INVITATION FOR BIDS No. 016-002
WHEEL TRUING MACHINE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Below are questions VRE received as of January 13, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. EST., with responses.
Whenever possible, questions are presented as originally asked. Otherwise, the questions or
inquiries are presented to capture the main thrust or idea.
SECTION E - SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1.
In reference to Section E.17, the Contractor’s standard installation hours are ten (10) per
day. This amount of time has proven to be the most efficient considering that installation
personnel are not locally employed. Will VRE modify the site working hours to 7:00
A.M. to 6:00 P.M. EST?
Night, weekend or holiday work may be permitted with the prior written approval of
VRE.
2.
In reference to Section E.26A., VRE shall provide such inspection personnel deemed
necessary. Section E.26B. states that the cost of VRE personnel will be the responsibility
of VRE. However, Attachment W.2 General Specifications - Section 01 46 00, Part
1.05A. indicates that the Contractor shall employ and pay for the services of an
independent firm approved by VRE to perform inspection and testing. Can VRE provide
clarification?
Section E.26 refers to VRE being able to inspect the work being done at any time. VRE is
responsible for these inspection costs. The General Specifications refer to the
manufacturing work being done in order for the product to meet the requirements.
Therefore, if a particular part is outsourced, the Manufacturer is responsible for making
sure that the outsourcing is inspected such that the part meets the Manufacturer’s needs.
These inspection costs are the responsibility of the Manufacturer.
SECTION K - BID CONTENT
3.
In reference to Section K.1, Tab 10, if the Contractor uses the services of a rigging
company to unload the machine from shipping trucks on-site, transport the machine to the
installation location, set the machine in place and perform major component installation,
does VRE consider this company to be a Subcontractor?
Yes.
SECTION L – PRICE INFORMATION
4.
In reference to Section L.1C., the total price shall be inclusive of all costs and shall
include full compensation for all taxes. However, Attachment W.1 General Terms and
Conditions, Section 64. states that sales of items purchased directly by VRE under the
Contract shall be exempt from State sales and use tax and Federal excise and
transportation taxes to the extent permitted by law. State sales and use tax certificates of
exemption, and VRE’s Federal tax exemption registration number will be furnished upon
request. Will VRE provide tax exemption documentation and advise what, if any,
additional taxes apply to this procurement?
Yes. See Attachment No. 1 hereto.
SECTION Q – CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE
5.
Section Q.2 requires a Builder’s Risk Insurance Policy covering all risks of physical loss
or damage. However, a manufacturing company is not eligible for this required
insurance. Can the Contractor provide an installation floater which covers all activities
on site, in lieu of Builder’s Risk?
Yes. See Addendum No. 1.
SECTION S – INVOICES
6.
In reference to Section S.1G.10., the categories provided are not applicable to the
construction of a product such as a wheel truing machine. Will VRE waive this
requirement?
Yes. See Addendum No. 1.
2
IFB No. 016-002
Wheel Truing Machine
Virginia Railway Express
7.
Section S.1H. states that, if applicable, the following documents shall be attached to each
invoice. Will VRE confirm the Scope of Work for the specified product is not applicable?
The Contractor shall provide the documents required by Section S.1H. as applicable.
ATTACHMENT W.1 – GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
8.
Section 28. states that all materials and/or intellectual properties, and the rights thereto,
which are produced in the course of the Contract or which result from the work executed
as the result of the Contract shall be the exclusive property of VRE unless specific rights
are expressly waived by VRE. The specified wheel truing machine is a standard product
produced and offered by Simmons Machine Tool Corporation. The machine, operating
software and documentation are the intellectual proprietary property of Simmons
Machine Tool Corporation. Therefore, will VRE waive this requirement?
Section 28. is not applicable to this Contract.
ATTACHMENT W.2 – GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
9.
Section 01 33 00, Part 1.04A.4. states that each drawing shall have a blank area five (5)
inches by five (5) inches adjacent to the title block for Contractor and Engineer review
stamps. The wheel truing machine specified and provided by Simmons Machine Tool
Corporation is a standard product provided and installed in railway maintenance
facilities, not just in the U.S. but globally. This machine has standard drawings that
apply to all machines. Therefore, the modification of these standard drawings specific to
VRE’s Contract would require additional labor and create specific drawings that will not
be updated with any future product improvements. Will VRE modify this Section such
that this applies only to drawings specific to VRE’s wheel truing machine such as;
machine and foundation general arrangement, foundation, and stairs and grating?
