Questions and Answers 1-28-10.pdf

SAN RAMON VALLEY RECYCLED WATER

PROJECT - Phases 2, 3 & 4

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

AS OF: 28 January 2010

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-09-B-0009

The intent of this section is to provide questions & comments received from interested parties on the above solicitation, and our responses to those questions and comments. It is possible that the information below does not reflect 100% of the questions and responses. The questions and comments do not necessarily represent questions received from any particular contractor.

Questions and responses are provided for information only and are not made part of the solicitation. Only a formal amendment (SF30) to the solicitation changes the solicitation.

Changes to any previous responses in this document will be struck-through and new, updated responses will be provided as appropriate.

No. RFP Section Question Response

I am confused on the basis of Award. Can you please explain the process? What I have read does not clearly define the "evaluation" process. Is the project awarded based on Schedule 0001 and 0002 only. How do the "optional schedules" play into the evaluation process.

The Government contemplates award of one contract to the responsive, responsible bidder who submits the low bid for the total of the following items in Pricing Schedule:

All Line items listed in Pricing Schedule.

This solicitation has options which will be used to determine the apparent low bidder.

2 Can you clarify the bid date?

Referencing the website, it appears that that bid date (response date) has been moved to January 30, 2010, but that is a Saturday. Please confirm official bid date and time

The official Bid Date has been moved to 9 FEB 2010.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

AS OF: 28 January 2010

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-09-B-0009

3 We have a questions regarding reference drawings listed on the drawing index (G-003). The sheet lists reference drawings for City of San Ramon, Contra Costa County, and Town of Danville - these are not in the zip files dated 12-28-09 that we downloaded from ASFI. The block above these sets of reference files is titled "Reference Drawings - Remove from Service" - does this mean that none of the listed reference files are included in the drawing package for this solicitation? Or should we have reference drawings for City of San Ramon, Contra Costa County, and Town of Danville?

"Reference Drawings - Remove From Service"

"Reference Drawings - Town of Danville"

"Reference Drawings - Contra Costa County"

And

"Reference Drawings - City of San Ramon"

These four sets of reference drawings are not to scale, these four sets of reference drawings are provided by the City of Ramon and are for reference only.

4 Specification 05 05 26 - 2 Part

2.1 calls for the bolts to be Stainless Steel Per ASTM A193 Class 1, B8 (Type 304) or B8M (Type 316) and washers. Are all Flange Bolt and Nut sets to include double washers like an East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD)? Also, which type of material is required, 304 or 316 stainless steel because no specific item is called?

A) Washers are required under both the bolt head and nuts as specified in 05 26-3, Part 3.1.2

B) Specifications 05 05 26, specifies the use of either Stainless Steel Type 304 or Type 316

5 Specification 33 11 14 - 2 Part

2.1.5 calls for the PVC pipe and fittings 6" to 16" to use SBR Rubber Gaskets unless otherwise noted. It also states that Low Level contaminated soil to be Nitrile or EPDM gaskets per the "Summary of Work." I do not see anywhere (unless it is on the plans)that these other gaskets are required. Can you let me know if these are to be used?

A site assessment conducted during the design process found no sites that will require the use of Nitrile or EPDM gaskets

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

AS OF: 28 January 2010

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-09-B-0009

Drawing C-514 and C-515 is blank and need the printed copy of the details for these pages.

These sheets will be submitted as an addendum to the solicitation

On sheet C-502 Detail 189-EA, what are the requirements for the Chabot Cock, the Service Clamp, the Meter Box #6, and do you actually want polyethylene coated rigid copper for the service tubing?

A) The Cabot Cock, which is also commonly know as a corporation cock/stop/valve, shall be ball type, 225 psi minimum, as manufactured by Cambridge (301NL-M4M4), McDonald (3131B) or equal.

B) Service clamps shall be brass body, 304 stainless steel band 2 inches wide with 4 bolts design, 225 psi minimum, as manufacturer by Smith-Blair (393), Ford (202BS), or equal. All nuts, bolts and washers to be furnished shall be stainless steel

C) Meter Box #6 is per detail 186-Ea, shown on Sheet C-501

D) Yes, the project specifies the polyethylene coated rigid cooper service tubing as shown on the detail.

On sheet C-508 Detail 332-EA Note G it calls out for a Push-On By Flange Resilient Seat Gate Valve but in Specification 32 12

16.11 - 3 Part 4.4.1.4.1 to 4 it is called out that all gate valves are to be Flanged. Which is correct and what can be used on the pipeline for PVC Pipe?

Detail 332-EA is not needed on this project. Please disregard detail 332-EA, located on Sheet C-508

I have found some more issues relating to the drawings and would just like to confirm that these will be addressed in the upcoming amendment. They are as follows: A lot of sheets are lacking information, such as profiles, elevations, or station notes to determine depths and lengths.

For instance C327-C338, C400-C419, C232-C243, C244-C263, C399-C342, C351-C364

Profiles and elevations will not be provided for pipes less than 12"-diameter pipes and smaller. Per General Note 1 on Drawing G-001, paragraph 3.1.4 of specification section 33 11 13.05 and paragraph 3.3.4 of specification section 33 11 14, the minimum cover is 42".

Approximate total footages for pipe and pipeline stations are clearly shown on each pipeline layout drawing

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

AS OF: 28 January 2010

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-09-B-0009

The contract documents mention that the owner will provide a staging yard for the contractor.

Can you please provide more information on where this staging yard is located and how large of an area the contractor will be allowed to use? Can we store pipe, fitting, backfill material, and trench spoils there during construction? Please provide a map so the contractors have a better understanding of what is available for them to use.

Please look at Exhibit A. The temporary Construction Lay down Area is located at the parking lot adjacent to Bishop Ranch 1 East Road comprised of one access lane, one row of forty-three parking spaces on the east side of the parking lot, and three spaces at the South end. This area is a rectangle approximately 310 feet by 40 feet with a total paved area of approximately 12,400 sq ft

Please let me know if rock excavation/blasting is specified or anticipated in the San Ramon Valley Recycled Water project that bids on January 21st.

See response to question #10

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

AS OF: 28 January 2010

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-09-B-0009

Appendix N is referenced throughout the Specifications.

Appendix N is titled Work Requirements for the City of San Ramon. Two pages down from that title is the notation “To Be Issued During Bidding Phase”. We do not see that Appendix N was issued completely, as we can not locate it in any of the other documents that were issued with the original solicitation. Will you be able to tell us is this, in fact, was issued and where it might be located. If it has not been issued, then when will Appendix N be made available for the bidding process?

These questions are in regards to verification of bid dates – we are trying to plan for our weekend schedule and would appreciate the answer to these questions -

Response coming soon

1. Will there be any addendums issued for this project? If so, when can we expect to see that posted to the Solicitation? Will this change the bid date at all?

Will there be questions posted in regards to this solicitation? When can we expect to see that posted to the Solicitation?

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

AS OF: 28 January 2010

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-09-B-0009

15 Bid schedule calls for 12" gate valves, 3p & 5n.

Specification section 33 12 16.11 only references 6" and 8" gate valves.

Specification section 33 12 16.15 references 12" butterfly valves.

Which type of valves are required for 12"?

16 1. The detail 1992-A Note 7 on Page C512 States “If the (asphalt) joint falls within wheel path, the pavement replacement shall be widened to the lane.” Please further define “wheel path” and how we are to determine the extent of pavement and striping restoration required. Is the “Wheel Path” shown on the drawings? If not, who or what determines where the “wheel path” is located?

17 There are many different requirements for the pavement restoration between the cities, plans, specs and permits. Which publication would be deemed more stringent or take precedence over each other, the City/County Details, Plans, Job Specifications or Permit Conditions? This will undoubtedly have a major cost implication and there are many different scenarios depending on how the “wheel path” location is defined per asphalt restoration spec section 32 12 1681-2 3.2.1.

Can a more clearly defined surface restoration matrix or table be provided rather than leaving “the most stringent” up to interpretation?

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

AS OF: 28 January 2010

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-09-B-0009

Can you please provide the conditions/requirements of working in/around the "private streets" in Phase 4 and Phase 3B? These include (but not limited to) the following:

* is there an encroachment permit required (if so please provide information)

* working hours

* night work

* equipment staging after shift (it is not reasonable to demob the required equipment to install the pipeline each day)

* material staging (pipe/fittings/backfill)

* gate access

* paving and street reconstruction (slurry seal) requirements

* no parking and traffic control

1. What is the permitting process going to be for equipment and trucks to access gated communities, in particular in the Blackhawk and Canyon Lakes areas?

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

AS OF: 28 January 2010

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-09-B-0009

2. There will be extending issues in the Blackhawk area regarding dust, noise, daily start and ending times and contractor’s staging. Has anyone contacted the Home Owners Associations of the gated communities concerned to first make them aware of the tasks at hand and second what will be needed on a daily basis to complete the project, men, equipment, materials, and traffic control. Contractors should be made aware of property owners concerns prior to bid submittal if it impacts additional tasks.

