Contract 04-470804

The responses to bidder's inquiries, unless incorporated into a formal addendem 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 availability or use of information provided in the responses to bidder's 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.

Q1) Are digital cross sections available for this project?

A) Cross sections are available for purchase in paper or electronic copy (on CD) from Stockton Blue Reprographics, 1421 N. El Dorado St., Stockton, CA 95202; phone (209) 464-8724, fax (209) 464-8739, E-mail: Don@stocktonblue.com.

Q2) Refer to Bid Form (Engineer's Estimate), bid item #68 "Place asphalt conc dike (Type D)". But the layout plan sheet L-2 between Sta.438+60 to 441+20, said that AC Dike (Type A). And the Summary of Quantities said (Type O). Please clarify.

A) It appears that dike shown as Type "A" and Type "O" on the plans are typographical errors. The correct dike is Type "D," as specified for Item No. 68, "Place Asphalt Concrete Dike (Type D)," in the Engineer's Estimate of the special provisions. Please bid accordingly.

Q3) Typical cross sections & typical details show shoulder widening on "F Line" between Sta.445+16 of "P-Line" to Sta.143+00 of "F-Line". And from Sta.143+00 to Sta.144+00 of "F-Line" will get new full width structural sections (Refer to staging plan sheet SC-17 to SC-19). Will this ramp be closed the whole time during construction? If NOT, do we just constructed half at a time? Do we need K-Rail...etc?

A) The westbound on ramp from Grant Line Road ("F" Line) may be closed during the hours specified in Chart No. 6 for Ramp Lane Requirements, in Section 1.16, "Maintaining Traffic," of the special provisions (see Page 162). At the contractor's option, the ramp may be constructed part width at a time. Please refer to Section 5-1.04, "Public Safety," which does require the use of temporary railing (Type K) "between a lane open to public traffic and an excavation..." Also refer to Section 10-1.21, "Temporary Railing," which states that "Temporary railing (Type K) placed in conformance with the provisions in 'Public Safety' of these special provisions will be neither measured nor paid for."

A)Please refer to Addendum No. 5, dated May 25, 2006.

Q4) According to Stage 2A "Plan sheet SC-23 to SC-25", shown Temporary K-Rail to be installed between Sta.16+80 to 21+99. What is it for?

A) Temporary railing (Type K) is required at this location for construction of drainage facilities. Stage 3 construction may be started during this stage, provided satisfactory progress is maintained in the preceding stages. This temporary railing is also required for Stage 3 construction.

Q5) Typical Plan Sheet X-1 to X-8 does not shown Shoulder Backing Material to be installed. But the Summary Quantities Sheet Q-1 shown Shoulder Backing to be installed at A,B,C & A Lines, and there is a bid item for this work. Please Clarify.

A) Please refer to Addendum No. 5, dated May 25, 2006.

Q6) The cross section drawings "P"-Line from sheets 37 to 42 only show the original grade. When looking at the layout drawings it is clear that from "P"-Line stations 445+80 to 447+60 there is a fill area; however this area is not shown on the cross section drawings for those stations. Please advise what the missing grade information is for these drawings.

A) Refer to cross sections for "F" Line, sheets 1 through 7, to view finish grade information for "P" Line stations 445+80 to 447+60. Note equation from "P" Line 445+72.527 to "F" Line 140+00.000 on Project Plan sheet L-4 . Please disregard sheets 37 to 42 of the cross sections for "P" Line.

Q7) What locations will be designated as duff removal areas, and where will the designated duff placement areas be located?

A) Refer to Section 10-1.33, "Duff," of the special provisions, which states that duff shall be obtained by excavating "from proposed excavation and embankment areas" and placed on "excavation and embankment slopes prior to applying erosion control materials." See response to Inquiry #8.

Q8) In what locations will the erosion control be placed? And what type? since there are no erosion plans.

A) Refer to Section 10-1.35, "Erosion Control (Type C), of the special provisions, which states that erosion control (Type C) shall be applied to "embankment slopes that are 1:4 (vertical:horizontal) or steeper and more than 4 meters in length." Section 10-1.36, "Erosion Control (Type D)" states that erosion control (Type D) shall be applied to "excavation slopes and other areas disturbed by construction activities."

Q9) Page 179 of the special provisions, center of page - note under table says: extend grading plane per "bridge embankment Surcharge" detail of Standard Plan A62B "elevation view". This detail shows what is needed for Abutment #8, but how does it apply to Abutment 1, when the piles and footing are in existing freeway pavement areas, and it is adjacent to a new MSE wall (per sheets 202 & 213 of the plans). We know the MSE Backfill gets a 30 day settlement, but how does the detail apply since this is not an embankment fill?

A) There is no surcharge, as indicated in the table shown on Page 179 of the special provisions. Therefore, the "Note" under the table does not apply.

Q10) Per Section 10-1.39 of the Special Provisions, "a prime coat of Liquid asphalt, Grade MC" shall be applied. This product is not available for use in the State of California. Please advise.

A) Please refer to Addendum No. 5, dated May 25, 2006.

Q11) On sheet 228 of the plans, there is a section called "PART TYPICAL SECTON". In this section on the right side there is a note that says "#25 cont tot 2 per ext girder typ" . Is this for both at the top and the bottom of exterior girders/stemwalls and the interior @ top. Seems that there is 2 bars at top both in the top deck and at the top of the girders.

A) The referenced "#25 cont tot 2 per ext girder, typ" note refers to the two #25 bars at the bottom of the exterior girders only. There are also "#25 cont tot 2 per girder" in the top deck above each girder, which are called out separately on the same detail. For information on standard box girder details and specifically the bars in the top of the girder, refer to Standard Plan B7-1, as called out next to the "PART TYPICAL SECTION" detail title.

Q12) Also in the same section (as listed in Question 11), what are the cont. bars in the girders? it tells me about the additional bars. but nothing on the typical bars?

A) The information for these bars is covered by the Standard Plans and called out with the B0-5, B7-1 and B8-5 bubbles next to the "PART TYPICAL SECTION."

Q13) Question #3 answer is incomplete as are the plans with regards to completing a full reconstruction of the on-ramp (F line @ Grant Line Road). To complete the work half at a time will give a ramp lane width that doses not meet spec. with portions of the ramp is 6.6 meters wide and then subtract for k-rail. Please review this issue again.

A) Please refer to Addendum No. 5, dated May 25, 2006.

Q14) (Referring to Plan Sheet 74) the pipe joint classification for RCP is noted as D. Can the joint classification for the RCP be changed to S or P (Standard or Positive)?

A) Please refer to Addendum No. 5, dated May 25, 2006.

Q15) Bid item 90- Joint Seal (Asphaltic Plug) has 115 m on the bid schedule. This seal is applied on the Midway Road UC (widening). The project involves all widening work on WestBound side of I-205. 115m length of Asphaltic plug seal implies that the joint seal is to be applied on WB & EB side of I-205 on Midway Rd UC (widening) bridge. Please clarify.

A) Joint Seal (Asphaltic Plug) is to be applied on both the westbound and eastbound sides of I-205 on the Midway Road UC (Widening) bridge, as shown on the General Plan (sheet 183 of the project plans).

Q16) Drainage Quantities DQ-4 shows 70.2 cubic meters of concrete for the drainage system 12-X under the Minor Concrete (Minor Structure) category. Drainage item 12-X is a concrete ditch forming an Overside drain. Concrete Qty for this 61m long concrete ditch comes out to be 13.6 cubic meters. Please confirm the quantity of concrete for drainage item 12-X.

A) The dimensions shown for Drainage Unit 12x on Drainage Profiles DP-5 (sheet 61 of the project plans) are correct, but the quantities shown for Unit 12x in the Drainage Quantities DQ-4 (sheet 75 of the plans) and for Item No. 85, "Minor Concrete (Minor Structure)" in the Engineer's Estimate appear to be in error. Please bid in accordance with Section 9-1.015, "Final Pay Items," of the Standard Specifications.

Q17) If a bidder submits their DVBE information using certified mail and it is sent no later than the 3rd day after bid opening, will the bidder be considered responsive if Caltrans receives the DVBE packet after 4 P.M. on the 4th day?

A) No. Section 2-1.02B, "SUBMISSION OF DVBE INFORMATION," of the contract special provisions, states in part, "If the DVBE information is not submitted with the bid, the apparent successful bidder (low bidder), the second low bidder and the third low bidder shall submit the DVBE information to the Department of Transportation, 1120 N Street, Room 0200, MS #26, Sacramento, California 95814 so the information is received by the Department no later than 4:00 p.m. on the fourth day, not including Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, following bid opening. Failure to submit the required DVBE information by the time specified will be grounds for finding the bid or proposal nonresponsive."