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Viewing inquiries for 04-3G4884

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Inquiry #1: Ref. Plan Sheet 13 of 14; The note at the Hanger Detail states “Hole realignment may be necessary”. We assume that any required hole realignment will be change order work. Please confirm.
Inquiry submitted 05/19/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 05/20/2022


Response #2:Refer to Addendum #2 dated July 11, 2022. Section 55-2 has been replaced.
Response posted 07/12/2022




Inquiry #2: Ref. Plan Sheets 6 & 8 of 14: Note 1 states “Replace missing or corroded HS bolts, estimated 13 each per tower leg”. What diameter and length of bolts should be used for pricing this work?
Inquiry submitted 05/19/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 05/20/2022


Response #2:No further information will be provided. Bid per the current contract bid documents.


Response posted 05/31/2022


Response #3:Refer to As-builts for diameter and length of the existing bolts.
Response posted 07/12/2022




Inquiry #3: Has the state tested for Zinc on the existing paint system where blasting is required? If not, please let us know what the existing coatings system is and whether Zinc is present in the existing coating system.
Inquiry submitted 05/22/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 05/23/2022


Response #2:Refer to Section 14-11.13 of the contract special provisions.

Response posted 06/08/2022




Inquiry #4: Can the existing travelers be used by the contractor?
Inquiry submitted 05/22/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 05/23/2022


Response #2:Refer to Section 7-1.02K(6)(e) Scaffolding of the special provisions.
Response posted 05/31/2022


Response #3:No, refer to Note 4 on plan sheet 13/14 in addendum #2 dated July 11, 2022.
Response posted 07/13/2022




Inquiry #5: Please reference sheet 13 of 14 of the contract plans. Is blasting and painting required on the faying surface between the ½” plate of the existing catwalk hanger and the bottom flange of the floor beam?
Inquiry submitted 05/22/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 05/23/2022


Response #2:No, only two of the four bolts will be removed at a time from the hanger, per Note 1 on plan sheet 13 of 14 in Addendum 2.
Response posted 07/13/2022




Inquiry #6: Please reference sheet 13 of 14 of the contract plans. During bolt replacement, after and existing bolt is removed, Is blasting and painting required on the faying surface between the ½” plate of the existing catwalk hanger and the new fastener before the new fastener is installed?
Inquiry submitted 05/22/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 05/23/2022


Response #2:Bid per current contract bid documents.
Response posted 05/31/2022


Response #3:Refer to Addendum #2 dated July 11, 2022. Section 59 has been replaced.
Response posted 07/12/2022




Inquiry #7: Please let us know how to request the as-builts for bridge 35-0054.
Inquiry submitted 05/22/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 05/23/2022


Response #2:Email your request and the signed confidentiality agreement to
D4.Construction.Duty.Senior@dot.ca.gov. The confidentiality agreement can be found at:
Link - Caltrans_Confidentiality_Agreement.

Response posted 06/01/2022




Inquiry #8: How do I get bridge as-built drawings?
Inquiry submitted 05/27/2022

Response #1:Email your request and the signed confidentiality agreement to the D4.Construction.Duty.Senior@dot.ca.gov. The confidentiality agreement can be found at:
Link - Caltrans_Confidentiality_Agreement.
Response posted 05/27/2022




Inquiry #9: Can the Contractor install anchor bolts into the concrete pier bases on this project?
Inquiry submitted 05/31/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 05/31/2022


Response #2:Bid per current contract documents.
Response posted 06/15/2022




Inquiry #10: Section P-P on structure sheet 10 of 10 shows a 2.75" wide gangway. Please confirm.
Inquiry submitted 06/10/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 06/13/2022


Response #2:Refer to Addendum No. 2 dated July 11, 2022. Section P-P has been modified on the replacement plan sheet 14 of 14.
Response posted 07/13/2022




Inquiry #11: Do I need to sign a confidentiality agreement to attend the mandatory prebid meeting on July 12th?
Inquiry submitted 07/11/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 07/11/2022


