Specifications for Repairing Sinkhole at South Central Correctional Facility (SCCF) – Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC)

I. Introduction This is a procurement for the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) for the repairs to a sinkhole for South Central Correctional Facility (SCCF) located in Wayne County, TN, at 555 Forest Avenue, Clifton, TN 38425. In order to stop further erosion and ground instability, Contractor shall excavate, backfill, and restore the sinkhole area in accordance with these specifications. All work shall be performed as necessary to stabilize the area and restore it to proper grade and drainage conditions.

II. General Information

1. Pre-bid Site Visit:

The Contractor is strongly encouraged to visit the job site to take exact measurements, account and location of the sinkhole and all pertinent details prior to bidding. Exact measurements shall be the responsibility of the Contractor, and no allowances shall be made by the State for errors in measurements.

Site inspections may be arranged by contacting:

South Central Correctional Facility Greg Nichols, Donnie Myatt 555 Forest Avenue Clifton, TN 38425 Greg Cell: 615.417.8264 Donnie Cell: 731.316.5131 Email: gregory.j.nichols@tn.gov | donnie.l.myatt@tn.gov

1. Definitions:

1. Working Hours:

Work shall be completed Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. CST; excluding State holidays.

1. Freight Charges:

1. Payment for Freight Charges: Freight charges shall be F.O.B. and included in bid pricing, as necessary. The State shall not be responsible for any additional freight charges.

1. Equipment:

1. Contractor shall be responsible for all material, equipment and tools necessary to perform all services specified within these specifications.

1. Equipment and tools shall be properly maintained and operated by trained personnel.

1. Any expenses associated with specialized equipment or tools shall be included in Contractor’s bid. The State shall not be responsible for any additional expenses incurred for equipment and/or tools.

1. Contractor Qualifications and Requirements:

1. Contractor must be a licensed general contractor in the State of Tennessee. Proof of a valid General Contractor’s license is required.

III. Scope of Work

a. Erosion Control Measures:

1. Prior to commencing earth removal or disturbance, Contractor shall furnish and install silt fencing along the downslope of the excavation area in order to prevent sediment migration.

2. The silt fence shall be trenched a minimum of six (6) inches into the ground and securely fastened by stakes spaced no greater than eight (8) feet apart.

3. Daily, Contractor shall assess and maintain the silt fence in order to preserve erosion control measures.

4. Contractor shall maintain erosion control measures until final stabilization has been achieved.

b. Utility Location:

1. Contractor shall be responsible for notifying the appropriate utility locating service seventy-two (72) hours prior to any excavation, trenching, or ground disturbance activities.

2. Contractor shall be responsible for the protection of all existing utilities. Any damage to utilities caused by the Contractor’s operations shall be immediately reported to the Facility Manager or designee and shall be immediately repaired at the Contractor’s expense.

3. Before beginning any mechanical excavation or grading operations and where utilities are suspected within or directly adjacent to the work zone, Contractor shall utilize hydrovac excavation, or other State approved non-destructive method(s), to create a test area and to verify the exact horizontal and vertical location of all existing utilities or potential obstructions in the designated work zone(s). Each test area shall be a minimum of three (3) feet by three (3) feet in plain dimensions, and shall be performed at all proposed pipe crossings, trench alignments, and other points of potential conflict.

4. If previously unidentified underground utilities are encountered, Contractor shall immediately suspend work and report the information to the Facility Manager. Unidentified underground utilities may also dictate further non-destructive testing areas to be performed in the designated work zone(s) before work shall resume. Work shall resume upon authorization from the Facility Manager and after any necessary utility coordination has been completed.

5. Utility location and coordination shall comply with CGA Best Practices, the state One Call system requirements (811), and applicable FHWA Subsurface Utility Engineering guidelines.

6. The State shall not be responsible for any damages, delays, or extra costs resulting from failure to comply with this section.

c. Site Access and Protection:

1. Contractor shall coordinate with the Facility Manager or designee to maintain appropriate haul routes in order to minimize disturbance to surrounding areas and to protect adjacent structures, fencing, and utilities.

2. Contractor shall maintain safe access and comply with OSHA safety requirements for open excavations.

d. Excavation Layout:

1. Contractor shall field-verify the parameters of the sinkhole and stake the excavation boundary prior to commencement of any earth removal or disturbance.

2. The anticipated excavation area is approximately eight hundred (800) square feet; however, Contractor shall be responsible for adjusting the boundaries as necessary to remove unstable earth.

