B.08.03 Government Responses to RFIs.pdf

Bid Inquiry Contractor Report All Inquiries

Project: Ozark Tainter Gates FY21 Package Review: Ozark Tainter Gates (BI) (00001) (sorted by CommentID ) Displaying 23 inquiries.

Id Discipline Sheet Detail Spec

9571592 Bioenvironmental None Vaccination Covid-19 Vaccination

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

Will all employees on this project be required to have the Covid-19 vaccination?

On: Jan 24 2022.

Government Response. . There is currently a hold on the COVID vaccination requirements for contractors. On: Feb 15

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9582928 Site None Site Visit Site Visit

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

With the severe winter weather (ice and snow) potentially hitting the area on the night before and day of the site visit, my team and I are wondering if the site visit will be rescheduled due to potential for dangerous travel conditions. Please advise.

On: Jan 31 2022.

Government Response. . The site visit originally planned for 3 February has been postponed to 8 February. This change is noted in Amendment 0001, which was posted to PIEE and SAM on 1 February. On: Feb 02 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9588423 Contracting 00 22 16

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

On page 15 of 53 of the Solicitation, Factor 3 - Past Performance - Submission Requirements states, "Only include projects completed up to five (5) years prior to the date of this RFP." Because the past administration cut funding between 2017 and 2020 on the defense contracts, it greatly limited the amount of similar/relevant type work that was available for contractors to complete these past few years. The solicitation is requesting relevant experience, but with the limited work, that greatly diminishes the projects a contractor could submit. The lack of work not only affected the Federal contracts, but also the State & Municipality levels too. Can that requirement be extended from the past 5 years to the past 10 years? This will allow more competent contractors to compete with more relevant references.

On: Feb 04 2022.

Government Response. . Factor 3 will be revised to allow submission of completed projects within ten (10) years prior to the RFP issuance. This update will be shown in an upcoming amendment. On: Feb 18 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9588432 Contracting 00 22 16

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

For Past Performance, will the Government accept work still under contract? Can we consider a project that is over 50% complete, if we have a current contract with USACE that has had additional work amounting to an increase of over 150% of the original contract? This amount of extra work greatly increases a contract's duration when the Government is requesting experience within 5 years on a MATOC style of project.

On: Feb 04 2022.

Government Response. . Factor 3 will be revised to allow submission of active projects that were awarded more than one (1) year prior to the issuance of this RFP and at least 50% complete. Look for this update in an upcoming amendment. On: Feb 18 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9592946 General Pages 11 & 12 Pages 11 & 12

Comment Classification: Public (Public)

We would like to participate in the above mentioned Solicitation. We do, however, hope to get some clarification. On page 11 (at the top) of the Solicitation PDF and the end of 11 and onto 12, I shows thee volumes to be submitted (shown below):

FILE FORMAT. Files shall be in Portable Document Format, filename extension: ".pdf" and suitable for viewing in Adobe Reader. There shall only be four files in each Offerors' submission:

W9127S22R0003- Firm Name- Volume I, Contractual/Admin,W9127S22R0003- Firm Name- Volume II, Technical Factors, and

W9127S22R0003- Firm Name- Volume III, Price.

VOLUME I, Contractual/AdminBookmark A – Standard Form 1442 ta Sheet (Attachment A). Proposal must include Offeror's telephone number, FAX number, email address, and DUNS number. DUNS number will be used to access CPARS Data.

VOLUME II, Technical Factors Bookmark A – Factor 1 – Performance Capability Sub-Factor 1.1 – Technical Approach Sub-Factor 1.2 – Key Personnel Sub-Factor 1.3 – Organization Bookmark B – Factor 2 – Proposed Contract Duration & Summary Schedule Bookmark C – Factor 3 – Past Performance VOLUME III, Price Bookmark A -- Price Schedule (Seed Task Order) Bookmark B -- Offer Guarantee

However, later on page 11 (toward the middle) of the PDF, it states four volumes are to be submitted, as shown below:

COVER SHEET & TABLE OF CONTENTS. Proposals shall consist of four (4) volumes.

Would you please clarify.

On: Feb 08 2022.

Government Response. . Three (3) volumes shall be submitted. The typo will be corrected in a forthcoming amendment. On: Feb 10 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9594714 Other S-502

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

On Sheet S-502, Detail A3 lists the curved side seal back bar and clamp bar as 3 1/4" x 1/2". Detail A10 on the same sheet list it as 2 1/2" x 1/2". On Reference Drawing R-106, the side seal detail shows that the original bars were 3 1/4" x 1/2" and the replacement ones in 1988 were changed to 2 1/2" x 1/2". Please confirm that 2 1/2" x 1/2" is correct.

On: Feb 09 2022.

Government Response. . The curved side seal back bar and clamp bar should be 2 1/2" in width. And amended version of S-502.1 will be provided in an upcoming amendment. On: Feb 15 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9594731 Specifications 05 05 24.10

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

In specification section 05 05 24.10 paragraph 2.2.1, the gate seal fasteners are called out as ASTM A325. Normally ASTM A325 structural steel fasteners are not used for seal bolts. Please confirm the seal bolt material.

On: Feb 09 2022.

Government Response. . Offerors should prepare proposals in accordance with what is stated in the specification. On:

Feb 15 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9594805 Construction Management River Flow & Water Level

Monitoring Par 1.3

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

Time to Complete We do not see an issue with completing the base bid (2 gates)in 365 calendar days. But based on Historical Data, there are years that work can only be performed from August to October due to the high waters. If all options are awarded (11 gates) we feel it is not possible to complete all gates in 1,175 calendar days, since we cannot work from February to May. Can an additional year be added to the total completion time.

On: Feb 09 2022.

Government Response. . Refer to specification section 01 35 13.01 10 Paragraph 3.1, which details this situation. On:

Feb 15 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9594811 Site Site Visit - Sign In Attendance

Sheet

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

Can the site visit sign in list be provided to everyone?

On: Feb 09 2022.

Government Response. . The site visit attendance record has been posted to SAM. On: Feb 10 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9596042 Other 09 97 02

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

Our company is in the process of obtaining our QP1 certification. Does this certification need to be obtained prior to proposal submission for this project (and included in our proposal)? Or are we allowed to submit our proposal as long as we have QP1 obtained before work commences on the Ozark Lock & Dam?

On: Feb 10 2022.

Government Response. . While there is no requirement to hold the qualification at the time of proposal submission, proof of certification is required before work may commence.

See required certification submittals in specification section 09 97 02. On: Feb 18 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9596366 General Submission

Requirements PPQ Submission Requirements

Volume II Technical Factors Bookmark C Factor 3

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

On page 15 of 53 of the Solicitation – Factor 3 – Past Performance – Submission Requirements states "NOTE: For Department of Defense (DoD) projects, the Offeror need not submit a copy of the Contractors Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) Evaluations (ACASS & CCASS) for each DoD project; instead, provide written notification current ratings are available for the Government to evaluate. CPARS evaluations shall not be submitted by the Offeror in place of a PPQ. We are a bit confused with this paragraph, will a current 2021 USACE CPARS evaluation be acceptable over the PPQ?

On: Feb 10 2022.

Government Response. . As stated, "CPARS evaluations shall not be submitted by the Offeror in place of a PPQ."

PPQs shall be the only documents submitted. On: Feb 10 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9596697 Structural Par. 1.1.2 Rehab Tainter Gates 5 & 6 01 22 00.00 10

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

1. Is it the Governments intent for the contractor to disassemble the existing side & bottom seal assemblies prior to cleaning and painting existing assemblies?

2. Are all existing fasteners required to be replaced, or can the existing fasteners be re-used if in acceptable condition?

3. Is it the Government's intention to replace J-Bulbs & Neoprene Gaskets under Clin 0002?

On: Feb 10 2022.

Government Response. . 1. Yes. The intent is to reuse the seal assemblies if possible.

2. For the purposes of proposal assume that all fasteners will be replaced under the associated Rehabilitation CLINS.

3. The intent is to reuse the J-bulbs and Neoprene for CLIN 0002. If that is not possible then the cost for new seal material should be captured in Option 5, CLIN 0014. On: Feb 15 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9596709 Security Sect. 01 15 10.10 46 Security Requirements - Employee Background Disqualifying Factors

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

1.This specification states that no employees with a felony (DUI) are allowed to work on this project. We have found it very difficult to find skilled employees who are able to meet this criteria. Can this requirement be waived?

2. How long will the Employee Security Background Investigation take on each employee?

On: Feb 10 2022.

Government Response. . 1. If the incident happened within the last five (5) years, the individual will be denied access to work on the contract. If the incident happened more than five (5) years ago, the individual may work on the contract.

2. Multi-level (level 2) security requirements require background investigations that may take up to 6 months to complete.

