Amendment 0005 issued to extend proposal due date from 07/31/2023 to 08/08/2023. This is the FINAL proposal due date extension to be issued. NO additional requests for information will be accepted.
Amendment 0004 issued to provide answers to additional questions submitted by interested contractor.
Q. In executing this project Is it acceptable to have the field superintendent cover supervision, QA/QC, and safety duties? Or do we need 1 person for each responsibility?
A. Yes.
Q. Are contractors required to issue a contract specific QA/QC Plan?
A. Yes.
Q. Are contractors required to issue a contract specific Safety Plan?
A. Yes.
Q. Is this project tax exempt?
A. Contractors are required to meet any tax obligations.
Q. Existing building has interior wall and ceiling sheathing. As each bay is air conditioned, can USDA verify that all exterior, interior walls, and ceiling are insulated?
A. Yes, the interior and exterior walls are both insulated. I cut holes in the steel wall panels to examine the insulation. The interior voids are approximately 8". (wall panel to wall panel) The voids are filled completely with fiberglass insulation. (rolls or bats). The voids are 8" and the fiberglass insulation is 8”.
Q. What R-value insulation or type and thickness is desired?
A. The voids are 8" and the fiberglass insulation is 8".
Q. Anchor bolts will be reused. Please confirm.
A. No.
Q. There was a Rainbird controller in the debris of the break room. Is this the controller for the irrigation water to the carts? Is contractor to replace this item in kind and re-wire to existing solenoid valves?
A. Yes, the contractor will replace this item. If the break room is moved to the end of the building, the irrigation piping and the placement of the solenoid valves will change. This will necessitate the moving of the control wiring for the solenoid valves.
Q. Package air units to each bay are not consistent tonnage; Does USDA prefer five or four ton units?
A. USDA Sugarcane Field Station will supply four new 4-ton Heat Pump package units and electric heat strips for each unit. USDA will also supply one 4-ton straight cool electric heat package unit for the breakroom.
Q. Bathrooms will be configured per existing layout. Please confirm.
A. Bathrooms will be configured per existing layout, unless ADA requirements have to be incorporated. ADA requirements may dictate changes to the layout.
Q. 20 lockers are currently installed; Please confirm is count is to be duplicated.
A. Yes, 20 lockers.
Q. Conductors to main distribution panel will be reused. Please confirm.
A. Conductors must be able to handle the new building requirements so upgrade to code if necessary.
Q. Please provide manufacturer and model number or performance specification for Grow lights and LED lights.
A. Scientist responsible for the breeding program are currently researching the lights that will be best suited to their needs.
Q. Existing under slab electrical will be abandoned in place and all new wiring will be routed above ground in building space. Please confirm.
A. Yes.
Q. Was there a controller for the grow lights? If so, please provide manufacture and model number.
A. Yes, the lights had a time clock and recorders to measure light and dark periods. Scientist responsible for the breeding program are currently researching the lights that will be best suited to their needs.
Q. Existing solenoid valves for cart irrigation water are in working order and will be reused. Please confirm.
A. The Sugarcane Field Station will supply the contractor with four new solenoid valves.
Q. How much power is needed in drying shed, 120 volt single phase, 240 volt single phase, 240 volt three phase?
A. Size the power to meet the lighting and HVAC unit requirements.
Q. How many convenience outlets are required in new drying shed?
A. Supply one GFCI protected convenience outlet on the exterior of the drying shed near to where the packaged dehumidifying package unit will be located.
Q. For drying shed foundation, what strength concrete is preferred?
A. 4000.
Q. What eve height (low end) is desired for drying shed?
A. 8' should be sufficient.
Q. Will contractor be required to provide drawings other than the pre-engineered metal building (PEMB)?
A. Any systems to be installed should be represented on submittal drawings with specs. Redlines to show final configuration.
