Request for Clarification Responses
Reedley Radio Tower and Equipment Shelter
Supplemental Information - Not Part of the Contract Documents
The following list is comprised of paraphrased Requests for Clarification (RFC) submitted by potential bidders or sub-bidders in writing via email, letter, and this form:
24-S-04 Request for Clarification Form
These paraphrased questions and associated responses are not part of the contract documents and shall have no bearing whatsoever on the interpretation of the Standard Specifications, the Standard Plans, the Special Provisions, or the Plans. Nor shall they have any bearing whatsoever on the interpretation of other publications referenced therein.
Questions without answers may be posted here to indicate that we have received them before the deadline and we intend to respond.
Last updated: July 22, 2024 12:00 PM Pacific
Will there be a job walk for this project? (RFC 24S4-1 submitted 6/25/2024)
There will not be an onsite or bid walk for this project. Response date: 06/26/2024
Will there be a bid walk for this site? And do you have drawings to provide to potential bidders? (RFC 24S4-3 submitted 6/25/2024)
Yes, the plans were posted to the website under "Project Manual and Plans" on 06/25/2024. Response date: 06/26/2024
Specifications: Division 03 Concrete 00 30 00 Cast-In-Place Concrete 2.10 Are you really serious about reducing the cement content by 40%? That’s a bad idea. (RFC 24S4-5 submitted 6/24/2024)
See Addendum 1. Response date: 07/01/2024
Specifications: Division 03 Concrete 00 30 00 Cast-In-Place Concrete 2.11 Why does paragraph 2.11 call for 6% air content? Reedley isn’t in a freeze/thaw zone and Caltrans recognizes that. There’s no need to have entrained air in these mixes. The floor slab will be hard trowelled and anything above 3% air runs the risk of delaminating the surface. (RFC 24S4-6 submitted 6/24/2024)
See Addendum 1. Response date: 07/01/2024
Specifications: Division 03 Concrete 00 30 00 Cast-In-Place Concrete 2.11 Is the County really wanting to pay for steel fiber in the slab-on-grade? Nobody does that anymore unless there’s a very good reason to. There are polypropylene fibers that will do the same job. (RFC 24S4-8 submitted 6/24/2024)
See Addendum 1. Response date: 07/01/2024
Specifications: Division 03 Concrete 00 30 00 Cast-In-Place Concrete 2.11 and Sheet S1 of the Plans The Concrete Notes on the drawing show a 1” aggregate size, while the specs show ¾”. (RFC 24S4-9 submitted 6/24/2024)
Use the aggregate shown on Sheet S1 of the Plans. See addendum 1. Response date: 07/01/20204
Sheet S1 of the Plans A 0.45 w/cm ratio and 6.5 sack minimum produces 4,000 psi concrete. You could save money (and use less cement that produces CO2) if you only need 3,000 psi (that’s 5.5 sack and 0.55 w/cm). (RFC 24S4-10 submitted 6/24/2024)
Use the concrete mix shown on Sheet S1 of the Plans. Response date: 07/01/20204
Drawing No. 11328 Specification No. Sheet A5 Detail B. Keynote #11
Is the use of hook bolts required? There is no Mow Strip shown for attachment between posts. (RFC 24S4-11 submitted 7/5/2024)
Hook bolts are required. Replace Sheet No. A5 "DETAILS " with Sheet No. A5 "DETAILS ADDENDUM #3 Response date: 07/17/2024
Will a site demolition plan be provided? It seems there is existing asphalt that must be removed for construction that is not shown on the site plan. (RFC 24S4-15 submitted 7/8/2024)
Site Demolition Plan will not be provided. See Sheet No. A1 " SITE PLAN ADDENDUM #3" for information regarding existing AC to be removed and disposed Response date: 07/17/2024
Drawing No. A2.1 Specification No. 265100
Sheet A2.1 shows the emergency generator to be owner furnished contractor installed. Will the owner/generator supplier provide all startup for the generator including, but not limited to fuel, re-fuel after testing, load bank testing, functional/performance testing and startup? (RFCs 24S4-16, 24S4-17, 24S4-18,24S4-19, and 24S4-20 submitted 7/9/2024)
The installation, wiring, connections, exhaust pipe construction/installation (per ATC permit), startup, and final load testing will be the responsibility of the installation contractor. See Section 265100 Part 3 Execution 3.1B Jobsite Testing Typically, the County fueling contract will initially fill and refill after testing. The Generator is shipped wet to include lube oil and 50/50 water and antifreeze, but no fuel or diesel exhaust fluid. The Generator will have a performance and full load bank test performed before leaving the factory. Response date: 07/22/2024
Drawing No. 133613
There are no tower design criteria specified for the required wind speed. Should bidders use historical data for wind speed for the proposed area? (RFC 24S4-21 submitted 7/9/2024)
See the Wind Design Criteria on Sheet No. S1 " STRUCTURAL GEN NOTE ADDENDUM #3" Response date: 07/17/2024
Drawing No. E11 Specification No. 261110, 262000
Spec section 2261110-2.1 calls for sand encasement from bottom of trench to 6" above conduit. Spec section 261110-2.2 lists a conduit cap with 2000 psi slurry. Spec section 262000-3.1N calls for underground conduits to be encased in 2000 psi concrete. Drawing E11 shows sand or slurry encasement. Which method of encasement, if any, is required? (RFCs 24S4-22 and 24S4-23 submitted 7/9/2024)
Electrical Trenches shall be Per Sheet E11, either sand or slurry is required. Detailed drawings take precedence over Specifications per Section 007200 - 2.05 Response date: 07/22/2024
Specification No. 133613
There are no specifications listed for the antennas and other equipment that are proposed to be installed on the tower. In order to provide a suitable tower design, can the County provide a list of proposed antenna loading including type of antenna, elevation on the tower and feeder type? (RFC 24S4-24 submitted 7/9/2024)
See Sheet No. A2.1 "EQUIPMENT PLAN - ADDENDUM #3" Response date: 07/17/2024
Specification No. 133613
There are no specifications listed for the antennas and other equipment that are proposed to be installed on the tower. Are bidders required to install any of the proposed antennas on the tower? If so, please specify. (RFC 24S4-25 submitted 7/9/2024)
See Sheet No. A2.1 "EQUIPMENT PLAN - ADDENDUM #3 Response date: 07/17/2024
Specification No. 133613
Section 2-B-e indicates “Provide lightning protection”. Is this in reference to a lightning rod at the top of tower or polyphasers for any proposed antenna feeders? (RFC 24S4-26 submitted 7/9/2024)
Each feed will require a polyphaser lightning arrestor. The tower will also require a lightning rod at the top of the tower. See Addendum #4. Response date: 07/22/2024
Specification No. 133613
Section 2-B-g indicates “Tower grounding including air terminal system, lightning dissipators, down conductor…..". Typically, only a lightning rod is attached to the top of the tower. Will lightning dissipators also be required? If so, please specify. (RFC 24S4-27 submitted 7/9/2024)
No lighting dissipators are proposed. Response date: 07/17/2024
Specification No. 133613
The grounding plans do not show a down conductor from the lightning rod. If this is required, please specify type and size conductor required (RFC 24S4-28 submitted 7/9/2024)
Per the Detail GT on Sheet E09, a #250 MCM bare copper should bond the lightning rod to the ground electrode system. Response date: 07/17/2024
Specification No. 133613
The grounding plans do not show a down conductor from the lightning rod. If this is required, please specify type and size conductor required (RFC 24S4-29 submitted 7/9/2024)
Cushion style hangers will be used. 7 runs of 7/8” coaxial cable with N-Female Connectors at both ends. Antennas must come with N-Male Pigtails. Please see Sheet A2.1 EQUIPMENT PLAN - ADDENDUM #3 for additional information. Response date: 07/22/2024
Drawing No. Various Specification No. Various
Can you confirm if the grounding plans and details conform to the Motorola R-56 or approved equal grounding standards referenced in the tower specification section 133613? (RFC 24S4-30 submitted 7/9/2024)
The grounding installation requirements are per plans. Response date: 07/17/2024
Several tower manufacturers are concerned that the current bid due date will not allow enough time to draft preliminary foundation designs for accurate concrete/reinforcement bidding. They need information and clarifications from previous RFI's so they can continue design of the tower and then the foundation. We suggest extended the bid due date so that bidding Primes can provide best value to the County. (RFC 24S4-31 submitted 7/10/2024)
Refer to Addendum 2. Tower and foundation engineering are submitted after award. The date of the bid has been revised to respond to RFCs. No additional time will be provided. Response date: 07/15/2024
Specification No. 7200
Is professional liability insurance required if a contractor hires a subcontractor that provides a product that was engineered by a third-party manufacturer and there would not be any professional staff employed directly by the contractor? If not, can this insurance requirement be waived? (RFC 24S4-32 submitted 7/10/2024)
Per Section 133612, Tower drawings and design calculations shall be prepared and sealed by a licensed Professional Engineer, therefore, Professional Liability Insurance is required as specified in the General Conditions Section 007200-2.40 Response date: 07/19/2024
Specification No. 7200
Can the requirement for the commercial general liability umbrella be lowered from $10,000,000 down to $8,000,000? This high of an umbrella requirement will likely decrease the amount of participation from bidders and will add needless cost to the bid. (RFC 24S4-33 submitted 7/10/2024)
See Addendum 2. Response date: 07/15/2024
Specification No. Instructions to Bidders
The bid documents did not include a Bid Bond Form. Should we use a standard form from our Surety Bonding Agency? If not, please provide Bid Bond Form (RFC 24S4-34 submitted 7/11/2024)
Bonding companies / surety bonding agencies may provide their own bid bond forms. The Bid Security and Signature sections of the Bid Express solicitation or Bid Book must be completed by the bidder and submitted with their bid. Response date: 07/15/2024
There is a battery plant shown on sheet E2.1. Except a series type on the equipment schedule, there are no specs for the battery plant. We would need to know what the output voltage would need to be, required amp hours, if inverters are needed, etc. (RFC 24S4-35 submitted 7/15/2024)
See Equipment List #4 on Sheet A2.1 "EQUIPMENT PLAN ADDENDUM #3" No other equipment will be needed. Response date: 07/19/2024
There’s no data service or building wiring. Please confirm that no LV or data is required and all that the contractor is to provide is the racks. (RFC 24S4-36 submitted 7/15/2024)
Contractor only need to provide the racks as specified on Sheet A2.1 and a 2" dia. PVC pipe stub 4' up to the Network room and 5' from the building exterior. An addendum to the Electrical plan will be issued for the fiber optic pipe Response date: 07/19/2024
Due to the need of response to previous questions that will drive the tower / foundation design, we recommend pushing the bid due date back at least two weeks beyond the issuance of the addendum that answers previous questions. This will allow more time for accurate and competitive pricing to the County. (RFC 24S4-37 submitted 7/15/2024)
See Response 24S4-31. Response date: 07/17/2024
"Sapphire FCP" is mentioned on the north wall of the Secondary Rack Room on sheet E07. This equipment does not appear in the equipment list on sheet nor in the project specifications. Please provide details for the "Sapphire FCP", if it is owner or contractor provided, and if it is owner or contractor installed. (RFC 24S4-38 submitted 7/16/2024)
The Sapphire System is owner supplied and the System itself will be installed by the owner Purchased Fire System Installer, however the contractor will be responsible for installing all of the required conduit, backboxes/terminal cans and control power electrical to power the panel or interface with the electrical devices associated with the fire system shutdowns. These are all specified in the Electrical Plans Response date: 07/18/2024
ATS is shown with generator cut sheets. Sheet A201 states generator is owner supplied and to reference Supplemental information via Generator Cut Sheets. ATS is part of supplemental instruction via generator cut sheets. Will ATS be owner provided along with generator? (RFCs 24S4-39 and 24S4-40 submitted 7/16/2024)
The ATS will be owner provided. The contractor will be responsible to transport from the storage location in Clovis to the project site, including installation of the ATS and correct startup of the ATS/Generator Response date: 07/19/2024
Generator is equipped with 600 main circuit breakers. Will contractor be responsible for testing breaker via third part testing along with coordination study per note on sheet E101? (RFC 24S4-41 submitted 7/16/2024)
The internal Generator breaker will need to be 3rd party certified by the contractor along with the coordination study. Response date: 07/19/2024
Will seismic certification be supplied by generator supplier? (RFC 24S4-42 submitted 7/16/2024)
Page 4 of the Generator submittal states the generator is “Seismic Certified to IBC 2021” Response date: 07/19/2024
Will generator be delivered to site or will EC be responsible for pick up and deliver to site? (RFC 24S4-43 submitted 7/16/2024)
The generator will be delivered to the site. Response date: 07/19/2024
Will detail be provided showing anchor detail for generator? (RFC 24S4-44 submitted 7/16/2024)
Generator Anchorage Detail is added to Sheet S4 " ROOF FRAMING/FOUNDATION PLAN ADDENDUM #4" Response date: 07/19/2024
Addendum #03 provides information for equipment mentioned in RFC 24S4-25, but does not answer who is responsible for providing and/or installing that equipment. Please clarify. (RFC 24S4-45 submitted 7/18/2024)
The Contractor is responsible for providing and installing the equipment as shown on the Details per Section 133613-1 Response date: 07/22/2024