Bidder Questions and Answers.doc

Sewer Line Rehabilitation

Homestead Run, Munhall Borough, PA Section 219 Environmental Infrastructure Project Q1.

Will we need invert elevations to figure our shot lengths?

A1.

Please clarify question. However, lengths are from center of manhole to center of manhole.

Q2.

Are we to use manhole depths shown on the plans for design thickness? If so is there a method to be paid for liner thickness increases/decreases? The manhole depths can be off by as much as 45' behind the church.

A2.

There is no method in the contract to allow for liner thicknesses. The contractor will be responsible for providing the necessary thickness based on field measurements.

Q3.

Are we limited to the ROW shown on the drawings?

A3.

Corps and sponsor have provided ROW as shown and contractor must stay within ROW. All manholes can be accessed by staying on the right of way and easements provided. If contractor wants additional ROW or access, the cost and effort will be borne by contractor and permission by property owner for access must be signed and notarized and provided to Contracting Officer.

Q4.

Where are we to obtain water? Is there going to be a charge for water use? Please provide contact information for the Owner.

A4.

Pennsylvania American Water operates the water system. Charges for water usage will be determined by the operating Authority.

Q5.

Will track equipment be permitted in the creek bed?

A5.

Yes, track equipment is allowed in the stream. Track equipment will also be subject to Section 01 57 20.00 10 Environmental Protection, and Section 01 35 26 Government Safety Requirements and EM 385-1-1.

Q6.

Is there a method to pay for retaining walls and other surface structures that will need to be removed/replaced?

A6.

If the Contractors means and methods interfere with any walls or structures then removal and replacement of such structures will be at the Contractors expense.

Q7.

Where is the Contractor going to dispose of debris from sewer cleaning?

A7.

Properly permitted commercially available disposal facility in compliance with Federal, State, and local requirements for solid waste disposal as stated in Specs section 01 57 20, paragraph 3.5.1 and Specs section 02 42 00.

Q8.

Please clarify the Staffing requirements i.e.; SSHO, CQC, etc...

A8.

The superintendent can be both Superintendent and safety person (SSHO) as added to Section 01 35 26, page 4, Para 1.5.1.1 by Amendment 0001. A dedicated quality control (QC) with no other duties is also required to be on site. The QC cannot be the SSHO as is stated in specs section 01 35 26, paragraph 1.5.1.1.

Q9.

The specifications require the CQC take mandatory training for the QCS software. Please indicate how many days this training requires. Where does the training take place? Is there a fee to the Contractor?

A9.

The CQM training is a 2 day course. Each Corps District has training set up at various times. See the attached web link to page that lists other districts CQM session. Pittsburgh District’s next class is not scheduled until September 15, 16 2010. Louisville District holds a class every month. The CQM person needs a certificate from this class. Fees vary per District, but usually in the range of $100 to $150 a person. If you have never used QCS, please refer to specs section 01 45 01.1 which informs you where you can download the contractor module, user manual, and training information from the RMS web site.

http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/_kd/go.cfm?destination=Page&Pge_ID=2312 Q10.

Please clarify whom will be obtaining the required permits.

A10.

The Authority has obtained the permits from the Department of Environmental Protection (General Permit 11) and the Allegheny County Roadway Occupancy Permit. Any other permits necessary will be at the expense of the Contractor.

Q11.

Is the Contractor required to provide a job site trailer for the Owner and/or the Owners representative? If so please specify the requirements.

A11.

No job site trailer is needed for Corps or Owner.

Q12.

Will physical strength enhanced resins be permitted for use so that a higher flexural modulus might be achieved?

A12.

As long as it’s recommended by the manufactures associated.

Q13.

Are manholes 1137D, 19, 1135 and 935 in the tunnel? If so is the Contractor to use the manhole depth on the plans for design or the depth from the surface?

A13.

Yes they are in the tunnel. The Contractor is to field verify all depths prior to design.

Q14.

Upon site investigation, we were unable to locate multiple manholes. Will the Contractor be responsible to locate manholes? Will the Contractor be responsible to raise buried manholes to grade?

A14.

They will be raised by the Authority prior to construction.

Q15.

Bit Item 0001 Base Contract FFP (Manhole 935A to Manhole A608), Item No. 0002 and Item No. 0003 - Question: Are these Items to be the total cost for Base Bid, Option A and Option B ?

A15.

Base contract items are 0001AA thru 0001CP inclusive. Awardable option A items are 0002AA thru 0002BH inclusive. Awardable Option B items are 0003AA thru 0003AU inclusive. Award will be based on lowest bid of total of Base, Option A and Option B.

Q16.

Spec Section 01 22 00.00 10 Item # 1.2.1.1 Payment - We have several issues here:

A) Please remove "Payment shall include but not be limited to, by-pass pumping". A pay item has been included for by-pass pumping therefore it should not be listed as a requirement to include with the CIPP lining.

A16 A).

This statement is correct. The specification has been revised by Amendment 0002.

B) Payment shall include "grouting". Please clarify is this intended to be joint test and seal? Lateral grouting?

A16 B).

The following paragraph has been added to Section 33 01 99.

Sealing of Service Connections

After the service connections have been reconnected, the Contractor shall be required to seal all laterals. This sealing shall be accomplished by the insertion of a device specifically designed for insertion into laterals. The device shall be inserted into the lateral so as to isolate the void between the original pipe and the inserted pipe. The device shall then be inflated. An approved grout shall then be pumped into the voids to totally seal the connection. If leaking ensues after the grouting, the Contractor shall be required to re-grout the connection. This process shall be continued until the lateral is sealed to the Owner's satisfaction.

C) 1.2.1.2 Measurement - Please clarify will payment be made from center of manhole to center of manhole? Will the length for payment be determined from the Contractors cleaning logs? If not please specify how total length will be determined for payment.

A16 C) Payment will be made from center of manhole to center of manhole. Chester typically gets lengths from using metal tape in the sewer however, the Corps is completing their own inspections of the lining and they will need to determine how this is calculated.

Q17.

Section 219 Item 1.5 MSSMA will obtain the required permits from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Question: Will this include the required Section 404 permit and/or the Nationwide permit issued by the USACE?

A17.

The signed permit dated February 19, 2010 from the PADEP also enclosed the Section 404 authorization in the form of PA State Permit GP-3. Section 01 57 20.00 10 has been revised by Amendment 0002 to clarify this and the permit has been.

Q18.

Section 219 Item 1.6 states MSSMA will obtain all rights-of-way deemed necessary for the project. Whom shall determine the ROW necessary for the project? Will the Contractor be required to obtain and pay for additional ROW if needed?

A18.

All necessary ROW for the construction of the project has been obtained by the sponsor and is clearly shown on the plans. If the contractor decides to obtain additional ROW, then that cost and effort will be the contractors. Any additional ROW permission must be furnished to the Contracting Officer.

Q19.

Please review Bid Item 0001CA, It currently has a quantity of 209 Each with no manhole number indicated. We believe this is intended to actually be 1 Each with the Manhole Number being 209. Please clarify.

A19.

The bid schedule has been corrected to read NON ARRA Manhole Rehabilitation, Manhole 209 1 Each.

Q20.

MH #374 appears to be more than 30 feet deep, but is shown to be only 6 foot deep on the plans. Additionally, some of the other manholes are buried and therefore unavailable for a bidder to verify their actual depths. Although MH#374 is the only discrepancy found so far, if the actual manhole depths happen to be greatly different than that shown in the bid documents, how will the additional footage be paid?

A20.

The depth of Manhole #374 ahs been comfirmed to be closer to 30 feet deep. The MSSA Manhole Rehabilitation Schedule in the specifications and the Schedule Sheet in the plans have been corrected by Amendment 0002.