Questions and Answers.pdf

Questions and Answers

Bucking Mule Falls Trail #53 Reconstruction

I have been reading through the paperwork for the above referenced project and I have a question before the pre-bid. On the SF 1442 page 2 of 115 it asks for an expiration date for the contractors

DUNS #; my issue there is that DUNS numbers don't have an expiration date. The contractors

SAM number has an expiration date but nowhere on that SF 1442 does it ask for our SAM number. Can you please clarify?

That should have stated “SAM Expiration Date”, not DUNS. Thank you for catching that. Your DUNS number is tied to you SAM registration.

In the solicitation, it states that blasting may be required. How much blasting if any is required?

As any excavation is unclassified we wanted to make blasting an option. Do not know if we will need but it is a tool we can use if they encounter something.

Most work is surface type work but there is some excavation on water bars and drain dips.

Can equipment (mini excavator and bobcat) access the entire project? Motorize access can be utilized for trail work. Conditions will limit widths to around 36-48”.

Grades and widths may prevent access to all areas of the contract

Will additional material need to be hauled to the job site including rock for the drain dips?

Materials will be collected from site for the drain dips and approaches.

Where do we acquire the Cairn Type Rock?

Rock for Cairn will be gathered from the project location.

For the Puncheons, do we cut logs or will they be provided? Logs will be cut from site.

Specific logs will be identified and approved before cut. CLARIFICATION: the material for the puncheon is treated timbers that the Government is supplying and will be available at the Porcupine RS

I'm not familiar with the area and what snow situation is like in spring time, I'll have guys around there in a few days dropping off a worker and I'd like them to be able to look at the project site on the ground. Is that possible this early? They'll only be in the area around the 4th or 5th before heading back east.

I would guess that the Bucking Mule Falls Trail area, at this point, has around 4 feet of snow. Normally access to this area, by wheeled vehicles, is not attainable until around the middle of June. We took that into account when we set a date of July 1st for the start of construction.

In your opinion, can most of the maintenance be done using a micro excavator? 36" wide or less.

Would think there would portions of the trail that they could use it, but much of it is hard to get to on foot, let alone get a piece of equipment to

You have blasting listed in the special provisions. Does that mean it’s likely we will run into an area that will need to blast.

This project involves the restoration of existing trail and it is not anticipated that blasting would be needed. The blasting specification was included in case the Contractor elected to blast as opposed to other methods of obtaining the required trail surface. As noted in the Project Notes under “Blasting” if the Contractor elected to blast that item is considered incidental to the pay item “Existing Trail Restoration”.

Does the Forest Service have a designated disposal site for removed material?

As noted in the Project Notes under “Specification 934 & 983 Puncheon Maintenance and Removal” is the statement that “the disposal of the removed materials off Forest to an appropriate location.”

Where is the material located that will be provided for the puncheon maintenance?

The treated timbers, planks and boards that are to be Government supplied would be available for the Contractor at the Porcupine Ranger Station T56N, R91W, Sec. 18. This location is approximately 10 miles from the Bucking Mule Falls Trailhead.

Where is signage required? At the ends of the work area or do we need signs a certain distance from where the work is actually happening?

Under the Project Note “Trail Access By The Public” is the sentence “The Contractor shall install construction signing to alert the public to construction activities.” The intent is that the Contractor post signs on the trail near their actual construction activities

(within 200 to 300’). The Forest Service will post signs at trailheads alerting the public to the project.

Are there specs for the rock for the drain dips? Or are you wanting that rock be gathered from along the trail?

As noted on the Drain Dip drawings, Surface Course and Rock Spillway are required only when specified. On this project neither of those items are specified or required. If it is determined during construction that rock is needed it would be at a negotiated price and size and source would be determined at that time.

Pictures of site;

The GOV will provide as many pictures as possible

Machinery wise what can be used on the project?

It is anticipated that no more than 36” to 40” width would be able to be accommodated on the trail. As a reminder this is a remote area there are portions of the trail that are very steep and machinery would not be able to be utilized or very limited.

Width of 36” to 40” would indicate the approximate size of a 4 wheeler, correct?

Yes

What is the % of handwork that will need to be done?

The GOV can’t clearly define the % of handwork, very difficult to determine. Again, there are some areas that are very steep and machinery would not be able to access.

Material for Drain Dips- is rock required?

Most Drain Dips are not required to be rocked. The intent is to use native soil. The specification state “as needed/required”. If there are situations that would require a Drain

Dip to be rocked, it is anticipated that the material would be found near the work site and an adjustment to the contract would be considered if needed.

The snow pack is heavy, is July 1st still the intended start date.

Yes. If there are continued issues of snow pack close to the anticipated start date, a

Notice to Proceed would not be issued. A Notice to Proceed would be issued when the

GOV has determined the site is accessible.

Is there potential of extending the Period of Performance (delivery/completion date) if

Contractor cannot access the site by July 1st?

That will need to be a determination that is made closer to the start date. If extenuating circumstances such as snow pack hinder a contractor starting, then an extension could be considered.

Email for Contracting Officer sue.lacroix@usda.gov

Any treatment on material

Puncheon material will be supplied by the GOV and will be treated material (timber, planks, and boards) and will be located at the Porcupine Ranger Station. GOV will not supply hardware needed. Elevated Puncheon would be stringers that the contractor would cut from near the site. Contractor MUST treat any cuts or holes to the already treated wood.

Forest Service Road Access—will there be a locked gate?

Yes, there is a locked gate, the FS will supply a key and a permit for the contractor to utilize the access.

mailto:sue.lacroix@usda.gov

Will Signage be required?

No, it is expected that the contractor will lock the gate every time they go through it as not to allow public access.

On the elevated puncheon how long is it? We can't find anywhere in the plans or drawings where is specifies how long the elevated puncheon is.

Regarding the “elevated puncheon”, let’s assume a maximum length of 40.0 feet. The item is paid as a Lump Sum, but the actual length will be determined by field fitting on site.