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.