Additional RFIs.pdf

Questions that may be of general interest to all Offerors and/or the Government and that are not readily answered by the proceeding changes will appear below. These questions may have been paraphrased or altered to represent several questions regarding the same subject and/or simply revised to clarify and simplify the question(s). Questions and answers are issued to the Offerors “for information only” and do not revise the solicitation, plans or specifications.

Q1. Regarding the stockpile Technical Specifications, Section 31 24 00.00 18:

a. Page 3, paragraph 1.2 states; “The designated stockpile placement site(s) to be utilized under these specifications for the "Maintenance Dredging of the New York Harbor, Sandy Hook Channel, New York, Federal Navigation Project" will be Lot K and Lot J of the National Park Service (NPS) Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area, located approximately 1 mile to the south of the dredging area, as shown on Sheets 2 and 4 of the contract drawings.”

i. Q: We are unable to locate Sheets 2 and 4, as referenced. There are only 3 sheets in the original contract drawings, and none reference Lots K or J.

Please provide these drawing sheets.

A: Revised set of plans, entitled “Plans_AM0002”, have been posted to reflect the stockpile option work.

b. Page 3, paragraph 1.2 states; “Lot K shall be the primary stockpile placement site and Lot J shall be the back-up placement site.”

c. Page 8, paragraph 3.2.1 states; “Lot J is the back-up stockpile placement site and will only be utilized if the Contractor has notified the Contracting Officer/Contracting Officer's Representative of the capacity limits at Lot K, or directed by USACE to utilize Lot J for the remainder of the dredged material.”

d. Page 8, paragraph 3.2.1 states; “The designated stockpile placement site(s) are at the discretion of USACE and NPS, and are subject to change.”

i. Q (for b, c, and d above): As written, contractors must include costs for mobilizing, constructing, and demobilizing both Lots K and J due to the uncertainty of knowing pre-bid if one or two placement sites will be utilized.

Can you provide definitive clarity on whether one or two sites will be utilized, or should contractors carry costs anticipating that both scenarios may occur?

A: Assume only Lot K shall be utilized. If additional lots are required, the contractor can submit an REA under the DFARS 252.243-7002 REA clause.

e. Page 4, paragraph 1.5 states; “The contractor shall obtain and comply with any local governmental sedimentation or erosion control permits required for this work.”

i. Q: Which permits are anticipated to be required by the contractor for the upland stockpiling of dredge material?

A: NJDEP stormwater permits may be required. The contractor is responsible for identifying, obtaining and complying with any permits that may be required for this work.

f. Page 9, paragraph 3.2.3 states; “Dredged material shall be pumped directly from the scow pump-out plant to the stockpile placement site(s), or by other approved means and methods.”

i. Q: Are there approved pump off locations for pumping out scows?

A: See revised plans entitled “Plans_AM0002”.

ii. Q: Are there approved pipeline routes from permitted pump off locations to the placement site(s)? Please provide a drawing depicting these routes.

A: Recommended pipeline corridor is provided – see revised plans entitled “Plans_AM0002”.

iii. Q: Would the contractor be allowed to establish a pump off location adjacent to (just west of) the USCG Auxiliary Flotilla piers and pump across to Lot K (placing pipeline along Cainfield Rd and Kearney Rd)?

A: The contractor is not allowed to utilize the USCG property. See revised plans entitled “Plans_AM0002” for more information.

g. Page 9, paragraph 3.2.7.4 states; “It is expected that in placing the sand fill hydraulically, most of the silt and other fines being pumped will be washed into the ocean and dissipated by wave action.”

i. Q: As these are upland placement sites, any silt or other fines will not be able to be washed into the ocean. How should contractors handle any silt or other fines that are placed into the placement areas?

A: The contractor is responsible for the means and methods to achieve the work.

Stockpile Placement operations cannot begin without the USACE and NPS approval of the “Stockpile Placement Work Plan”.

Q2. Is there a restriction/limitation regarding how high the material is allowed to be stockpiled in each placement site?

A2. The contractor shall design and engineer a stockpile containment structure to safely and effectively contain the dredged material. The height of the stockpile shall be at the discretion of the contractor so long as USACE and NPS provides approval. Stockpile Placement operations cannot begin without the USACE and NPS approval of the “Stockpile Placement Work Plan”.

Q3. Where is the contractor to obtain the sand necessary to construct the placement area containment berms? Are there any on-site sand sources that can be utilized for this construction?

A3. The contractor is responsible for obtaining any material and equipment needed to construct the stockpile containment structure.

Q4. Pumping of sand & gravel over the required distance to reach the placement sites will necessitate the use of an onshore booster.

1. Q: Will a booster be allowed to be installed and operated on shore along the approved pipeline route?

A: Yes, a booster will be allowed to be installed and operated. The recommended pipeline corridor is provided in revised plans entitled “Plans_AM0002”. Stockpile Placement operations cannot begin without the USACE and NPS approval of the “Stockpile Placement Work Plan”.

2. Q: Are there any noise or other restrictions relating to the operation of a shore booster?

A: No, there are no noise restrictions relating to the operation of a shore booster.

Q5. Handling of return/discharge water is not addressed in the permits or specifications. How is water in the placement sites to be handled? Are there any restrictions relating to the return water?

A5. The contractor is responsible for all dewatering plans and operations. Stockpile Placement operations cannot begin without the USACE and NPS approval of the “Stockpile Placement Work Plan”.

Q6. Q: Is the contractor responsible for paying the $196,935.14 “Cost Recovery” fee identified in Attachment A of the National Park Service Special Use Permit?

A6. The Cost Recovery Fees for NPS law enforcement and biological monitoring staffing, as required by the NPS Special Use Permit, is paid by USACE directly and is not the responsibility of the contractor. However, the contractor is subject to any action/inaction within the NPS Special Use Permit, including any additional cost recovery fee needed if the event that coverage exceeds the coverage period of approximately 100 days.

Q7. Given the complexity of the work required for the added bid items relating to the upland stockpile, it will be nearly impossible to get a responsible bid together in such an abbreviated time frame. It requires design, as well as subcontractor and vendor coordination. Please delay the bid due date until at least the end of next week (August

29) to allow bidders time to receive answers to their questions and prepare their bids accordingly.

A7. Bid Opening has been extended to 29 August 2025.

Q8. This amendment significantly changes the scope of this project. For instance, we currently do not know if we can and/or are allowed dig this material from the land side of the spit w/ excavators and truck haul it to the stockpile area, or if it must be dredged and hydraulically unloaded with an unloader (with a protected, water-side unloading area provided), or if we must dredge it and then mechanically unload the scows at location provided at Sandy Hook, or off-site, and truck haul from there. The specs also state that the contractor must design the containment structure and dewatering operations, if placed hydraulically, in Lot K…. And determine if we need more space/structures, etc. in Lot J. These significant changes require more time to figure out a new approach and design a disposal area, which will require additional equipment and personnel, and time to source potential subcontractors and allow them to review and price the work. Please allow at least 5 more days (from the date the Drawings are posted, if nec.) to analyze this new amendment and submit questions and also extend the bid date by 14 days to provide time to review and incorporate the USACE answers. Again, this is a significant change to the scope. We’ll see how much stockpile area the Plans provide, but for a visual: a pyramid with a volume of 15,000 CY has a base area of an NFL football field and height of 21 ft.

A8. Bid Opening has been extended to 29 August 2025. No RFIs shall be accepted after this posting of Amendment 2.

Q9. Given the inclusion of an optional stockpile area with amendment 0001, please provide the following information:

• Please provide drawings of a suggested pipeline corridor acceptable to NPS to allow for continued safe operation of the park and visitor access.

• Please provide drawings of suggested effluent flow / corridor from stockpile area to the ocean.

A: No suggested effluent flow/corridor from the stockpile area(s) to the ocean has been provided. The contractor is responsible for all dewatering plans and operations.

Stockpile Placement operations cannot begin without the USACE and NPS approval of the “Stockpile Placement Work Plan”.

• Please provide anticipated NJDEP permit requirements for the stockpile area construction, maintenance, and effluent handling.

A: An amendment to the NJDEP WQC for the stockpile placement is pending and shall be provided prior to the start of stockpile placement work. The contractor must comply with any additional conditions/requirements within the amendment. Stockpile placement cannot occur without the WQC amendment or NJDEP concurrence. The contractor is responsible for identifying, obtaining and complying with any other permits that may be required for this work.

• Please provide any drawings available that detail of the location of the stockpile area.

Q10. Specification section 2.2.1.1 "Stockpile Placement" appears to allow for a placement option other than hydraulic unloading from a barge. Please confirm that the contractor has the option to dig Stockpile material from the positive elevation material within the dredge template from land and truck it to the stockpile area.

A10. Hydraulic pipeline is the preferred method but the option to “dig Stockpile material from the positive elevation material within the dredge template from land and truck it to the stockpile area” may be reviewed for feasibility and shall be subject to USACE and NPS approval. The contractor is responsible for the means and methods to achieve the work. Stockpile Placement operations cannot begin without the USACE and NPS approval of the “Stockpile Placement Work Plan”. The contractor must comply with all required Federal, State, and local government regulations.

Q11. Please provide additional time to evaluate fully the Stockpile Placement option.

A11. Bid Opening has been extended to 29 August 2025. No RFIs shall be accepted after this posting of Amendment 2.