of disturbance to abide by in these areas? Also are there any protected trees in these areas?

A27. Access to the drainfield will be from the road that comes from the site and is to the east of the proposed drainfield. Approved trees between the road and the proposed drainfield may be removed to accommodate excava�on equipment and clearing and grubbing for installa�on of the drainfield. The disturbance on the south side of the slope shall be minimized, only the width of the trench for as far as the excava�on equipment can reach. Excava�on from the north side of the slope will be allowed a wider clearing and grubbing width to accommodate ac�vi�es. The purpose of these restric�ons is to preserve a line of trees to block the view of the drainfield excava�on and disturbance.

Q28. Who is the U�lity Company for this project and have they been contacted regarding the new service for this project?

A28. Northwestern Energy provides power to this site. They have not been contacted.

Q29. ON page 19 Detail 2 of the Plan Set the Dosing System Control is described. Are there wiring plans for this?

A29. We do not have wiring plans for the dose pump control panel. Orenco may be able to furnish wiring plans.

Q30. Also on Page 19 Detail 2 of the Plan Set electrical conduit is to routed to the dosing pumps and control panel from exis�ng site power. Where is this power located and is there an approximate distance of trenching required for this?

A30. The power supply to the exis�ng li� sta�on pumps is located in Building A, shown on Sheet 4 of the plans.

Q31. Page 24 Detail 1 of the plan set notes underground feeders from transformer. It seems the

U�lity is to provide the feeders, however, the contractor is required to trench and lay conduit for this. From what loca�on are the feeders coming and is there an approximate distance?

A31. See Answer 24 above for image showing loca�on of exis�ng power supply.

Q32. Sec�on 02525-2.8 Calls for a Baker Pitless Unit, however, units of this size cannot be modified to include access ports for water level indica�on, sample access or chlorina�on access per the manufacturer. Please advise.

A32. A pitless adapter is an acceptable subs�tu�on for the pitless unit, which allows for sample access etc.

Q33. Will this project require DEQ/DNRC permi�ng and if so is this required of the contractor or the owner? Has a permit already been acquired?

A33. This project will not be subject to DEQ review. All other permi�ng will be the responsibility of the Contractor.

Q34. When tes�ng the pump, is it allowable to pump water into the pond near the frontage road?

A34. We want the water pumped out on the ground. Do not pump into the pond.

Q35. It appears that a significant amount of excava�on will occur within the dripline of exis�ng trees.

Specs indicate that all excava�on within dripline of trees to remain must be performed by HAND

– please clarify to what extent this holds true as this will make a significant difference in price

A35. This is a historic tree nursery, so trees should be protected, to the extent possible. Hand excava�on will be required around the large diameter trees within arboretum and within the area bounded by the road surrounding the buildings. If trees must be removed or roots will be damaged within these areas, the FS designated Project Manager will need to approve.

Q36. Specs make remarks regarding trees to “remain” and to be “relocated” (indicated), we can find no designa�ons for trees to remain and/or be relocated – please clarify A36. No trees are to be relocated. Excava�on, where flexible, should avoid as many trees as possible. Any removal of trees will need to be approved on the ground, by the designated FS Project Manager. Most large diameter trees within arboretum and within the area bounded by the road surrounding the buildings are to remain. Design of the alignments made atempt to avoid trees that are to remain.

Q37. Baker Pitless units of this size CANNOT be modified to include access ports for water level indica�on, sample access or chlorina�on access o Is pitless unit needed or can a pitless adapter be used in lieu Pitless adapater specs (mainly the size) has limita�ons

• ¾” Monitoring PVC cannot be installed (no ports on pitless unit)

• Safety chain not compa�ble with pitless unit design

A37. A pitless adapter is an acceptable subs�tu�on for the pitless unit, which allows for sample access etc.

Q38. Is a swing-joint type connec�on required at irriga�on head-pipe or is poly-pipe (funny-pipe) connec�on allowed?

A38. The connec�on type is not specified.

