W911XK-10-B-0012 Questions Answers 10 Sept 2010.pdf

W911XK-10-B-0012 Updated 10 September 2010 FY10 New Fence/Observation Platform – Soo Area Office

Questions and Answers

This document will be continually updated with questions and answers as the due date for bids approaches. Please be sure to check www.fbo.gov using this solicitation number for the latest Q&A document.

Added 19 August 2010

1. QUESTION: What is the expected award date for this contract?

ANSWER: No later than 30 September.

2. QUESTION: When does the Government expect the Project to be completed?

ANSWER: Within 180 days after the notice to proceed. The expectation is that the Contractor will work throughout the winter months, which would encompass adverse weather conditions.

Clause 52.236-4020 indicates the number of days when adverse weather is expected, therefore the contractor will not be allowed to submit a request for additional time unless the number of days exceeds those listed. During the concrete installation phase, the contractor needs to either provide cold weather protection or erect an enclosure, and the Government will provide a steam connection that may be used for heat.

3. QUESTION: Will the insurance requirements be posted for this work?

ANSWER: All Contractors should follow guidance in the FAR, section 28.307-2.

Added 31 August 2010

4. QUESTION: If any of the alternates are added will the construction of the selected alternates coincide with the construction of the base bid?

ANSWER: If selected, the fence fabrication and delivery to the site are to occur within the duration of the contract. If selected, the fence installations are to occur within the duration of the contract

5. QUESTION: It has been extremely difficult to find an ASIC Certified Fabrication shop that will supply the structural steel or the security fence. Is there any chance that qualification would be waved?

ANSWER: Please see Amendment #3 posted on www.fbo.gov

6. QUESTION: There are no anchor rods called out on the column schedule for the C-2 Columns. Please clarify?

ANSWER: C-2 columns do not require anchor rods because they are part of the cantilevered wing-walls, see sheet A-201 Exterior Elevations.

7. QUESTION: What type of pier is to be used under the C-2 steel column? There is no pier called out on sheet S-200. Please Clarify.

ANSWER: C-2 columns do not require piers because they are part of the cantilevered wing-walls, see sheet A-201 Exterior Elevations.

8. QUESTION: Do you know how much the anchors at the visitor center weigh?

ANSWER: The anchors will not need to be removed for this project, disregard the anchor removal notes on sheet CD104. Amendment will be forthcoming.

9. QUESTION: Do the Anchors at the Visitor Center have to be put back into their original place?

10. QUESTION: How far are we going to have to haul the Anchors to be removed from the visitor center to where they are going to be stored?

11. QUESTION: Is this project an ARRA Project? In spec section 01 58 01 subsection 2.1.3 Project identification Label one of the requirements is the ARRA signage. Please clarify.

ANSWER: No, disregard the ARRA signage requirements. Amendment will be forthcoming.

12. QUESTION: Are all of the personal listed in the CQC going to be required for the full duration of the project or can one person cover more than one area?

ANSWER: See specification section 01 45 04.00 10, 3.4.1 and 3.4.3. Personnel listed in 3.4.3 are only required for the specialties pertinent to this project. These specialized personnel will only be required to be physically on site during work on their areas of responsibilities. One person may fulfill more than one role as long as that person meets the qualifications for each role they fulfill

13. QUESTION: Is all of the steel galvanized?

ANSWER: Yes, all steel is hot-dipped galvanized – See Amendment 1

14. QUESTION: Is the handrail galvanized?

ANSWER: Yes, all handrails/guardrails are to be hot-dipped galvanized, See Amendment 1

15. QUESTION: Does galvanized steel get painted?

ANSWER: Yes, Epoxy painting of the Observation Platform, Stairs and Ramps is included.

See Specification section 09 96 00, 2.1.3 and 2.1.4.

16. QUESTION: Section 099600 has a concrete surface coating specified. What areas get covered? Does the exterior ramp going up to the structure get coated?

ANSWER: Traffic coating to be Tremco Vulkem 350NF/351 or approved equal. (Apply to Observation Deck Concrete areas: Ramp & Elevated Platform)

17. QUESTION: The area under the existing structure and to the lock is a concrete surface.

The drawings do not indicate any work occurring in this area. Will this concrete be removed and replaced by others? If not please provide details showing the removal and replacement details.

ANSWER: Contractor is to determine the amount of concrete removal necessary to install the structure foundations (Observation deck supports, piers for stairs and ramp, post supports for security fencing, etc.) and coordinate with the COR.

18. QUESTION: There is a drain pipe shown tying into the roof drain downspouts and an existing manhole. Is this pipe buried or does it lay on the existing concrete that is mentioned in question 5? Provide details for its installation.

ANSWER: The pipe is to be buried (See Note shown below on sheet CP104). Buried steel pipe is to be encased in polyethylene tubing (ANSI/AWWA C105/A21.5).

19. QUESTION: Section 051200 – Structural Steel states that the steel will be fabricated in an

AISC Certified Plant. To our knowledge, such a facility does not exist in the Upper Peninsula or Northern Lower Michigan. The only ones that we are aware of are in Southern Michigan, but the job is not big enough for them and they will not quote it. Either remove this requirement or provide us a list of approved fabricators.

