Amendment 0001 - QnAs.pdf

Additional Questions for SREL 3

1. FAR 252.223-7999 Ensuring Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors has been included with this solicitation and requires the Prime Contractor and all Subcontractor employees to comply with being vaccinated against COVID-19 or be granted a medical or religious exemption.

Our current assessment of the construction industry workforce is that approximately 50-60% of both union and non-union workers are currently vaccinated against COVID-19. Assuming that statistic does not change, the available labor force for this large scale, accelerated project, is reduced by 40-50% as a result of this newly established requirement. We respectfully request that either the allowable construction schedule be extended or consider removing this FAR clause due to the already difficult, accelerated, schedule requirements.

a. The clause and its requirement will not be removed. Please see www.saferfederalworkforce.gov and read the FAQ’s. The POP is not able to be extended.

2. It is our understanding that FAR 252.223-7999 Ensuring Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols will be published on or after November 14, 2021. Although guidance documents regarding the pending regulations have been made available online and through various sources, we request the following clarifications:

• Will the FAR regulation be limited to businesses with 100 or more employees?

• Will the FAR regulation be limited to workers employed or subcontractors who perform work onsite only?

• Will exemptions, including medical and religious exemptions, be allowable? Will weekly testing be required for individuals filing exemptions?

• How will the USACE verify compliance with the FAR regulation?

• What is the enforceable penalty for non-compliance with the FAR regulation?

a. Please see Safer Federal Workforce and read the FAQ’s. That information is updated frequently.

3. Plan sheet C-002 ends the DMM Cutoff Wall at Sta. 1438+50 but requires a 50’ overlap to

Sta.1439+00. Is the 50’ overlap measured and paid for under CLIN 1.29, or is this overlap incidental to the DMM work?

a. The 50’ overlap is only required if an SB option is selected by the contractor, and will be paid for under item 1.29

4. Can you please extend the bid date at least 2 weeks?

a. The bid date was extended to November 30th. No other extensions are anticipated.

5. Regarding the cultural trench shown from STA 1430+50 to 1434+50, does the trench need to be dug from OG to Elevation 20 (or native) prior to the levee degrade, or can it be done after? Also, during the cultural trench excavation, will people need to enter the trench multiple times during the excavation or just once, when the trench is dug to its final depth? In other words will the contractor need to set and remove shoring equipment multiple times?

a. Cultural recovery trench will need to be dug from the original grade to elevation 20 (or native) can be completed after levee degrade if controlled levee degrade process is used, or must be completed before if a controlled levee degrade process is not used.

b. For purposes of the bid assume that entry to the trench will be required only once.

6. Specification 31 83 13 Section 3.5.2.2 - Please consider revising the overlap requirements for Wet Rotary End method. We understand that the 3 ft overlap originated due to the configuration http://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/ https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/

Additional Questions for SREL 3 of the typical Wet Rotary Shaft Tools (which are typically 3 each 3ft diameter vertical axis mixing tools at 2ft spacing), as it allows consistent geometrical pattern for the outer shafts to tie in to the secondary panels to follow the outer columns formed by the primary panels. However, the Wet Rotary End tool classification also includes the cutter Soil Mixing (CSM)method, which uses mixing wheels mounted on to a horizontal axis on a down hole drive unit. The CSM cuts rectangular panels which are overlapped to create a continuous wall. The CSM tools include downhole alignment instrumentation and can be steered while underground. As such, the CSM method does not require complete overlap of a vertical mixing axis in order to create wall continuity and this has been demonstrated on multiple projects constructed with cutoff walls extending to 138 f depth with 1ft end to end overlap of the CSM panels. We request that the WRE method construction using CSM system, the overlap requirements is changed to 18 inches for panels constructed within 24 hours, and 36 inches for panels constructed also defined as “production breaks”.

a. No change will be made

7. Specification 31 83 13 Section 3.5.3.10 – Given the explorations for base bid DMM wall has been complete, we also assume the final wall depth has been set. As such we request the requirement to have equipment on site that can install production wall to a depth of 10’ beyond the plans be removed or capped at the depth of the current deepest wall (145’)

a. Requirement will NOT be removed.

8. Given the very tight schedule for the completion of the DMM work, we request the ability to begin production work immediately following completion of the demonstration section. This would be at the DMM contractor’s risk.

a. All testing and approvals must be received per the specification prior to start of the production work.