CCNWRSetbackQuestions.pdf

Contractor Comments / Questions:

1. The duration of the contract seems very aggressive. The 2 year duration, combined with the limitations included in the specifications on the work times will limit the amount of time contractors have for completing the work.

RESPONSE: The contract duration will remain 2 years.

2. Are there any limitations on the work sequencing?

RESPONSE: Limitations are covered on sheet G-003 and specification section 00 08 00, paragraph 1.23. Items to note are main levee degrade cannot occur until the berm setback embankment is constructed and an access road must be maintained at all time for access to the northern landowners property.

3. Are there any restrictions for traffic passing over existing infrastructure at the refuge?

RESPONSE: Existing structures were designed with an HL-93 loading. Any traffic exceeding that loading will need to be submitted for review and approval prior to passing over the existing structures.

4. The borings provided in the plans do not provide soil classification info for soil to be used in the Berm Setback. Is the Corps confident that there will be enough suitable material to complete the work?

RESPONSE: Yes, it is anticipated adequate material we will be available from the onsite excavate material to construct the features requiring fill.

5. Should the contractors assume no off-site disposal?

RESPONSE: Yes, all material will be disposed of on site, within the construction limits.

6. Has the Corps accounted for material drying time in the 2 year period of performance for this contract? Since this area is often subject to wet conditions, this is a concern.

RESPONSE: Yes.

7. Since the main exterior berm degrade is required to be the last item of work, does the

Corps assume that this material will not be needed as part of the Berm Setback?

RESPONSE: Amendment will be issued to change the required elevation of the berm setback (including the stability berm) to be constructed to a minimum elevation of 448 prior to degrading the levee.

8. If the stability berm component of the Berm Setback could be constructed after the main component, could the main exterior berm degrade be used for the stability berm?

RESPONSE: Stability berm is part of the berm and setback and it required to be constructed along with Berm Setback.

9. Is the intent of the Corps that the stability berm should be held to the same standards of construction as the rest of the setback berm?

10. Does the Corps have a contingency plan for if there is not enough suitable material in the degrades and excavations to build the berm setback?

RESPONSE: Yes, on site borrow will be utilized.

11. Is the Corps confident in the quantities provided in the plans and specifications?

RESPONSE: Quantities were determined using standard engineering practices and are anticipated to be within typical expected ranges. Embankment quantities were determined from 3-D proposed surface models and existing grades determined from LiDAR, bathymetric, and topographic surveys.

12. Are there any concerns of add’l foundation prep work needed in the berm setback footprint?

RESPONSE: No. Majority of footprint is within open fields. In some locations it crosses ditches. USACE is not aware of any historical features that would impact foundation prep work.

13. Are there any special foundation preparation requirements for the berm setback?

RESPONSE: See specification section 31 00 00, paragraph 3.2.

14. Can an electronic copy of the maps provided in this meeting be provided to the contractors?

RESPONSE: Yes, they will be provided via amendment.

15. Why is the Corps planning a July 2019 award with a start date no earlier than January

2020?

RESPONSE: MVS personnel have made the decision to execute Fiscal Year 2019 funds on this contract award based upon a consideration of the on-site circumstances as well as the best path forward for mission requirements and impacts to project stakeholders. Due to several factors discussed in the solicitation, a full Notice to Proceed for this work is anticipated to be given no earlier than January, 2020.

16. Will multiple contractor Mob/Demob costs for planned work stoppages be covered for this effort?

RESPONSE: No separate bid items will be provided for mom/demob cost due to planned worked stoppages.

17. Will flooding be counted as additional weather days?

RESPONSE: Yes. Day for day time extensions will be provided for work impacted by flooding.

18. Will the gov’t cover Mob/Demob costs associated with work stoppages due to flooding?

RESPONSE: Government decision to cover costs will be determine a case by case basis.

19. Can contractor equipment (i.e. small tools lockbox or heavy equipment) be stored on the jobsite?

RESPONSE: Yes. Staging area is provided on the drawings. Equipment can be stored in other areas if coordinated and approved by the USFWS and the contracting officer representative.

20. Prior to award, is the gov’t only requiring a Schedule of Values as the contractor bid?

RESPONSE: No.

21. Will there be a public bid opening?

22. Is there a contractor laydown area?

RESPONSE: Yes. Staging area is provided (see Sheet C-114). Areas within the construction limits can be used as laydown areas.

23. Is there any reason the gov’t is stating that NTP could be as early as January of 2020 when the site will most likely not be dewatered for work until May of 2020?

RESPONSE: NTP will be dependent on site readiness.

24. Sheet R‐702 the hydrograph for 2018 doesn’t seem correct. There was a high water event in October that isn’t reflected.

RESPONSE: Hydographs will be corrected in amendment.

25. Section 00 08 00 Paragraph 1.8 states that an original and final survey are required for quantity calculations. Measurement and Payment states the final quantities are based on the theoretical cross sections. Please Clarify.

RESPONSE: Final surveys are required to verify features are constructed within the given tolerances.

26. Section 52‐211‐10 states the completion date is 2 years from NTP, but 520216‐18 states task orders can be issues through 1 August 2021. If work is issued on multiple orders is completion required two years form original NTP or the NTP for each task order?

RESPONSE: Completion date is two years from original NTP.

27. Are delay days given during the non‐work hunting season period?

28. Most of the project work is in low lying areas. It is stated that the site doesn’t reach low water levels typically unit May. We are assuming, therefore, most contract work will occur between 5/1 and 10/15. Assuming a 5 day work week that is approx. 240 work days over the 2 year contract. During that work period over the 2 two years it is stated we should anticipate approx. 82 adverse weather days. That brings the work days down to 158. That seems to be a tight timeline for the amount of work required. Would consideration be given to extend the contract duration?

RESPONSE: The contract duration will remain 2 years.

29. It seems unlikely that any substantial work will be able to take place from 1/1 through 4/30 each year due to flooding in the units. Will the contractor have to keep staff and equipment dedicated to this project and onsite to be given consideration for weather delays during this time period?

30. Does equipment have to be moved offsite during the annual 10/15 through 12/31 hunting season work stoppage?

RESPONSE: No. Equipment can be stored onsite during work stoppage. Storage of equipment will need to be coordinated with USFWS site manager and USFWS assumes no responsibility for any damage, theft of any equipment stored on site.

31. Has current flooding effected the completion dates of current projects shown on the plans? Will it affect expected NTP for this project?

RESPONSE: Yes it will impact completion dates. Anticipated completion dates will be updated with an amendment. NTP will not be issued until the site is ready.

32. Provided borings do not include areas that will be excavated and thus provide the embankment material for the berm setback. Who is responsible for obtaining additional material if excavations do not provide enough suitable material to construct the berm?

RESPONSE: The government will provide additional borrow locations if enough suitable material isn’t available.

33. At what river elevation will the site flood protection be overtopped? Is there an area onsite equipment can be moved to during flood events or does a flood event require demobilizing equipment? Should contingency for flooding be part of contractors bid?

RESPONSE: A level of protection of elevation 450 feet is maintained by USFWS. Areas for storing equipment are dependent on river levels. Contingency question is too vague to provide an appropriate response.

34. Can excavation be done in the wet? It seems where the meanders tie into the existing structures will be below normal ground water elevations.

35. Please clarify the frequency of required compaction check tests if using ASTM D6938.

For example if a lift is 4000 CY and a D6938 test was done would a D1556 be required for that lift or only once 20,000CY was placed?

RESPONSE: Compaction testing will be removed in upcoming amendment.

36. Measurement and Payment states that Establishment of Turf Measurement will be done in excavation and embankment areas shown on the plans. It is also stated that borrow areas are to be seeded with buckwheat. The typical sections show the meanders not being seeded. They also state the fill areas of the berm degrades do not have to be seeded. Do the cut areas on the berm degrades get seeded? If yes is this borrow (buckwheat) seeding? Does the borrow seeded areas have the same mulch, and establishment requirements as the listed seed mix? Is borrow seeding included in the solicitation seeding quantity?

RESPONSE: Seeding is not required on any of the meander restorations, levee degrade, or berm degrades (cut and fill areas). Drawing C-303 will be amended to clarify seeding isn’t required. There is no specific borrow seeding on this project. Specification Section 32 29 35.11 will be amended to remove references to borrow areas.

37. It is stated that excess material can be wasted adjacent to the areas being excavated. What is the seeding expectation for the areas that receive excess material? Will they be measured for payment?

RESPONSE: No seeding required. Sheet C-303 will be amended to clarify.

38. Seeding of haul roads, staging areas, and disturbed outside of embankment are to be seeded, but will not be measured for payment. Are they to be seeded as borrow or the embankment mix?

RESPONSE: Section 32 29 35.11 15 will be amended to remove borrow requirements.

39. 01 14 40 states the QC manager may not serve as the site superintendent or the project manager. Is this correct. Does prime have to employee a site superintendent or they be an employee of a subcontractor?

RESPONSE: Yes it is correct. Yes prime must have own site superintendent.

40. Will a water truck by required to control dust only in the current work area or on all roads inside the refuge?

RESPONSE: Methods for controlling dust within contractor’s current work areas is up to the contractor.

41. We understand that stone on the berms to be degraded is to be hauled to the stockpile area noted on the plans. The material under the stone may be used for embankment. Is there a tolerance of stone that would be allowed in the fill without it being considered unsuitable?

RESPONSE: Unsuitable material as defined in specification section 31 00 00, paragraph

2.2.3 will not be allowed as berm embankment.

42. Will times when the area is too wet to work due to flooding by the owner or seepage, due to high river will this be treated as a normal weather day, or a day lost due to flooding?

RESPONSE: Flooding by owner will not be treated as a normal weather day or day lost due to flooding if it falls within the anticipated time frame in order and coordination.

Seepage or flooding due to high river that impacts critical path work will be extended day for day outside of dates included in specification section 00 08 00, paragraph 1.23(g).

43. The typical section for meander 19 & 20 says stripping is not required. These meanders have large quantities of cut that will be needed for embankment. If it is to be used for embankment will stripping be required?

RESPONSE: Stripping is required. See section F1 on sheet C-303.

44. What do they anticipate for total CY of material per each work order?

RESPONSE: The guaranteed minimum contract amount has been updated to $3.0 Million. The $3.0 Million will be obligated amount on the first Task Order and the majority of the funds will be for excavation and placement of materials.

45. The borrow on site is located in how many areas and where?

RESPONSE: All borrow material is available onsite from degrades and excavations.

46. Is there a cad file available for this project?

RESPONSE: CAD files can be provided after award.

47. Can the areas and/or volumes be added to the cross section data to provide a method of computing an earthwork volume breakdown by individual streams and berms?