3. Please provide an explanation of the staging area, size, and any storage restrictions and whether or not contractors will need to fence the staging area.

4. The Blackhawk development has no existing trench lines in their streets. Will we need to seal coat and stripe any streets impacted in this community?

5. Will jobsite staging be allowed for equipment and materials or will we have to remove all equipment and materials daily?

6. Can type II slurry be used in place of class II aggregate base rock for trench back fill?

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

AS OF: 28 January 2010

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-09-B-0009

On the project bid schedule, document 00 41 00 – 1, under the heading Basic Bid, item (i) indicates that although item 0001 is specific to Phase 3A, bid item 0001a “Mobilization and Demobilization” is intended to represent payment Mob and Demob for all phases. What will be the basis of determination for how this item will be separated amongst the various phases if not all phases are awarded?

The reference drawings sent with Addendum #2 provided detailed information on the loop detection systems within the jurisdictional areas of the City of Danville and Contra Costa County. Is there information available for the areas within the limits of the City of San Ramon? Without this information it is impossible to determine how many loops will be damaged and will need to be replaced as a result of the trenching operations.

Regarding the traffic loops within the three different jurisdictional areas: Does the City of San Ramon, the City of Danville, and/or Contra Costa County, have a private electrician(s) that they work with to maintain and repair their traffic signal systems? Can you provide the name of this company or companies?

Regarding final AC trench restoration and or street reconstruction required after pipeline installation:

See below:

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

AS OF: 28 January 2010

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-09-B-0009

CITY OF DANVILLE: Plan sheet C- 512 indicates both in the notes and in the cross section that the final structural section shall include 4” of AC. However, the draft encroachment permit in Appendix J, page 3, 4th paragraph from the top of the page, states “The thickness of the roadway structural section shall be replaced in kind except that the minimum replacement shall be three inches of AC over…” Please verify whether the final trench section is to consist of 4” of AC in all cases or will the contractor be required to match the existing AC section with a 3” AC minimum constraint. If we are to match the existing AC thickness, is there information available as to what the existing thickness is on the various City of Danville streets?

* CITY OF SAN RAMON: The AC trench patch thickness for all streets within the jurisdiction of San Ramon is indicated to be 4” on page 6 of the draft permit conditions under “Road Work – For All Roads”, Item #1. What about the full reconstruction of Canyon Crest Drive listed on page 7, Item #5. Please provide additional details for the reconstruction section in this area.

* CONTRA COSTA COUNTY: The County’s standard drawing number CU01i as included in the draft permit requirements in the appendix indicates that the AC thickness is the area of the trench patch is to match the thickness of the existing asphalt.

Can you provide information on the existing thickness of asphalt for the streets within the County’s jurisdiction?

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

AS OF: 28 January 2010

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-09-B-0009

Project specification 32 12 16.81, Section 3.2.2 states “Final surface of the paving shall be as required by permit or shall be slurry seal if permit does not include a requirement.”

Furthermore, project specification 32 12 16.81, Section 3.3.1 states “Slurry seal in areas identified in the encroachment permit conditions issued by the City of San Ramon, Town of Danville, and Contra Costa County.” I don’t see any specific slurry seal requirements in any of the permit conditions. Can you please clarify what streets are to receive a slurry seal and what the limits of the slurry seal are? In your response, please include the private gated communities off of Black Hawk Drive and off of Lakemont Drive. Note that the existing streets in these communities are slurry sealed.

In the draft encroachment permit conditions for the City of Danville (Appendix J), page 7 under “Days and Hours of Work” it states that work on Camino Tassajaro and Crow Canyon Road is limited to 7:30AM to 2:30PM when school is in session and from 7:30AM to 3:30PM when school is not in session. However, on page 11 of this draft permit, Item #3 states that working hours and lane closures are limited to between 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Please clarify the working hour restrictions within the Danville City limits. Also, in this section it states that night work may be allowed if approved by the City. If night work is approved by the City, will the contactor be liable for the additional costs of inspection at night?

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

AS OF: 28 January 2010

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-09-B-0009

In the draft permit conditions for the City of San Ramon (Appendix N), under “Road Work – For All Roads”, page 7, item #2 states that night work at intersections may be required. If night work is required or allowed by the City, will there be additional inspection fees due the City which the contractor will be liable for?

There is a long stretch of pipeline that is to be installed within the existing landscape median on Tassajara Ranch Road.

Can you provide the name of the City’s landscaping contractor that maintains the landscaping in this area?

