Questions and Answers - 9035-DG.pdf

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Procurement Office

605 Suwannee Street, MS 20 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0450

Phone: (850) 414-4253

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

DATE: February 19, 2026

BID NO.: DOT-RFP-26-9035-DG

BID TITLE: Corrosion & Mitigation Services for FDOT Infrastructure

OPENING DATE/TIME: Tuesday February 24, 2026 @ 11 AM EST

Notice is hereby given of the following changes to the above-referenced SOLICITATION:

• Questions and Answers provided below:

Question 1

We are being asked to provide an hourly rate for a diver. Per OSHA regulations require a minimum of 3-man team for a working SCUBA dive. Is the hourly rate you are requesting for a 3-man dive team?”

Answer 1

Yes, the rate for the diver is for three persons.

Question 2

Can FDOT clarify typical asset types anticipated under this contract (bridges, marine piles seawalls, sheet piles, retaining walls, utilities, etc.)?

marine piles, seawalls, sheet piles, retaining walls, utilities, etc.)?

Answer 2

Most of the projects will be Bridges. There will be some sea walls. SMO has been involved in retaining walls in the past, but it is such a rare event that in the past 8 years we have only been involved with 1, and it was to perform an

NDE function.

Question 3

Are design deliverables (sealed drawings, calculations) expected as part of certain Task Work Orders, or evaluation/reporting only?

Task Work Orders, or evaluation/reporting only?

Answer 3

There will be Task Work Orders that will require calculations for ICCP and

Galvanic repairs and updates to existing systems. This in essence means that Yes is the answer to both evaluations, and reports. As for sealed drawings this also has occurred in the past and I expect it to occur again in the future.

Question 4

Is diving work expected on a routine basis, and are there known locations with restricted access, security, or navigational controls?

restricted access, security, or navigational controls?

Answer 4

Diving is not expected to be a routine service. However it has been a significant portion of certain Task Work Orders that were geared towards rehabbing an existing cathodic protection system. Each time that a dive team has been needed the details of the area were worked out as part of the

TWO.

Question 5

Are temporary traffic control (TTC), marine traffic coordination, or Coast

Guard notices expected to be vendor responsibilities?

notices expected to be vendor responsibilities?

Answer 5

Most of the time TTC is provided by the district and is already part of the

TWO. On very rare occasions SMO and the contractor will work together to provide the TTC. Coast Guard notices are required for all TWO’s that occur in Tampa Bay.

Question 6

Are instant-off criteria, depolarization testing, or coupon testing required as standard?

standard?

Answer 6

Yes - to all three.

Question 7

Will FDOT require baseline data collection prior to system modifications?

Answer 7

Yes

Question 8

Is interference testing (AC/DC, stray current) anticipated under this contract?

Answer 8

Yes

Question 9

Are Florida PE seals required for any deliverables, and if so, which task types?

Answer 9

We have not needed this on any previous TWO. However, there may be a need in the future

Question 10

Can one individual serve in multiple labor categories (e.g., CP Specialist and

Project Administrator)?

Administrator)?

Answer 10

Yes

Question 11

What is the typical size and duration of a Task Work Order?

Answer 11

The TWOs vary based on need. Some TWO’s may last multiple years of near continues work with a very large budget. Others will take only a couple of hours to complete.

Question 12

Are TWOs expected to be lump sum, time-and-materials, or hybrid?

Answer 12

TWO’s payouts are based on the contractor and the project managers working together to provide a budget based on materials, labor involved, and man hours. The pay may be lump sum at the end of the TWO or it may be partial payments throughout the duration of the TWO depending on the length of time needed to complete the TWO.

Question 13

What is the expected level of detail for photo documentation and appendices?

Answer 13

A minimum of 5 photographs taken during the completion of the TWO will be required. The level of detail for reports will be varied by the type of work. A simple ICCP or Galvanic inspection will be completed on the pre-designed format so there will be no deviation from TWO to TWO. A corrosion investigation however will be detail oriented with more details required the longer the structure is needed to remain in service.

Question 14

Are digital data formats (GIS, spreadsheets, databases) required or preferred?