ANSWER: Please see Amendment #3 posted on www.fbo.gov

20. QUESTION: What are the reinforcing requirements for the P1 piers?

ANSWER: (4) #8 Bars vertical with 18” legs with #3 stirrups @ 10” o.c. (See Pier schedule, Sheet S-200)

21: QUESTION: Drawing S-200 Pier schedule P-1 references detail A2 for reinforcing sizes.

Detail A2 references the pier schedule. Please provide reinforcing size for P-1 piers

ANSWER: See Question Q17 and Answer A17 above.

22. QUESTION: S-200 Foundation Plan has numerous size callouts that don’t match any sizes on the pier schedule. For example, a note near the center indicates “2’-6” dia x 4’-0” deep concrete foundation T.O.F. =121’-6”, Typ of (24) this ramp. Most of these piers are called our specifically as P-2’s and P-3’s which don’t match this sizing. Are the notes correct or the specific pier callouts?

ANSWER: The Pier Schedule takes precedence for pier sizes.

23. QUESTION: Is there any data available concerning the thickness of the existing concrete at the location of the new observation deck?

ANSWER: There are no specific details that show the thickness of the concrete under the observation deck, assume 6” reinforced concrete for bidding purposes.

24. QUESTION: Referencing Sheet S-100 Structural Steel Notes – Note 11 it indicates that all materials are to be shop coated with a standard primer. However referencing sheet A-101 General Notes - First, Note 1 indicates that A-101 General Notes apply to all drawings, and then Note 10 indicates all steel to be galvanized.

ANSWER: Shop coating with a standard primer will not be required since all steel is required to be hot-dipped galvanized. All hot-dipped galvanized steel is to be epoxy coated (see spec section 09 96 00, 2.1.3).

Added 8 September 2010

25. QUESTION: This a glass & aluminum curtain wall project, but there is no spec for curtain wall. The plans call for Kawneer 1600 Wall – so we are figuring that – in a clear anodized finish.

ANSWER: Please refer to Spec Section 08 51 13 for design criteria; please note that there are no force protection requirements for this window system.

26. QUESTION: Even though this is a substantial glass job, I cannot find prevailing wage for glaziers. What rate shall we use?

ANSWER: If the glazier position is to be used during the project, the Soo Area Office will request from the Department of Labor wage determination upon award of contract. For estimating I would look at using a painter.

27. QUESTION: Has your office researched the viability of cantilevering the curtainwall per section 1/A-302? We’re not sure you can go unsupported for approx. 5’9” plus serve as a guard rail.

ANSWER: Curtain Wall Manufacturer was consulted and provided input for the sloped curtain wall system.

28. QUESTION: Can a contractor amend their bid by fax before the bid opening?

ANSWER: No. FAR Provision 52.214-5 in Section 00100 states that facsimile bids, modifications or withdrawals, will not be considered unless authorized by the solicitation; this was not included in this solicitation.

29. QUESTION: In reference to the 180 day completion time, do the 27 or so none work days count against the 180 days, or can they be added to it? If we have a 180 days from the start of October, that means completion would be the end of March 2011. I don't think the platform is needed at the Locks by that time, they probably need it by the middle of May. So if we had another 45 days to complete the job you would get a lot better pricing, because of winter work.

ANSWER: The 180 day completion time is from the date of the notice to proceed. The days listed in clause 52.236-4020 of the solicitation are the number of adverse weather days that the contractor should expect and account for, not no work days. See response to question # 2.

Also Section 03 30 00 CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE, paragraph 3.7.5 Cold Weather.

30. QUESTION: On the CP sheets, there are notes saying, “Re-install electrical receptacles along the fence at same locations as existing receptacles.” The only receptacles referenced on these drawings are 2 GFCI type receptacles to be installed (shown on CP102). Are there existing receptacles running the length of the existing security fence that need to be removed and replaced? Please advise.

ANSWER: For bidding purposes assume a maximum of 10 existing receptacles along the length of the fence that the contractor will be required to removed and reinstall on the new fence.

31. QUESTION: Is there an owner’s manual containing catalog numbers for the new fixtures described in note 2 on CP102?

ANSWER: See amendment that will be issued soon.

Added 9 September 2010

32. QUESTION: A new bidding schedule was issued in Modification 1 that added item 0004 thru 0015 to the bid form. All of these options have to do with fencing. After reviewing the description of work, I am still confused if this is part of the fence that is currently shown on the drawings to be removed and replaced or if this is additional fence that is not part of the current fence replacement and is not shown on the drawings. If it is part of the fence that is scheduled to replaced, can we get each area shown on a drawing that relates to each option?

ANSWER: See drawing provided with Amendment 1 for added fencing locations associated with each bid item.

33. QUESTION: Is the fence design from the manufacturer, or is it a custom design?

ANSWER: The fence design is as shown in the plans and specifications.

Added 10 September 2010

34. QUESTION: Amendment 0001, Section 00010 (Page 18 and 19) identifies revisions to CLINs

0001, 0002, and 0003. These revisions do not appear to match the revised Bidding Schedule included on Page 3 of the same amendment. Please clarify the line items that the Corps would like to see in the offer.

ANSWER: When preparing your proposal/offer, follow the revised Bidding Schedule (and corresponding line items) as outlined on page 3 of Amendment 0001.