TECHNICAL_SPECIFICATIONS_pipe_cleaning_-_Rev_GR_07-16.docx

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Stormwater Pipe Cleaning Services

1. GENERAL

1.1 Purpose

The purpose of this contract is to provide all labor, equipment, materials, water and incidentals necessary to perform stormwater infrastructure maintenance and cleaning throughout the City of Tampa. This includes cleaning and inspection of stormwater pipes, inlets, manholes, baffle boxes, outfall structures, and related elements.

1.2 Scope of Work

The Contractor shall perform all services specified herein, including but not limited to:

· Mechanical cleaning of stormwater conveyance systems

· Removal and lawful disposal of debris

· Visual inspection and reporting of conditions

· Emergency and scheduled dewatering

· Minor vegetation/root intrusion removal

· Preventative and corrective maintenance of structures

· Record the length and diameter of the stormwater pipe cleaned.

2. BIDDER REQUIREMENTS AND SUBMITTALS

Bidders shall submit with their bid evidence in writing that they maintain a permanent place or places of business and have adequate equipment, finances, and personnel to provide the specified services. This evidence shall include, but not be limited to: a list of current contracts, their value, and a contact person with each firm; at least 3 references who can verify work of a similar nature done by your firm in the last 3 years; a list of owned and/or leased equipment available for use on this award; a list of key personnel and a brief summary of their qualifications. Any person performing maintenance activities must have an OSHA 24 hours hazardous waste worker training. Note also that when entering into an underground Stormwater box the individual involved in entering the box, must have been trained in OSHA “permit required confined space”.

Provide a complete list of tools and equipment owned or leased. It is strongly recommended that the Awardee possess (own or rent) and use the following equipment, in the performance of this Award:

· Vacuum trucks (Vactor trucks): Powerfully suction debris, sediment, and liquids from stormwater pipes and catch basins. They are essential for both dry and wet cleaning methods, capable of removing solids and semi-solids effectively.

· High-velocity jetters: Use pressurized water (up to 2000+ PSI) to scour pipe walls, loosen and flush out debris such as grease, sediment, and roots. Jetters come with a variety of nozzles to target different blockages and pipe sizes.

· Both types of equipment are often combined for maximum cleaning efficiency and are mounted on trucks for mobility and access.

· Mechanical root cutters and rotary cutters: Remove root intrusions that commonly clog stormwater pipes, clearing the way to maintain proper flow and enabling sealant applications where needed.

Failure to provide the listed material may deem the bidder to be non-responsive.

The City of Tampa reserves the right to inspect the apparent low bidder's place of business and equipment prior to award of any contract to determine the responsibility and capability of the bidder to perform the services. The City also reserves the right to solicit references in making judgments on the bidder's ability to perform said services.

3. REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTROL OF THE WORK.

Prior to the start of the work, a Pre-maintenance Conference will be held by the City to be attended by the Contractor and others for the purpose of establishing a schedule of operations which will coordinate the work to be done under this specification, with all related work to be done by others within the limits of the project. The Contractor shall be prepared for this meeting and shall present a comprehensive maintenance schedule for all items of work to be accomplished by him, which will be used as the basis for the development of an overall operational schedule. The Contractor shall also provide a list of sub-Contractor/Contractors and material to be used on this work.

All items of work in this Contract shall be coordinated so that progress on each related work item will be continuous from week to week. The progress of the work will be reviewed by the City at the end of each week, and if the progress on any item of work during that week is found to be unsatisfactory, the Contractor shall be required to adjust the rate of progress on that item or other items as directed by the City.

The Contractor shall conduct its operations in such a manner as will result in the minimum of inconvenience to occupants of adjacent homes and business establishments and shall provide temporary access as directed or as conditions in any particular location may require. Access to adjacent residential, public and commercial properties shall be provided at all times during the Award period.

The Contractor shall restore to its previous condition as directed by the city any private property, City property, or utilities damaged by his service. No payment shall be made to the Contractor for any required restoration of private property, City property or utilities, unless otherwise noted.

