RFPs

Question #7 – In response to the 864 RFP, is there another materials RFP coming soon here after?

Response #7 – No.

Question #6b – Are we allowed to work all 3 segments simultaneously with multiple crews in each segment?

Response #6b – Working multiple segments simultaneously is advised and highly recommended to meet production goals and the stated completion timeframe.

Question #6a – Can you confirm the size of the pipe?

Response #6a – 0.75” ID conduit. As per  Attachment C – 864 Fiber Construction Pricing Guidelines
(Line-Item Quotes)

1) Proofing and Placement – Per foot pricing for proofing and placement of approximately 1,856,332 ft
(351.58 miles) of .50” O.D. 864F Prysmian non-armored ribbon cable (24 Fibers per ribbon) into existing empty .75″ I.D. conduit.

Question #6 – I see you posted spec sheet of an 864 micro cable. Is the current duct that is being used
standard duct? If so, what is the diameter of the current duct? If standard duct, are you going to be
placing micro duct inside before jetting the micro cable?

Response #6 – Do you have a preference of installation method of the fiber? (i.e. jetting, pulling or tugging)? Are either methods acceptable?

Question #5 – 6: Consider “pulled” to be a general term such as “installed.” The long spans of this overbuild should all be installed with fiber blowing equipment.  Fiber Cable is to be installed using best practices to meet or exceed the need of the overall quality, production schedule and especially to ensure max pulling tension is never exceeded, etc.

Response #5 – As per Attachment C – 864 Fiber Construction Pricing Guidelines (Line-Item Quotes)
1) Proofing and Placement – Per foot pricing for proofing and placement of approximately 1,856,332 ft
(351.58 miles) of .50” O.D. 864F Prysmian non-armored ribbon cable (24 Fibers per ribbon) into existing empty .75″ I.D. conduit

Question #4k – Can you quantify how many new handholes vs how many replace handholes?

Response #4k – For clarification: there are 386 new handholes being placed. (289 of those are replacing old with larger new handholes, and 97 are totally new placement to accommodate splice locations)

Question #4j– Who is responsible for permitting?

Response #4j – As per para 6 page 6:  All North Carolina Department of Transportation (“NCDOT”), municipalities, railroad permits, easements, and rights-of-way permitting will be obtained by MCNC. Additional Construction permits and privilege licenses shall be obtained by the Contractor, as well as all required railroad and DOT bonds and insurance.

Question #4i – Do you require all new fiber to be pulled as the print states?

Response #4i – Consider “pulled” to be a general term such as “installed” The long spans of this overbuild should be installed with fiber blowing equipment.  Fiber Cable is to be installed using best practices to meet the production need of the overall quality, production schedule and ensure max pulling tension is never exceeded, etc.

Question #4h – How are we compensated for traffic control?

Response #4h – Please build Traffic Control into your composite labor pricing in Attachment A. *Consider differing requirements between rural and heavy metro environments that this route passes through. This 352 miles overbuild passes through 14 North Carolina Counties. 80% of this project is in rural territory where MCNC’s route far back from edge of pavement and 20% of this project is metro where professional traffic control is needed. *Bidders should take a “prepare for the worst” approach and assume Professional Traffic Control in metropolitan areas such as Charlotte/Mecklenberg, Raleigh/Wake and Wilmington/Brunswick & New Hanover and others as needed. (Overall treat this project as 80% rural and 20% heavy metro and plan accordingly).

Question #4g – What do we do with the removal of the existing hand hole?

Response #4g – Please include disposal of the old Handholes removed as part of your “HH Upgrade/replace existing” pricing.

Question #4f – How much pea gravel is required in the existing hand holes? How many existing hand holes require new pea gravel?

Response #4f – You should place between 2” to 3” of fresh pea gravel in the floor of existing hand holes. Every pre-existing handhole this project touches should be “refreshed” with 2 to 3” of new pea gravel as we access & pull through. There are 372 existing handholes that will remain in place along this project path.  We want to “refresh” those with 2”-3” of new pea gravel. For clarification: there are 386 New handholes being placed (289 of those are replacing old with larger new handholes, and 97 are totally new placement to accommodate splice locations) All “NEW” handholes should get approx. 6” of pea gravel in their base.

Question #4e – Are the existing hand holes buried or flush mount?

Response #4e – MCNC’s existing handholes are flush mounted (at grade).

Question #4d -Do all fibers need to be pretested or just (1) per ribbon?

Response #4d – In regard to pre-testing of the new fiber reels before installation, 1 fiber per ribbon is
acceptable.

Question #4c – What is the depth of the existing conduit?

Response #4c – Presume the “Average” depth of existing coupler locations on the conduit is 36” to 48”

Question #4b – What is the linear distance for a dig up and repair? For example, what if the duct is packed with dirt for 30 linear feet vs just a damaged coupler?

Response #4b – Please plan for an “average” Dig-up and Repair (which includes the need to access conduit for “assist pits”) to include labor to excavate & expose 10 linear feet of the existing 3way ¾” conduits. Keeping in mind there is live in-service fiber cable in one of the three conduits.

Question #4a – How old is the existing duct path?

Response #4a – Approximately 15 years,

Question #3 – Do we assume that our proposal is to include standard M.O.T. being signs & cones only? Police and Certified Traffic Control Companies have very rarely been required on any of our projects throughout NC over the last 12-18 months other than in areas damaged by Hurricane Helene, and in a couple of major metropolitan cities and have been paid at actual cost by project owner? Please advise as I’ve not seen it referenced in the documentation provided by MCNC, possibility my old, tired eyes missed it.

Response #3 – Simple MOT (Maintenance of Traffic) signage will not suffice based on differing requirements between rural and heavy metro environments that this route passes through. Bidders should take a “prepare for the worst” approach and assume the need for Professional Traffic Control in any metropolitan area such as Charlotte/Mecklinberg, Raleigh/Wake and Wilmington/Brunswick & New Hanover and others.

Question #2 – I received this RFP, but one of the files won’t open, “Attachment F7 – MCNC 864 Overbuild Clt to Ral to Wilm 4-30-2025.kmz”.

Response #2 – Attachment F7 – MCNC 864 Overbuild Charlotte to Raleigh to Wilmington 4-30-2025.kmz”. This file requires Google Earth to be loaded on your computer or another application that allows viewing of KMZ files. This attachment is a basic KMZ map file of the over build route. It should first be downloaded and then viewed with Google Earth.

Note: Attachment 7 is a Google Drive link because our site does not allow us to upload kmz files in the same way as the others. You should be able to click “download” after the link opens.

Question #1 – Will there be any Fiber Huts required on the 864 Fiber Project?

Response #1 – No, there will be no new Fiber Huts required on the 864 Fiber Project