Is the majority of this work going to be done via directional drilling? If so how much, as we want to do this work. 

• Directional boring is required in the areas that are indicated on the plans. Boring in areas other than those indicated will not be allowed unless approved by the Engineer.

Please clarify the basis for bid and award of this contract using the A + B comparison.

• The TOTAL BID (A) amount shall be the sum of the items as shown on sheet 6 of the PROPOSAL AND CONTRACT, this is the amount that the contractor shall be paid. The TOTAL BID (B) amount is used for comparison only and is not included in payment to the contractor. 

On this project, sec 10-3.15 says "At the contractors option, installation of cable into may be performed using an :Air Blown Method".  Can you use either this method or the conventional pulling method?  If Air Blown is used, do you have place an ABF cell or multiple cells in the conduit?

• Either method can be used, the Air Blown Method is one option. If the Air Blown Method is used an ABF cell will not be required.

Sheet 343 is printed incorrectly.  It should be drawing E-115.  The drawing on the reverse side is sheet E-116. Please correct.

• Sheet 339

Is there a description for the 332-334 cabinet?

• The 332 or 334 cabinets if required will be State Furnished. The foundation details are shown on Standard plan ES-3C. 

 

Sheet is printed incorrectly.  Sheet 343 is printed on the front and sheet 340 is printed on the reverse side. 

• See Inquiry No. 4.

If 'ABF' is used, does a cell have to be  placed in the conduit? 

• An ABF cell is not required. 

• Conventional methods of installation can be used as long as they are in compliance with the State of California Standard Specifications and the Special Provisions for this contact.

In both the plans and the splice details I can see no indication of straight splicing in the backbone fiber. are bidders to assume that Caltrans wants all 84, 60 and 144 fiber placed with no backbone splices or will this splicing be in vaults with splice? If so which locations are the backbone splices to be in?

• In accordance with Section 4-1.03 of the Standard Specifications a contract change order will be issued to increase Item 67: FIBER OPTIC SPLICE CLOSURE by 1 EACH and increase Item 68: FIBER OPTIC SPLICE by 204 EACH at the MVP 24 vault location shown on plan sheet E-61 FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEM (285 of 354). 

On several of the splice detail sheets there is reference made to terminations in vaults but reflect no FDU for said terminations. Please clarify.

• On sheets 324 and 325 the note should read "Bare fibers 1 through 24 (or 1 through 84, for sheet 325) shall be left in the vault for future use". No FDU is required.

Since this new system will integrate with existing I would like to duplicate existing fiber cable and FDU's. Can you provide the MFG of what is existing?

• No that information cannot be provided, anyway the specification requires that the systems meet the same requirements regardless of the manufacturer. 

Is a Class C-10 acceptable to bid this project?

• Per the NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS a C-10 is acceptable. 

With regard to the bored run no. 6, the drawings fail to show the actual physical constraints due to the vertical depth, short distance and existing canal.  Is Caltrans aware that the requested bore (as shown) is not within any industry standards for any type of boring equipment?  If so, how does Caltrans intend for this bore to be bid?  If not, can Caltrans please investigate this bore further and advise?

• For bidding purposes plan to perform the work normally for Run No. 6 and a contract change order will be issued in accordance with Section 4-1.03 of the Standard Specifications for any additional costs to perform the work within the constraints which have not been fully provided in the the contract plans.

STATES #6 (CCTV) IS THIS TO IMPLY THAT WE INSTALL RG6 CABLE. IF THIS IS THE CASE WHAT IS #8 REFERRING TO THRU OUT THE E DRAWINGS EXAMPLE E31 DRAWING CONDUIT NOTES 4,5,6,7.

• #6 and /or #8 refers to the conductor size based on the American Wire Gage (AWG).

If trenching activities are performed during night/special shifts in the freeway shoulder, can the open trench be coned or barricaded off from traffic during the morning commute (non-working) hours and subsequently slurry-backfilled after 9:00 AM?

• No work will be allowed that impedes traffic unless specifically allowed in the Special Provisions. All trenches in pavement will be backfilled by the end of the shift per Section 86-2.05 of the Standard Specifications.

Is there a specified manufacture for fabrication of the hub cabinet? If so please provide manufactures?

• Any manufacturer that meets the specifications is acceptable.

Note 4 (four) states, Type III service equipment enclosure with 240/120 V XFRM in NEMA3R enclosure. Note 4 (four) on the drawing shows a enclosure in a light dash line? It is not clear whether Note 4 (four) is intended to illustrate existing enclosure or new?
Please Clarify.

• The Type III service equipment enclosure in note 4 is existing. The note is for info only.

There are several freeway crossings throughout the plans which are not called out to directional drill. Is CALTRANS going to allow freeway crossings to be performed by conventional trenching methods?

• Per Section 86-2.05 of the Standard Specifications trenching across freeway lanes is not allowed.

Is Interduct required, If so what are the spec's on the interduct for fiber?

•  Interduct is not required on this contract.

The project plans stated the areas in which only the "Jacking/Drilling" method is to be used. Does this mean we cannot use the "Jacking/Drilling" for other areas such as freeway crossings?

• Trenching across freeway lanes is not allowed per Section 86-2.05 of the Standard Specifications. Jacking and/or drilling is required under freeway lanes.

Item 71 does not state which conductor this pay item is for. What wire(s) does this item reflect?

• Item 71 "Conductor" covers all conductors of any size unless specifically covered under another item.

In areas in which the bridge conduit transition to underground, will fiberglass be installed underground up to the nearest vault or is there a transition detail?

• Fiberglass conduit will be installed to the nearest vault or pullbox. There is no transition detail.

What size boxes are to be used for Item No. 73 - Pull Box (No. 5, or No. 6)?

• Item 73 covers all sizes of pullboxes. The size and type is indicated on the plans.

There are a number of locations on the plans where notes indicate the method of installation as "jacking" and others indicating "jacking/drilling". Can it be assumed that directional drilling is an approved method for these locations?

• Per Section 86-1.05C INSTALLATION of the Standard Specifications it states:
 
Unless "Trenching in Pavement Method" is specifically allowed or required in the special provisions, conduit shall be placed under existing pavement by jacking or drilling methods.

Is a casing required for bores under entry/exit ramps or freeway crossings? If so, is HDPE an acceptable material?

• No casing is required.

We are currently working on the above-referenced bid.  However, we are looking to obtain the unit prices of the 3 lowest bidders for Contract 11-072414.  How can I obtain this information?

• http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/esc/oe/awards/bidsum/0109/010927/11-072414.pdf

Installation of MDCS for FiberOptic cable is to be executed by Utility Technician's or Laborer's? If Laborer's are to install the MDCS for FiberOptic Cabling then what wage group would they be in?

• State general prevailing wage determination for Laborers, which was added on August 22, 2001.  All projects advertised for bid after that date are subject to the following.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Laborer : Engineering Construction, Group 1  (Currently $29.18 - Rate expires June 30, 2003)
Fiberoptic installation, blowing, splicing and testing technician within public right of ways only.
 

The "Trench In Shoulder" detail on drawing C-2 (sht 82/354) shows a trench width of 210 mm. How will additional export, disposal, and backfill be paid if this dimension cannot be attained and must be exceeded?

• Per Section 86-2.01 EXCAVATING AND BACKFILLING of the Standard Specifications it states:
 
The trenches shall not be excavated wider than necessary for proper installation of the electrical appurtenances and foundations.

Therefore no additional payment will be made for export, disposal, or backfill if the width or depth of the trench in shoulder is exceeded.

Response to Inquiry #26 is ambiguous. Per general decision Ca020001, It states that Utility Technicians #2 can Install underground ducts for electrical, telephone, cable TV land communication systems. And Utility Technicians #1 can install pre-assembled cables in ducts. 
Can Utility Technician #2 install all underground ducts for this job#11-072424? And can Utility Technicians #1 pull all associated cables of any kind for the underground duct systems on this job#11-072424? 

• The contractor must use the higher of the State and Federal prevailing wage rates for the type of work being done.  The State determination for Laborer Group 1 is appropriate for fiberoptic work as described in the State determination.  The "installation of underground ducts..." is included in both the State and Federal determinations, however, the State rates are higher.  Therefore the contractor should pay the State rates, which are currently Technician Grade 1 @ $22.75 and Technician Grade 2 @ $21.055, which were effective on 10/1/02.  Fiberoptic installation, blowing, splicing and testing shall be done by a worker paid at the the State Laborer Group 1 rate of $29.18 until the expiration date of 6/30/03 at which time the successive wage rate will apply. 

Will CALTRANS consider an extension to the bid due date?

• That is not an option at this point of time. 

Per spec. sec. Multiduct Conduit System, Page 162, There are two methods of installation indicated, Method "A" and Method "B". 
We assume that both methods appear to be acceptable.
Are both methods A&B acceptable for utilization on this project?
Also, In method "A" are the 4(four)size25 conduits type3?

• Yes, both installation methods are acceptable.
• Type "A" size 25 conduits are type 3.

Fiber Optic Communications System Plan sheets E-934 through E-113 show FDU's with a portion of a SC Patchcord connected to the FDU panel. Are the SC patchcords (jumpers) required to be furnished under this contract?

Where does the cost for a CCTV 15 & 45 Pole to be allocated? The CCTV 15 Pole requires no foundation and is a specialty pole; thereby not reflecting a similar cost to a CCTV 40 Pole. Will the State require a credit for foundations on the CCTV 15 Poles because they are not required? Shall I bid the CCTV 15 & 45 Pole as a CCTV 40 Pole and request a Change Order to compensate for the difference?

• You must bid it in accordance with the defined MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT, if it is defined then it must be included if not then compensation is due per Section 4-1.03 of the Standard Specifications. 

Sheet E-21, Note No. 2. This note is requiring the installation for a CCTV 45 pole foundation only. If we bid as a foundation only, under Bid Item 61, will the State require compensation for a pole even if I did not allot money for the pole? Where is the cost to be allocated?

• You must bid it in accordance with the defined MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT, if it is defined then it must be included if not then compensation is due per Section 4-1.03 of the Standard Specifications.

Is this bid item paying per linear meter for a single conduit, or is it paying per linear meter for dual conduits? The estimated quantity is misleading.

• As shown on the plans.

Is a detail available for reference on the transition of an ancillary conduit separating from the shared trench trunk line, in order to connect to a pullbox/ vault? If one is not available, will you please describe the transitions and degree of bends.

In what manner will change orders be addressed in non-final quantity bid items? I find discrepancies between the bid item description and the actual items in which they encompass. Examples are as follows. One, Bid Item #61 describes the installation of a 40' pole.  How is the contractor to bid poles other than 40' height? Second, how will the State address the issue of increase or decrease of items such as wire? Third, how will the State address the issue of increase or decrease of pullboxes since Bid Item #73 encompasses No. 5, No. 5(T) and No. 6E(T)? Fourth, how will the State address the issue of increases or decreases of conduits installed by trenching and boring? Credits to the State cannot be given per Bid Item Unit Price. I find that generalizing the bid descriptions, yet bidding them as unit items is not beneficial to the Contractor or the State.

• Non-final pay item increases and decreases are defined in Section 4-1.03 of the Standard Specifications.
• The MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT as stated in the Special Provisions and the Standard Specifications determines the work to be included in the bid and no further compensation is due unless it was not defined.