However, Contractor employees may commence work on-site once the background investigation is started and all required submittals have been received along with fingerprints for those employees. The employees who will require Level 2 vetting are those who will be on-site for 6 months or greater. Employees needing access for less than 6 months are subject to level 1 security requirements and fingerprint submittal. If an employee will be on site-for only a few days, the employee will need to be escorted for the full duration of their access. At this time every contractor is required to submit fingerprints for clearance, this process is taking 2-4 weeks from start to finish. On: Feb 15 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9596715 Construction Management Par 1.6 Stop Logs Sect. 01 14 00.00 46

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

We understand that the USACE is providing & installing stop logs for 2 Tainter Gates. Can the USACE supply& install the work platforms needed that sit on top of the stop logs, or is this a contractor's expense?

On: Feb 10 2022.

Government Response. . USACE does not have a 50' work platform. The work platform will be a Contractor expense.

On: Feb 15 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9596718 General Par. 1-3 Bid Item: 0009 Flood Demobilization Sect. 01 35 13.01 10

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

Par. 1.3 states that the contractor shall remove the floating plant equipment from the face of dam if river flows are forecasted to reach 70,000 CFS. Will bid item 0009-Flood Demobilization be payed if this event happens? If not, when would this bid item be paid for?

On: Feb 10 2022.

Government Response. . Refer to specification section 01 35 13.01 10 paragraph 3.1. On: Feb 15 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9596785 General Tail Water Elevation& High

Water 01 35 13.01 10

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

Section 1.2 states that the upstream pool level elevation ranges from 370 to 372. The Specs also state that the tail water level for a flow of 70,000 CFS is approximately 347 elevation. What is the river flow under normal conditions and how does this flow correlate to the tail water level during normal conditions? Also, has the tail water ever elevated more than 10ft in less than a 24 hour period?

On: Feb 10 2022.

Government Response. . River Flow Data will be provided in a forthcoming amendment. On: Feb 15 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9599092 Climate Section 1.3 Tail Water Elevation and High

Water 01 35 13.01 10

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

Section 1.3 states the contractor shall monitor upstream river forecast and notify contracting officer within 24 hours when river flows are forecast or expected to reach 70,000 CFS at Ozark Dam. Based on historical data for the Arkansas River flows, there are times that show river flows at 20,000 CFS and reach over 70,000 CFS in a 12 hour period. How is the contractor supposed to predict this?

On: Feb 11 2022.

Government Response. . During the normal low flow range of 0 to 45,000 cfs changes in releases at Trimble L&D near Van Buren begin to translate to Ozark L&D in 2 to 3 hours. For flow rises higher than 100,000 cfs the travel time for the peak flow between Trimble L&S and Ozark is about 12 hours.

On weekdays Tulsa District communicates daily with the Little Rock District by providing a 4-day flow forecast at Van Buren, AR based on the planned releases from their flood control reservoirs combined with river flows on the streams/tributaries between the reservoirs and Van Buren. When Tulsa District storage exceeds seasonal thresholds they will maintain a flow of 150,000 cfs upstream at Van Buren, Arkansas. Seasonal storage thresholds requiring 150,000 cfs flows are the lowest from mid-February through May and highest from June through October. On: Feb 18 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9599557 Construction Management 01 35 13.01

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

The Arkansas River has vast proven history that river flows and rain events can increase very rapidly without much warning, within hours, thanks to the storms that roll through. Not only can the main river swell, but all the tributaries. How much flow time is there from Fort Smith, AR to Ozark, AR? And how much warning will the Tulsa District give when they start releasing on their 4 major drainage basins? Everything funnels at Fort Smith and the 2019 Record Flood was detrimental. As a contractor we want to prevent a runaway barge incident like at Webbers Falls.

On: Feb 11 2022.

Government Response. . During the normal low flow range of 0 to 45,000 cfs changes in releases at Trimble L&D near Van Buren begin to translate to Ozark L&D in 2 to 3 hours. For flow rises higher than 100,000 cfs the travel time for the peak flow between Trimble L&S and Ozark is about 12 hours.

On weekdays Tulsa District communicates daily with the Little Rock District by providing a 4-day flow forecast at Van Buren, AR based on the planned releases from their flood control reservoirs combined with river flows on the streams/tributaries between the reservoirs and Van Buren. When Tulsa District storage exceeds seasonal thresholds they will maintain a flow of 150,000 cfs upstream at Van Buren, Arkansas. Seasonal storage thresholds requiring 150,000 cfs flows are the lowest from mid-February through May and highest from June through October.

During the 2019 flood event (as well as other large flood events such as, 2015 and 2016) a number of Tulsa District Reservoirs basins received more rainfall than the lakes could actually store requiring substantial releases to be made through their spillways. When these situations occur, Tulsa District contacts Little Rock District and the NWS Tulsa River Forecast Center as soon as they know the magnitude and the timing of the spillway release required. This information is incorporated into the Little Rock District flow forecast and the NWS river forecast locations (including the Van Buren and Ozark TW forecast points). When these situations occur, the Arkansas River flow at Ozark will likely already have been maintained near 150,000 cfs for several days with normal flood storage evacuations releases. The travel time for releases made from the Tulsa District Reservoirs too Van Buren varies between 24 hours and 72 hours depending which reservoirs are making the releases. Then most typical travel times from the Oklahoma Reservoirs to Van Buren are 24 to 48 hours. On: Feb 18 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9599561 Construction Management 01 35 13.01

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

Can the USACE Provide Historical Flow Data at the dam over the past 5 to 10 years?

On: Feb 11 2022.

Government Response. . River Flow Data will be provided in a forthcoming amendment. On: Feb 15 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9599569 Construction Management 01 35 13.01

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

During high flow events, between 70,000 CFS to 300,000 CFS, will the contractor be given a day for day calendar day extension on the contract for a high water event that required them to move their equipment to a secure location?

On: Feb 11 2022.

Government Response. . The contractor will be given a day for day calendar day extension for delays attributed to high flow conditions. On: Feb 18 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9599581 Construction Management 01 35 13.01

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

When major flooding occurs, sometimes the river channel fills in with sediment. To help with navigation, USACE has increased pool elevations while the USACE's Dredgers are clearing any filled in channel. Has this happened at the Ozark Dam Site? And if so, what was the impact, how long were the pool elevations elevated, and what is the typical release during these periods? During these events a Flood Demobilization could last months beyond flows subsiding below 300,000 CFS.

On: Feb 11 2022.

Government Response. . Deviations from the normal pool operating range to temporarily raise the pool level to provide sufficient navigation depth due to sedimentation/shoaling in the navigation channel tends happen at recurring locations with river channel reaches that frequently experience issues. The Ozark Pool is not one of the typical recurring locations with substantial shoaling in its river reaches causing a need to temporarily raise its pool level. No deviations to temporarily raise the Ozark Pool level have occurred with the flood events experienced in recent years. The normal low-flow pool operating range at Ozark is elevation 370.0 to 372.5 NGVD. The top of the closed gates at Ozark is elevation

373.0. If a deviation to raise the Ozark Pool temporarily was required, the rise in water level would be less than 0.5 feet.

This type of pool deviation would only be in effect for low flows (0 to 45,000 cfs) when the navigation depth is needed.

As flows rise above 45,000 the pool operating range would return to normal because the higher flows provide the navigation depth needed. Deviating to temporarily raise the pool level has no impact on the river flow/project releases made by the project; The daily releases made by the project remains the same regardless of what level the pool is maintained at. A deviation like this should have no impact on Tainter gate painting contract work.

Temporarily raising the pool level has occurred at the next downstream project, Dardanelle L&D over recent years, including after the 2019 flood. The Dardenelle L&D Pool Range upper limit was raised approximately 0.5 to 0.8 feet in 2019. The deviation lasted for several months (around 6 months). The effect at Ozark L&D was an increased tailwater level of 0.5 to 0.8 feet at low flows for 0 to 45,000 cfs during the pool deviation. The typical duration for temporarily raising a pool level is 4 to 8 weeks. On: Feb 18 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9599583 Construction Management 01 35 13.01

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

Does the USACE have any Downstream Pool Elevation to Flow Graphs of anticipated water levels depending on flows?

On: Feb 11 2022.

Government Response. . River Flow Data will be provided in a forthcoming amendment. On: Feb 15 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

9603038 Contracting 00 22 16

Comment Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

Can an extension of time be granted to allow for PPQ Responses and the analyzation of the upcoming River Flow Data?

Depending on what the Government will allow for PPQ's on the questions highlighted earlier, depends on who the contractor's can send a PPQ Form to.

Some additional time there would be nice to send/receive PPQ's and to better plan for the river flows on this project.

On: Feb 15 2022.

Government Response. . The solicitation period will be extended until March 11, 2022. This update will be incorporated in Amendment 0002. On: Feb 18 2022

Current Request Status: Request Closed

Information for this report is procurement sensitive.

Report Complete