W911SG26BA011 Solicitation RFI Q and A.pdf

W911SG26BA011 Solicitation RFI Questions and Answers

Revisions to SOW:

Contractor shall review the revised SOW for the following changes:

1. Section 1.4.2.1 has been updated to increase the fence height to 7 ft.

2. Section 1.4.2.2 has been updated to include the installation of R1-1 “Stop” sign on both sides of the new gate.

RFI Questions and Answers:

1. Is a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) certification necessary to be able to bid and work on this project?

Answer: Any contractor or subcontractor repairing railroad tracks must ensure that their personnel are trained and qualified under the applicable FRA regulations.

Contractors or subcontractors performing the railroad track repair portion of the Statement of Work (SOW) must meet the requirements in SOW section 1.4.2.15. The contractor shall submit documentation demonstrating compliance with these requirements as part of the proposal.

2. Can a Contractor utilize relevant past performance from proposed subcontractors to demonstrate experience with specific portions of the required scope of work, or will the Government only consider past performance performed directly by the General Contractor?

a. For example, if a proposed subcontractor has successfully performed work that is directly relevant to a specific scope requirement, can that experience be included and evaluated as part of the team’s overall past performance?

Answer: Any contractor or subcontractor performing the railroad track repair portion of the Statement of Work (SOW) must meet the requirements in SOW section 1.4.2.15.

The contractor shall submit documentation demonstrating compliance with these requirements as part of the proposal.

3. Is there a specific finished elevation that we should follow, or should we finish the elevation of the contour as it exists?

Answer: The track’s final elevation should match the existing elevation, and the 7-ft fence shall follow the existing contour. The SOW has been revised to reflect the updated fence height requirement. Please refer to SOW Section 1.4.2.1.

4. Are the existing Other Track Material (OTM), rails, tie plates, joint bars, and associated bolts and hardware to be removed and replaced, or may the existing materials be salvaged and reused where they are determined to be in acceptable condition?

Answer: The contractor may salvage and reuse OTM if it is determined to be in acceptable condition. The contractor must replace any damaged or missing OTM in accordance with the Statement of Work (SOW). The contractor is responsible for ensuring that all completed repairs comply with applicable regulations. Refer to SOW sections 1.4.2.8, 1.4.2.9, and 1.4.2.14.

5. Is the new derail required to be the same type and configuration as the existing derail, specifically the existing SD-6 sliding derail (double-end), or is an alternate derail acceptable?

Answer: The contractor shall submit a proposed derailer for approval. The proposed derailer must meet or exceed the minimum requirements specified in SOW section 1.4.2.4.

6. Prior to placement of the new ballast, is the contractor required to install geotextile/fabric beneath the ballast, or is the scope limited to removal and replacement of the existing ballast?

Answer: The installation of geotextile/fabric beneath the ballast is not required.

7. How is the contractor to handle the existing ballast removed from the track area?

Specifically, is the existing ballast to be:

a. Removed from the installation and disposed of at an approved facility.

b. Stockpiled at a location designated by the Government; or

c. Recycled/reused at an approved location on the installation?

d. What is the government’s preferred method of handling the existing ballast?

Answer: The contractor is responsible for disposing of excess materials, debris, or waste at an approved off-post facility in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations, and for paying any associated fees. The contractor shall salvage or recycle materials whenever feasible and provide required documentation.

Refer to SOW sections 1.4.1.12 and 2.7.5.1 for construction waste management, disposal, salvage, and recycling requirements.

8. How are the existing railroad ties removed as part of the project to be handled? Are the ties to be:

a. Removed from the installation and disposed of at an approved facility.

b. Stockpiled at a Government-designated location; or

c. Recycled at an approved installation or recycling facility?

Answer: The contractor is responsible for disposing of excess materials, debris, or waste at an approved off-post facility in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations, and for paying any associated fees. The contractor shall salvage or recycle materials whenever feasible and provide required documentation.

Refer to SOW sections 1.4.1.12 and 2.7.5.1 for construction waste management, disposal, salvage, and recycling requirements.

