Volume 42 - Issue 33 - August 17, 2023

(Published in the Kansas Register August 17, 2023.)

Monarch Cement

Request for Proposals

Interested parties are invited to submit a proposal to complete the below scope of work for the proposed Monarch Cement track expansion project in Humboldt, Kansas.

Scope of Work

Project is in Humboldt, Kansas on proposed track expansion coming off an existing lead track just southwest of existing crossing at 1200th Street. This proposal requests contractor provides all necessary labor, equipment, and logistical services for installation of all track including grading, subballast, drainage, erosion control, crossings, signalization, culverts to complete all rehabilitation, and track construction work, ties, ballast, etc. The scope is further described as follows:

• Grading site including clearing, stripping, excavation, embankment, subballast, and earthen bumpers. 11,179 tons of sub-ballast to be supplied and installed per KDOT specifications. Overburden material not placed as fill shall be wasted on site at the contractor’s expense. Owner reserves the right to supply any or all track and aggregate materials without impact to other scope items.
• Obtain, manage, and closeout SWPPP for project including supply and install of erosion control measures: silt fence, check dams, and slope stabilization per plan. Drainage to be maintained at all times during construction activities. Contractor to monitor and modify SWPPP as required throughout construction and maintain a log of changes and monitoring by date.
• Construction surveying to include final as-built survey to be completed within 90 days of Final Project Execution.
• Supply, assemble, and install pricing for approximately 5,506 track feet of 115# jointed relay rail on new 7x9x8.6’ wood crossties. Owner reserves the right to supply any or all track and aggregate materials without impact to other scope items.
• Supply, assemble, and install pricing for approximately 1,000 track feet of track rehabilitation including 50% tie replacement, ballast, tamping, and regulating.
• Supply, assemble, and install pricing for two each AREMA industrial turn out to be built using 115# rail, Sampson Points, solid manganese self-guarded frog, wood ties, and OTM – plates, spikes, anchors, bolt/washer/nut assemblies. Owner reserves the right to supply any or all track and aggregate materials without impact to other scope items.
• Supply, install, and backfill 405 linear feet of proposed 24” culvert, removal, and proper disposal of existing 12” culvert. Cap and fill 12” culvert for 70 linear feet is also required for abandoning an existing culvert in place. Existing drainage conditions to be maintained during installation. All pipe installations must be bedded based on plan specifications.
• Contractor responsibility for demolition of one structure and two buried concrete footing obstructions within the grading limits of the project. All removed materials are to be disposed of at the contractor’s expense.
• Contractor responsibility to install roadway protection to satisfy MSHA Regulation 56.9300. Slope protection consist of guardrail, berm, or slope remediation to satisfy site management and site operations team.
• One power pole is to be removed and relocated outside the track grading limits as part of the contractor scope. All removed materials are to be disposed of at the contractor’s expense.
• Road crossing and signalization rehabilitation including required temporary traffic control and signage and local protection to maintain public safety required by state, local, and federal regulations. Signalization and crossing panels to be replaced in kind and in place. All track to be continuously welded through crossings.
• Aggregate roadway installation at 1’ depth and passive crossing signage is to be installed in accordance with the plans. Aggregate roadway and signage installation to maintain public safety required by state, local, and federal regulations during construction. All track to be continuously welded through crossings.
• Supply and install pricing for 4,356 tons of ballast, tamping, and regulating. Owner reserves the right to supply any or all track and aggregate materials without impact to other scope items.
• Any pre-existing rail, ties, or OTM that is removed when installing switch components, must be removed, and disposed of according to all state, local, and federal regulations.
• Fence removal of 69 linear feet within grading limits to be removed at nearest limits of fence posts outside of construction limits.
• The contractor shall supply all required labor, supervision, materials, erection and installation services, construction equipment, start-up and commissioning assistance, and all other items necessary for a complexly functioning rail coal unloading station including supply and installation of a pre-engineered metal building (PEMB).
• Concrete work including PEMB support foundations, retaining walls and wing walls, slab on grade, and miscellaneous concrete work is to be installed in accordance with the plans.
• The contractor shall supply and install the grizzly, support steel, miscellaneous grating, handrail, ladder, stairs, all structural bolts, washers, nuts, shims and grout, and touch-up paint. This list is not intended to be comprehensive.
• The contractor shall design required blasting for excavation of the slop of the pit chute. The contractor may need to use explosives to remove the rock and excavate the foundations per the design drawings.
• The contractor shall include a blasting consultant as part of their design team in order to develop blasting plans.
• A geotechnical engineer shall be on-site during construction to review excavation operations and to verify the stability of the excavated areas. All the bed excavations shall be smooth and level as per the design drawings.
• Additional details concerning the scope of work needing to be done with each portion of the project, will be addressed at the pre-bid meeting.

