B.07.01 Pre-Bid Questions and Answers.docx

NOTE: The following included responses to questions received from potential bidders following the virtual Pre-Bid Meeting for the Cleaning and Painting of Tainter Gates at Deer Creek Lake, Mt Sterling, OH. USACE responses are included in blue italicized font below each question.

1. The bid schedule includes Option no. 1. If Option 1 is awarded, will the USACE increase the contract time from 160 calendar days?

The option, if awarded, will be exercised no later than 30 June 2021 and the period of performance for the option will be 80 calendar days from the award date of the option.

2. Will painter’s equipment be allowed to be staged on the service bridge and remain there for the duration of the contract?

According to section 01 00 00, 1.5.1.4 of the specifications the contractor shall conduct his operations in such manner so as not to interfere with the daily operational functions, pedestrian access, that Government personnel will have to perform in connection with their duties of dam operations. Contractor storage of materials and equipment shall be located where approved by the Contracting Officer.

3. Can a crane be operated on the bridge? What is the load rating of the bridge?

According to section 01 00 00, 1.4.1 h the existing bridge load capacity is equivalent to an AASHTO HS20-44 (MS-18) truck loading. However, the contractor shall submit all equipment, weights and loads for approval prior to mobilization.

4. How much time will the Government require to review the results of the weld inspection for each gate?

30 Calendar days to review final weld inspection report. It is noted that the Government will view visual weld inspection logs on site during the weld inspections and give notice to proceed based on weld inspection logs.

5. How many additional days will be added to the contract duration if the Optional 3rd gate is awarded?

Refer to response No. 14.

6. Can the Contractor’s Superintendent/CQC Manager also serve as the SSHO on this project?

No, must have separate SSHO from Superintendent/ CQC Manager.

7. Bids Items 12 and 19, Repair of Weld Defects, are listed as a Lump Sum. The amount of weld repair will be unknown until the weld inspection is complete. Please either define the quantity of weld we should bid on or change these bid items to a unit price basis.

According to updated section 01 00 00, 1.4.1 f and updated section 35 20 16.46, 3.2 for bidding purposes only, 128 linear feet of weld to be repaired at each gate. This value is an estimate and could change based on the findings from the visual inspection of welds.

8. How many gates can be taken out of service so repairs and painting may be done?

According to section 01 00 00, 1.5.1.5 the contractor may have access to no more than one gate at any time, unless otherwise approved by the Contracting Officer.

9. Will a pre-blast be required prior to Item 11 - Visual Inspection of Welds?

According to updated section 01 00 00, 1.4.1 f and updated section 35 20 16.46, 3.2, to optimize the progression of the work, the contractor has the choice of performing the visual inspections of the welds prior to abrasive blast cleaning or after. If the inspections of welds is chosen to be conducted prior to the abrasive blast cleaning to SSPS-SP-5 (white metal), the contractor has the option to blast clean the areas of welds being inspected to SSPC-SP-6 (Commercial Blast) if deemed necessary to conduct a proper inspection.

10. It is common that the existing tack weld nuts will break off from the gate when the side seals are removed or reinstalled. What is the repair or replacement procedure for this type of work, and how will it be paid?

According to section 01 00 00, 1.4.1 d and section 35 20 16.46, 3.4 the tack welded nuts are not to be disturbed. If one or more is removed from the structure it shall be replaced with like nut and tack welded back into the proper place. Any damage to the newly applied paint shall be repaired. This will be no additional cost to the government.

11. Can a mobilization/demobilization item be added as a bid item?

Mobilization and Demobilization is already listed as item 8 of the base bid schedule.

12. Can a mobilization/demobilization item be added in case of high water?

Mobilization and Demobilization is already listed as item 8 of the base bid schedule. Any deviation due to high water will be addressed on a case by case basis.

13. Is dehumidification required during the blast cleaning & painting operations?

According to section 09 97 02, 1.7 of the specifications only during periods of inclement weather, painting may be continued by enclosing the surfaces and utilizing climate controlled equipment (e.g. dehumidification, heaters, etc.), provided the minimum temperatures and surface dryness requirements prescribed are maintained.

14. Is the exact location of the existing stop logs to dewater the tainer gate, is it onsite and if so how many linear feet are they on the tainter gates?

