Q A.docx

Q1. Will the government allow CCASS evaluations in lieu of the PPQ’s?

A1. No, please provide the coversheet as directed in the solicitation. Offerors may provide CCASS ratings within the page limitations.

Q2. Will the Contractor be allowed to spread the excavated soil/material around the construction site?

A2. The Contractor will not be allowed to spread the excavated soil/material around the construction site as a method of disposal. As per Section 31 23 20.13 10, Paragraph 3.3, satisfactory excavation material shall be transported to and placed in fill areas within the limits of the work. All unsatisfactory material, including any soil which is disturbed by the Contractor's operations or softened due to exposure to the elements and water and surplus material shall be removed from site.

Q3. Will the Contractor be allowed to burn the clearing and grubbing material?

A3. Burning will not be allowed on the project site. Section 01 57 20.00 10 (Environmental Protection), Paragraph 3.4.4 (Burning) is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with:

3.4.4 Burning

Burning will not be allowed on the project site.

Q4. Can the USACE identify where the silt fence needs to be located, and approximate length of the fencing?

A4. The Contractor is responsible for providing erosion and sediment controls as per Section 01 57 20.00 10, Paragraph 3.2.3. The selection of the types and determination of the locations and lengths of the controls is the responsibility of the Contractor.

Q5. How long does the USACE intend to allow for the construction of the Canada Way Streambank Protection?

A5. The Contractor is responsible for providing erosion and sediment controls as per Section 01 57 20.00 10, Paragraph 3.2.3. The selection of the types and determination of the locations and lengths of the controls is the responsibility of the Contractor.

Q6. Spec 01 45 00.00 10 Section 3.4.2 states that the CQC manager may not be the project superintendent for this contract. Usually on USACE project of this size the project superintendent can be multi “hatted” and serve 3 roles i.e. superintendent, CQC manager and SSHO. Is that acceptable for this project or must two separate individuals serve as the superintendent and CQC manager?

A6. Per Specification Section 01 45 00.00 10 paragraph 3.4.2 the CQC manager may not be the project superintendent. It is not acceptable for the project superintendent to fill 3 roles as superintendent, CQC manager and SSHO. However, per Section 01 35 26 paragraph 1.5.1.1.1, the Contractor Quality Control Person can be the SSHO on this project.

Q7. My company will be submitting on Solicitation No. W912P4-14-R-0005 as a joint venture. Please let me know what is required by the USACE, besides the SAM database registration, to be deemed an acceptable joint venture? SBA does not need to approve any joint venture unless it is a joint venture dealing with an 8(a) Firm for an 8(a) solicitation. Since Solicitation No W912P4-14-R-0005 is a small business set aside, the joint venture would not need SBA approval. Are there are any other requirements regarding joint ventures from your office?

A7. Please see Section 00100, paragraph 1.1 and paragraph 2.1.1 regarding the JV requirements.

Q8. In section 4. Of the Past Performance Questionnaire, Project Description, it asks “How is the project relevant to project of submission?” Is this question referring to the construction MATOC itself or the Canadaway Creek Streambank Protection project included in the solicitation?

A9. It is referring to the construction MATOC.

Q9. Volume 1: Factor 1 – Past Performance: Many of our clients have stated they will not complete a PPQ form if they have completed a CCASS evaluation for the project. Is it acceptable to provide completed CCASS evaluations for relevant projects in lieu of the PPQ form?

A9. See Answer to question 1.

Q10. Are bid bonds, performance bonds and payment bonds required for both the Canadaway project and the performance qualification package? For the performance qualification package, is a bond letter, naming single and aggregate bond amounts, required?

A10. Per Section 00110, Paragraph 2.1.3 of the solicitation:

The offeror must submit a Bid Guarantee for this solicitation. Any offeror failing to submit an acceptable Bid Guarantee will be considered non-responsive to the solicitation and ineligible for initial evaluations and award. The Bid Guarantee shall be in the amount of 20% percent of the offeror's proposed price or $3,000,000.00, whichever is less. In determining the amount of the Bid Guarantee, it is based on the summation of the price proposed on each bid schedule.

An individual bid bond is not required for the Canadaway project. In accordance with Attachment 1 to the solicitation, Performance and Payment Bonds shall be required within 10 days after the Notice to Proceed. Performance and Payment bonds are not required in an offeror’s proposal.

Q11. Will the government provide the estimated quantities for the JOB and hourly unit line items on the task order?

A11. Estimated quantity for JOB is 1. Hourly unit line items have been removed. Bid schedules updated.

Q12. Is there any way possible to have a secondary site visit for the subject Solicitation?

A12. There is not sufficient time to coordinate a secondary site visit. The property is owned by the Village of Fredonia located in the Town of Dunkirk. There is no access restrictions posted on the property by either municipality. Offerors may visit the site but please provide a courtesy notification to the village. The contact information is as follows:

Stephen W Keefe, Mayor stephenkeefe@netscape.net

Rick St. George Village Administrator adminvilfredonia@netsync.net

Sam Drayo Attorney at Law samdrayo@netsync.net

Q13. Specs state contractor to obtain all permits. We assume this includes NYSDEC and SWPPP. What Federal permits will be required for this task? And will the hourly bid prices for Project Manager, CQC Manager, etc. be paid for time spent to acquire these?