Response #2:Yes, please complete the following confidentiality agreement and provide identification. See Section 3 of the confidentiality agreement in the link below. Note, this is different from as built files confidentiality agreement.
Link - http://website.dot.ca.gov/dist4/construction/contracts/04-3G4884/Confidentiality_Agreement-Prebid_Meeting_Info.pdf
Response posted 07/11/2022




Inquiry #12: Where do we send the Confidentiality Agreement for the Mandatory Virtual Job Walk tomorrow?
Inquiry submitted 07/11/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 07/11/2022


Response #2:Please send the confidentiality agreement for the virtual prebid meeting to the District 4 Duty Senior at D4.Construction.Duty.Senior@dot.ca.gov.
Response posted 07/11/2022




Inquiry #13: Are the plates supporting the catwalk welded to the floor beams? It looks like it is in the photo shown in the prebid meeting.
Inquiry submitted 07/13/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 07/13/2022


Response #2:No, they are bolted. Refer to details and note on sheet 13 of 14 in addendum #2 dated July 11, 2022.
Response posted 07/13/2022




Inquiry #14: The special provisions state the first finish coat must comply with State Specification PWB 161 and the second finish coat must comply with State Specification PWB 162. PWB 161 has two products (PWB 161A and PWB 161B). Similarly, PWB 162 has two products, (PWB 162A and PWB 162B). Which PWB 161 and 162 products will be used on this project?
Inquiry submitted 07/14/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 07/14/2022


Response #2:Either PWB 161A or PWB 161B is acceptable for PWB 161. Similarly, either PWB 162A or PWB 162B is acceptable for PWB 162. Note, this addresses possible supply chain shortages.
Response posted 07/20/2022




Inquiry #15: 1.) Reference Add #2 section 59-2.01A(1): Table, and section 59-2.01C(3)(b)(ii): Row 4 of the Table indicates areas under new bolts to be clean, and blast clean; while section 59-2.01C(3)(b)(ii): indicates rows 1-3 only to be blast cleaned.
Please clarify the specified cleaning procedures of areas under new bolts in the interior and exterior of the towers.

2.) Are the new bolt head/nuts in the interior of the towers required to be painted?

3.) Reference Add #2 section 59-2.01A(1): Table, Row 3: The surface areas of bottom
flange of floor beam and catwalk hangar plate are required to be blast cleaned and painted. Requiring blasting at over 900 locations this operation will be very costly, will CALTRANS accept power tool cleaning in these locations?


Inquiry submitted 07/15/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 07/18/2022


Response #2:1) SOE Response: Refer to section 59-2.01C(3)(b)(ii) “Blast Cleaning” and “Zinc Coating System Requirements” table under section 59-2.01C(4)(b)(i) of the Standard Specifications. Blast clean the area under new bolts to be coated with inorganic zinc under SSPC SP 10 NACE no. 2.
2) SOE Response: Refer to Note 4 on plan sheet 6/14, note 6 on plan sheet 8/14, and section 59-3.01 of the special provisions in addendum #2 dated July 11, 2022.
3) Bid per current contract documents.
Response posted 07/19/2022




Inquiry #16: 1.) Reference Specification Section 5-1.09 PARTNERING: Is partnering required for this project and if so will the cost be reimbursed to the contractor?
Inquiry submitted 07/15/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 07/18/2022


Response #2:Attention is directed to the 2018 Standard Specifications, Section 5-1.09, Partnering. Section 5-1.09A, General, states whether Partnering is required or encouraged depends on the bid price. Section 5-1.09D, Payment, states the portion of Partnering that the Department pays. Attention is also directed to Section 5-1.09B Partnering Meetings in the Bid Book.
Response posted 07/21/2022




Inquiry #17: Has Caltrans designated any land areas, on either end of the bridge, that the contractor can utilize for its project construction staging area(s).
Inquiry submitted 07/18/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 07/18/2022


Response #2:This project does not have a designated staging area. Please contact the Engineer to inquire for a yard space.
Response posted 07/21/2022


Response #3:See Standard Specifications Section 5-1.32 Areas for Use. The timing to arrange for temporary storage depends on individual contractor after contract approval.
Response posted 07/21/2022


