Questions_Answers_1232SA25R0038.pdf

RFP# 1232SA25R0038 - Cooling Tower Replacement, NAL (Beltsville, MD)

Amendment # 0003

Questions and Answers

1. All current tower framing is to be removed & replaced. Is that correct?

a. ANSWER: Yes, the existing structural steel support system for the existing cooling towers is to be removed and replaced.

2. Stiffeners - Are stiffeners on the framing plan only located at intersections of other beams & isolators?

a. ANSWER: Yes, stiffeners on framing plan occur only at intersections with other beams and isolators.

3. S-402 depicts a W12x40 on top of the W18 beam. No other drawing has mention of a W12x40 beam.

a. ANSWER: Noted and confirmed.

4. S-402 depicts W14 framing to be on top of vibration isolator. Can you confirm?

a. ANSWER: Yes, confirmed.

5. Pipe Support Detail S-401 - These pipe supports show concrete embedment and states coordinate with re-roofing project. Can you supply more information on the roofing project?

Is this our responsibility?

a. ANSWER: Yes. The roofing project is set to be resolicited in FY26.

6. Temporary Tower Placement - Would you allow the location of the temporary cooling tower to be changed or relocated? The loading dock-like area just south of the proposed equipment pad location would better suit the temporary tower. No grading or equipment pad necessary.

a. ANSWER: Government will consider alternate locations for the temporary tower.

Any change to the current plan must be approved by the A&E before proceeding.

However, the temporary tower cannot be located in the dock-like area just south of the proposed equipment pad location. There are underground tanks in this area and tower efficiency will be diminished if located down in a pit.

7. Temporary Condenser Water Piping - The 6” Condenser supply and return lines to temporary valve locations. Are you ok, with a permanent 6” weld pipe instead of flex lines? With the substantial drop into the mechanical room, a temporary/permanent piping arrangement would suffice much better I believe. Upon completion, flanges to have blinds installed.

Holes to be cored and sleeves installed.

a. ANSWER: Hard piping is acceptable in lieu of flex lines. However, permanent building penetrations and blind flanged tie-ins are not acceptable.

8. Temporary tower water supply - The indicated location for the domestic water tie in was not able to be located. There was another 2” domestic supply line just to the right of the boilers.

Able to tie in at this location?

a. ANSWER: There is a 2” line tie in located in the boiler room with a backflow preventer coming off the city pressure of 60psi.

9. Water Treatment - Any further information on tying in water treatment to new temporary lines. What will they need connection wise?

a. ANSWER: A ½” threaded schedule 80 pvc pipe connection point.

10. M-401T - Is the current bypass labeled as 6 and 7 to be demo’d completely?

a. ANSWER: Existing bypass shall remain operational until temporary cooling towers are no longer required. The bypass can remain, and the existing valves can be locked out after temporary cooling towers are removed.

11. Insulation - I did not see any indication of insulation thickness for any of the mechanical piping. Could you please provide?

a. ANSWER: For piping located outdoors, provide insulation 1/2 inch thicker than indicated in table 2 (below). Cover insulation with vapor barrier/weatherproofing jacket.

12. Basin Filtration Skid - Old skid not being utilized? M-601 states we provide. Can you confirm?

a. ANSWER: Yes, confirmed. The old basin filtration skid is to be removed and replaced with a new system.

13. Pumps - New inertia base with spring isolators? Or utilizing old inertia base?

a. ANSWER: The inertia bases and spring isolators are to be new and unused.

14. Do you already have a plan for the older towers that are being replaced? Are you selling them? We would be interested in bidding on them, if that's a possibility. Or is that going through the GC?

a. ANSWER: The Government’s plan for the existing cooling towers is for the General Contractor to remove and dispose of them properly.

15. Will there be another site visit?

a. ANSWER: The contractor site visit occurred on July-22. There are no additional site visits planned for this solicitation.

16. Please provide the present controls contractor for this building (BAS).

a. ANSWER: Siemens

17. Please confirm whether the Superintendent, SSHO, and QC Manager must be three separate individuals, or if dual roles are permissible.

a. ANSWER: Dual roles are permissible so long as contractor personnel meet the requirements described in clause C.7 EMPLOYEE REQUIREMENTS.

18. Are there any specific phasing requirements beyond what is identified in the sequencing notes on Drawing G-001 (e.g., demolition, commissioning, tie-ins)?

a. ANSWER: There are no other specific phasing requirements other than what is identified in the design package.

19. Will the building remain occupied throughout construction? If so, how many people are anticipated to be in the building during the performance period?

a. ANSWER: Yes, the building will remain occupied and operational throughout the construction phase. With the current reorganization planning we cannot predict how many occupants will be present during construction. There are approximately 75 occupants that report to this building on a daily basis at this time.

20. Are there any requirements for temporary heating or cooling beyond what is shown on M- 401T and discussed in the mechanical narrative? Specifically, must the temporary cooling system meet year-round operational demand?

a. ANSWER: Temporary heating/cooling requirements are specified in the design documents. The temporary cooling system should meet the operational demands through the course of the period of performance.

21. Can the period of performance (180 days from NTP) be extended post-award to accommodate current market conditions and equipment lead times, especially given cooling tower procurement estimates (6 months lead time)?

a. ANSWER: Offerors should not anticipate a change in Period of Performance (PoP) for the purposes of proposal submission and evaluation. Any changes to the contract’s terms and conditions will be pursuant to clause 52.243-4 Changes

22. Are soil boring or geotechnical reports available for use in evaluating the crane setup, temporary pad location, or replacement of structural framing? If not, shall the contractor assume excavation will be free of rock and unsuitable materials?

a. ANSWER: There are no applicable boring or Geotech reports available. If unstable materials are later found it may be determined to be an ‘unforeseen condition’ depending on the findings.

23. Please provide bidding quantities or assumptions to carry for:

a. Deteriorated roofing underlayment (if impacted)

i. ANSWER: Contractor is to make quantity/assumptions and should identify what was assumed for the proposal.

b. Damaged base course or subbase due to temporary cooling tower site work

i. ANSWER: Contractor is to make quantity/assumptions and should identify what was assumed for the proposal.

24. Please confirm the manufacturer of the existing cooling towers and whether they are under any current roof system warranty. If so, provide warranty holder contact.

a. ANSWER: Baltimore Air Cooled (BAC). Not under any warranty.

25. Has asbestos or lead-based paint testing been conducted beyond what is stated in the Hazardous Materials Summary on G-001? If so, please provide any supporting reports or documentation.

a. ANSWER: No

26. Please confirm the Building Automation System (BAS) contractor responsible for integration with the new cooling tower controls.

a. ANSWER: Construction Contractor is responsible for BAS integration with the new cooling tower controls and may subcontract with the BAS service contractor who currently performs BAS work at this facility.

27. Please provide the contact information for the building fire alarm service provider to coordinate with regarding shutdowns or impact.

a. ANSWER: VarcoMac - (301) 317-7900

28. Please provide the site visit attendee sign-in sheet.

a. ANSWER: A copy of the site visit sign-in sheet was provided under solicitation amendment 1 at https://sam.gov/contracting

29. Please provide photos of the job site and existing conditions for estimating purposes.

a. ANSWER: The site visit was provided for this.

30. Is this project tax-exempt? If so, please provide the exemption certificate or form.

a. ANSWER: Information regarding contractor tax liability in Maryland is found at https://dat.maryland.gov/Pages/default.aspx

31. Please confirm whether the existing steel dunnage is to be entirely removed and replaced, or if any strengthening/repair is acceptable in lieu of full replacement.

a. ANSWER: Existing steel dunnage is to be entirely removed and replaced.

Refurbishing the existing steel was evaluated and determined to be insufficient for this project.

32. Confirm that commissioning is required for the cooling towers per specification section 01 91 00 and the narrative. Will an independent Commissioning Agent be provided by the Government?

a. ANSWER: Commissioning the new cooling towers is required. The government will contract with an independent Commissioning Agent separately.

33. Please clarify if Test and Balance (TAB) services are required for the new and/or temporary cooling systems. If so, is the contractor responsible for TAB of both chilled water and condenser systems?

a. ANSWER: Contractor is responsible for TAB services for the new and temporary cooling systems.

34. For the temporary cooling tower, are there specific design or noise limitations that need to be adhered to due to proximity to air intakes or occupied areas? (Referencing 25’ clearance requirement on G-001 and M-401T.)

a. ANSWER: No noise limitations were specified other than those identified on G-001 and M-401T. Contractor shall comply with Maryland Noise Ordinance for Beltsville

MD.

35. Are there any known restrictions for crane use, including height limitations or FAA clearance requirements, due to the 15-story height and site location?

a. ANSWER: No restrictions on crane use.

36. Please confirm if there is a required manufacturer or basis-of-design vendor for the cooling tower (e.g., BAC, SPX). If alternates are acceptable, please identify the required submittal process.

a. ANSWER: No required manufacturer.

