Questions_and_Answers__Oakland_Inner_and_Outer_Harbor_Dredging_8-10-15.pdf

OAKLAND INNER AND OUTER HARBOR CHANNEL MAINTENANCE

DREDGING PROJECT, ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

AS OF: 10 August 2015 Page 1 of 12

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-15-B-0003

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

Can Corps please clarify that bid Alternative 1 bid quantities for item 0002AA and 0002AB, 159,000 cubic yards and 241,000 cubic yards respectively and bid Alternative 2 bid quantities for item 0002AA & 0002AB, 175,000 cubic yards and 225,000 cubic yards are correct on the referenced solicitation, W912P7-15-B-0003, Oakland Inner and Outer Harbor Maintenance Dredging.

See Amendment 003 for final bid quantities.

2 My impression is that Alternative 1 and Altenative 2 bid schedule quantities would remain the same for the respective bid items.

See Amendment 003 for final bid quantities.

3 Could the Corps please correct Bid total for Bidder A/alternate 1 for the Hypothetical 1 – bid table on page 19 of 114 of the solicitation.

Bid total is not correct in the table and therefore gives misleading representation on how the bids will be evaluated.

See Amendments for revised hypotheticals.

4 Do both Alternate 1 and Alternate 2 bid items have to be completed by the offeror? Or can the offeror choose to bid only one of the two Alternates?

Bidders must provide bids for both Alternatives as stated in Bid Note 1.

AS OF: 10 August 2015 Page 2 of 12

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-15-B-0003

5 Can the Corps confirm payment quantities will be based on Corps of Engineers Pre- and Post-Dredge surveys. If so, please clarify the timeliness of Corps surveyors for the respective surveys and if volume and xyz data will be provided to the contractor.

Government surveys not performed in a timely manner result in unnecessary costs to contractor and an extended contract close out.

Costs associated with standby for Corps surveys have to be assumed and accounted for in bid which is unfavorable for either party.

Final pay volumes will be based on Before and After- Dredge surveys. See Amendments for additional survey information.

AS OF: 10 August 2015 Page 3 of 12

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-15-B-0003

Section 01 11 00 Paragraph 1.5.2 Time Restrictions states:

“Due to environmental constraints, dredging and disposal at SF-DODS operations are only authorized to occur between 1 August 2015 and 1 December 2015. All remaining dredging and disposal operations shall continue past 30 November with placement at a beneficial use upland site… If awarded, all Option work that includes dredging and disposal operations at SF-DODS must be completed before 1December in any year without exception. All remaining Option work dredging and disposal operations shall continue past 30 November with placement at a beneficial use upland site.”

Section 01 57 20.00 10 Paragraph 3.7

DREDGING WINDOWS AND

BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES

states:

“Dredging and disposal may only occur during these environmental work windows, unless written authorization has been given by the Contracting Officer.”

a. If Alternative 1 – Dredging with Disposal at SF-DODS is awarded and dredging and disposal operations continue past November 30, how will the USACE address the cost difference for placement at a beneficial use upland site as opposed to that at SF-DODS? Will the USACE cover any additional fees incurred for upland disposal?

b. Should dredging and disposal operations not be complete by 30 November, does the USACE expect that authorization will be granted for work outside of the environmental window?

a) See Amendments for details regarding payment for Alternative 1 after 30 November.

b) Dredging past 30 November does not require consultation with NOAA if dredged material is placed at a permitted upland beneficial use site.

See Amendments for additional requirements and restrictions.

AS OF: 10 August 2015 Page 4 of 12

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-15-B-0003

If Option work is awarded and the available quantity to be dredged varies dramatically from the estimated quantity (e.g. 1,000,000 CY instead of the estimated 400,000 CY), does the USACE plan to modify the awarded contract or will the USACE bid the additional work separately?

USACE will modify contract at the Contracting Officer’s discretion.

To account for potential variations in fuel prices between the bid date and the time that Option work may occur, can the USACE include a fuel escalation clause in the Specifications?

No.

Hypothetical 1 in Section 00 21 00, 2.5

EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVE 1

BID FOR AWARD

states:

“In this hypothetical scenario, based on FAR 52.214-19, Bidder A whose adjusted total bid of $3,806,000.00 for Alternative 1, as the lowest price bid, is the most advantageous to the Government would receive the award.”

a. Please clarify how the adjusted total bid summed to $3,806,000 rather than $4,045,000.

See Amendments for updated hypotheticals.

AS OF: 10 August 2015 Page 5 of 12

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-15-B-0003

Section 35 20 23 Paragraph 3.2.6.1 Overflow, Spillage and Leakage states:

“Scow overflow at the dredge site will be monitored in accordance with the Water Quality Monitoring Plan (Appendix 18)… Scow overflow is allowed at the dredge site provided the Contractor adheres to the monitoring plan conditions and reporting requirements, and does not exceed the specified turbidity limits.”

Appendix 2 Water Quality Certification O&M Dredging 2015 – 2019, B.

PROVISIONS, 6.

Overflow/Decanting During Mechanical Dredging states:

“No water entrained during dredging (i.e., overflow or decant water) shall be discharged from any vessel containing dredged material characterized as containing greater than 20 percent fines (silt- and clay-size particles), with the exception of spillage incidental to clamshell bucket operations. Decanting is allowed when the fine-grain content of the dredged material is less than 20 percent (i.e., the sediment is greater than 80 percent sand). Exceptions may be granted on a project-specific basis if USACE submits an overflow or decanting monitoring plan, acceptable to the Executive Officer, at least 90 days prior to the anticipated dredging start date.”

a. Given that the material to be removed does not meet the 80 percent sand content criteria, does the Water Quality Monitoring Plan in Appendix 18 grant the exception that will allow overflow at the dredge site?

Scow overflow/decant is allowed provided the Contractor monitors water quality in accordance with Appendix 18, and the thresholds identified in Appendix 18 are not exceeded.

AS OF: 10 August 2015 Page 6 of 12

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-15-B-0003

With reference to Aquatic Disposal, Section 35 20 24 Paragraph 3.6.2 Site Management and Monitoring Plan (SMMP) states:

“The Contractor shall complete the checklist included in the Scow Certification Checklist Appendix 4 and have it initialed by the on-site Government representative prior to departing the dredging site. The Government will provide scow inspection and certification during normal working hours (0800 – 1700). The Contractor shall acquire the services of an independent contractor to perform scow inspection and certification outside of normal working hours. No vessel shall commence transit without such verification and notation in the daily quality control report.”

a. Is scow inspection and certification also required for upland disposal?

Scow certification is only required for disposal at SF- DODS. All scows used for upland placement will be subject to GQAR inspections.

Section 01 57 20.00 10 Paragraph 3.11

TRAINING OF CONTRACTOR

PERSONNEL states:

“The Contractor is responsible for acquiring the services of California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)-approved biologist(s) to observe and record data documenting herring spawning activities during all dredging operations after 1 December 2015.”

a. Please provide clarification as to the required duration (daily, weekly, etc.) of observation and the observation location of the biologist.

A qualified herring observer must be present during dredging operations only.

AS OF: 10 August 2015 Page 7 of 12

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-15-B-0003

Clause 52.211-10 COMMENCEMENT , PROSECUTION, AND COMPLETION

OF WORK (APR 1984) of Section 00 72 00 states:

“The Contractor shall be required to (a) commence work under this contract within 5 calendar days after the date the Contractor receives the notice to proceed,

(b) prosecute the work diligently, and (c) complete the entire work ready for use not later than 107 calendar days after receipt of notice to proceed.”

a. Does the 107 days for completion after NTP apply to the first year only, or does it also apply to each option year? If it does not apply to the option years, can the USACE provide an anticipated time frame for the option items?

The 107 days applies only to the FY15 Base plus Option 1 year. Option 2 and Option 3 work cannot begin earlier than 1 August in any year when the environmental work windows for steelhead and least terns opens. See Section 01 57 20.00 10 Environmental Protection, Para 3.7 Dredging Windows and Biological Resources for additional information. Dredging may continue past 30 November without consultation if material is placed at a permitted upland beneficial use site.

Note 6 of the PRICING SCHEDULE provided in Section 00 10 00 states:

“Notice to Proceed for Option 1 will be issued so “in water” work may begin on 1 August 2016 and for Option 2, so that “in water” work may begin on 1 August 2017.”

a. Given that work may begin on 1 August for each of the years that Option work may be exercised, should the Contractor anticipate having the full environmental dredging window (1 August to 30 November) to do the work for each Option year?

Yes.

AS OF: 10 August 2015 Page 8 of 12

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-15-B-0003

15 The Pricing Schedule in Section 00 10 00 shows a Quantity of 159,000 CY for Item 0002AA and 241,000 CY for Item 0002AB under ALTERNATIVE 1 –

DREDGING WITH DISPOSAL AT

SFDODS. However, under

ALTERNATIVE 2 – DREDGING WITH

DISPOSAL AT PERMITTED

UPLAND SITE, the Quantity associated with Item 0002AA is 175,000 CY and the Quantity associated with Item 0002AB is

225,000 CY.

a. Which set of quantities for Items 0002AA and 0002AB is correct?

See Amendments for updated Pricing Schedule.

16 Section 35 20 23 Paragraph 3.2.6.1

Overflow, Spillage and Leakage states:

“Scow overflow at the dredge site will be monitored in accordance with the Water Quality Monitoring Plan (Appendix 18)… Scow overflow is allowed at the dredge site provided the Contractor adheres to the monitoring plan conditions and reporting requirements, and does not exceed the specified turbidity limits.”

The Water Quality Monitoring Plan in Appendix 18 states:

“Turbidity readings ‘visible turbidity anywhere past the 500 foot point of compliance from the activity and/or the disposal location shall be considered to be an exceedence of the standard.”

a. Although overflow is only allowed at the dredge site, will visual turbidity monitoring be required at the disposal site as indicated in the Water Quality Monitoring Plan?

See Amendment for updated Appendix 18 Water Quality Monitoring Plan.

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The 107 days applies only to the FY15 Base plus Option 1 year. Option 2 and Option 3 work cannot begin earlier than 1 August in any year when the environmental work windows for steelhead and least terns opens. See Section 01 57 20.00 10 Environmental Protection, Para 3.7 Dredging Windows and Biological Resources for additional information. Dredging may continue past 30 November without consultation if material is placed at a permitted upland beneficial use site.