Questions and Answers.pdf

Contractor Questions & Government Answers

1. What is the difference between line item 0048 and 0048a?

ANSWER: Bid Schedule has been updated to remove the unit pricing requirement for 0048 and 0048a Per Diem. We understand that the unit costs vary according to each requirement. These prices will be requested and competed at the task order level.

2. What's the unit for line item 0001D (LS)?

ANSWER: LS is lump sum

3. What's the maximum water depth for over-water borings?

ANSWER: Seasonal river depths. There shall be no off shore drilling.

4. What projects will the results of this drilling be supporting?

ANSWER: The project are unknown at this time. This is a solicitation for an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract; which means we don’t know when, how often, or for what exact projects we will need these types of services, but we want to get unit prices in place for ordering these services when needed.

5. What percentage of the drilling will take place on shore vs. on water?

ANSWER: See answer 4. The exact projects are unknown at this time.

6. How much lead time will the contractor have to prepare and mobilize prior to a hole needing to be drilled?

ANSWER: This shall be addressed in task orders, however it is the desire that contractor start to mobilize to site within 15 calendar days from the issuance of notice to proceed (NTP).

7. What is the geographical range of areas requiring drilling?

ANSWER: The range of areas that could be drilled are lowlands which consist of swamps, marshes, costal, and forested. There shall be no mountainous terrain nor cliff like conditions encountered.

8. For water based drilling, what port will the spread and vessel be operating out of?

ANSWER: This will be defined at the task order level.

9. How many holes does the government expect will be needed on an annual basis? Over the life of the contract?

ANSWER: The amounts are unknown at this time. See answer to #4 above.

10. Does the government expect their entire annual need will be able to be done on a contiguous basis or will the contractor be required to mob/demob on command?

ANSWER: The mobilization/demobilization will be on command for each requirement when a task order is issued. See answer to #4 above.

11. Is this a new contract? Has this work requirement been bid out in the past?

ANSWER: This is a new contract.

12. Can they give a specific range/radius?

ANSWER: This will be defined at the task order level.

13. Will this be a negotiated contract or will those submitted be the contract prices?

ANSWER: This contract may be awarded using submitted prices without discussions, unless the Government feels it is in their best interested to enter into discussions and negotiate prices to ensure a fair and reasonable cost is achieved.

14. Will there be a reporting line item for each task order? If not, then all handwritten logs generated in the field will be submitted upon completion of each boring and no formal report issued.

ANSWER: Yes, there will be a reporting line item on each task order.

15. What will be the requirements for sample photographs? If each sample is to be photographed, how will reporting be handled for this?

ANSWER: The requirements for reporting will be addressed in each task order.

16. Rock coring – How will casing & bit costs be reimbursed?

ANSWER: This line item is to be negotiated at the time of task orders.

17. If we did not set up an on-site lab, would there be a problem sub-contracting lab work to an approved local lab or shipped back to the U.S.?

ANSWER: This line item is to be negotiated at the time of task orders. Typically, local labs are unable to perform the amount of testing required for our task orders, and lab work is usually sent back to the U.S. for testing.

18. Professional Geologist – Would a Registered Professional Soils Engineer be acceptable?

ANSWER: See Personnel requirements in PWS section 1.4.3, “the Contractor shall furnish a professional, licensed or registered geologist”.

19. Where would the additional drill supplies be expensed? (Ex: Assuming you want to contract the drill crew on a “daily rate” to be all inclusive. If grouting of boring is required, will there be reimbursement for materials needed? i.e.: Portland cement, bentonite, etc.

What if monitoring wells, inclinometers, PVC casing is needed? Will that be negotiated?)

ANSWER: Bid Schedule has been updated to remove all unit pricing for items that are dependent on specific requirements. We determined the Line Items for drilling supplies in the “Supplies & Equipment” section of the bid schedule are able to be priced at the contract level, and are not dependent on the specific requirement. Any supplies that are dependent on the specific requirement will be requested and competed at the task order level.

20. Will there be a requirement to have the boreholes surveyed for horizontal/vertical or should borings be located in the field with handheld GPS and staked to be surveyed by the COE?

ANSWER: This will be defined and negotiated at the task order level.

21. Will each task order be negotiated based upon the awarded unit rates to arrive at a firm fixed price to perform the requested tasks?

ANSWER: Yes, task orders will be negotiated using the awarded unit prices.

22. In-Situ Testing: The unit costs to perform these test will vary according to location, specification, depth and size. These items are requested to be listed as “To Be Negotiated”.

ANSWER: Bid Schedule has been updated to remove the unit pricing requirement for In Situ testing. We understand that the unit costs vary according to location, specification, depth and size.

These prices will be requested and competed at the task order level.

23. Any marine work depending on location (swamp, protective & non-protective waters) should be negotiated based upon specific project requirements.

ANSWER: Bid Schedule has been updated to remove all unit pricing for items that are dependent on specific requirements. These prices will be requested and competed at the task order level.

24. Mobilization/Overwater: How is this to be determined or should this line item be negotiated?

ANSWER: Bid Schedule has been updated to remove the unit pricing requirement for mobilization and demobilization. We understand that the unit costs vary according to each requirement. These prices will be requested and competed at the task order level.

25. Most Firms possess a number of rock core barrel sizes, split spoon, piston samplers, hollow-stem auger and roller bits. If a submittal is prepared, can we list the sizes that we can provide if we do not have all?

ANSWER: Yes, please identify these items in your approach for Section L, Factor 2 Organization.

26. Is it correct to assume any cost associated with calibration of the SPT hammers, safety training, etc. to be included in “Drilling Day” rate?

ANSWER: Correct

27. Will any local or Puerto Rican business taxes, if levied, be negotiated into each task order?

ANSWER: Yes, taxes and other local cost items will be negotiated at task order level.

28. We intend to setup a staging/office area in the islands (St Thomas or other), is there a preferred geographic area? We believe the transporting of equipment is easy to manage given the current vendors providing this service.

ANSWER: This would be left up to the contractor as to where they stage their equipment. As long as they followed all laws and regulations of said island/location.

29. Does the US Army have property that we can access to establish our Staging of equipment and Office? If so, would this area be considered central to the exploration?

ANSWER: There is no arrangement with US Army land to be used as a staging area.