9. When excavating to remove the existing ballast, should excavation extend to the edge of the existing fence, or is excavation limited to the area immediately surrounding the railroad ties and track structure?

a. Can you please clarify the required limits of excavation?

Answer: The contractor shall remove and replace all contaminated ballast. The ballast shall extend at least 6 inches beyond the end of the tie and continue with the required downward slope. The contractor shall match existing conditions. Refer to SOW section

1.4.2.5 and drawing sheet R-104, Typical Railroad Track Section.

10. Should the new rail anchors be installed using the existing anchor pattern, which is currently approximately every five ties, or should the anchors be installed at the recommended spacing of every other tie?

If the more frequent anchor spacing is required, please confirm that the additional quantity of rail anchors is to be included in the contractor's scope.

Answer: The contractor shall install rail anchors in accordance with the requirements of UFC 4-860-03, section 6-5. The contractor is responsible for including any additional rail anchors in the proposal to meet these requirements. The contractor shall replace any damaged or missing rail anchors within the project limits.

11. Is the contractor required to obtain a work permit or authorization each day work is performed, or is a single permit/authorization required at the beginning of the project that will cover the duration of the work?

Answer: The contractor may obtain either a daily access pass or a pass valid for the duration of the project. If the contractor chooses to obtain a project-long pass, coordination with Physical Security will be required. The COR will assist with this coordination after award. Refer to SOW section 2.10.6.2.b.

12. Please identify the Government point of contact responsible for coordinating and issuing required work permits and hot work permits, including any required inspections or approvals prior to commencement of work.

Answer:

a. The contractor shall have an approved Safety Plan and Activity Hazard Analysis

(AHA) before commencing work. The contractor shall submit these documents to KO, KS, and COR. Refer to SOW sections 1.4.1.6 and 2.8.2.1.

b. The contractor shall coordinate with the Fire Department to obtain hot work permits. Refer to SOW sections 1.4.5 and 2.8.4.

c. The contractor shall obtain an approved excavation request before beginning work.

Refer to SOW sections 1.4.1.11 and 2.11.3.10.

d. Coordination and communication with rail operations will be required throughout the project. Refer to SOW section 1.3.1.

13. Who will be responsible for disconnecting, securing, and subsequently reconnecting the existing railroad crossing signals prior to and following the track work? Can you please clarify whether this work is to be performed by the contractor or by the Government/railroad signal personnel?

Answer: The DPW maintenance contractor will be responsible for disconnecting, securing, and reconnecting the existing railroad crossing signals before and after the track work. This will require coordination with the maintenance contractor and the submission of a Demand Maintenance Order (DMO) to disconnect and reconnect the signals.

14. Should the replacement rail joints maintain the existing joint configuration/stagger, or should the replacement rails be installed with a revised stagger to provide the recommended separation between rail joints?

If a revised stagger is required, please confirm whether an additional rail section is to be provided to achieve the required joint spacing.

Answer: The contractor shall install rail joints in accordance with the requirements of UFC 4-860-03, section 6-4. The contractor is responsible for including any additional rail joints in the proposal to meet these requirements. The contractor shall replace any damaged or missing rail joints within the project limits.

15. Please clarify the requirements for track protection, railroad flagging, and protection of personnel and equipment during construction. Will the Government provide qualified railroad flagging personnel, is the contractor responsible for providing certified railroad flaggers for the duration of the work, or is a flagger required at all?

Answer: The contractor shall provide all required protection in accordance with OSHA and Fort Bliss regulations. Refer to SOW section 1.4.1.2.

16. Request clarification regarding elevation requirements for the fence installation.

Specifically, the lower section of the fence line. Is there a specific finished elevation that we should follow, or should we finish the elevation of the contour as it exists?

Please advise on the required elevation or benchmark we should use for the lower section.

Answer: The contractor shall install a 7-ft fence following the existing contour. The SOW has been revised to reflect this change. Refer to SOW section 1.4.2.1.