3. Contractor shall report any necessary adjustments directly to the Facility Manager and shall receive written approval from the State prior to proceeding with any adjustments that widen the limits of the excavation area.

e. Excavation:

1. Contractor shall excavate all loose, soft, organic, or unsuitable material in and around the existing sinkhole to a depth of twelve (12) feet or until competent, stable subgrade material is reached.

2. Contractor shall report any necessary adjustments to depth beyond twelve (12) feet directly to the Facility Manager and shall receive written approval from the State prior to proceeding with any adjustments that increase the depth of the excavation area beyond twelve (12) feet.

3. Contractor shall cut back side slopes as necessary in order to ensure stability and worker safety in accordance with OSHA trenching and excavation standards.

4. If groundwater is encountered, Contractor shall provide dewatering measures as necessary in order to maintain a stable and workable excavation.

f. Subgrade Preparation:

1. Upon completion of excavation, Contractor shall visually inspect the subgrade for confirmed stability and proof-roll, as necessary, with appropriate equipment.

2. Prior to installing geofabric or any rock, Contractor shall complete an inspection of the subgrade with the Facility Manager or designee present. Any defects discovered in the subgrade shall be the responsibility of the Contractor to fix at no additional cost to the State.

3. Once the subgrade inspection is complete and subsequent approval to proceed is provided by the State, Contractor shall furnish and install non-woven geotextile fabric on the subgrade. Fabric shall extend fully across the excavation bottom and up sidewalls as necessary to prevent migration of soil into the stone backfill and shall be installed flat, free of wrinkles, and overlapped a minimum of eighteen (18) inches at all seams.

g. Backfill and Final Grade:

1. Contractor shall furnish and install 4-inch to 12-inch diameter filter rock in the excavation.

2. Rock shall be clean, durable, and free of organic material.

3. Contractor shall use the necessary procedures and equipment to minimize voids.

4. Contractor shall backfill rock until its elevation is within twelve (12) inches of the original finished ground elevation.

5. The remaining twelve (12) inches shall be filled with clean, compactable soil. The soil shall be suitable for the region’s climate and shall be free from pests and diseases.

6. Contractor shall place soil in uniform horizontal lifts not exceeding eight (8) inches in loose thickness and shall compact the soil using appropriate mechanical compaction equipment. No additional fill shall be placed until the preceding lift has been properly compacted.

7. Each lift shall be compacted until the soil is dense and unyielding and achieves not less than ninety-five (95) percent of the maximum dry density as determined by ASTM D698.

8. Final grade shall be uniform, free of low spots, and match existing surrounding contours to ensure proper surface drainage.

h. Site Restoration:

1. Contractor shall furnish and install seed and straw mulch for ground cover over all disturbed areas. The seed mix shall be suitable for the region and season of installation.

2. Contractor shall ensure the straw mulch is evenly applied to provide proper soil coverage and minimize erosion.

3. Contractor shall water seeded areas as necessary to promote germination.

i. Environmental Considerations:

1. Contractor shall be responsible for disposal of all waste or job-related debris.

2. Contractor shall load, transport, and dump all excavated material to a designated area on facility grounds. The Facility Manager or designee shall be responsible for identifying this area upon commencement of work. Contractor shall ensure proper measures are in place to minimize the introduction of foreign, non-organic material within the excavated material.

j. Final Inspection:

1. Prior to completing the installation and departing the work site, Contractor shall complete a final inspection to ensure compliance with the specifications outlined herein.

2. The final inspection shall be completed with the Facility Manager or designee present.

3. Any defects discovered during the final inspection shall be the responsibility of the Contractor to fix at no additional cost to the State.

4. Contractor shall receive final approval from the Facility Manager or designee in writing after the final inspection is complete and the Facility Manager or designee has confirmed that the completed work meets all specifications outlined herein.

k. Product Certifications and Listings and Adherences to Standards:

1. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (https://www.osha.org)

i. Contractor shall adhere to the following specifications, test methods, and standards:

(a) 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P – Excavations

2. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) (https://www.astm.org)

i. Contractor shall adhere to the following specifications, test methods, and standards:

(a) D69 – Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Standard Effort

(b) D287 – Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (USCS)

(c) D4491 – Water Permeability of Geotextiles of Permittivity

(d) D5313/D5313-21 – Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Durability for Erosion Control Under Wetting and Drying Conditions

(e) 6241 – Static Puncture Strength of Geotextiles and Geotextile-Related Products

IV. Security Requirements for Site Visits

a. Identification of Contractor Personnel:

1. All Contractor personnel shall be subject to a background check conducted by the institution prior to being permitted to enter the institution. The Contractor shall complete all background check information. Background check forms from the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) provided by the Warden shall be completed prior to Contractor’s mobilization to the site. Background checks shall be performed on employees, delivery drivers and vehicle operators employed by the Contractor or sub-Contractors. Any consistent driver that frequents the project site shall require a background check. Contractor should assume that background checks shall take a minimum of seven (7) business days to complete. The Contractor shall notify the Warden and complete the background check forms for all replacement and/or new employees, drivers, etc. not identified in the initial list of site personnel. Background checks may be repeated on any employee at any time. Any subsequent information, such as a recent arrest, may result in denial of access.

2. A valid driver’s license number, social security number, date of birth and/or other similar information is required for a NCIC background check. NCIC information shall not be disclosed to or discussed with the Contractor. Per applicable laws and TDOC policy, NCIC information shall remain confidential.

3. The Contractor shall identify for the Warden, promptly upon their employ, persons who have been previously convicted of a felony, incarcerated, or who have a family member currently incarcerated at the institution. Warden may require such persons to be excluded from working on the premises.

4. Denial of access decisions by the Warden shall be final and non-negotiable.

5. An identification card or pass may be provided to each worker employed by the Contractor who enters the secure confines of the institution. Workers shall be required to show a valid government issued photo identification card in order for a card to be issued. Identification cards shall be worn in plain sight at all times. If lost or stolen, the Contractor shall report to the Warden for issuance of a new card. Identification cards shall be returned to the Warden upon completion of work or termination of employment. The cost of replacement cards/ID shall be the Contractor’s responsibility.

b. Security Policies

1. The Contractor is advised that this is a correctional institution, and Contractor’s employees are required to strictly abide by all Tennessee Department of Correction and South Central Correctional Facility policies and procedures at all times. Deviations from these policies by the Contractor or the Contractor’s employees shall not be tolerated and shall be considered grounds for immediate contract cancellation.

2. Contractor’s employees and vehicles are subject to search. Per TDOC policy 506.06, all persons and property are subject to search. Drugs, alcohol, firearms, ammunition, explosives, and weapons are prohibited. Violators shall be prosecuted.

3. In accordance with TDOC Policy 506.05 and Policy 506.06, daily and upon every entrance and exit of the secure compound, all persons, tools, materials, and equipment shall be thoroughly inspected and searched. These searches shall include but are not limited to visual inspection, frisk searches, X-ray machines, metal and cell phone detection devices, and full body scanners.

4. All tools shall be documented, itemized, and inspected before workers shall be allowed to enter the secure compound or depart from the secure compound. A copy of all itemized inventories shall be maintained at the checkpoint area where the tools enter the compound. It is the responsibility of the Contractor to maintain security of all tools while on the secure compound and State property. If a tool or material were to be misplaced, it is the responsibility of the Contractor to immediately inform the escort, security or facility staff in the area. No tools, secured or otherwise, shall be stored on State property without written approval from the Warden

5. TDOC policy 206.02 restricts and may prohibit the usage of cellular telephones at this Correctional facility. Use of cellular telephones while on State property shall require the prior approval of the Warden. The Warden’s decision shall be based on the Contractor’s need to perform his/her job responsibility. Contractors have no guarantee that approval shall be granted.

6. Contractors shall anticipate delays as workers enter and exit the secure compound due to the time required to adhere to these policy restrictions. These measures are in place for the safety of staff, visitors, contractors, and offenders. The State will not unduly delay the process of ingress and egress, but these delays may be unavoidable as the facility is required to maintain the highest standards of security to ensure safety. The State shall not be billed for any item or cost outside of the agreed upon costs as noted in the solicitation that result from these delays.

c. Tobacco Free Facility:

1. SCCF is a tobacco free facility. Any tobacco product(s) outside a secure vehicle shall be considered contraband on State property. This rule applies to all staff, Contractors & visitors.

Central Procurement Office • Tennessee Tower, 3rd Floor 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, Nashville, TN 37243 Tel: 615-741-1035 • Fax: 615-741-0684 Website: tn.gov/generalservices/ image1.png