37. Please confirm if the temporary cooling tower rental period may extend past March 1 if commissioning of the permanent system is delayed, or if a strict cutoff is enforced regardless of construction progress.

a. ANSWER: Temporary cooling tower rental period is to be determined by the contractor and may extend past March 1st. It was assumed that after March 1st the weather conditions may be comfortable enough to not require the temporary cooling during the spring season.

38. Will an existing site utility survey be provided (e.g., location of underground electrical or chilled water piping near the temporary cooling tower pad)? If not, can the contractor carry exploratory excavation as an allowance?

a. ANSWER: Contractor must contact MISS UTILITY prior to any excavation. Any excavation on the site must be coordinated with and approved by the COR in advance.

39. Will the Government provide access to the freight elevator during normal working hours for transporting large or heavy equipment to the penthouse? If not, please identify restricted hours or escort requirements.

a. ANSWER: No more than 4500 lbs can be transported by the contractor at a time. If any damage to the elevator occurs during overweight transportation, the cost to repair will be the responsibility of the contractor.

40. Please confirm if nighttime or weekend work is permitted during outages (MCC tie-ins, piping changeovers, etc.) or if all work must be performed during standard hours.

a. ANSWER: After hours work is permitted.

41. Is the contractor responsible for reconnecting and programming the building’s BAS points (e.g., trend logs, alarms) after integration of the new tower system? Or will the building controls contractor handle this scope directly?

a. ANSWER: The Construction Contractor is responsible for reconnecting and reprogramming the BAS points. The contractor may subcontract with the location’s BAS controls contractor to handle this scope.

42. Is the government providing any baseline trend data or operating logs to verify existing tower performance before removal and startup of temporary systems?

a. ANSWER: There are no plans to provide trend data or operating logs for the existing cooling towers.

43. Please confirm whether any of the existing mechanical or electrical equipment being removed needs to be turned over to the Government or disposed of off-site.

a. ANSWER: Contractor is to dispose of the existing mechanical/electrical equipment removed.

44. Is there a designated staging or laydown area for temporary cooling equipment and crane assembly? Please confirm location and any access constraints.

a. ANSWER: Contractor is to propose staging and crane assembly areas for approval by the COR. It is likely the west end of the parking area will be used for this activity.

45. Are there any LEED or sustainability reporting requirements associated with this project?

(Reference to Guiding Principles in narrative suggests potential relevance.)

a. ANSWER: There are no LEED/Sustainability reporting requirements associated with this project.

46. Please provide the contact information for the government’s existing water treatment contractor.

a. ANSWER: Bond Water Treatment – 301-721-2663-(office)

47. Drawing MS101T shows an “equipment pad” for the location of the temporary cooling tower.

Can the temporary tower be trailer mounted and parked in the grass in this location as opposed to building an equipment pad?

a. ANSWER: Yes the temporary CT can be parked on the grass area on a mounted trailer as opposed to the equipment pad.

48. Was there a basis of design temporary tower that the engineer used for the dimensions listed on M-401T?

a. ANSWER: Yes, the dimensions were based on a basis of design. We considered that the contractor would rent a temporary cooling tower that would be off-loaded from the delivery truck, hoisted and set on elevated an 8’ high substructure (also provided by the equipment rental company).

49. Can crane lifts be performed during normal working hours (Mon-Fri 6-230)

a. ANSWER: Yes.

50. Will a shutdown of the condenser water system to install new taps and isolation valves for the temporary towers be required to be off-hours?

a. ANSWER: All outages and shutdowns are to be coordinated with the COR in advance. Each planned shutdown/outage will have to be evaluated to determine if they can be done during normal work hours, or off-hours.

51. Specifications call for the structural steel to be installed in accordance with AISC codes; Is the installing contractor required to be AISC certified?

a. ANSWER: Yes

52. Are the Site Supervisor, Site Safety/Health Officer, and Quality Control Manager allowed to be the same person onsite?

a. ANSWER: Yes, see question 17.

53. What is the contact information for the existing Building Automation Vendor / BMS vendor servicing the building?

a. ANSWER: See answer to question 26.

54. What is the contact information for the existing Fire Alarm Vendor servicing the building?

a. ANSWER: See answer to question 27

55. What work must be performed afterhours/weekends?

a. ANSWER: Only emergencies (ex. Tie ins)

56. Is the contractor responsible for any fees associated with security coverage or escorting, including for after-hours work? If so, what is the contact information for the vendor responsible for providing these services?

a. ANSWER: There are no fees associated with security/escorting during normal work hours. Each case where after-hours work is scheduled will be evaluated during the coordination of the after-hours work.

57. