W912EP24R0007 Solicitation Questions.pdf

W912EP24R0007 WPF GATE

SOLICITATION QUESTIONS

1. Question: IF the USACE will recognize that because this is a supply solicitation, that items

#017 through #024 (metallic components) be procured directly by the USACE at the time of installation and stricken from the solicitation notice?

Answer: We understand that these are two different types of materials. However, we are keeping them together for the solicitation.

2. Question: Should the prices for CLIN 0003 include delivery and assembly of all lift gates and delivery of all bulkheads? Or does it just include the two lift gates (CLIN 0001) and one standard bulkhead (CLIN 0002).

Answer: Bid as shown including Amendment 1 which includes a Note (4) to “Section B – Supplies or Services and Prices” that clarifies prices for delivery and assembly.

3. Question: Can you define IF the USACE wants the stainless steel rail sets with CLIN 0001?

They have 8 sets listed as separate line items. This is inconsistent with the roller assemblies.

Answer: Bid as shown for CLIN 0001

4. Question: Is CLIN 0035 for the QC testing of two standard bulkheads only? We read CLIN

0034 as for the two gates.

Answer: Bid as shown for CLIN 0034 and 0035 for Quality Control Testing of FRP Spillway Gate. CLIN 0002 includes the Design Validation Testing of the Port Mayaca Bulkhead.

Below are Clins 0001, 0002, 0003, 0034 and 0035

Clin 0001 includes:

1.3.2 FRP Spillway Gates (Line Item 0001)

- Payment will be made for costs associated with and incidental to design and fabrication of the FRP Spillway Gates. Work will include the following.

1.3.2.1 Design FRP Spillway Gates

- Design the FRP Spillway Gates including stainless steel roller assemblies. FRP spillway gate is defined as one whole gate as shown on views A and B of Section 06 90 00, Attachment 4, Sheet S-01, including all attached appurtenances such, but not limited to seal assemblies, and lifting assemblies. See Section 06 90 00 FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMER

(FRP)COMPOSITE STRUCTURE.

1.3.2.2 Fabricate FRP Spillway Gates

- Fabrication and quality control two FRP Spillway Gates complete with all components for each FRP Spillway Gate assembly.

1.3.2.3 Roller Assemblies

- Provide all Roller Assemblies as defined on Sheets S-01, S-02, and S-03 of Section 06 90 00, Attachment 4 required for two FRP

Spillway Gates in accordance with the contract specifications.

1.3.2.4 Design Validation Testing of RFP Spillway Gate Design

- Design validation testing of one FRP Spillway Gate. See Section

06 90 00 FRP COMPOSITE STRUCTURE.

1.3.2.5 O&M Manual

- Provide O&M Manuals to include long-term maintenance schedule and repair procedures. See Section 01 78 23 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

DATA.

1.3.2.6 Training

- Before delivery, training and commissioning must be conducted to provide government employees hands-on training. The location for training will be coordinated with the Contracting Officer. See 06 90 00

FRP COMPOSITE STRUCTURE for Training requirements.

Clin 0002 includes:

1.3.3 Standard FRP Port Mayaca Bulkheads (Line Item 0002)

- Payment will be made for costs associated with and incidental to design and fabrication of the FRP Port Mayaca Bulkheads. Work will include the following.

1.3.3.1 Design FRP Port Mayaca Bulkheads

- Design of the FRP Port Mayaca Bulkheads. Design will be for the

Standard and Bottom type bulkheads. See Section 06 90 00 FRP COMPOSITE

STRUCTURE.

1.3.3.2 Fabricate FRP Port Mayaca Bulkhead

- Fabrication and quality control one Standard FRP Port Mayaca

Bulkhead, complete with all components for the FRP bulkhead assembly.

1.3.3.3 Design Validation Testing of Port Mayaca Bulkhead Design

- Design validation testing of one FRP Port Mayaca Bulkhead, Standard type. See Section 06 90 00 FRP COMPOSITE STRUCTURE.

1.3.3.4 O&M Manual

- O&M Manual to include long-term maintenance schedule and repair procedures. See Section 01 78 23 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE DATA.

1.3.3.5 Fabrication Documentation and Specification

- Provide design and fabrication documentation. See Section 01 78

00 CLOSEOUT SUBMITTALS.

Clin 0003 includes:

1.3.4 Deliver FRP Spillway Gates and FRP Port Mayaca Bulkheads (Line

Item 0003)

- Payment - Deliver FRP Spillway Gates and FRP Port Mayaca Standard

Bulkhead to the location described in 01 11 00 SUMMARY OF WORK. CLIN

0003 includes any costs of assembly at the delivery location.

Clins 0034 and 0035 includes:

1.3.11 Quality Control Testing of FRP Spillway Gate (Line Items 0034 and 0035)

a. - Payment will be made for costs associated with or incidental to providing quality control testing of a FRP Spillway Gates, in accordance with contract specifications. Include tests that verify horizontal bending deflection under maximum design loads.

The intent is that these tests can be simple enough to perform at the manufacturer's shop without requiring offsite testing

5. Question: The contract documents states ~ "embedded and integrated directly into the material during the manufacturing process". Does this refer to molding sensors into the laminate, or can it be interpreted as being bonded to the interior of the assembly? If cabling is run on the structure's interior with passthrough areas for cabling, there should be more protection. Additionally, will the USACE allow different strain gauges with waterproofing and impact guarding? or could a more standard strain gauge be considered?

Answer: Submit bid as noted in Attachment 2 Design Requirements: Instrumentation and Structural Health Monitoring for the FRP Lift Gates at W.P. Franklin Dam. The portion quoted in the question "embedded and integrated directly into the material during the manufacturing process" refers to the fiber optic strain transducers which are to be “integrated directly into the material.”

6. Question: We have not been able to find any amendments that list responses to plan holder questions. Can you send us a list of all questions asked by the plan holders and the Corps’ responses?

Answer: All questions and answers will be posted to SAM.gov as they are answered.

7. Question: Is the USACE going to post these answers to the solicitation?

Answer: Questions and Answers will be posted on SAM.gov.

8. Question: The solicitation mentions the necessity of demonstrating relevant experience, yet also notes that bidders with limited or no directly comparable past projects will not be adversely evaluated on this criterion. Could you please provide further guidance on how this apparent contradiction is resolved in the evaluation process?

Answer: Regulations prohibit us from penalizing a firm because they have no past performance. Some would call it a neutral rating because it doesn’t hurt the firm without experience, but it does not help them either. If your firm has past performance, you will want to put it on there to show that you are capable.

9. Question: Will USACE consider division of the project into a Design/Development phase separate from Production?

Answer: The procurement package is setup with the design and manufacturing together.

We want to keep them together as this is the procurement method that has been approved. Any changes would require new approval requirements and starting over which puts the project at risk of being cancelled permanently.

10. Question: Is there consideration of using our Direct Contract Rights from SBIR technologies for the Design/Development phase?

Answer: I am not familiar with the SBIR program / Direct Contract Rights, but I do not see a problem with it being used as long as it complies with the requirement.

11. Question: Provide clarification on the RFP's stance regarding past experience requirements.

Answer: I will have to talk to the technical team about a project extension. The project is currently behind schedule and at risk of being cancelled if not awarded in time.