Q. Please confirm design wind speed for building.
A. Contractor is required to design for compliance with all Florida and local code/wind speed regulations.
Q. It is assumed the existing foundation will handle reaction loads for new PEMB. Please confirm.
A. Contractor should not assume that and, if found to be necessary, should submit a design that is signed off on by a Registered PE that meets all Florida and local codes with appropriate reinforcing of the slab as necessary to meet regulations and laws.
Q. We laser scanned the entire building and have count of all the existing electrical outlets, switches, plumbing fixtures, hose bibs, disconnects etc. Does the USDA want any items over what is currently installed?
A. At the present some bays have one duplex outlet and others have two outlets. If possible the USDA Sugarcane Field Station would prefer each bay to have two duplex outlets. One outlet on each of the bay’s long walls. Also, there were no convivence outlets near the AC units, located at the back of the building, please install outlets in the areas near the AC units. Hose bibs will remain the same.
Q. There is an existing package air unit under the porch of an adjacent building. Are contractors to use this unit for one of the bays? If so, the owner will warrant this unit separately. Please confirm.
A. The USDA Sugarcane Field Station will be providing all of the Heat Pump Package Units, Electrical Heat Strips, and the one AC Package Unit. These machines will be turned over to the contractor for installation in the building. The Sugarcane Field Station will not provide: Wiring for the circuits, Circuit Breakers, Safety Switches, Thermostats, Thermostat Wires, Supply Duct, Return Duct, Supply grills, Return grills or Filter frames. Once the units have been installed and tested, once the contract has concluded, the contractor will not be held responsible for the Sugarcane Field Station supplied package cooling and heating units.
Q. The foundation for the existing package air units are in poor condition. Does the owner want new foundations installed for the new package air units?
A. The existing package air units are not original to the building. When the original units were replaced, the connection between the units and the existing duct work had to be modified. To accommodate the modifications, the new units had to be placed further away from the building. This would make the package units hang off the original concrete slab that runs the length of the backwall of the building. (The original slab is part of the buildings foundation and slab.) To prevent the package units from hanging over the edge of the original slab, small concrete extensions were poured to accommodate the new units. The small extensions do not have the support of the piling that is under the building’s foundation and slab.
Since the building will be new and the air conditioning supply and return duct work will be new, it may be possible for the heat pump package units and the air conditioning package unit to be installed so that the duct work modifications that are currently being used are not needed. If so, the units could be installed closer to the back wall of the building thus eliminating the need for the deplorable and pathetic concrete extensions. If this is the case, you can take them home with you for all I care.
Amendment 0003 issued to extend proposal due date from 07/24/2023 to 07/31/2023.
Amendment 0002 issued to provide answers to questions submitted by interested contractors.
Q3. Should the design and proposal reflect installing an elevator to the second floor?
A3. An elevator is not required as there was not one present in the current structure.
Q4 Is fire protection required for the new building?. If so, is there an adequate water source available to the site ?
A4. Existing structure did not have a Fire Suppression or sprinkler system.
Q5. Are the existing slab on grade and footing to remain and the new building to be erected directly on top or would the slab and footings be demolished, and new ones poured?
A5. Existing Slab remains.
Q6. Need as-builts of the existing building, as well as hazardous material assessment reports.
A6. There are no existing drawings of the existing building. There are no hazardous material assessment reports available to my knowledge.
Q7. Please provide building exterior pictures and dimensions (Length, width height).
A7. Detailed pictures of the building before the fire are not available in my files. Location will provide measurements and any pictures of original building they may have.
Q8. Technical Specifications for the new building (Materials, systems and finishes).
A8. Basic requirements are stated in Statement of Work (SOW). Potential Contractors will provide their design for evaluation for the replacement building in their proposal.
Q9. Opening quantity and dimensions (OH doors, man-doors, windows, louvers).
A9. Site will provide dimensions as best as possible.
Q10. Interior (partitions, finishes, etc.) specs and details.
