Response_to_Contractor_Questions.pdf

General Services Administration (GSA)

Questions and Answers—One

RFQ#10PSPR-15-0025—LPOE LED Lighting Project

1. In Section 1.1 of the Instructions, the government describes the removal and replacement of a window. Is this scope part of this solicitation or is this inadvertent?

GSA Response: This was inadvertent and should reference the required LED lights. It has been corrected.

2. Will an updated SF 1449 be provided to reflect added or reduced scope (i.e. new sites)?

GSA Response: The Border Patrol Headquarters (BPSHQ) was added in Amendment No. 1 (AMD001) and an updated SF1449 and CLIN structure was included that package. Please utilize the SF1449 and CLIN structure from that amendment. Please use the most recent pricing sheet included in AMD003.

3. Will an updated pricing spreadsheet be provided to reflect de-scoped items and updated quantities?

GSA Response: Yes, an updated pricing spreadsheet is included with the updated quantities and locations. It is included in Amendment Number Three package (AMD003).

4. Will a wage decision be provided?

GSA Response: The Service Contract Act (SCA) wage rate was included in the original solicitation package. Current wage rates can be found at http://www.wdol.gov/Index.aspx and the most current wage rates will be included in the final award.

5. Section 2.3 of the Evaluation Factors explains that the technical information is limited to 3 pages, but also goes on in b. 1. to explain that technical information should be submitted for the ‘LED bulbs’ to be provided. In this case, many different types of lamps over several sites may be required, with specification sheets for each lamp that may be several pages long. Does the government want technical specification sheets to be included? If so, will these specification sheets count toward the 3 page limit on technical information?

GSA Response: If you wish to include cutsheets or LED specification information, please include as attachments to the three pages. They will not count toward the three page limit required in answering the Technical Capability evaluation factor requirements. The evaluation factor should address all the requested information, and the specification sheets are supporting documentation. The evaluation factor has been updated to clarify this requirement.

6. The Statement of Work, section 2.0 Scope of Work, line item #2 describes that LED lamps should be provided that are “equivalent to or better in luminance, temperature, and color rendering to the existing criteria”; however, ‘better than’ seems to be a subjective term in this case, particularly in the case of temperature and color rendering. Please explain the criteria necessary for temperature and color rendering, if required.

http://www.wdol.gov/Index.aspx

GSA Response: ‘Better than’ shall be defined as follows:

• Luminance: the new lamps shall have equal luminance to existing light fixture, but no more than 10% brighter than existing to prevent glare.

• Color rendering shall be the same as existing. For example if the existing color temperature is 80CRI, select a LED lamps with 80 CRI or higher.

• Temperature, select color temperature suitable for outside environments, such as 4000k for primary and secondary inspections, and 5000k at general parking environments. We suggest the contractor test LED lamps in sample areas, to make sure the tenant is finding light levels satisfactory.

7. The Statement of Work, section 2.0 Scope of Work, line item #4 describes that the newly installed lamps should “provide a consistent appearance with the quality of light currently in those spaces”;

however, these criteria seem to be subjective and impossible to accurately account for. Please describe the exact, measurable criteria for which the contractor will be responsible when preparing the quotation.

GSA Response: The goal of is to provide the same light level and quality to the CBP, with LED lamps.

Use the existing lighting conditions to select the proposed LED lamps. For this, the contractor may investigate the existing lamps specifications, which will help determine the equivalent proposed LED lamps. We anticipate that some light level variances will exist between existing and proposed, mainly in distribution of light, and illumination levels. This is why we suggest that each area receive a sample LED lamp so that the final outcome can be verified and accepted.

8. The Statement of Work, section 2.0 Scope of Work, line item #6 directs the contractor to replace the existing “fixtures” with “LED lamps with equivalent size and lumen distribution” of those in the supplied chart. In line item #7, the contractor is directed to supply a minimum of 50 foot candles in inspection areas. Additionally, the SBU information supplied to the contractor includes drawings and information on ‘existing’ and ‘required’ luminance levels at several, but not every, site. Please clarify whether the contractor will be expected to maintain existing light levels based on the output lumens of the existing fixtures/lamps or whether the light levels should be increased in certain or all areas to meet the ‘required’ levels stated.

GSA Response: The Contractor will be expected maintain existing lighting levels.