A13. No federal permits are required.

Q14. Amendment 1 revised Paragraph 2.1.2. VOLUME 2: FACTOR 2 - PRICE PROPOSAL (Section 1). The revision deleted reference to “The DIRECT [emphasis added] labor rates proposed for the Binding Contract Rate Pricing” that were included in the original Solicitation. The revised instructions, however clarified that for the Canadaway task order bid sheet: “At a minimum, each line item shall include the labor categories from the Binding Contract Rate Pricing bid schedule (with the offeror’s proposed labor rates for each category), material costs, subcontractor costs, OVERHEAD, AND PROFIT [emphasis added].” Similarly, Note 1 of the Binding Contract Rate Pricing bid schedule was revised to state: “NOTE 1: The hourly rates proposed on this price breakout schedule will become binding upon award for the life of the MATOC Contract and must be used on each subsequent task order. Each task order will require a cost proposal broken down by line item including the proposed labor rates, materials, subcontractor costs, OVERHEAD, PROFIT [emphasis added], etc.”

Please clarify if the Binding Contract Rate Pricing bid schedule for the labor rates should be direct (excluding overhead and profit) or fully burdened (including overhead and profit) labor rates. That is, is the reference to overhead and profit only applicable to materials, subcontractor costs, other direct costs, etc. while fully burdened labor rates are requested in the Binding Contract Rate Pricing bid schedule?

A14. We want fully burdened rates in the binding labor rate bid schedule.

Q15. Are there any drawings?

A15. There are three drawings included at the end of the solicitation.

Q16. Is there a sample Agreement with Terms and Conditions?

A16. Contract clauses from the base contract will apply to the individual Task Orders. Please refer to Section 007000 – Contract Clauses.

Q17. How should water that is encountered during excavation activities be handled? Can they be filtered and then discharge to Canadaway Creek?

A17. As per Section 01 57 20.00 10, the Contractor is responsible for determining and submitting how this will done be in the Environmental Protection Plan as specified in Paragraph 1.8 and elsewhere in this section of the specifications.

Q18. Will the material generated from Clearing and Grubbing be allowed to stay on-Site or do we need to dispose of this material?

A18. As per Section 31 11 00, Paragraphs 3.5.1 and 3.5.2, all material shall be removed and disposed off site.

Q19. On-Site Scale: Is an on-Site scale required for this job or will certified scale tickets from the borrow source be acceptable?

A19. Acceptability of scales shall be as specified in Paragraph 1.3.2.2 of Section 01 22 00.00 10.

Q20. Can I use a large business as a subcontractor and use their experience towards our experience for the purposes of the solicitation? Would those projects still be accepted or do I need to pick new projects?

A20. Please reference Section 00120 of the solicitation. It states: The Government may place greater importance on projects performed as a prime contractor than as a subcontractor, depending upon overall role and relevancy considerations.

Q21. I would like to know if there's any special consideration on this project, for Women and Minority owned Business Enterprises, other than the small business set aside?

A21. No special considerations have been identified for this procurement, just a total small business set aside.

Q22. We would also like to know if you will be releasing a sample contract soon? We would like to verify the agreement, insurance requirements, etc.

A22. There will be no sample contracts released. Please refer to the Insurance Requirements section under the MATOC scope of work.

Q23. Measurement and payment for Rip rap and Granular Fill. Given the remote location, limited construction limits, single access point into the work area and the relatively minimal volumes of weighable material, will the USACE consider waiving the measurement requirement requiring onsite scales or commercial scales within 10 miles and accept the certified quarry scale weights?

A23. Paragraph 1.3.2.2 Measurement is modified to read as follows:

Riprap/Granular Fill and Chinking Stone will be measured for payment by the ton (2,000 pounds) by weighing each truckload to the nearest 0.1 ton, and the final quantity of the whole sum will be rounded to the nearest whole ton. The riprap/granular fill and chinking stone will be measured for payment by being weighed on approved scales before being placed in the work. Submit certified weight certificates. Weights shall be determined in one of the following methods:

A. Quarry weights

B. On-Site Scales - The scales, located at the site of the work, shall be certified as to accuracy by an acceptable scales company representative prior to weighing any riprap. Scales will be checked and certified before riprap hauling and rechecked and recertified whenever a variance is suspected. The Contractor shall furnish the scales. The Contracting Officer may elect to accept certified weight certificates furnished by a public weighmaster in lieu of scale weights at the jobsite.

C. Commercial Scales - If commercial scales are readily available in close proximity (10 miles) of site of work.

Scales shall be of sufficient length to permit simultaneous weighing all axle loads and shall be inspected, tested and sealed as directed to assure accuracy with 0.5 percent throughout the range of the scales. The riprap/granular fill and chinking stone shall be weighed in the presence of the Government representative. Material placed beyond the tolerance limits specified for each type of material will not be paid for. Reduction of materials placed beyond tolerance limits will be made based on the use of factors outlined in paragraph "Conversion Factors." Any material wasted or used by the Contractor for other purposes and any material not placed in the work in accordance with the requirements of the specifications will not be measured or paid for.