Standard or generic product drawings will remain in Simmons’ standard format as
provided to customers that purchase a wheel truing machine.
Yes. See Addendum No. 1.
10.
Section 01 33 00, Part 1.04A.5. states that drawings and design calculations that are the
responsibility of the Contractor shall bear the seal of a Professional Engineer (PE). The
drawings utilized in the construction of the specified wheel truing machine are standard
product drawings. These drawings have been used to produce many wheel truing
machines installed and operated in transit locations such as NYCT (7 machines), MBTA
(3 machines), LIRR (2 machines), Metro-North (2 machines), SEPTA (2 machines),
AMTRAK (9 machines), DART (2 machines), NJT (3 machines), PATH (1 machine),
LACMTA (2 machines), etc. In addition to transit systems, the wheel truing machine is
3
IFB No. 016-002
Wheel Truing Machine
Virginia Railway Express
the predominate machine for wheel profiling “in situ” for freight systems with
approximately fifty (50) machines in North America alone. None of these machines have
experienced a structural failure. This significant installation experience demonstrates the
robustness of the machine and therefore, a review and stamp by a PE is superfluous and
adds unnecessary cost and schedule to the project. Will VRE waive this requirement?
No. The PE stamp is only applicable to drawings for excavation, sheeting and shoring,
decking, faleswork, form work or other temporary work and methods. However, VRE
does not anticipate these drawings will be required for this Contract.
ATTACHMENT W.3 – TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
11.
In reference to Section 1.07D.5., there are potentially hundreds of components that meet
this criteria for product data submittal. Collection and submittal of these minor
components will be time consuming and costly. The Contractor’s past practice has been
to submit product data sheets with machine assembly and schematic drawings for major
components only. During or after review, if information is requested about specific
items, the Contractor shall obtain and submit data sheets on these item(s). Will VRE
agree to this approach?
See Addendum No. 1.
12.
Section 1.07F.11. states electrical equipment layouts, with all motors, limit switches,
solenoid valves, disconnects, control panels, etc. shall be located and labeled. The
Contractor’s electrical documentation includes schematics and diagrams with all
electrical equipment identified and positions schematically illustrated. This
documentation is well proven as sufficient for performance of troubleshooting and/or
maintenance. Will VRE accept this documentation?
Yes. See Addendum No. 1.
13.
Section 2.09D. states control station pedestals shall be capable of being rotated to a
desired position and locked into place. The standard operator’s control station for the
specified wheel truing machine is capable of rotation and lock. The standard auxiliary
control station is on a fixed pedestal. This configuration is driven by the restricted
operations performed at this station and the sufficient ability to perform the limited
functions by operators. Does VRE require the auxiliary control station to rotate?
See Addendum No. 1.
4
IFB No. 016-002
Wheel Truing Machine
Virginia Railway Express
14.
In reference to Section 2.18A., the specified wheel truing machine has been updated to
use 24 V power supplied from the machine electrical system. A separate power supply is
no longer required. Will VRE modify the Technical Specification to reflect this change?
Yes. See Addendum No. 1.
15.
Sections 2.18.N. and 2.18.Z.6. require specific size of wiring. However, commercial
electrical component connection points are sized by the manufacturer. In some cases the
maximum wire size for the connection point is smaller than VRE’s specification. In this
case, will VRE accept the use of the maximum wire size allowed by the particular
component?
Yes. The maximum wire size allowed by a particular component within the machine is
acceptable.”
16.
Section 2.18R.3. Requires motors 25 HP or greater provide autotransformer type reduced
voltage starters. The spindle drive motors for the specified wheel truing machine have
been supplied without soft start type starters as a standard and have been installed in the
transit locations identified in Question #10. The specified starter can be provided
however, it will be an unnecessary cost. Which does VRE prefer?
See Addendum No. 1.
5
IFB No. 016-002
Wheel Truing Machine
Virginia Railway Express