9. If levels are required to be increased in certain areas but not others, please be specific as to which areas are required to meet the increased light levels and which are only expected to maintain existing lighting levels.

GSA Response: Lighting levels are expected to maintain existing lighting levels. The intent of this project is NOT to increase light levels beyond existing, assuming that the existing light fixtures are all functional.

We understand that this “lighting retrofit” project might increase light levels, however, we must be cognizant of NOT increasing luminance by more than 10% to prevent glare.

10. In relation to question #8 above, no existing site luminance values have been provided for several sites (i.e. Sumas, Lynden, BPHQ). If maintaining existing luminance values is the intent of this request for quote, can those existing luminance values be provided to the contractor for accurate preparation of this quotation?

GSA Response: The existing lighting levels for those sites were not obtained. A lighting level test should be conducted upon award and luminance levels based on that. The contractor shall perform an existing lighting luminance level evaluation, after the award, and perform a photometric analysis of the site, based on the existing fixture locations. Submit both results to GSA for approval prior to proceeding any further.

This requirement has been expanded on in the Statement of Work (SOW).

11. In relation to question #8 above, if overall luminance levels are intended to be increased to meet the requirements of the SBU attachments and/or the scope of work as indicated in Section 2.0, line item #7, and if those light levels cannot be achieved by replacement lamps alone (most certainly the case), is it the contractor’s responsibility to provide and install new lighting fixtures (luminaires) to achieve minimum ‘required’ luminance values as indicated in the SBU site drawings?

GSA Response: The intent of the project is to maintain existing lighting levels. The stated “required” level is based off of Custom Border Patrols (CBP) new lighting requirements which this project is not trying to obtain. The new required lighting levels are listed as a “Not to Exceed” level as it could potentially be a officer safety issue if the lighting levels exceed the new CPB lighting level requirements. The contractor may consider a retrofit kit for the existing light fixture, or a new fixture to maintain existing lighting levels.

12. In relation to question #10, if the contractor is expected to produce a quote based on a lighting design that meets or exceeds the ‘required’ luminance levels indicated in the provided SBU attachments, which will most assuredly require the addition of new or additional luminaires in some areas, scaled drawing(s) of each site will be required to accomplish this task. Can accurate, scaled drawings, preferably site lighting plans or as-builts depicting existing fixture locations, be provided for each area of work?

GSA Response: New plans have been submitted. Looking to see if there are better but will not have them by proposal time.

13. In relation to question #10, what are the required luminance levels at BPHQ?

GSA Response: Maintain existing lighting levels which will have to be determined after award based on existing lighting luminance level evaluation, noted in the revised Statement of Work (SOW).

14. Please confirm that all work will be performed on Federal Property owned by the United States.

GSA Response: Confirmed. All work is on Federally Owned Property.

15. Depending on the level of effort involved to complete the scope of work, the 90 day period of performance appears to be inadequate. It is stated that security clearances may take up to 30 working days. In addition, lighting design, submittals, review, installation/construction of new raceways, conductors and/or luminaires, lead times, and coordination of effort through scheduling of work in sensitive areas will extend this schedule. The minimum estimated schedule to accomplish all of these tasks at all sites will be 180 calendar days. Can the period of performance be extended to more accurately reflect the scope of work involved?

GSA Response: Taking into consideration the request, GSA Project Management has determined that a longer period of performance is justified and the Statement of Work has been adjusted to reflect the 180 days.

16. In Amendment 002, specification sheets were provided for some of the existing lighting fixtures, lamps, and poles at several sites. However, there are still some specifications sheets that appear to have not been provided. Notably, the 1000W Parking Lot Fixtures at Pac Hwy are still unknown, and no information seems to have been provided for BPHQ. Important details such as lumen output, voltage, and efficiency are needed in order to provide an accurate quote. Can all of the existing fixture and pole specifications sheets be provided?

GSA Response: Additional information is included in Amendment Three (AMD003). GSA Project Management is attempting to find additional information, but at time of posting, all available information has been provided.

17. The existing lighting specification attachments in Amendment 002 are in some cases unclear as to which site they refer. Could a more detailed explanation be provided that describes which sheets refer to which sites?

GSA Response: In Amendment AMD002, the specifications for each location are on the pages noted below:

Lynden-pg 38-43

PacHwy-pg 44-58

Sumas-pg59-63

Light Pole Replacement Specifications-Peace Arch-Pg64-70

18. To allow the government time to respond and the contractor time to prepare a quote based on the responses to questions, could the RFQ date be extended to Friday, June 12?

GSA Response: Taking into consideration the request, GSA has determined that an extension is justified and the Request for Quote is updated to reflect a new due date of 2PM on Friday, June 12, 2015.

19. Poles lights: At Pac Hwy, 1000w: I want to clarify that after reading the scope of work, it leads me to believe that we will first try to encounter LED bulb replacements, then if we are not successful, we will replace with an entire LED light fixture, is this correct?

GSA Response: Correct. The preference is to replace the bulb, and if that is not possible, then a retrofit kit or an entire new LED Fixture.

20. Pole Lights: Lynden: One of our charts indicates that there is 25 Pole lights that need replaced. On the scope of the work there only appears wall pack lighting. Which is correct?

GSA Response: There are no light poles in Lynden only wall packs. See updated scope

21. Pole lights/ Wall packs : Sumas: Do you want to replace just the bulb? Or do you just want to replace entire fixture?

GSA Response: The preference is to replace the bulb, and if that is not possible, then a retrofit kit or an entire new LED Fixture.

22. Peace Arch: Note 8 on Scope of work refers to cut sheet that is attached. I could not locate this. Please let me know where I could find the cut sheet?

GSA Response: It is included in AMD002, Light Pole Replacement Specifications-Peace Arch-Pg64-70.

In addition, it may be included in a Sensitive but Unclassified file.

23. BPSHQ: Note 14 on Scope of work require installation of 18 new dual bulb LED floodlight fixtures per drawing. I could not find the drawings attached. Where can I get these? See attachments

GSA Response: Most site drawings are in the Sensitive but Unclassified and must be requested via an SF25, sent out in the original RFQ (pg. 106-107).

24. BPSHQ: On the existing pole that has been damaged, Do you have any information (cut sheet) so that we can match up poles?

GSA Response: A cutsheet for damaged pole is included in the SBU attachments, and will be made available to all interested parties who complete the SBU documentation.

25. Can we somehow verify that the Dock and warehouse and inspection areas voltage. Allan the guy I walked the job done with said he thought they were 480v. I am thinking that they are 277 v.

GSA Response: It has been confirmed at 277v.

26. Are only LED lights from GSA Advantage lights going to be accepted? Our products are on DLC but are not on GSA. And no offense to GSA but prices on there for LED is twice what the regular market

is. We can offer same lights for half the price.

GSA Response: Pricing cannot exceed GSA Advantage pricing, but the products do not have to be purchased through GSA Advantage. For the purpose of future lamp replacements, and fixtures repair, it is preferred that GSA Advantage lamps be used. As noted in the SOW, “Should a GSA Advantage product not be available a substitute product shall be recommended to GSA.”

27. Is the light count in Amendment 2 the final count?

GSA Response: Please use the fixture count in Amendment-2, as a basis for pricing. This way all respondents will have the same basis for their quoted price.

28. On the quantity count such as Sumas when it says Pole Lights (double) quantity 5, does that mean there are a total of 10 lights for that line item?

GSA Response: Correct. At Sumas there are five poles, each having two fixture heads/lamps.

29. It seems you are open to retrofit kits rather than full fixture replacement. Is that correct? For an operation as important as the entry border I personally don't think retro fit is the best way to go but that is just my opinion.

GSA Response: Duly noted, and we are aware of this fact as well. We believe by the time a retrofit kit is installed, it might as well have been replaced with a new LED fixture. We left this up to the individual contractor to determine and propose the best solution possible, at the lowest possible installation cost.

30. Can you provide an example of a LED bulb that works off a HPS or MH ballast. I have been doing LED for 10 years and know of no such bulb. The only bulbs that work off a ballast are the led tubes and fluorescent instant start.

GSA Response: The outcome of this replacement is solely left up to the successful contractor to determine and propose. We have tested some Lunera lamps at various sites. Lunera makes lamps that are direct replacement for HPS and MH, without ballast removal or rewiring. The alternative is also to install a mogul-based lamp, and bypass the ballast.

31. If I need to in the next couple days do a quick site visit would that be possible?

GSA Response: Since we have had two site visits already, no more site visits will be planned at this time.

(End of Question and Answer One)