Minimum Requirements

MSHA and Roadway Worker Protection

Contractors must complete, and have on file, a current Master Services Agreement with owner prior to submitting a proposal.

1. Contractors shall comply with all parts of 49 CFR Part 214 and 219 regarding FRA Roadway Worker Safety at all times. Personnel and equipment shall remain clear of the track unless they have gained Roadway Worker Protection from a qualified person.
2. Contractor, contractor employees, agents, and/or subcontractors must be enrolled and comply with the FRA 219 approved drug testing program.
3. Any subcontracted work will need to be approved prior to any work starting.
4. Contractors must complete and abide by Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) Training Requirements and fill out customer provided paperwork prior to commencing work. If paperwork is not completed by start date, owner reserves the right to select alternate contractor.

Work Windows

Impact to current railroad and site operations must be kept to a minimum. When work must take place that causes an active track to be taken out of service for the purposes of performing work that pertains to the project, the contractor must pre-arrange a defined work window with Watco/South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad (SKOL). Contractor can anticipate a minimum work window of eight hours with no more than one schedule of interruption in that time frame between the hours of 07:00 and 17:00. This topic will be further discussed and clarified during the pre-proposal meeting.

Standards

All standards referenced by the project plans and specifications, as well as all applicable AREMA standards must be upheld during all phases of the project work, unless certain standards are excluded from the project with written approval. All rail shall be replaced at standard gauge of 56-1/2”.

Submittals

The following documents shall be submitted by the Contractor as part of the project at the times listed:

1. Schedule of Work – Submitted with proposal.
2. Certificate of Insurance – Submitted prior to construction to meet all owner provided Insurance guidelines.
3. Contractor Job Safety Plan (safety checklist and project descriptions).
4. Contractor Welding Certification Requirements (acknowledgement).
5. MSHA Form 5000-23 (Certificate of Training MHSA Training).
6. Proof of Roadway Worker Training – Submitted prior to construction.
7. Rail Testing (if AREMA #1 Relay Rail is used) – Submitted prior to construction.
8. Rail Weld UT Test Requirements (all rail comp welds) – Submitted with billing.

Other Responsibilities

1. Permits – Contractor is responsible for all local, state, and federal permits required for the work.
2. Utilities – Contractor is responsible to locate and protect site utilities as well as coordinate with utility companies for modifications.
3. Site Clean-up – Contractor is responsible for proper site restoration and proper disposal of materials removed in accordance with all local, state, and federal laws.

Insurance

Contractor shall purchase coverage and submit for verification a Certificate of Insurance to meet all requirements specified in Monarch Cement “Contractor and Subcontractor Insurance Requirements” form.

Materials

All non-owner supplied materials shall meet the requirements found in the project plans and/or specifications as well as applicable AREMA requirements. Material storage is granted on railroad right of way to the contractor. However, no materials shall be stored closer than 25’ from the centerline of any active track at any time. Material and equipment laydown areas and reclaimed materials stockpiling locations shall be discussed and further clarified at the pre-proposal meeting. All removed materials remain property of the SKOL, to be stockpiled as directed by a representative.

Non-Project Areas

Watco has secured access to the project through 1200th Street. All areas (public, private, and railroad right of way) that are used for access to the project, including parts of the railroad right of way which have no proposed work, shall be maintained and/or remediated, incidental to the project, by the contractor to the satisfaction of the property owner if any damage to these areas occurs.

Pre-Proposal Meeting

Watco shall hold a pre-proposal meeting at the project site as indicated by the project manager. The meeting shall be held on site in Humboldt, Kansas at 10:00 a.m. August 22, 2023. Contractors are required to be present at this meeting to submit a proposal or their proposal can be rejected.

Project Completion

In service date for this project is expected to be November 30, 2024, subject to change after submittal of schedule with bid proposal. Contractor is to build schedule to meet this date and coordinate in service schedule. All work pertaining to this project shall be completed as indicated on the contractor supplied schedule. Failure to complete work by the scheduled date may result in the contractor’s removal from the property or charges of $1,500/day until completed to satisfaction.

Submission of a Proposal

All proposals must be submitted no later than September 5, 2023, to be reviewed by Watco Purchasing Department. Please ensure your proposal includes all required information. All late or incomplete proposals shall be rejected. Contractors who wish to submit a proposal must attend the pre-proposal meeting. Proposals will be submitted to Amie Proudfit via email at amie.proudfit@watco.com. The structure of your proposal must be able to be clearly understood, all proposals shall provide the following line items and provide costs as required below.

Provide a total sum of all Line Items on the proposal:

1. Mobilization and demobilization – Lump sum.
2. Clearing and grubbing – 4.88 acres.
3. Excavation (track) – 9,700 CY (in place measure).
4. Embankment (track) – 5,723 CY (in place measure).
5. Excavation (crossing) – 982 CY (in place measure).
6. Roadway protection – one LS.
7. Erosion control: silt fence – 6,807 linear feet.
8. Erosion control: ditch checks – 19 each.
9. 24” CMP installation – 405 linear feet (various locations as shown in plans).
10. 12” culvert abandon, fill, and cap – one each.
11. 12” CMP removal – one each.
12. Road crossing replacement – 48 linear feet (replace in-kind, CWR crossings).
13. Road crossing signalization – one each (replace in-kind as required).
14. Passive crossing signage – Lump sum at new aggregate road crossing.
15. Track removal – 1,278 track feet.
16. Contractor surveying – Lump sum.
17. Earthen bumpers – one each.
18. Slope protection – one each.
19. SWPPP – Lump sum.
20. Sub-ballast supply – 11,179 tons.
21. Sub-ballast install (track)– 10,072 tons.
22. Sub-ballast install (crossing) – 1,107 tons.
23. Track rehabilitation – 1,000 track feet.
24. Supply 5,506 track feet of new rail built with 115# RE rail.
25. Assemble and install 5,506 track feet of new rail built with 115# RE rail on wood cross ties, bolted as indicated in plans.
26. Supply 4,356 tons ballast.
27. Distribute approximately 4,356 tons ballast.
28. Tamp and regulate – Lump sum.
29. Supply two Each #9 turn out (AREMA Industrial 115# RE rail, rail self-guarded manganese frog, hardwood switch ties and HSS switch stand).
30. Assemble and install two each #9 turn out per plan.
31. Clean up work site to completion signoff by Watco Management.
32. Concrete removal – three each (two footings, one building with pipes).
33. Fence removal – 69 linear feet (two Locations as shown in plans).
34. Power pole relocation – one each (relocate pole outside grading limits).
35. Pit blasting.
36. Excavations in rock and backfills.
37. Pit floor concrete slab and curb.
38. Pit concrete retaining wall.
39. West wing wall concrete footing.
40. West concrete wing wall.
41. West abutment wall concrete footing.
42. West abutment concrete wall.
43. East wing wall concrete footing.
44. East concrete wing wall.
45. East abutment wall concrete footing.
46. East abutment concrete wall.
47. Pier wall concrete footing.
48. Pier concrete wall.
49. Pit stepped concrete footing.
50. Pit sloped concrete slabs.
51. Backwall concrete retaining wall footing.
52. Concrete backwall.
53. Car shaker foundation.
54. Concrete grade beams.
55. PEMB concrete foundation.
56. COL footing and pedestal.
57. Sidewalk concrete slabs.
58. Building slab on grade.
59. Stair concrete pad.
60. Bridge steel (LS).
61. Steel platform inside PEMB with handrails.
62. Sidewalk guardrails.
63. Heavy duty grating.
64. 3/8” checkered plates.
65. Ladders.
66. Concrete – Lump sum.
67. Structural steel and miscellaneous steel (supply/install) – Lump sum.
68. Pre-engineered metal building (supply) – Lump sum.
69. Pre-engineered metal building (install) – Lump sum.
70. Checkout/commissioning/start-up – Lump sum.

Work Reporting

Contractors will be required to complete right of entry forms and be Railroad Certified Contractors prior to commencing work. Daily work reports must be filled out and submitted to:

• Paul Leonards, Watco VP Construction and
• Bryan Waldon, Watco Senior Project Manager

Weekly Reports should include updates to project schedules, any delays or any change in the scope of work. A detailed summary report must be submitted at the completion of the project. Daily reporting shall consist of daily progress reports in format to be provided at award.

For further information or questions regarding the Request for Proposals or submitting a proposal, please send an email request to Paul Leonards at pleonards@watco.com, phone 601-506-1800.

Drew White
Director of Engineering
Watco

Doc. No. 051401