Answer 14

All reports will be filed digitally. SMO will have premade inspection forms for all existing CP inspections. There will be databases in place as the contract progresses for all TWO reports.

Question 15

Is draft review and comment resolution included in the base scope?

Answer 15

Can vendor clarify what this question is referring to?

Question 16

Are CP materials (anodes, rectifiers, reference electrodes) reimbursed at cost, vendor can use multiplier, or agreed markup?

vendor can use multiplier, or agreed markup?

Answer 16

Vendor will purchase CP materials. Reimbursement will be at cost plus a

10% markup. Receipts will be required with invoice.

Question 17

Exhibit C lists six individual labor categories (Project Administrator, CP Specialist, Inspector, Technician, Diver, Secretary). However, certain specialized work—such as diving operations—requires multi-person crews (e.g., diver, tender, operator) working simultaneously rather than individual billable personnel. May vendors propose additional labor categories to accommodate crew-based operations? If so, should rates for these additional categories be included in the initial Price Proposal or negotiated per Task Work Order

Answer 17

The hourly billing rate for Diver is to include all 3 (diver, tender, operator) as an individual cost on the contract.

Question 18

If sealing is required, must the Prime firm be authorized to practice engineering in Florida?

Answer 18

Yes

Question 19

Are there known environmentally sensitive areas requiring additional permitting or restrictions?

restrictions?

Answer 19

Currently there is only one bridge that requires restrictions for access. It is

Bridge # 940085 State Road A1A over the Florida Power and Light discharge canal.

Question 20

Who is responsible for environmental coordination when working in saltwater or protected areas?

Answer 20

The contractor will be responsible for providing all environmental protection required by the state and federal authorities for working in saltwater or protected areas.

Question 21

Are there site-specific safety requirements beyond standard OSHA and FDOT practices?

Answer 21

No

Question 22

Does FDOT require site-specific Health & Safety Plans (HASP) per TWO?

Answer 22

No

Question 23

How are damages to existing CP systems or structures evaluated and assigned?

Answer 23

When there are damages to an existing CP system they are evaluated during the inspection under the existing TWO. Minor repairs such as cleaning, terminal or shunt replacement, small wire splices etc., will be completed under the inspection TWO. If it is deemed that a new TWO be created to complete the repairs, then that will be done as budget and time allow.

Question 24

Is there an expected timeframe for “adequate notice” (Section 5.0) for FDOT to be present and review work performance?

Answer 24

This will be discussed with every TWO negotiation. Before the TWO is issued the contractor will know if the FDOT will have personnel on site during the execution of the TWO.

Question 25

What is the distribution of anticipated work across the seven service categories defined in Exhibit A, Section 2.0 (Corrosion Evaluation, CP System Installation, CP System Monitoring/Maintenance, Document Review, Construction Support Services, Project Management/Administration, and miscellaneous related services)?

Answer 25

Attempting to place them in a percentage is not feasible. I can place them in precedence order though.

1. CP System Monitoring/Maintenance

2. Corrosion Evaluation

3. Document Review

4. CP System Installation

5. Construction Support Services

6. Miscellaneous related services

7. Project Management/Administration

Question 26

Special Condition 8.2 states that personnel will be committed to this contract for its duration unless otherwise excepted by the Department's Project Manager.' What constitutes acceptable grounds for personnel substitution (retirement, resignation, termination, promotion, illness, death, inadequate performance)?

Answer 26

For the purposes of this contract, we are wanting the vendor to commit to the position. This position can be held by multiple individuals throughout the course of the contract.

Question 27

For multi-day assignments requiring overnight stays (e.g., work in remote Keys or Panhandle locations), are lodging and meals reimbursable per Florida Statute

112.061 (state employee per diem rates), or must these costs be embedded in the hourly billing rates?

Answer 27

Travel will be reimbursed in accordance with Florida Statute 112.061 and NOT embedded in the hourly billing rates.

Question 28

With no guaranteed work volume (SWA Section 3.J) or budgetary ceiling (Exhibit B, Section 3.0), what level of effort should proposers anticipate in terms of annual staff hours or task order frequency? Can FDOT provide historical data from predecessor contracts on typical work volumes to inform proposers' staffing and capacity planning?

