QandAs.pdf

Questions and Answers

Question 1: Do the Superintendent, SSHO, and QC Manager need to be three separate individuals?

Answer 1: No

Question 2: Can the period of performance be extended after award once material/equipment lead times are confirmed?

Answer 2: Only unforeseen or justified delays will be accepted to extend the period of performance. Prior coordination of material/equipment is the responsibility of the contractor.

Question 3: Is this project tax exempt?

Answer 3: No, the project is not tax exempt

Question 4: Are there any phasing requirements?

Answer 4: No

Question 5: Are there any specific periods when shutdowns are allowed?

Answer 5: Shutdowns must be coordinated with the Location Point of Contract

Question 6: Will any portions of the building remain occupied during the chiller replacement? If so, please confirm the occupancy load and identify any temperature-sensitive spaces or critical operations that must remain conditioned throughout the work.

Answer 6: Yes, the entire building will remain occupied

Question 7: Are any areas considered critical or off-limits?

Answer 7: All work should be outside of main building

Question 8: Are there any temporary heating/cooling requirements?

Answer 8: No

Question 9: Please confirm if temporary mechanical cooling is required during replacement of the existing chiller.

Answer 9: Temporary cooling is not required

Question 10: Are soil boring reports available? If not, it will be assumed that excavation will be clear of rocks and obstructions.

Answer 10: Not aware of any required excavation required

Question 11: Please confirm whether the intent is to reuse the existing underground chilled water supply and return piping and simply reconnect at the existing stub-outs. If new underground piping is not anticipated, we will exclude excavation and associated geotechnical assumptions (e.g., rock removal, soil borings) from our proposal.

Answer 11: Existing underground plumbing to be reused.

Question 12: Please confirm whether existing supply and return piping between the chiller pad and the building will remain in place and be reused. If reused, is re-insulation of that piping required, or is insulation limited to new piping provided under this contract?

Answer 12: Pad is to be reused. Per the SOW… All exposed piping is to be properly insulated and heat traced.

Question 13: Please confirm whether all chilled water valves, gauges, thermometers, flow meters, and appurtenances at the chiller connection are to be provided new under this contract, or if reuse of any existing components is acceptable.

Answer 13: Per the SOW… Provide and install all necessary mechanical piping to allow for proper start-up, loop chemical balance testing, and flow balancing. Supply and return chilled water piping shall include air vents, pressure gauges w/ shutoff valves, thermometers, flow meters, isolation valves, balancing valves, relief valves and/or any other devices/materials specified in the chiller manufacturer’s installation instructions.

Question 14: Please provide the site visit attendee sign-in sheet.

Answer 14: The site visit sign-in sheet is for Governmental records only.

Question 15: Please provide photos of the job site and existing conditions

Answer 15: Several photos are available in the SOW. No further photos will be supplied. The site was made available for inspection and photos.

Question 16: Please confirm whether asbestos or lead is present, and if so, provide the relevant documentation.

Answer 16: USDA is not aware of any asbestos or lead at this building.

Question 17: Are there any known hazardous materials (e.g., refrigerant recovery, lead, asbestos) requiring special handling or abatement during removal?

Answer 17: Obviously refrigerant is present in the HVAC system. USDA is not aware of any asbestos or lead at this building.

Question 18: Is the contractor responsible for flushing and chemically treating the chilled water loop after reconnection and prior to start-up?

Answer 18: Yes

Question 19: Please provide the contact information for the building controls contractor.

Answer 19: Trane

Question 20: Please confirm the manufacturer and model of the existing BAS/BMS system.

Answer 20: Tracer Summit

Question 21: Is BACnet or Modbus communication required for chiller integration, or will hardwired I/O suffice?

Answer 21: BACnet

Question 22: Will the contractor be required to program and test BAS sequences of operation for the new chiller, or will this be handled by the controls vendor under separate contract?

Answer 22: Yes, the awardee will be responsible for coordinating this work and seeing that it gets done.

Question 23: Please confirm whether the contractor is responsible for programming and validating the BAS sequence of operations for the new chiller, or if this work will be performed by the government’s controls vendor under separate contract.

Answer 23: Yes, the awardee will be responsible for coordinating this work and seeing that it gets done.

Question 24: Will the government provide access to the control system for programming, or must the contractor carry this cost?

Answer 24 USDA will provide access.

Question 25: Is the contractor required to match the existing chilled water loop piping configuration exactly, or are minor layout changes allowed?

Answer 25: Yes, reuse the chilled water piping with whatever minor adjustments that might have to be made

Question 26: Are glycol connections or provisions required if ambient drops below freeze protection range?

Answer 26: No.

Question 27: Can the contractor re-use the existing flow meters, gauges, and valves, or should all be assumed to be new?

Answer 27: Per the SOW… Provide and install all necessary mechanical piping to allow for proper start-up, loop chemical balance testing, and flow balancing. Supply and return chilled water piping shall include air vents, pressure gauges w/ shutoff valves, thermometers, flow meters, isolation valves, balancing valves, relief valves and/or any other devices/materials specified in the chiller manufacturer’s installation instructions.

Question 28: Is a full pre-functional and functional performance test required for commissioning? If so, who provides the testing agent?

Answer 28: Per the SOW…Provide all labor and materials to perform startup. Startup shall be performed by a factory-trained technician from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Technician shall confirm that equipment has been correctly installed and passes specification checklist prior to equipment becoming operational and covered under OEM warranty. This shall be done in strict accordance with manufacturer's specifications and requirements. Third-party service agencies are not permitted.

Question 29: Will the government require any training sessions for O&M staff beyond the O&M manual turnover?

Answer 29: No.

Question 30: Is the existing feeder to be re-used? If so, please confirm ampacity, wire size, and breaker compatibility.

Answer 30: Reuse existing if possible. Site was available for inspection and photos.

Question 31: Is the contractor responsible for providing and installing a new fused disconnect or breaker for the chiller, or will existing electrical protection be reused?

Answer 31: Reuse existing if possible.

Question 32: Are arc flash or short circuit coordination studies required as part of the new chiller installation?

Answer 32: No

Question 33: Should the new chiller include any surge protection device (SPD)?

Answer 33: No

Question 34: Is the existing concrete pad confirmed to meet all current weight and vibration isolation requirements for the new chiller?

Answer 34: Yes for the basis of design (direct replacement Trane RTAF 230 ton air cooled chiller)

Question 35: Is a crane lift permit required? If so, who is responsible for obtaining it (contractor or government)?

Answer 35: Means and methods are strictly up to the contractor. Contractor is responsible for anything and everything necessary to deliver a fully functional end product. From the SOW…Contractor must furnish all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, and quality control necessary to remove existing Trane RTAF 230 ton chiller and replace with a new Trane RTAF 230 ton chiller, model number

RTAF230EUAHHXUA1N21X3NLNCCV1XAXBXXXAA1XXXX - JKM

Question 36: “In lieu of the PPQ can we submit CPARs for past performance?”

Answer 36: Yes, final versions of CPAR assessments may be submitted in lieu of a PPQ. The solicitation language found in attachment Sol_1232SA25R0026, Pg. 25 is therefore updated as highlighted in yellow below.

“Past Performance- Refer to Attachment 7 Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ). The Offeror shall submit a separate and fully completed Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) for each instance of corporate experience submitted. PPQs that were submitted in response to previous solicitations may NOT be submitted. Any past performance surveys/assessment/evaluation forms, other than Attachment 7 PPQ format, are unacceptable and will not be considered for evaluation with the exception of final CPAR assessments.”