There are no stop logs for dewatering of the Tainter Gates. Months of performance for performing this contract is between April and October 2021, during an expected lower pool. Any deviation from the work outside of the control from the government or contractor will be dealt with on a case by case basis.

15. Will the Corps be supplying any stop-logs or does the contractor have to provide those?

No, the Government will not be supplying any stop logs. Refer to response No. 14

16. As it stands the weld repairs are lump sum items. Will you be issuing an addendum? Perhaps with a price per inch or foot? Traditionally, that is how it’s done because it will be hard to estimate if we don’t know how much is there?

Refer to response in question No. 7.

17. Are we to assume that the gate will not be in water during the period of performance of this contract so we are not including the cost of water control? Or are we to assume it is a possibility?

Refer to response No. 14

18. If we see high water will that be considered a change in the contract?

Refer to response No. 14

19. How are the welds to be bid if there are some to be done after inspection?

Refer to response No. 7.

20. A lot revolves around the environmental protection plan 01 57 20. Can you explain more on the expectation of the pest management or pesticide treatment that is going to be expected from the contractor? There is a lot of information integrated in pages 13, 14, and 15 regarding the integrated pest management. It talks about water, soil, and other things, and only using certain chemicals.

There is no projected work for using pesticides based on limited fauna. If the contractor deems it necessary then they must abide by the EPP. Any use of pesticides must be reviewed by the government Contracting Officer Representative.

21. What would be the lag time between the initial abrasive blast weld inspection and coating? Basically, in the past we have had a full initial pre-blast, then weld inspection, and then a full blast. Are we required to do a full blast prior to inspection? And if so what is the lag time between inspection and painting?

Refer to response No. 9. It is noted that the Government will view visual weld inspection logs on site during the weld inspections and give notice to proceed based on weld inspection logs.

22. Let’s say we do a full blast and then inspect with no welds to be repaired, how long would we have to wait before proceeding to paint?

Refer to response No. 21.

23. Does the weld report have to be approved prior to the start of painting? Is that a 30 day review period at 30 days you are looking at re-blasting.

Refer to response No. 4 and No. 9. The government may provide verbal approval on-site for painting.

24. What months does USACE intend for this work to be completed with lower pool?

Refer to response No. 14

25. Can more than one gate be worked on at any one time?

Refer to response No. 8.

26. What if pool elevations are contradicting historical data?

Refer to response No. 14.

27. The schedule is 160 days, will you be holding the notice to proceed to closer to the low water season?

Yes. Refer to response No. 14.

28. Weld inspections, will there be a pre-abrasive blast prior to the full timeline? You are asking for a full white metal blast and then inspection. The timeline before the base coat is very short. Would you entertain editing the contract to include a pre-blast?

Refer to response No. 9.

29. What is the capacity of the service bridge, and is there any reason we cannot get a crane on that bridge?

Refer to response No. 3.

30. Bid Items No. 12 & 19 - Repair of Weld Defects: can the USACE provide an estimated quantity or allowance needed for repairs for bidding purposes?

Refer to response No. 7.

31. Bid Items No. 11, 12, 18, 19: Can the USACE provide a timeline for the review of the weld inspection report and direction for weld repairs?

Refer to Response No. 4.

32. Section 00 80 00, 1.9.4.4: Should a flood demobilization be required, will the Contractor be compensated for the removal/reinstallation effort and lost productivity/time?

Refer to response No. 14

33. Section 01 00 00, 1.4.1 d: Is it the USACE’s expectation that the side seal assemblies are the only isolated area containing Lead based paint?

We do not have complete certainty on lead paint being present in this location, however the side seal assemblies have the highest probability of having lead paint. The side seals were not removed under the last painting contract.

34. Section 01 00 00, 1.5.1.2: Will the USACE permit the use of a portion of the Corps Office Site Parking Lot for project staging?

Section 01 57 20.00 10 3.2.4 states that the location and layout of the contractors field offices, staging areas, stockpile storage, and temporary buildings shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer for review and acceptance. The Contractor Work Limits support staging and stockpile usage, additional area may be made available (such as parking spots at the field office). The contractor must coordinate with the field office and maintain their work area.

35. Section 01 50 00, 1.9: Is the USACE requiring the Contractor to install a fence to barricade the construction area?

This section is talking about the storage area. In section 01 50 00, 1.6.1 it states that the contractor shall be responsible for the cleanliness and orderliness of the area used for the security of any material stored in this area.

36. Section 01 57 20.00 10, 3.1: What environmental permits and commitments is the USACE referring to?

Refer to response No. 20.

37. Section 01 57 20.00 10, 3.9: What pest management strategies is the USACE expecting the Contractor to provide? We believe the intent is for the environmental issues to be contained within the gate work areas, but the language throughout 3.9 suggests the awarded Contractor shall contract with a ‘State Certified Pesticide Applicator’ for maintenance and use of EPA registered pesticide materials for areas outside of the designated work area and on pests as described in Paragraph 1.2.6.

Refer to response No. 20.

38. Section 09 97 02, 1.5.4: Are the Qualified Paint Applicators to be certified by a 3rd Party Source or a USACE Representative?

The contractor is to submit the painter’s qualification test and third party certifications. According the section 09 97 02 1.5.4.1 and 1.5.4.2 the authorized government representative is to review their performance at the on-site test.

39. Section 09 97 02, 3.2.7: Are the rivets and bolts not to be painted?

This is just referring to when contact is intended between ferrous metal or other metal parts and the bolt or rivet of similar composition. Between the Bolt/rivet and the contacting surface is not required to be painted. (i.e. you do not have to remove the bolts/rivets and paint the surface where the bolt/rivet connects).

40. Section 09 97 02, 3.2.7: The specification states “crevices shall subsequently be filled or sealed with paint.” Attempting to “seal” gaps in rivets with paint is typically poor industry practice as vinyl coatings do not bridge gaps. Does the USACE expect these types of gaps to be sealed / bridged with vinyl materials or painted over?

“When riveted or ordinary bolted contact is to exist between surfaces of ferrous or other metal parts of substantially similar chemical composition, such surfaces will not be required to be painted, but any resulting crevices shall subsequently be filled or sealed with paint.” This is also addressed in 09 97 02, 3.2.4 and 3.2.9.

41. For the purpose of the bid, should we assume lake elevation will not be above 814 ft during the period of performance and if it is above this level it will be considered a change to the contract?

Refer to response No. 14.

42. 160 days is a short contract period to complete work if you include submittal time. A paint submittal could take 30 days to prepare, 30 days to review, and if there are edits, it could be close to 90 days before it is approved and painting is allowed. Are we expected to start submittals prior to the Notice to Proceed or would the government consider lengthening the contract time?

Months of performance for performing this contract are between April and October 2021, during an expected lower pool. Submittals should be prepared and reviewed prior to mobilization for the months of performance.

43. As long as a crane meets the AASHTO HS20-44 (MS 18) Truck loading, will it be allowed on the bridge?

Refer to Response No. 3. Contractor must submit equipment for review.

44. Will more than (1) gate be allowed to be worked on a time?

Refer to Response No. 8.

45. Will the service bridge be closed to traffic throughout the duration of the project?

Yes, the service bridge is closed to traffic other than project personnel.

46. Is this project anticipated to be a Spring 2021 project?

Yes, Refer to response No. 14.

47. If not has the Corps thought through heating of containment for painting?

Refer to section 09 97 02, 3.1.2 and section 09 97 02, 1.7 of the project specifications.

48. Does the existing paint contain lead?

Refer to Response No. 33.

49. Will pre-blasting be required prior to welding inspection?

Refer to response No. 9.

50. Will lengthened work hours and days be allowed?

The period of performance stands, anything that may adversely affect the schedule beyond the control of the contractor and the government will be dealt on a case by basis.

51. Is 3rd party NACE oversight required?

Refer to section 09 97 02, 3.4 and 1.5.6 of the specification. Surface preparation and painting inspections must be conducted by an inspector certified as meeting one of the following designations: SSPC-PCI Level 2, NACE-CIP Level 2. The inspector will inspect and document all work phases and operations on a daily basis and submit daily Inspection Reports.

Non-USACE Pre-Bid Attendees:

1. Trevor Gooden; BlastOne International

2. Stan Thompson; Coatings Unlimited

3. Gene Ebbinghaus; Coatings Unlimited

4. Kevin Guth; Paragon Construction Services of America, Inc

5. Scott Langum; Drax Inc

6. Mike Sondag; Alltech Engineering Corp

7. Tommy Mahinis; Royal Bridge Inc

8. Steve Ziebka; Hartman Walsh Industrial Services

9. Torrey Crossman; BCI Construction USA, Inc