4. WORK SCHEDULE/WORK ORDERS.

The Contractor shall provide to the Inspector a schedule of his or her activities on no greater than a monthly basis. The Contractor shall notify and receive approval by the City of any alterations or deviations in advance of the work being started. The schedule can be handled via fax or e-mail provided that it is accurate and complete. Verbal communication alone of this scheduling will not be acceptable.

It is anticipated that this contract may include projects (work orders) of both shorter and longer duration. Prior to the issuance of a particular work order, the Project Manager and the Contractor will mutually agree to a fair and reasonable anticipated number of days necessary to complete the pending work order. Once this number of days has been determined and mutually agreed to in writing, a work order may be issued. Failure by the Contractor to complete the work order work by the respective milestones as agreed to above, excluding circumstances that are beyond the control of the Contractor, shall entitle the City to assess liquidated damages per calendar day of delay, as indicated in Article 4.1 below.

a. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES. It is mutually agreed between the parties that time is the essence of this Contract and that there will be on the part of the City considerable monetary damage in the event the Contractor should fail to complete the work within the time fixed for completion in the Contract or within the time to which such completion may have been extended. This amount shall, in no event, be considered as a penalty or otherwise than as the liquidated and adjusted damages to the City because of the delay and the Contractor and his Surety agree that the stated sum per day for each such day of delay shall be deducted and retained out of the monies which may become due hereunder and if not so deductible, the Contractor and his Surety shall be liable therefor.

The amount of liquidated damages for completion of each work order shall be $500.00 per calendar day.

5. CITY PERMITS

A City of Tampa Right-of-Way Permit is required for work performed within the City of Tampa public rights-of- way. Initial rights-of-way permit fees are waived by the city. Right-of-Way Permits will establish the requirements for the closure related to the number of lanes and/or time of day lanes or streets may be closed. The Contractor shall adhere to the requirements as described in the permit(s).

The Contractor shall be responsible for obtaining all other applicable City permits for the project.

6. MAINTENANCE OF TRAFFIC

The Contractor shall provide a Maintenance of Traffic Plan for the work. The Contractor shall provide, install and maintain all traffic control devices, barricades, warning signs, detour signs, flagmen and any other safety devices that are necessary to protect the public and the workers as required in the FDOT Roadway and Traffic Design Standards, latest revision or as directed by the City of Tampa Permits section. Failure or neglected on the part of the Contractor to comply with this requirement may constitute contract default.

The Contractor shall observe traffic movements through the work site and inspect all traffic control devices on a regular basis to ensure that all devices are properly installed and functioning as intended.

The cost of maintaining traffic shall be included under the various bid items and no additional payment shall be made therefor.

7. RESTORATION/ PROJECT CLEAN-UP

The Contractor shall take every precaution to avoid damage to surrounding properties. In the event that the Contractor has caused such damage, he shall repair, replace, and/or make good on any and all claims to the satisfaction of the City and the claimant.

Clean-up on this project is extremely important and the Contractor will be responsible for keeping the work site neat and clean with debris being removed on a daily basis as the work progresses.

If project cleanliness reaches an unacceptable level in the opinion of the City, the City will notify the Contractor in writing. If the Contractor does not act to correct the situation within 24 hours in the case of general cleanliness, the City will call upon outside forces to provide the appropriate services. Cost of all such activities shall be charged to the Contractor.

All debris, trash, sediment shall be picked up, vacuumed and disposed of properly, not blown out into the waterways, rivers or estuaries. The Contractor is required to minimize pollution to the maximum extent practicable.

8. NOTICES

All notices, which shall include demands, instructions, requests, approvals, and claims shall be in writing. Any notice to or demand upon the Contractor shall be sufficiently given if delivered to the office of the Contractor specified in the award (or to such other office as the Contractor may, from time to time, designate to the City in writing), or deposited in the United States Mail, postage-prepaid, mailed first class, registered, or certified mail, or upon delivery to a nationally recognized overnight courier service.

9. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

9.1 Pipe Cleaning

· 18-Inch and Under: Contractor shall clean pipes using high-velocity jet/vacuum methods. Pipes shall be flushed thoroughly and sediment and debris fully removed.

· 21-Inch to 32-Inch: Medium-diameter pipes shall be cleaned using appropriate jetting and vacuuming equipment with adequate safety controls. Cleaning must maintain consistent flow and not disturb structural integrity.

· Over 32-Inch: Contractor shall clean large-diameter pipes using high-velocity/vacuum methods or mechanical cleaning tools, depending on site conditions. All material must be vacuumed or mechanically extracted and not left in the system.

Jetting without recovery is strictly prohibited. All debris must be removed and disposed of in accordance with Section 9.8.

9.2 Inlet Cleaning

· Standard Inlets: Shall be vacuum-cleaned and inspected for clogs, damage, or sediment buildup.

· Basket-Type Inlets: Baskets shall be removed, cleaned, and reinstalled securely. Baskets shall be replaced if damaged.

9.3 Manhole Cleaning

Manholes shall be vacuumed, scraped as needed, and flushed. Covers shall be removed and replaced securely. Structural conditions shall be recorded.

9.4 Outfall Structure Cleaning

Outfalls shall be cleared of debris, sediment, and obstructions. Vegetation obstructing flow shall be removed. Sediment control measures should be maintained during work.

9.5 Baffle Box Cleaning

Contractor shall remove all sediment, trash, and floatables. Internal components (deflectors, screens) shall be inspected and reported for defects.

9.6 Root Cutting Mechanical root cutting equipment shall be used to remove invasive roots. Work shall not damage the pipe. Follow-up inspections may be required.

9.7 Dewatering

Performed on an hourly basis, as authorized. The Contractor shall provide pumps, hoses, filters, and containment as needed. Water shall be handled per environmental regulations.

9.8 Debris Disposal

All debris generated during cleaning operations shall be removed from the site on the same day and transported for disposal. The following applies:

· Primary Disposal Site: All debris shall be dumped at the City's designated sweeper facility, located at a location provided by the City.

· Cost Inclusion: All costs associated with dumping at the City's sweeper facility shall be included in the bid item unit prices for cleaning.

· Alternate Disposal: If the City's disposal site is unavailable or at capacity, debris may be transported to a licensed disposal facility. In such cases, the bid item for “Debris Disposal” may be used for reimbursement, based on the approved tonnage and proper documentation (e.g., scale tickets).

· Contractor shall maintain clean transport and handling debris, and comply with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations related to waste handling and stormwater protection.

9.9 Minimum Work Order

· To cover mobilization, administration, and preparatory costs for small or single-task work orders, a minimum work order charge of $750.00 will apply.

· Any individual work order with an estimated value below this threshold shall be billed at the minimum amount.

· This minimum charge is separate from the unit prices for individual tasks and applies to all work orders regardless of task type.

· The minimum work order fee ensures efficient response and operational readiness for all requests, regardless of size.

10. INSPECTIONS AND REPORTING

10.1 Pipe Inspection

Contractor shall perform non-CCTV inspections after cleaning to verify flow and structural condition. Reports shall include the length of the pipe, pipe size, location, sediment levels, and condition rating.

10.2 Inlet and Manhole Inspection

Inlets and manholes shall be visually inspected and documented. Deficiencies shall be reported with photographs.

11. CONTINGENCY WORK

Work outside the defined scope may be authorized by the City under the Contingency line item. This includes emergency response, additional inspection, or specialized repairs. Written authorization is required prior to execution.

12. SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

Contractor shall comply with all OSHA, EPA, and City safety regulations. Work shall not cause flooding, pollution, or damage to public or private property.

13. MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT

· Quantities shall be measured in linear feet (LF), each (EA), tons (TON), or hours (HR) as specified.

· Payment shall be based on actual work completed and verified by the City.

· Unit prices shall be firm for the contract term.

· Minimum Work Order charge shall apply as detailed in Section 3.9.

· Contingency work shall be reimbursed only upon prior written approval.

· No additional payment shall be for Mobilization or MOT and shall be built into the unit prices.

14. SUBMITTALS

The contractor shall submit the following:

· Weekly worklogs

· Inspection reports

· Debris disposal manifests

· Equipment certifications (as requested)

· Monthly invoices with itemized breakdown including any minimum work order charges