SE Iowa Watershed Partnership RCPP 2448

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR STRUCTURAL PRACTICES PROJECT DELIVERY

November 11, 2024:  Q&A will be posted here

December 11, 2024:  Zoom Information Meeting.  If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to ashley@pathfindersrcd.org

January 3, 2025:  Proposals Due

January 31, 2025:  Selection Date

SUBMITTED QUESTIONS: 

  • Does Pathfinders know how many practices will be constructed in each of the four counties?  No, we do not know what applications will be used for the projects at this time.
  • How much RCPP funding is available for construction?  Is the funding breakdown from county to county (or watershed to watershed) known at this time?  Currently, there is $371,288.00 in Technical Assistance for Engineering.  Funding is broken down into phases.  Funding is not broken down by county or watershed.

CLARIFICATION:  RCPP construction funding available:  $2,034,874.95

  • Is there a set format or page limit for the qualifications portion of the proposal? There is not format, page limit or preference.   Be brief with relevant examples of relatable work, and use the pricing template on the back page.
  • The first page of the RFP states Iowa DNR construction and storage permitting should be included with the fee, but wetland delineations and associated USACE 404 permits are excluded under Phase 2 on page 2.  The need for an Iowa DNR permit is project-specific, so we request this service also be excluded—as it will be nearly impossible to predict how many permits are needed or the level of effort required to obtain the permit at this time.    Clarification: IDNR construction and storage permit evaluation would be added outside the normal cost estimate for phase 1.
  • If USACE 404 Permits are required, are any of the available NRCS/USACE Regional Permits in effect for this project? Yes, NRCS is the lead federal agency, and regional permits are in effect.
  • Is the Consultant expected to design to the given environmental review area, or is there an expectation to revise or update the environmental review area as necessary if the area is not large enough to accommodate the structure?  The project scope will be defined in Phase 1, and environmental review and modifications, if needed, will be completed by NRCS.
  • If easements are required for construction or ponding water in Phase 2, what is the expectation of the Consultant?  Is the Consultant only preparing a legal description and sketch, or are negotiation and purchase agreements included with the services?  How many easements will be required?  The legal description and sketch are sufficient.
  • Are conservation easements needed for any practices at the conclusion of the project? No
  • Can a sample complete (design, installation, checkout) Statement Of Work file be provided (that is acceptable to NRCS)?   In talking to Christian Osborn, the below link will take you to the FOTG where you can view and obtain the requested documentation.  The posted documents are current and accepted.

Iowa | Field Office Technical Guide | NRCS – USDA

  • What meetings with landowners or district staff are anticipated for the engineer beyond the initial meeting in phase 1?  There will be at least three meetings.  1) Meeting to review the preliminary design, 2) Design review and landowner approval of the final design, and 3) Pre-construction meeting in the field with the landowner and the contractor.
  • Can the Excel file for the costs table be provided for use when submitting our costs?  An Excel version of the costs table will be emailed out to the Zoom attendees.
  • Please confirm that fees for phase 4 are not needed at this time.  This was an error on the costs table.  There should have been an area to provide a cost for Phase 4 broken out into two sub-categories: 4a) Permit documentation and associated deliverables and 4b) Construction layout, observation, checkout, and as-built design.
  • The second paragraph of Phase 1 on page 2 mentions location maps.  Please confirm these will be provided after services are initiated.  If not, please provide during the RFP period as applicable.  Location maps will be provided after services are initiated.  We do not know what applications will be used at this time.
  • ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS:
    • The Statement of Work then says to follow: “NRCS Title 450, General Manual, Part 407 “Documentation, Certification, and Spot Checking”.  Part 407 consists of 3 .pdfs.
      • 407.11(E)3 says the contractor can certify the practice was installed according to NRCS standards.  Assuming we could require the contractor to do the survey/checkout work described in the Statement of Work above?  Correct.  The contractor can do survey/checkout.   If the site is permitted, the contractor needs to be on-site for the core and setting of the pipe, and the consultant will do the final check-out.
      • 407.20(D)2 says that 5% of the contractor certifications need to be spot-checked.  Assuming this means we would need to spot-check 5% of each contractor’s certifications? Correct.  The consultant must spot-check 5% of the contractor’s work/certifications.  If the site is permitted, then the contractor needs to be on-site for the core and setting of the pipe, and the consultant will do the final check-out.
      • 407.20(F) talks about who is allowed to do the checkout/spot checking.  It sounds like anyone who works on the project during design or construction is disqualified from doing the checkout.  We can do this, but it just adds some scheduling complexity if I’m not allowed to check out a project I’ve designed.  The designer can do the checkouts/spot-checking.
    • What is trying to be determined is whether you want us to give you a price to do the checkouts on every practice constructed or if we can make the contractor do 100% of them, and then we only need to spot-check 5% of the contractor certifications.  This will make a difference in our fee.  Give a price based on the idea that the contractors will complete all the checkouts with the consultant spot-checking 5%, and the consultant will provide checkout on any permitted sites.  We understand there may be some instances where the consultant may have to go to the field more than anticipated for issued during construction; this can be worked out at that particular time.