A24CNWRQuestions1.pdf

1. Would the government consider revising the solicitation to require contractors provide past performance and/or technical capabilities with the bid? The “sources sought” required such, but the current solicitation does not.

RESPONSE: Past performance and/or technical capabilities are not required with the bid. They were required during sources sought “ONLY” for market research purposes.

2. This will be a 3 year IDIQ award. Will task orders be issued to allow continuous construction? Or is it possible the contractor’s progress could be segmented between issuance of task orders?

RESPONSE: It is the intent of the District to take all reasonable steps to avoid multiple contractor mobilizations/demobilizations, as this is not in the best interests of the contractor or the District.

There is only one (1) line item for mobilizations/demobilizations listed in the bid schedule of solicitation. If there should be any other mobilizations/demobilizations, it will be handle either by task order or by contract modification. Relevant to this question, it's worthy to note that the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program (UMRR) has a solid history of strong funding.

3. It is stated that no work can take place between 10/15 – 12/31 each year. Also the site typically doesn’t drain until May. Does the borrow area typically take until May to be usable?

RESPONSE: The site for the borrow area will be impacted by river level fluctuations due to seepage.

Additionally, local rainfall events can also cause water to pond at the borrow area site. The use of the word typical here is reflective of long term trends. However, contractors will need to account for current conditions during construction.

4. It is stated that the contractor is responsible for all electrical cost up to the point the pump station is turned over. That would include the equipment testing phase. It is understood that the usage part of the electrical fee will be variable, but can the monthly fixed charges i.e. demand charge, customer charge, etc. be provided? This would prevent each bidder contacting Ameren individually.

RESPONSE: The solicitation will remain unchanged on this point.

5. Can Hydrographs be provided to show the likely hood of flooding at the site? Is 450 the elevation that flooding would occur?

RESPONSE: Hydrographs can be provided for the gage on the Mississippi River at Mosier Landing.

This gage is the best one to use to assess the situation at the refuge. A Mississippi River elevation of 450 feet NGVD29 at the Mosier Landing gage will likely cause overtopping, or will be close to causing overtopping, of parts of the levee near the site at which the pump station will be constructed.

Because of the naturally occurring slope of the Mississippi River water surface, the elevation of the water surface along Bryants Creek near the site at which the pump station will be constructed will be somewhat higher than the elevation at the Mosier Landing gage on the Mississippi River. Seepage near the site at which the pump station will be constructed may occur prior to overtopping of the levee.

6. I there a defined disposal area?

RESPONSE: Disposal of “cut embankment” will be as “fill embankment” in the adjacent ditch or berm on top as shown on section A2 on C-107. Any other small quantities of unsuitable material encountered in the course of the project will be disposed of onsite as directed by the contracting officer.

7. Section 03 42 13.00 10 Precast paragraph 3.4 discusses field testing of underground product. Will the box culvert sections require watertight testing? If yes the Vacuum Testing method referenced is for manholes not box sections, and there is no method provided for the water testing. I contacted precast suppliers and they were not aware of a water test method for box sections. What is to be required to meet this requirement?

RESPONSE: Inclusion of paragraph 3.4 and subparagraphs was an oversight. Paragraph 3.3.3 covers the water tightness requirements for the box culverts. See revised spec per this amendment.

8. Care of Water, 31 23 19.02 paragraph 2.1 states that the piezometer tip is to be set at elevation

429. Is this correct since the project will require excavation to 420?

RESPONSE: This is an error. The PZ tip shall not be shallower than elevation 415. See revised specifications per this amendment.

9. Is there a river elevation that the dewatering system must be capable of meeting the dewatering requirement up to?

RESPONSE: The dewatering system must be designed to meet the 3ft drawdown requirements for all elevations up to and including a stage of 446 at the Mosier Landing gauge. See revised specifications per this amendment.

10. The predominate site access is via gravel roads. Based on previous work we assume a water truck will be required when intense hauling is occurring, for example concrete and rock trucks. Will dust control only be required on the roadways that are part of CCNWR? Or will it also be required on the county road that leads from HWY 79 to the CCNWR site?

RESPONSE: Section 01 11 30 3.5.1 Particulates states “Airborne particulates, including dust particles, from construction activities and processing and preparation of materials shall be controlled at all times, including weekends, holidays, and hours when work is not in progress. The Contractor shall maintain all excavations, stockpiles, haul roads, permanent and temporary access roads, plant sites, disposal sites, and all other work areas free from airborne dust which would cause a hazard or nuisance.” It is up to the contractor to determine the best method of mitigating dust caused by construction activities.

11. For CLIN 0007 Crushed Stone Base the gradation show in 32 15 00.00 09 is for bedding. Is this the intent? Previous contracts have used a stone base that was 4-6” RESPONSE: See revised Section 32 15 00.00 09 per this amendment.

12. Is the dewatering system operation required through the installation and testing of the slide gates?

Or can it be removed once construction extends 3’ above the ground water level?

RESPONSE: The system can be removed when maintaining 3 ft of drawdown below any excavation surface is no longer required for excavation stability and or seepage concerns. Other care of water requirements (i.e. surface water control) for maintain dry and safe working conditions would still apply during installation and testing of the slide gates but the dewatering system might not be needed depending on the construction sequencing.

13. In the specifications on page 8, section 2.1.2 “Joints and Sealants” ….”At minimum, a gasketed joint with geotextile wrap shall be used between precast joints,”. We cannot produce a gasketed joint for reinforced box culverts, we can however supply a joint wrap for the boxes. Will this be acceptable?

RESPONSE: Section 03 42 13.00 10 has been updated in several places to provide additional information on the requirements for water tight joints, as has been sheet SR304. Please also note that the box culverts shown in the contract drawings are not of a standard geometry. They are to be constructed, reinforced and connected with ties according to the Plans and Specifications.

14. Could you please clarify the access route to get to the site and if the route will be rock paved or dirt?

RESPONSE: A pump station access road with crushed stone surface is a feature of an existing contract that is planned to be complete by the start of physical pump station construction.

15. Could you please clarify the access route to get to and from the borrow area and if the route will be rock paved or dirt?

RESPONSE: The short segment of haul road between the borrow area and the gravel site road shown on C-102 will not be improved prior to commencement of work. 00 08 00 1.22 (d) states “Haul Road Construction, Maintenance and Removal. Haul roads and ramps needed to access the borrow areas and necessary for construction of the project shall be constructed of materials of the Contractor's choosing. Maintenance of the haul roads and ramps shall be the responsibility of the Contractor. The haul roads and ramps shall be kept well drained and shall not interfere with existing drainage patterns. Temporary culverts or drain tiles shall be installed by the Contractor as necessary. After completion of construction, the Contractor shall remove the haul roads and ramps and restore the area to its condition prior to construction, which includes adding crushed stone to the embankment roads, ramps, or turnaround. Construction, maintenance, removal of the haul roads and ramps, and restoration shall be considered incidental to the construction of the embankment and no additional compensation shall be allowed.” Contractor will not be able to use the top of the exterior berm as a haul road due to a new gravity drain that will be constructed and the lack of a ramp at that location.

A pump station access road with crushed stone surface is a feature of an existing contract that is planned to be complete by the start of physical pump station construction.

16. Could you please clarify the difference in the 180 days listed in 13D on SF 1442 and the 60 days listed in the solicitation page 13, section 52.214-15.

RESPONSE: Section 52.214-15 of the solicitation is being changed from 60 days to 180 days.

17. Could you please clarify what, if any more, will be required to be submitted with the proposal than the following: SF1442, Section 00 10 00, Bid Schedule, Bid Guarantee.

RESPONSE: The following documents must be submitted with your proposal: Signed SF1442, signed amendments, section 00 10 00, bid schedule and bid guarantee.

18. Could you please clarify the requirements of the Bid Guarantee.

RESPONSE: The Bid guarantee amount is twenty (20%) percent. See FAR clause 52.228-1

19. Please confirm that a Performance and Payment Bond will be required.

RESPONSE: Performance and Payment bonds are required 10 days after notice of award.

20. Section 32 23 19.02 - Care of Water, Paragraph 2.1 Design, Since no State was referenced in the specification, will the dewatering design need to be “sealed and stamped” , or will a dewatering design submittal prepared by an engineer be acceptable?

RESPONSE: The dewatering design will need to be “sealed and stamped” per Paragraph 2.1: “The design shall be sealed and stamped by a Professional Engineer.” See revised specifications per this amendment.

21. Is there a specified high river elevation at the jobsite that will serve as the maximum groundwater level the Contractor will be required to design the care of water system for?

RESPONSE: The dewatering system must be designed to meet the 3ft drawdown requirements for all elevations up to and including a stage of 446 at the Mosier Landing gauge. See revised specifications per this amendment.

22. Section 32 23 19.02 - Care of Water, Paragraph 2.1 Design, Paragraph 2, “a baseline in-situ ground water elevation shall be measured prior to any excavation”. Will there be a way to establish the baseline groundwater level for dewatering system design purposes prior to bid?

RESPONSE: No. Normal (baseline) groundwater is variable.

23. The Note 2 of sheet E-103 causes concern for electrical subcontractors. If we take the note literally there are over 90 locations to CAD weld. Can individual components be grounded through continuity with of items. Can government provide locations of required CAD welds?

RESPONSE: Contractor shall bid the grounding and bonding as shown on the plans and specified in Section 26 05 00.00 40. Effective grounding is acceptable if connection is made per NFPA 70 and equipment used is UL listed for that purpose.

24. Do the trash racks and frames required grounding?

RESPONSE: Trash racks located remotely from pump station do not need to be bonded to grounding system. Frames and embedded metals associated with gates operated on electric operators shall be bonded per plans and specifications.

25. On page E-501 the transformer pad detail does not show the required pad thickness or depth of the piers. Please advise.

RESPONSE: Transformer pad thickness and pier depths shall be as required by the local electrical utility. Contractor shall coordinate with utility.