Response #4:Please be advised the area on the western (or eastern) side does not provide barge access. The bidders should be advised that the Redwood City port is the closest location that would allow barge transportation of their material, equipment and laborers.
Response posted 07/22/2022




Inquiry #18: The informational Handout that the department provided indicates that the lead levels in the existing paint are non-hazardous. We are preparing our bid based on this information. Please advise if you have additional data that contradicts the information provided in the informational handout.
Inquiry submitted 07/19/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 07/19/2022


Response #2:Per Section 14-11.13A of the Special Provisions, “The existing paint system on bridge no. 35-0054 will be disturbed as part of the work activities. The paint system contains lead and chromium.” No further information will be provided. Please bid per the requirements in Section 14-11.13 of the Special Provisions and the Standard Specifications.
Response posted 07/21/2022




Inquiry #19: Can the contractor use the Caltrans maintenance yard as a staging area?
Inquiry submitted 07/20/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 07/20/2022


Response #2:See Standard Specifications Section 5-1.32 Areas for Use. The timing to arrange for temporary storage depends on individual contractor after contract approval.
Response posted 07/21/2022




Inquiry #20: The lead Paint Testing included in the informational hand appeaars to have tested only the top coat of the paint and not the primer on the steel.

Very High levels of lead were encountered during the Girder painting project on the San Mateo Bridge 5 years ago.

Will further investigative testing be done in regards to the the paint system on the bridge analyzing all layers of paint present on the bridge?

Should contractors base there bids for the columns based on the fact that high lead levels were encountered during the Girder painting project

Inquiry submitted 07/20/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 07/20/2022


Response #2:Per Section 14-11.13A of the Special Provisions, “The existing paint system on bridge no. 35-0054 will be disturbed as part of the work activities. The paint system contains lead and chromium.” No further information will be provided. Please bid per the requirements in Section 14-11.13 of the Special Provisions and the Standard Specifications.
Response posted 07/22/2022




Inquiry #21: Extremely thick layers of paint were encountered during the Richmond Bridge painting projects and the Girder painting project on the San Mateo Bridge. this extreme milliage of 80 to 120 mils of paint was accepted by Caltrans as an unforeseen condition. and the contractors involved received substantial change orders.

What is the Mill thickness on the San Mateo Bridge? And or what mill thickness of existing paint are contractors to base their bids?

Inquiry submitted 07/20/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 07/20/2022


Response #2:Caltrans does not have mill thickness at this time. Please bid per current contract documents.
Response posted 07/22/2022




Inquiry #22: Are foreign (non-domestic) stainless steel materials acceptable for the stainless steel gangways, stainless steel handrailing, and stainless steel ladders?
Inquiry submitted 07/21/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 07/21/2022


Response #2:No. Refer to Section 6-1.04, Buy America, in 2018 Standard Specifications and Section 6-1.06, Buy Clean California Act, of the Revised Standard Specifications.
Response posted 07/26/2022




Inquiry #23: Reference Spec Section 14-6.03A Table and Pre-Bid meeting Environmental Section Notes: Please provide all known nesting sites of all regulated species.
Inquiry submitted 07/22/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 07/22/2022


Response #2:The following nesting locations are approximate and are subject to change due to natural selection:
- Nesting Peregrine Falcons between piers 13-14
- Nesting Double Crested Cormorants on each of the PGE towers
- Nesting California Gulls regularly nest on the adjacent old abandoned road "Werder Pier"

Response posted 07/26/2022




Inquiry #24: Can the contractor utilize the fishing pier to support its operations?
Inquiry submitted 07/22/2022

Response #1:Submitted for consideration.
Response posted 07/22/2022


Response #2:No, the contractors should not expect to use the fishing pier. This is because the fishing pier may not be not structurally sound enough and jurisdictional issues between agencies are unresolved. Additionally, see bidder inquiry 17.
Response posted 07/26/2022


The information provided in the responses to bidder inquiries is not a waiver of Section 2-1.07, "JOB SITE AND DOCUMENT EXAMINATION" of the Standard Specifications or any other provision of the contract, nor to excuse the contractor from full compliance with the contract. Bidders are cautioned that subsequent responses or contract addenda may change a previous response.