Questions_and_Answers_Alameda_Zone_1-August-2018.pdf

ZONE 7 DE LA LAGUNA, ARROYO MOCHO AND ALAMO

CANAL PL 84-99 PROJECT, ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

AS OF: 1 August 2018

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-18-B-0002

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 1 Due to the late issuance of contract documents and owner provided site walk, we request that the proposal due date be extended from July 23, 2018 to July 30, 2018.

See Amendment 0001 The bid opening date is 2 August 2018.

2 Reference section 00 10 00, the pricing schedule includes only one CLIN item No. 0001 which has a quantity of “1” and a unit of “Job” which is further defined as “Lump Sum”.

If there are any changes which increase/s the quantities, based on the owner provided drawings and cross sections, towards the performance of any work item within the project, will the Contractor be afforded additional compensation to account for the increase/s via a owner issued modification?

The contractor should determine quantities to complete all work described in the contract documents.

Project Scope Changes in the scope or differences in the project site conditions will be determined in accordance with standard USACE contracting procedures.

3 Reference section 00 10 00, “Notes”, item 2.

We do not understand the meaning of this note can you provide us with a more simple explanation of the meaning and application of this item?

See Amendment 0001.

4 Reference section 00 10 00, “Notes”, item 3.

This note removes the “Variation in Quantity” clause from Bid Item No. 0001.

If for any reason there are occurrences which create a “Variation in Quantity” in the performance of the work how will this be contractually dealt with?

Variation in quantities clause only applies to unit price type contracts. Contract changes will be determined in accordance with USACE contracting procedures.

AS OF: 1 August 2018

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

5 Reference section 00 21 00, item 1.6, 2) (d) “Submissions for Determination of Contractor

Responsibility (Envelope 2)”.

This states that “8(a) contractor shall submit the following:” items 1) and 2).

If the small business offeror is not a 8(a) are they required to submit the stated information in this section?

Reference section 00 21 00, item 1.4 “8(a) Contractor Questions”

1. Are only 8(a) Contractors allowed to ask questions?

2. Will all questions and responses to questions be made available for review to all potential offeror’s?

3. Can the question period remain open until 5 calendar days after the date set for the site visit (site visit is presently scheduled for July 13th)?

All potential offeror’s may submit questions.

See Amendment 0001 the Bid Opening date is 2 August 2018

Reference section 00 21 00, item 2.1 states “The 8(a) contractor shall – etc.” Is this provision also pertinent to non 8(a) contractors?

Paragraph 2.1 pertinent to all contractors non 8(a), 8(a), HUBZone, and Small Business contractors.

Reference section 01 14 00, item 1.2.2 “Working Hours” states; “The Contractor must obtain a permit through the City of Pleasanton prior to any construction.”

1. What type of permit is required by the City of Pleasanton?

2. How long does it take to procure the required permit from the City of Pleasanton?

All construction activities shall be in accordance with local city ordinance and the contractor shall be authorized to work within the city limits and shall obtain any required permits. It is the contractor’s responsibility to obtain any required City permits.

It is anticipated that a City business license and traffic encroachment permits may be required for working within the city limits and hauling materials to and from the project site. Refer to Specification 01 14 00 and 01 50 00.

The contractor shall contact city to determine permitting time lines.

AS OF: 1 August 2018

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

Reference section 00 72 00, item 52.211-10 “Commencement, Prosecution, and Completion of Work”.

The item states that the Contractor shall be required to commence work within 5 calendar days of issuance and receipt of NTP and complete the work ready for use not later than 165 calendar days after receipt of NTP.

Does the ACOE have any information or insight regarding when (what date) it may issue any of the following;

1. Award of Contract?

2. Issuance of NTP?

3. Does this work need to be completed by a date certain?

Is there any restrictions for performing work efforts within the active drainage channel?

Generally, the contract is awarded two week from the date of bid opening OR sooner.

Notice to Proceed (NTP) will be issue five (5) days from the date of award.

All work have to be completed within 443 calendar dates from NTP. See Amendment 0001.

The environmental work window is April 15 through October 31. Any work extending past October 31 will require weekly exemptions from the Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Plan Sheet C-01 Note 6 states “Provide hydroseed and RECP (Blanket) conforming to section 21 of the standard specifications for Cal Trans 2015” Section 31 00 00 3.15 Seeding states “Apply clean bedding straw evenly across following the seeding”. Is the Contractor to place an RECP blanket over the seed or straw with tackifier over the seed, or both?

Reference Amendment 0001. Section 31 00 00, 3.15 Seeding. Place erosion control blanket over hydroseeded areas.

Plan Sheet C-17- Group 5 Site #3 shows trees in the work zone of the top bank repair. It is assumed the intent these trees and associated irrigation system will be removed and disposed of as part of the work. Is this a correct assumption?

Reference Amendment 0001. Section 01 57 19, 3.1.2 Vegetation, existing trees within the limits of any repair site shall remain in place unless directed by the Contracting Officer.

Sheet C-01 – The section view of the Typical Repair shows a soil break between the rip rap and compacted fill. It is unclear if the soil break is fabric or just a line of demarcation. Please clarify the soil break.

Reference Sheet C-01, note 4. The soil brake is additional RSP fabric. The soil brake shall overlap RSP fabric a minimum 2 feet.

AS OF: 1 August 2018

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

Sheet C-01 – The section view of the Typical Repair shows 2’ thick layer of topsoil over the RSP. Is this material to be compacted to 90% or 85%?

Compaction should be at least 90% per specifications.

14 Since the Staging Area at the Bernal Ave entrance has been reduced by the Zone 7 sponsor rip rap pile, is it acceptable to have worker parking along the entrance road?

Parking is permitted inside the gate but shall maintain an access for construction equipment and emergency vehicles.

15 During construction, can the Contractor shut down the channel road to Pedestrian traffic for safety purposes?

Yes. Reference Section 01 50 00, 2.2.2 and 2.2.3.

16 At the job walk it was discussed that the Owner and

Engineer had specific areas that were going to be required to be completed in 2018. It was discussed that these areas would be identified in the addendum #1 (forthcoming). Addendum #1 has been issued, and there is no mention of any areas that must be completed in 2018. Will an Addendum #2 be issued to determine which areas will be completed in 2018 or 2019 or is it up to the Contractor?

Amendment 0001 indicated that sites in Group 1 shall be completed in Phase 1 (reference Section 01 14 00, 1.2.4 Sequence of Work). Dates associated with each phase are referenced in Amendment 0001’s specification Section 01 11 00, 1.2.1 Project Description.

17 Will it be the contractor’s responsibility to maintain and/or repair any slide failures that occur during the winter “non-work period’?

Will it be the contractor’s responsibility to maintain any of the sites that are currently undergoing failure?

Will it be the contractor’s responsibility to maintain any new sites that may undergo failure?

Will it be the contractor’s responsibility to maintain the plastic sheeting and other slide repair components over the winter non-work period?

The contractor shall be responsible for maintaining any site while under construction. Before the winter non-work period begins, the contractor shall comply with the requirements of Section 31 00 00, 3.3.7 Work Stoppage. The contractor will be responsible for any slide failures that were caused by the contractor's failure to comply with the work stoppage requirements.

The contractor shall be responsible to maintain any site under construction and shall comply with the work stoppage plan (reference Section 31 00 00, 3.3.7 Work Stoppage).

No unless the failure is caused by the contractor.

Pre-existing temporary repairs will be maintained by the non-federal sponsor.

18 Please review the soil brake section view of sheet C-

01. Answer 12 of Addendum #1 makes it clear that RSP fabric will be installed between the RSP and the compacted fill. The soil brake “medium dark line” also continues down the 2:1 slope, between the RSP and the 2’ of topsoil. Is it the design intent that this RSP fabric be placed over the RSP and under the topsoil? Is there any concern that the topsoil will slide down the 2:1 slope when placed on geotextile fabric?

It is not intended to have RSP fabric between topsoil and the

RSP.

AS OF: 1 August 2018

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

19 Please review and confirm the thickness of the topsoil placed over the Rock Slope Protection.

Specification 31 00 00 paragraph 3.1 requires topsoil to be stripped to a depth of 4 inches. Paragraph 3.13 requires topsoil to be placed back in a thickness of 4 inches. The section view on sheet C-01 calls for 2 feet of topsoil over the RSP. Is there a conflict between the detail and the specification? Which shall govern?

Topsoil over the RSP shall incorporate 2 feet of topsoil. See Amendment 2, Section 31 00 00, 3.13.

20 It does not seem likely that the contractor will be able to strip 4 inches of topsoil and place back 2 feet of similar topsoil material. How shall this discrepancy in volume be handled? Shall the contractor blend satisfactory native materials with the topsoil to achieve the volume required, or is the contractor going to be required to purchase topsoil from an off-site vendor?

Any excavated soils categorized as satisfactory material is suitable as topsoil.

21 Paragraph 3.16.6 of 31 00 00 (addendum #1) lists the required tests for Rock Slope Protection. Those tests include; “petrographic analysis, specific gravity, unit weight, absorption, wetting and drying, freezing and thawing and…” The contractor is aware from past projects that many of the local quarries do not have all of this test data on file. It is likely that local source RSP quarries will have to test their products upon award of a contract and material purchase order. Given that the 2018 work window will only be 2.5 months long (depending) and given that tests such as the wetting and drying take 30 days, we request that the designer of record review the testing necessary to meet USACE standards. We note that Cal Trans section 72 requires 1) Apparent Specific Gravity, 2) Absorption, 3) Durability Index for RSP.

Please review the RSP material approval testing requirements against the short 2018 work window and advise.

Testing shall be in compliance with Section 72 of Caltrans.

Other testing noted will be removed from the Specifications.

See Amendment 2, Section 31 00 00, 3.16.6.

22 Note #7 on Sheet C-01 states “Resurface all access roads “within the limits of work” with CL 2 AB”.

What is the definition of “Limits of Work”? Is limit of work defined as each work area or is it the entire access roadway from the access point to the farthest site the limit of work.

The limit of work is the defined as the entire access roadway from the access point to the farthest construction location.

23 How many Project signs will be required for the project? Is it one sign for the whole project or one sign per Project Location Group?

See Amendment 2. Section 01 50 00, 2.1.2.

AS OF: 1 August 2018

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

24 At the beginning and end of each repair site the cross sections for Group 1 and Group 2 show the additional thickness of quarter ton rsp for the Scour Cutoff (Section A drawing C-01) however, at the beginning and end of most of the repair sites for Groups 3 thru 5 the cross sections don’t show the additional thickness of quarter ton rsp for the Scour Cutoff. Are we to assume that the Scour Cutoff is not required at those sites where the cross sections don’t show the Scour Cutoff?

Scour cutoff detail shall be constructed on both the Upstream and Downstream ends of each repair. Sheets will be revised for clarity. See Amendment 0002.

25 Could the 10 CFS (as shown on Sheet G-02 of the plans) and 25 CFS (as shown in the spec section 31 00 00 Page 8) be converted in Vertical Feet? As the actual calculation using 0.1 as Manning’s Roughness shows vertical protection required be less than 2 feet, Is that the Corp understanding?

Stage discharge curves will not be provided by USACE.

26 The constructor needs the Corp of Engineers to define “Project Site” as it relates to Section 01 35 26

pg. 7 parg. 1.6.1.1, which states “provide a safety oversight team that includes a minimum of one person at each project site. Is the complete project one site? Or is each repair in the solicitation defined as one site?

One SSHO is requested for the complete project.

27 Regarding the existing 4’ deep waterline at group #2 sites 23 to 30:

1. Who is the owner of the water line?

2. Does the owner of the waterline have restrictions for working around this line if so what are the restrictions?

3. What type of material is the existing water line composed of?

Zone 7 Water Agency is the owner of the water line.

There are no special restrictions by Zone 7 Water Agency.

The water line is a 24 inch welded steel pipe.

28 Note 7 on plan sheet C-01 states the contractor is to resurface all haul roads with Caltrans ¾” class 2 AB.

In order to resurface the haul roads, what is the depth and limits of AB2 the contractor is required to place?

Reference Section 31 00 00, 3.10.2 Backfill and Compaction.

The contractor is responsible to resurface any haul roads used during construction. New aggregate base shall have a minimum thickness of 3 inches.

AS OF: 1 August 2018

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES