BIDDER'S INQUIRIES 11-276204

BIDDER'S INQUIRIES & RESPONSES
DISTRICT 11 CONSTRUCTION


CONTRACT NO:	11-276204
ROUTE / KP	11-SD-805-9.8/12.9
LOCATION	In San Diego County In Chula Vista And Bonita From 0.1 Km North Of Telegraph Canyon Road Undercrossing To 0.4 Km North Of Bonita Road Undercrossing.
DESCRIPTION	Ramp Widening, Ramp Metering, Highway Planting And Irrigation Systems.
ESTIMATE	$ 3,920,000
WORKING DAYS	430 390 (Including 250 Working Days of Plant Establishment)
ADVERTISE DATE	12/03/2007
BID OPENING	02/14/2008 02/28/2008 06/12/08
FINAL POSTING	06/11/08 @ 1525

BID RESULTS

The Caltrans District 11 Office is located at 4050 Taylor Street, San Diego, CA 92110. The District 11 Duty Senior telephone number is (619) 688-6635. Please submit all inquiries in the proper format by fax to (619) 688-6988 or e-mail to:
Duty_Senior_Const_District11@dot.ca.gov.
The responses to bidder' inquiries, unless incorporated into a formal addenda to the contract, are not a part of the contract and are provided for the bidder's convenience only. In some instances, the question and answer may represent a summary of the matters discussed rather than a word-for-word recitation. The responses may be considered along with all other information furnished to prospective bidders for the purpose of bidding on the project. The availability or use of information provided in the responses to bidder' inquiries is not to be construed in any way as a waiver of the provisions of Section 2-1.03 of the Standard Specifications or any other provision of the contract, the plans, Standard Specifications or Special Provisions, nor to excuse the contractor from full compliance with those contract requirements. Bidders are cautioned that subsequent responses or contract addenda may affect or vary a response previously given.
Caltrans District 11 Construction Department has developed this method of answering Bidder's Inquiries to better serve the needs of the Contractors who bid on our Projects. Caltrans District 11 Construction Department will post all of the questions submitted by any of the contractors that are registered Planholders for that Contract, but reserves the right to not answer any questions deemed unsatisfactory for public viewing.
The BIDDER'S INQUIRIES & RESPONSES will be updated continuously and all attempts will be made to do the final posting by 15:00 on Wednesday prior to the bid opening.
INFORMATION AVAILABLE

CROSS SECTIONS BID ITEMS SPECIALS PLANS PLANHOLDERS

REVISED CROSS SECTIONS
Posted 05/27/08

ADDENDUM

CROSS SECTIONS	BID ITEMS	SPECIALS	PLANS	PLANHOLDERS
REVISED CROSS SECTIONS Posted 05/27/08


ADDENDUM #1 Posted 01/24/08	ADDENDUM #2 Issued 02/01/08

ADDENDUM #3
Issued 02/22/08

ADDENDUM #4
Issued 05/23/08

BIDDER'S INQUIRY SUBMITTAL FORM


Inquiry No.	Inquiry
1 Q:12/19/07 R:12/19/X07	Plan Sheet / Specification Reference= Question= When will the cross sections be available for download? Cross sections are available as of 12/19/07 and can be downloaded for printing from the link above at any local printing firm or on your own printing equipment: MESA REPROGRAPHICS 5560 Ruffin Road Suite 5 San Diego, CA 92123 (858) 541-1500 FAX (858) 278-0558 e-mail to plot@mesareprographics.com San Diego, CA 92123
2 Q:12/20/07 R:02/01/08	Plan Sheet / Specification Reference= 37 GEOSYTHETIC REINFORCEMENT PLAN SHEET 18 SPECIALS PAGE 223 Question= PLANS SHOW 4.5M OF REINFORCEMENT AND .45M OF BASKET WIDTH FOR EMBANKMENT OF THE STABIZED SLOPE. YET CROSS SECTIONS DO NOT SHOW THIS DESIGN. SPECIALS ON PG 223 UNDER MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT DO NOT MENTION EXCAVATION AS A COMPONENT OF THE ITEM. PAGE 221 (GRADING) TALKS OF STRUCTURE EXCAVATION TO ACHIEVE LINES AND GRADE, YET THERE IS NO STRUCTURE EXC ITEM. WILL THE EXCAVATION REQUIRED, TO ACHIEVE THE 4.5M EMBEDMENT, BE PAID IN ROADWAY EXCAVATION? Yes, excavation will be required and will be paid as roadway excavation. ARE YOU PAYING FOR THE WELDED HALF BASKETS IN THIS ITEM? THE MEASURMENT AND PAYMENT PARAGRAPH DOESN'T MENTION THE BASKETS, ONLY GEOSYNTHETIC FABRIC. REINFOREMENT? Please refer to Addendum No. 2 for the payment of Item #37 "GEOSYNTHETIC REINFORCEMENT".
3 Q:12/31/07 R:02/01/08	Plan Sheet / Specification Reference= 37 GEOSYTHETIC REINFORCEMENT PLAN SHEET 18 SPECIALS PAGE 223 Question= Sheet number 4 of 122, Typical Cross Section X-3 of the Contract Documents shows a typical section between Stations 135+80.00 to 137+16.58 "B-2" Line. There is an arrow pointing to the face of the slope and a comment under the directional arrow stating "(SEE Const DETAIL SHEETS). Sheet numbers 8 and 9, Layout sheets also reference the Const detail sheet. Sheet 18 of 122, C-4, Construction Details, shows a typical section and details of the geosynthetic reinforcement. The details indicate the use of a welded wire half basket at the face of the slope. The Specification Special Provisions Section 10-1.30 Geosynthetic Reinforced Embankment has a subheading; Geosynthetic Reinforcement. Page 220 & 221, included in this section, Discusses the material and placement of the welded wire half basket. Page 223, Measurement and Payment for work in this section does not include the welded wire half baskets in the description of items to be included in the payment for the geosynthetic reinforcement. Under what item are the payment for the welded wire half baskets to be included? Thank you. Please refer to Addendum No. 2 for the payment of Item #37 "GEOSYNTHETIC REINFORCEMENT".
4 Q:01/16/08 R:02/01/08	Plan Sheet / Specification Reference= ITEM #22 REMOVE YELLOW THERMO STRIPE. PLAN SHT. # TH-1 & 2 (T-2 LINE) TH-3 (H-2A LINE & H-1 LINE) TH-4 (B-2 LINE) Question= BID ITEM 22 INCORRECT IN ITS WORDING (SHOULD READ"YELLOW PAINT") TH-1 & 2 NO THERMO EXISTS. (ALL OLD PAINT) TH-3 NO THERMO EXISTS. (H-2A LINE IS OLD PAINT) (H-1 LINE WAS REMOVED AND REPAINTED WITH NON LEAD PAINT 2-3 YRS AGO.) TH-4 NO THERMO EXISTS. (ALL OLD PAINT) PLEASE RE-EXAMINE THIS WORK AND ISSUE AN ADDENDUM. Please bid per the current contract documents.
5 Q:01/24/08 R:06/09/08	Plan Sheet / Specification Reference= #37, Geosynthetic Reinforcement, 10-1.30 Question=The Designer must have had a product in mind when he specified the grading and quality requirements listed on page 222 of the special provisions for embankment backfill in the Geogrid area. Could you share this information with the contractors. It would appear this material would have to be specially blended for this project in order to meet the gradation specified. Is there a chance that something a little more commonly used in the local material market could be specified. Please refer to Addendum No. 4.
6 Q:01/24/08 R:02/01/08	Plan Sheet / Specification Reference= Item No. 37, Geosynthetic Reinforcement. Plan Sheet No. 18 of 122. Special Provisions page 221. Question= Are there any tolerance specifications relating to the strut spacing? The spacing seems excessive. Have the structs been analyzed for structural competence at this spacing? Realistic strut spacing in the absence of a tolerance specification should be a maximum of 0.45m. First paragraph of page 221 of the Special Provisions states that "A 4 Gauge minimum steel wire strut shall be placed at intervals no greater than 0.7 meters along each half basket to connect the top edge of the basket to the heel".
7 Q:01/30/08 R:02/01/08	Plan Sheet / Specification Reference= 12 Question= The staging drawings supplied in the plans for the work to be accomplished at the "H" St. ramp only allow for a portion of the work to be completed. There is a whole second stage of work that must be accomplished outside of the staging provided. How does Caltrans expect the contractor to accomplish this work? Will there be staging drawings issued by addenda which show us how traffic is to be managed in order to accomplish this work? No addendum will be issued, please bid per the current contract documents.
8 Q:02/05/08 R:02/XX/08	Plan Sheet / Specification Reference= 37, Geosynthetic Reinforcement, Dwg. 18 of 122, Spec. Prov. 10-1.30 : Page 122 1st paragraph. Question= Specification states that "A 4 guage minimum wire strut shall be placed at intervals of 0.7m along each half basket." Question: Based on this spacing and wire guage it appears that there is no criteria for horizontal or vertical tolerance. Is this the case? The same paragraph requires that "Fasteners used to join successive half baskets shall form a connection of equal or greater strength than the steel grid." Comment & Question: This is contrary to past practice for abutting half baskets. Past experience has demonstrated that a one aperture lap of the baskets and a common strut will maintain the tolerance as it has on previous Caltrans projects. Can we get this portion of the paragraph modified to address a minimum tolerance for the half basket alignment in lieu of a specification which is limiting in the competitive products? Please refer to Addendum No. 4.
9 Q:05/27/08 R:06/09/08	Plan Sheet / Specification Reference= Question= With this job re-bidding with an extensive design change, and only a 2 week window, we request a week extension. Getting subs new plans with this time frame will be difficult. Most contractors are busy with the numerous jobs bidding currently. Please refer to Addendum No. 4.
10 Q:05/29/08 R:06/05/08	Plan Sheet / Specification Reference= Question= We have yet to receive the add #3 (inc. plan sheets) by mail. When can we expect them to be sent? Your elec.posted add #3 only has spec sheets and bid forms. HQ has been notified.
11 Q:05/29/08 R:06/05/08	Plan Sheet / Specification Reference= Question= revise last post to Add #4. Sorry for the confusion. HQ has been notified.
12 Q:06/09/08 R:06/09/08	Plan Sheet / Specification Reference= Question= Thanks so much for your answer to my request from the 29th of May. Too bad that is now Monday before the bid and I STILL have not received the plan sheets. A second set has been mailed out.

OTHER LINKS OF INTEREST
DISTRICT 11 CONSTRUCTION BIDDER'S INQUIRIES & RESPONSES
DISTRICT 11 HOMEPAGE
CALTRANS OFFICE ENGINEER: Contract Advertisement, Special Provisions, Plan Holders, Contract Awards, etc.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION