Rope Access Bridge Inspections

ROPE ACCESS RIGGING AND SUPERVISION OF THE DAM SERVICE BRIDGES AT LOWER ST. ANTHONY FALLS, LOCK AND DAM NO. 7, LOCK AND DAM NO. 8, AND THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AT UPPER ST. ANTHONY FALLS 1 GENERAL The Contractor shall provide a (3) three-person rope access inspection team, which will work with USACE personnel as a joint team to perform the following tasks: 1.1 BRIDGE INSPECTIONS Perform a combined routine and Fracture Critical Member (FCM) inspection of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) lock and dam service bridges over the Mississippi River at: 1.1.1 Upper St. Anthony Falls (USAF) (CEXMVPMN-00USAF) Lock pedestrian bridge located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Approximate length of bridge is 50 feet. Total number of spans: 1. 1.1.2 Lower St. Anthony Falls (LSAF) (CENMVPMN000LSAF) Lock and dam service bridge located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Approximate length of bridge is 330 feet. Total number of spans: 6, 3 Tainter Gates, 1 Auxiliary Lock Chamber / Hydro Dam, 1 Main Lock Chamber, and 1 Storage Yard. 1.1.3 Lock and Dam 7 (LD7) (CENMVPMN-00LD07) Lock and dam service bridge located in La Crescent, Minnesota. Approximate length of bridge is 940 feet. Total number of spans: 19, 5 Roller Gates, 11 Tainter Gates, and 3 Storage Yard). 1.1.4 Lock and Dam 8 (LD8) (CENMVPWI-00LD08) Lock and dam service bridge located in Genoa, Wisconsin. Approximate length of bridge is 934 feet. Total number of spans: 18, 5 Roller Gates, 10 Tainter Gates, and 3 Storage Yard). 1.2 DAM SERVICE AND PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE REPORTS: A final Bridge Inspection Report shall be generated for each dam service and pedestrian bridge inspected (4 total). The provided template shall be used to generate the final reports. Each report shall include the current Structural Inventory and Appraisal (SI&A) Data. 2 MVP INSPECTION TEAM MEMBERS The St. Paul District (MVP) will supply two (2) inspectors. One (1) will be a rope access SPRAT Certified Level I bridge inspector, who will serve as an inspection team member and is the current District Bridge Safety Program Manager (BSPM). The second will be one (1) inspector to help coordinate inspection personnel and duties. 3 ACCESS 3.1 BRIDGE ACCESS The pedestrian bridge at USAF is located at the downstream end of the lock chamber and is accessible by the land wall. The service bridge at LSAF is accessible from the land wall, and the dam service bridges at LD7 and LD8 are accessible by crossing the miter gates over the main lock chamber and auxiliary lock chamber. The service bridge at LSAF is accessed from the land wall via a staircase in the pier. Access to the bridge decks is through stairways in the dam piers. The service bridge decks are at least 8 feet wide. All service bridges are equipped with rails to accommodate a crane or lifting carriage. Cranes will be locked out by Government personnel each day prior to the start of the inspection. 4 DURATION AND DATES The above listed bridges are on a 60-month inspection cycle in accordance with ER 1110-2-111, USACE Bridge Safety Program, and as such all on-site inspection work shall be completed no later than November 30, 2024. Inspection duration is estimated at nine (9) total workdays, including one (1) day for contingencies. Inspection days will require ten (10) hour workdays. Work will be required on Saturdays. Work will not be conducted on Sundays. In the event of extreme weather and or unsafe work conditions, work shall be delayed until safe working conditions are present. The target date for commencement of inspection work is October 14, 2024. The inspection commencement date shall be jointly agreed to between the contractor and the government no later than fifteen (15) calendar days after contract award. The final bridge inspection reports shall be submitted to the Bridge Safety Program Manager (BSPM) sixty (60) days after the on-site inspections. 5 CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS The Contractor shall complete the following tasks: 5.1 BRIDGE INSPECTOR QUALIFICATIONS The contractor shall provide a three (3) person rope access inspection team, which will work with USACE MVP inspection team as a joint team, to perform visual, hands-on inspections of the bridges. Contractor personnel shall be certified by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET), in bridge safety inspection IAW National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS). The Contractor shall also comply with the requirements of the Corps Safety and Health Requirements Manual EM 385-1-1. 5.1.1 Team Leader In accordance with 23 CFR 650.309 the inspection team shall have one (1) member designated as the Team Leader. The Team Leader must meet all of the qualifications laid out in 23 CFR 650.309. An individual who has a Level III certification as a Bridge Safety Inspector under the National Society of Professional Engineer's program for NICET and has completed a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved comprehensive bridge inspection training course, such as FHWA-NHI-130055 or FHWA-NHI-130056 Team Leader Training certificate or subsequent FHWA-NHI-130053 refresher training certification, would meet these requirements. The Team Leader shall be on site during all inspection work. Team Leader shall have also successfully completed FHWA-NHI-130078 or equivalent. All certifications shall be current. 5.1.2 Team Members The remaining two (2) team members shall have a minimum of five (5) years of bridge inspection experience and shall maintain a current FHWA-NHI-130055 training certificate or subsequent FHWA-NHI-130053 refresher training certification. 5.2 ROPE ACCESS QUALIFICATIONS 5.2.1 Rope Access Supervisor/Qualified Person (QP) for Rope Access The contractor shall comply with the requirements of the USACE EM 385-1-1, Safety and Occupational Health Requirements. In accordance with EM 385-1-1 at least one (1) member of the contractor's inspection team shall be a Rope Access Supervisor/QP (Team Leader) who is an experienced Rope Access Technician with qualifications stated in 5.1.1 and has completed training and certification to perform complex rigging, advanced rescue, and advanced rope access skills. The Rope Access Supervisor/QP for Rope Access (Team Leader) is responsible for the entire rope access work site, including management and oversight of Rope Access Technicians on the work site and designing, analyzing, evaluating, and specifying the rope access work systems. They must have knowledge and experience to direct rescue operations from rope access systems and be able to perform advanced rescue from rope access systems. An individual with a current Level III SPRAT or IRATA certification meets these requirements as laid out in EM 385-1-1. A Rope Access Supervisor shall be on site during all inspection work. 5.2.2 Rope Access Technician/Authorized Technician All remaining members of the contractor's inspection team shall be Rope Access Technicians in accordance with EM 385-1-1. Person(s) shall have completed training and certification to perform standard rope access operations including operating ascent and descent systems, using fall protection, and have the skills necessary to perform limited rescue from rope access systems. They may only work under the direct supervision of a Rope Access Lead Technician/CP for Rope Access or Rope Access Supervisor/QP. An individual with a current minimum Level I SPRAT or IRATA certification meets these requirements. 5.3 DELIVERABLES The contractor shall record the condition of bridge members using digital photographs and MVPs forms. Photos must be provided to the bridge safety program manager no later than seven (7) calendar days after completion of the inspection via digital format (.jpeg, jpg, pdf) through email. All photos must contain a date, physical location description, and defect or condition description. 6 Government Furnished Data 6.1 Field Book, Coding Guide, and Inspection Forms All necessary field books, coding guide, and forms will be provided by the St. Paul District to the contractor no later than fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the first inspection. 6.2 REPORT TEMPLATES A Microsoft Word document (.docx) of the Corps of Engineers Bridge Inventory System (CEBIS) Standard Report Template along with a PDF copy of the previous Inspection Reports for each site will be furnished to the contractor no later than fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the first inspection. 6.3 LOCK AND DAM MAILING ADDRESSES Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam United States Army Corps of Engineers 1 Portland Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454-1027 Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam United States Army Corps of Engineers 1 Portland Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454-1027 Lock and Dam No. 7 United States Army Corps of Engineers Route 2 Box 51 La Crescent, MN 55947 Lock and Dam No. 8 United States Army Corps of Engineers 4405 Highway 35 (Box 10) Genoa, WI 54632 6.4 POINT OF CONTACT Provided after contract award 7 ADDITIONAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS The Contractor shall complete the following tasks and submit to the government: 7.1 COORDINATION OF OPERATION PLAN Operation plan shall include, but is not limited to, travel logistics, rigging plan, safety plan, and site access. Rigging plan and safety plan requirements are described below. The operation plan shall be submitted to the Bridge Safety Program Manager (BSPM) no later than seven (7) calendar days prior to the first inspection, to be finalized before work begins. The Level III Team Leader/Rope Access Supervisor shall lead a teleconference with all members of the joint inspection team at least one (1) week prior to the commencement of the inspection to discuss all aspects of the operation plan. 7.1.1 Rigging/Access Plan and Equipment The contractor shall develop a comprehensive rigging and access plan to allow rope access inspectors to perform hands-on, and close-up visual inspection of all bridge components, including but not limited to the bottom flange, interior bracing members and all Fractural Critical Members (FCMs). The contractor shall also provide any additional equipment necessary for a potential rescue scenario. An up-to-date log of all equipment to be used for the rope access inspections, shall be kept, and maintained by the contractor. Rigging plan should be included as part of the operation plan. 7.1.2 Safety Plan The Contractor may coordinate with the BSPM to develop and provide an individual Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) for each project, including a rescue plan; and host a pre-work safety briefing at each project site before inspection work commences. The preliminary JHAs for the project shall be developed to the extent possible with information available prior to the inspection and shall be submitted for approval to USACE as a draft as part of the operation plan prior to the first inspection. Prior to conducting any rope access work before each shift, the contractor shall hold documented safety meetings, rescue pre-planning, and complete the JHA form. The JHA shall be completed on site together between the contractor and USACE and shall be reviewed and signed by all applicable parties at the pre-work safety briefing prior to the inspection. 8 LIMITING CRITERIA SAFETY STANDARDS All training and equipment must meet or exceed OSHA and ANSI requirements and be in accordance with the current Corps of Engineers Manual EM 385-1-1, entitled Safety and Health Requirements Manual. Contractor personnel shall follow safety guidelines for rope access to meet or exceed EM 385-1-1 (Ex: SPRAT or IRATA) requirements for quality assurance, safety, training, documentation and working practices. At the beginning of each shift, the contractor's employees shall conduct a documented safety meeting. 9 REQUIRED INFORMATION TO BE SUBMITTED WITH COST QUOTE 9.1 BRIDGE INSPECTOR(S) CREDENTIALS: THE NAMES, QUALIFICATIONS, AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE RECORDS OF THE INSPECTION TEAM MEMBERS THAT WILL BE ASSIGNED TO THIS PROJECT, TO INCLUDE SPRAT OR IRATA CERTIFICATIONS, AND WORK EXPERIENCE SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE CONTRACTING OFFICER ALONG WITH THE CONTRACTOR'S COST PROPOSAL. 9.2 CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED: 9.2.1 NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CERTIFICATION IN ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES (NICET), IN BRIDGE SAFETY INSPECTION IAW NBIS OR EQUIVALENT, PER PARAGRAPH 5.1.1 9.2.2 SPRAT OR IRATA CERTIFIED LEVEL III ROPE ACCESS SUPERVISOR, PER PARAGRAPH 5.2.1. 9.2.3 SPRAT OR IRATA CERTIFIED LEVEL II ROPE ACCESS TEAM MEMBER, PER PARAGRAPH 5.2.2. IF, POST AWARD, THE CONTRACTOR WISHES TO CHANGE PERSONNEL THE NEW TEAM MEMBERS SHALL MEET OR EXCEED THE INDIVIDUAL THEY'RE REPLACING.