Winfield Roller Gate RFI

This Request For Information Notice is intended to garner industry input for questions regarding Roller Gate Fabrication for the Winfiled Lock and Dam Located in Red House, West Virgina. 

Interested Contractors are encouraged to reply to the following questions after reviewing the Attached Technical Drawings:

     1. Can the skin plate splices be performed using submerged arc welding?

     2. Economies of scale: Are there significant efficiencies related to fabrication of 1 gate v 2 gates v 3 gates, etc.

     3. Not grinding skin plate welds—What is the time and labor savings? Would not staggering skin plate splices increase efficiency/benefit fabrication? Note that splice welds would still be required to be ground flush at the intersections of longitudinal and transverse splice welds a minimum of 4” in all directions.     

     4. What factors do you consider when doing 100% RT on this quantity of welds? Shutting down shop? How is this cost factored in? What is the production rate? Cost per test?

     5. Would a design featuring multiple pieces (2-4) with transverse gate splice(s) benefit fabrication? Would you prefer this splice be welded or bolted using slip critical bolted connection. Note that full assembly would be required at the shop prior to shipment for a full shop fit assembly.

     6. Would a design featuring bolted on end shields and/or apron benefit fabrication/increase efficiency?

     7. Would you be more or less likely to bid if this was a Construction Contractor (i.e. working with a prime contractor to install) vs a supply fabrication contract.

     8. What can USACE do to reduce risk/contingency in bidding a project like this?

     9. Are there connections that would be more cost efficient bolted instead of welded? Would it be more cost efficient to weld, or use slip critical bolts to connect splices on the skin plate(longitudinal and transverse)?

     10. Are there a fabrication cost difference between bearing type and slip-critical bolted connections.

     11. If final assembly of the gates is allowed in the field during installation, is this something that would be a benefit for fabrication/increase efficiency?