Attachment 10 - PreBid Questions and Government Answers.pdf

SOLICITATION W912P920R0053

Melvin Price Flood Control Project – Reach 1

PRE-BID QUESTIONS & GOVERNMENT ANSWERS

1. Clarify for which projects the Past Performance Questionnaires are required. I am seeing a reference to Subfactor B – Company Experience, and this is not a relevant section within this RFP. Should we be providing PPQ’s for the projects listed in Subfactor A – Company Experience or the list of 3-5 in similar scope listed previously in Factor 2 – Past Performance?

Should the list of projects in Subfactor A – Company Experience and Factor 2 – Past Performance be completely different, or can there be overlap of projects listed twice?

ANSWER: That was a typo. The PPQs should be submitted for the projects provided in Factor 1, Subfactor (a) Company Experience. Factor 1, Subfactor (a) Company Experience and Factor 2 Past Performance can be for the same projects. Company Experience should explain the projects your company has completed; Past Performance should explain how well the projects were performed.

2. Does the 2” galvanized conduit shown to be installed for the piezometer wiring on sheets B-104 and B-105 need to be PVC coated galvanized rigid steel conduit similar to products made by Ocal or Robroy? I do not see material specifications for the conduit in the contract documents.

ANSWER: It is not required that this conduit be PVC coated. The conduit shall be corrosion resistant galvanized steel. Section 13 50 00 Page 9 of the specs.

3. For Volume I, the solicitation requires an APP, QCP and Schedule, but limits proposal to ONLY 150 pages. Typically, an APP or QCP for a project of this magnitude requires a submission of anywhere from 100 to 200 pages EACH, more if you included appendixes, AHAs, site plan etc. Can the government please expand the requirements of this requirement? For instance, will a table of contents suffice, possibly one AHA in order to minimize the number of pages.

ANSWER: For the Sample Quality Control Plan and General Safety Plan as described on solicitation sheet 21/102 (c) and (f), it is not required to submit a full plan at the time of the solicitation. A couple of page summary of each plan will suffice.

4. For Volume II, If the bidder is a small business, do we still need to include a small business plan as the fact that we are already a small business?

ANSWER: Small business offerors shall complete a Small Business Participation Commitment Document but does not need to complete a Subcontracting Plan.

5. For the Piezometers:

• What is the length of the casing?

ANSWER: The casing/riser length will vary depending on the riser height and tip location.

• What is the Locking mechanism on the cap? Is a Set Screw sufficient or can you give further detail?

ANSWER: The threaded locking cap is not required and shall be removed from the specifications. A 2-inch threaded galvanized steel pipe cap with a 1/8-inch diameter hole on top shall be provided. The locking mechanism will be as shown in plans.

• What material is the “Collar” shown on the drawing? I would guess this is a temporary collar for forming the concrete such as a Sonotube but wanted to clarify.

ANSWER: The concrete collar encasement shall be formed with a sonotube.

• Please Verify the Coupling type for the Piezometers. Galvanized Threaded Couplings would likely get the Casing to meet the specs, but if they want Flush Thread, then the Galvanizing of the ends of the riser casing would be a spray-painted galvanized end.

ANSWER: Galvanized Threaded Couplings are sufficient.

• Is the “Drive Point” End correct or is the Spec statement of “Flush Thread Cap” correct?

ANSWER: A drive point as displayed in the plans is preferred.

6. For the Wells:

• The specs state that for each well, we are to have TWO 5’ pieces of screen for field changes if necessary. They do not address how to handle the Casing (riser) adjustment as we cannot simply cut off the excess due to the final termination being Flush Thread.

ANSWER: If the wells will require adjustment, the threaded section need to be cut and saved, the length of the smooth section cut and removed, and then the threaded section rewelded to the riser.

7. For the Well Guard:

• What is the purpose of tacking one bolt (brass) to the nut (Stainless Steel) after installation? If wanting to use it as a pivot point, shouldn’t the bolt be Stainless Steel at least on that particular one? Drawing shows brass bolts.

ANSWER: This is to be a pivot point for the well. Stainless steel bolts are acceptable. Please specify if planning to use stainless steel bolts and include this information on the as-built drawings.

• What is the height of the Well Number plate for the well guard? They say it should be ¼” thick and 6” long, but no height. May want to specify the letter/number size as these are to be bead welded on the plate and would want to know the expectation.

ANSWER: Bead weld should be high enough to provide long term-visibility from the effects of the weather.

8. Spec Section 3.4.1 states, “Following placement of filter pack materials the

Contractor shall develop the relief well by high velocity jetting and simultaneous airlift pumping.” How do we do this simultaneously?

ANSWER: Please review the execution of the Spec Section 3.4.2 for the operation and placement of equipment of the jetting tool and airlift.

9. Spec Section 3.5.2.3 states, “The calibration of the flow meter shall be checked at regular intervals.” How do we check calibration?

ANSWER: The flow meter should arrive calibrated by the manufacturer. If during use, the contractor notices the flow meter reading differently than the known capacity of the pump in operation, the contractor should contact the manufacturer for recalibration.

Intent to assure best possible data collection.

10. Is there a Union labor requirement for the project? Or just Illinois Prevailing Wage?

ANSWER: This contract will be subject to the Davis Bacon Act and wages are set by said act. There is no union labor requirement imposed by USACE.

11. Section 33 27 15.01, paragraph 2.2.2.1 This paragraph requires the contractor to perform one gradation test for each well.

For ease of handling the filter is normally supplied in 3,000-4,000 lb super sacks. All of the suppliers I have used in the past will not recognize the validity of any test of samples taken after transporting to the job site. Will the contracting officer allow these samples and test to be performed at the suppliers site prior to shipping, so long as the material can be tracked to the well it is used in?

ANSWER: We can accept the gradation test from the manufacturer, as long as the bag numbers are specified to a certain relief well and used on that well. The bag numbers could be reported on the as-builts. Any materials that arrive onsite out of spec will not be accepted.

12. If testing before shipment is not allowed and the on-site sample fails but the suppliers in house testing shows the material is in compliance, how will this be resolved?

ANSWER: Please see the answer to the question above.

13. Section 33 27 15.01 and plan sheets C-506, C-507, & C-508.

The minimum seal length per Illinois well code is 20 feet for this type of well. Some of the riser lengths shown on the well tables and the requirements in Section 33 27

15.01 would allow for very little if any seals on some of the wells. Has the designers contacted the Illinois Health Department regarding this issue?

ANSWER: The designers are aware of the minimum seal requirement and recognize that a variance will be needed. These wells with little seals are within headwalls or manholes. The contractor should request a variance for these wells and contact the Illinois Health Department.

14. Section 33 27 15.01, paragraph 3.6 – Well Sealing. Plan sheets 502A & 502B – Well Details.

Paragraph 3.6 of specifications identify a five (5) foot bentonite seal and the details in the plans identify a two (2) foot seal. Which one governs?

ANSWER: Specifications govern. Plan sheets C-502A and C-502B have been updated.

15. Can the existing wells be used for dewatering and supplying make-up water for drilling?

ANSWER: Stainless steel wells can be used, if they are far enough away as to not impact the development or pump testing of the new well being installed. Existing wells outside of the influence of the constructed well may be pumped to a maximum flow rate of 500 gpm and shall adhere to the requirements set forth in Specification 33 27 15.01 section

3.5. A higher rate is not allowed and could damage the existing relief well. If any relief wells are wood staved, another water source should be identified and used. Wood staved relief wells must not be used due to age, condition, and presence of creosote. If the contractor elects to use the stainless-steel wells for dewatering they are liable for any and all damages that occur to the well. A dewatering plan utilizing the existing wells shall be approved by COR as outlined in specification 31 23 19.02.

16. Will the C.O.E. allow sheet piling to be driven to stabilize drill pads?

ANSWER: No sheet piling should be driven to stabilize well pads. It could create a void upon removal.

Plan sheets C-502A and C-502B have been updated.

Specifications sections 31 23 19.02, 33 24 13, and 33 27 15 have been updated.