Plan sheet T-001 shows a staging area in what appears to be one corner of the parking lot off of Bishop Ranch One East. Please confirm the physical location of the staging area and verify the size of the area that will be provided.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

AS OF: 28 January 2010

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-09-B-0009

After review of the drawings for the San Ramon Valley Recycled Water Project it appears that we are missing the following drawings from the bid set as shown on sheet G-003 (revised in addendum #2):

General Drawings

G-017, G-018, G-019, G-020, G-021

Phase 2B

C-264

Phase 3A

C-338.1

Phase 3C

C-380

1. Where is the staging area noted on pg G-000 of the plans?

1. What are the dimensions of the staging area?

The requirements for the gated communities are the same as those for the City/County that they are located in.

2. Is there a lease agreement that we are responsible to comply with. Are there any costs associated with the staging area that the contractor is responsible for?

Contractor shall comply with requirements set forth in paragraph 1.14 of Section 01 11 00 and paragraphs 3.3.3 and 3.6 of Section 01 50 00. Contractor is responsible for costs associated with temporary fencing, clean-up and restoration.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

AS OF: 28 January 2010

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-09-B-0009

3. Drawing 3360-B is referenced in note # 4 of the pipeline notes on page G-001 of the plans. This drawing was not supplied with the plans. Please supply.

Reference should be to Detail 3360-B, which is provided on Drawing C-514.

4. What are the requirements for working in the gated areas of Lakemont Dr. and Blackhawk Dr.?

The requirements for the gated communities are the same as those for the City/County that they are located in.

5. A review of the encroachment permits for the various entities indicate that the streets will be clear and open at the end of the daily construction. This implies that all equipment will be off the streets at the end of the shift and the full width of the street is to be re-opened to traffic. Is this correct?

Make your Bid according per requirements as set forth in the permits. Unable to state what City/County permits “imply”.

6. Spec section 32 -12- 16.82 paragraph 3.2.4 states that the final trench will be saw cut.

Detail # 1992-a indicates that the final section can be removed by grinding the existing asphalt.

What is correct? Can grinding be used in place of saw cutting for the final paving?

The vertical plane should be saw-cut to maintain a uniform edge as specified.

The final restoration of asphalt surfaces, shown in the details, varies in accordance with the requirements of the three agencies with jurisdiction on the streets:

• The County of Contra Costa (Reference detail CU01i) and City of San Ramon (Reference Detail M-3) requires saw cut the full depth of the asphalt.

• The Town of Danville (shown in Detail 1992-A) allows grind-down of the asphalt surface. The vertical plane should be scored with a saw to maintain a uniform edge.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

AS OF: 28 January 2010

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-09-B-0009

7. Section 33 11 13 paragraph

3.4.1 States that “field welded

joints shall not be used in pipe smaller than 30 inches, except in locations where the interior coating can be satisfactorily repaired and inspected.” Detail 310-EA shows the joint being field welded, however I don’t see a detail that indicates how the lining can be repaired and inspected. Is field welding required for the ML&PCS Pipe? If so please provide a detail showing how the lining is to be repaired and inspected after the weld has been made. If field welding is not allowed please provide a detail showing how the pipes and fittings are to be installed in the field.

Field welding is allowed for the ML&PCS pipe utilized on this project. Detail 310-EA provides the detailing for “Typical Butt Joint at Field Cuts & Fitting”, the middle detail of which calls-out “replace lining to edge of pipe shell, when broken.” If repair/replacement of the lining is required at the field cuts, then this repair should be conducted prior to field welding. The detail also shows the allowable gap (hold-back) in the mortar lining at the field joint. Thus, the mortar lining is not continuous across the field welded joint.

Working hours on Gated Communities?

Contractor shall follow requirements imposed by the City/County where the work is located.

Night work on Gated Communities? Contractor shall follow requirements

Is there an encroachment permit required for gated communities?

Contractor shall follow requirements material staging (pipe/fittings/backfill)

Contractor shall follow requirements

Gate Access?? Contractor shall follow requirements paving and street reconstruction (slurry seal) requirements

Contractor shall follow requirements

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

AS OF: 28 January 2010

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-09-B-0009

Do firms with HUB Zone or Small Disadvantage Business (SDB) based in San Francisco receive any bidding preference?

Yes

Can you please confirm the footage of 6" pipe on Phase 3A and Phase 3C? It appears that adjustments for the deletion of pipe in Reedland Circle East and Indian Rice Road were made in Phase 3A bid schedule per Addendum #2 but were not added to the footage in Phase 3C. Please review and confirm current bid schedule is "correct".

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

AS OF: 28 January 2010

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-09-B-0009