A10. Site will provide desired finishes for break/washroom and locker requirements.
Q11. MEP systems, including Fore sprinklers if any.
A11. SOW includes the requirements for building systems including the inclusion of a fire protection system. The building must meet all codes before design is accepted and constructed.
Q12. Any temporary requirements like storage, power generation etc. needed for the duration of the project.
A12. Contractor is responsible for providing their own equipment and materials storage in a spot to be designated by the Lab. Government can provide a limited amount of electrical power.
Amendment 0001 issued to provide answers to questions submitted by interested contractors.
Q1. Are there current design plans or drawings of the building proposed to be demolished and replaced?
A1. Plans are limited. Canal Point, FL location included a picture of the footprint of the building to be demolished. Canal Point, FL location will take another look to see if they can find any additional blueprints or plans.
Q2. Is there an alternative location to obtain/view the plans, or will they be uploaded at a later date?
A2. Plans are limited. Canal Point, FL location included a picture of the footprint of the building to be demolished. Canal Point, FL location will take another look to see if they can find any additional blueprints or plans.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Southeast Area (SEA), Sugarcane Field Station, located at 12990 US Hwy 441 North, Canal Point, Florida has a requirement (Subject to the Availability of Funds) to replace existing Photo Period Building to be performed in strict accordance with attached Statement of Work (SOW).
Seeking qualified Contractor who shall provide all professional services, personnel, tools, material, equipment to demolish the existing fire damaged photoperiod house and build a new one of the exact same footprint. The only layout change is that the locker/breakroom middle bay will be moved to the end by the mechanics building and a 4x10 foot drying shed will be constructed on the side of the new building with fireproof walls for the use of the scientists to replace the room inside of the burned out building. Work shall be performed in strict accordance as specified in attached Statement of Work (SOW).
The solicitation number is 12405B23R0016. This is being solicited as a Total Small Business Set-Aside. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 236220. The small business size standard is $45.0M.
Site Visit:
Bidders are encouraged to visit the site and be escorted by a government representative to confirm locations, dimensions, and conditions of the project before a bid is submitted. The site visit shall be for observing firsthand any conditions relevant to the completion of this project. No consideration will be given to claims based on lack of knowledge of existing conditions, except where contract documents make definite provisions for adjustment in cost or extension due to existing conditions not readily foreseeable.
To schedule a Site Visit, please contact in advance:
George Carpenter, Phone: (561)924-5227, Email: george.carpenter@usda.gov.
All QUESTIONS regarding this solicitation must be submitted in writing ONLY to the Contract Specialist, Monte Jordan, via email to monte.jordan@usda.gov. Questions must be submitted by July 24, 2023, no later than 12:00 p.m. Central Time (CT). Answers to all questions received by that time will be posted as an amendment to the solicitation. No questions will be answered after this date unless determined to be in the best interest of the Government as deemed by the Contracting Officer. Telephone requests for information will not be accepted or returned.
Proposals must be received by Monday, July 31, 2023, no later than 3:00 p.m. Central Time (CT). Proposals must be emailed to Contract Specialist, Monte Jordan at monte.jordan@usda.gov. Proposal must be annotated as such and reference the solicitation number.
All proposals shall be in unlocked MS Word format and all cost proposals shall be detailed and presented in unlocked MS Excel format with formulas working. Contractor shall perform the work as specified in the Statement of Work (SOW).
DISCLAIMER: The official contract documents are located on the government webpage and the Government is not liable for information furnished by any other source. Amendments, if/when issued will be posted to Contract Opportunities for electronic downloading. This will normally be the only method of distributing amendments prior to closing; therefore, it is the offeror’s responsibility to check the website periodically for any amendments to this solicitation. Websites are occasionally inaccessible, due to various reasons. The Government is not responsible for any loss of internet connectivity or for an offeror’s inability to access the documents posted on the referenced web pages. The Government will not issue paper copies.