Answer 28

The TWO’s will be issued on the basis of the contractors specialty in a given area.

For example if the contractor specializes in electronics for remote monitoring it would make sense to assigned a TWO to that contractor for replacement of the electronics on a bridge. While another contractor might specialize in the inspection of tendons, it would make sense to assign that contractor a TWO related to a forensic inspection of a tendon failure. Award of this contract guarantees the minimum State Materials Office funding input; however, typical funding and TWO assignments far exceeds the SMO budget relying on external funding for these TWOs. We have assigned 22 Task Work Orders in the past 12 months.

Question 29

What constitutes 'regular' monitoring frequency for CP system monitoring and maintenance (Exhibit A, Section 2.0(3))? Is monitoring expected to be annual, semi-annual, quarterly, monthly, or continuous with remote monitoring systems?

Answer 29

A. Monitoring is as follows.

1. Galvanic systems will be monitored every two years.

2. ICCP systems are inspected Hands On every 2.5 months if they are not remote monitored. If they are remote monitored then they are inspected every 6 months

Question 30

Does FDOT have existing reporting templates, data formats, or asset management/database systems that vendors must use, or is vendor-developed reporting format acceptable as long as it meets the general requirements in Exhibit A, Section 7.0?

Answer 30

The FDOT is currently working on standardizing all reporting formats. We hope to have them completed and in place prior to the execution of this contract

Question 31

Does FDOT require maritime-specific insurance coverages including Jones Act (injury to seamen), USL&H (US Longshore and Harbor Workers compensation), and Protection & Indemnity (P&I) coverage for vessel operations?

Answer 31

These are not required.

Question 32

Exhibit C states that 'the total lump sum amount per task shall include cost of overhead, fringe benefits, operating margins, expenses and applicable equipment.

Are the hourly billing rates to be fully loaded (all-inclusive), or will equipment costs for major items (e.g., boats, scaffolding, specialty CP equipment) be reimbursed separately under each Task Work Order?

Answer 32

It is the vendor’s responsibility to provide equipment needed on a day to day bases to accomplish the Task Work Orders as assigned. There may be specific instances where a request requires specialized equipment that may be negotiated at time of Task Work Order.

Question 33

Exhibit B, Section 5.0 states that 'allowable costs should be task related and not include items normally associated with overhead which is part of the billable rates.' Can the Department clarify which expense categories beyond mileage and pre-approved materials/parts are considered allowable direct costs under a TWO?

Answer 33

If any additional expenses will be allowed, it will be negotiated at time of TWO.

Question 34

Answer 34

Question 35

Please clarify whether this includes structural repair design or is limited to corrosion-related evaluation and mitigation services

Answer 35

All services will relate to corrosion mitigation and or repair.

Question 36

Are forensic failure investigations within the intended scope of this contract?

Answer 36

Yes there forensic failure investigations are intended in the scope of this contract.

Question 37

Does the Department intend to make a single award or multiple awards under this term contract?

Answer 37

Multiple Awards.

Question 38

If multiple awards are contemplated, how will Task Work Orders be distributed (rotation, best-value selection, or other method)?

Answer 38

The TWO’s will be issued on the basis of the contractors specialty in a given area.

For example if the contractor specializes in electronics for remote monitoring it would make sense to assigned a TWP to that contractor for replacement of the electronics on a bridge. While another contractor might specialize in the inspection of tendons, it would make sense to assign that contractor a TWO related to a forensic inspection of a tendon failure.

Question 39

Please clarify which deliverables under Exhibit A are expected to be sealed by a Florida Professional Engineer.

Answer 39

No deliverables under Exhibit A are required to be signed or sealed by a Florida Professional Engineer.

Question 40

Are corrosion evaluation reports considered engineering documents requiring sealing?

Answer 40

Question 41

Are cathodic protection system designs, layouts, or performance calculations considered engineering documents requiring sealing?

Answer 41

Question 42 If sealing is required, must the Prime firm be authorized to practice engineering in Florida?

Answer 42 Yes