Q39. Is there any specified/required loca�on for the irriga�on controller?

o Is power available at this loca�on or does standalone power need to be routed to controller loca�on?

A39. Irriga�on controller should be installed in the courtyard near whichever building has necessary power supply. Power availability is unknown.

Clarifica�on for all contractors that they should expect to run new conduit from Building A to the new dose tank. That clarifica�on might read something like “Power supply for the new drainfield dose tank will come from Building A, shown on Sheet 4 of the approved plans. New electrical conduit should be routed from this building to the new dose tank.”

Q40. Do you know what the current water supply GPM is or what your expected GPM of the new well will be?

A40. Unfortunately, we will not know the flow rate of the new well un�l it is drilled. Construc�ng the irriga�on system at all is con�ngent on whether we will have enough flow. See Amendment 0002 that removed this item from the schedule.

Q41. Is hand digging required in some areas? I was wondering if direc�onal drilling these lines would be acceptable instead of hand digging? There is also a large grade change in the force main before it gets to the drain field that makes tradi�onal excava�on difficult. This is another area that we would prefer to direc�onal drill?

A41.

Q42. In specifica�on sec�on 02525-3.9.D the well is to be developed before the provision/installa�on of the screen. This would require using the mud rotary method. Given the well drilling contractor’s prior recent experience in this locale, there will be sands and gravels that require either a top-head drive method or a dual rotary method. Either of these methods will not allow for well development before installing the screen. Will this requirement be waived in the event drilling condi�ons do not allow it?

Addi�onally, if either the top head drive method or dual rotary methods are u�lized, casing centralizers will not be feasible as specified in 02525-2.7. Will this requirement also be waived in the event of the outlined condi�ons?

A42. Full development of the well and the aquifer test is intended to be completed a�er the screen is installed. Some ini�al development should be done to get a rough es�mate of the available flow from the water bearing zone and is dependent on the well drilling method and up to the Contractor. The Forest Service will consider alterna�ves if drilling condi�ons absolutely do not allow for preliminary development before installing the screen. Casing centralizers are recommended but not required. The Contractor will need to ensure that the casing is centered enough in the borehole to get a good grout seal in the annular space.

Q43. As the campground will be shut down while work is ongoing during the period of 6/1/25- 10/1/25, will the contractor have the ability to keep a camper or office trailer on site?

A43. Yes, the contractor will be able to keep a camper or office trailer on site.

Q44. In specifica�on Sec�on 16420-1.2 & 1.3, a C/T is specified. It does not seem, however, that C/Ts are required in the plans nor does it seem necessary given the service is 200a. Is a C/T required?

A44. A C/T will not be required for this installa�on.

Q45. Has any geotechnical exploratory drilling/tes�ng been completed?

A45. No geotechnical report is available, and no exploratory drilling has been completed.

Q46. What is the an�cipated ground water at?

A46. The an�cipated ground water level is unknown.

Q47. What is the soil type/what can we expect in terms of big boulders, sand, clay?

A47. The substrate composi�on is unknown.

Q48. the bid schedule quan��es are different then the schedule in the drawings. I understand that the es�mated quan��es in the drawings are for informa�on only but there is a large discrepancy with some of the items like the 1’’ curb valve w/ box in the drawings it calls for 10 each but in the bid schedule it calls for 23 each? Several of the other items have similar discrepancies. Which quan��es are correct?

A48. The Schedule of Items is correct. The Es�mated Quan��es on Sheet 3 in the plans is NOT to be used for bidding purposes and is noted as such in the plans. Amendment 0002 will be posted upda�ng page 3 of the Plans to reflect items and quan��es on the Schedule of Items.

Q49. For the irriga�on system, what is the zone and flow rates?

A49. See Ques�on 40 above. See Amendment 0002, updated Schedule of Items.

Remove Op�on Item 1 - Irriga�on System.

Date for All Ques�ons has ended. Bids are due Thursday 01/25/24 by 1300 MST.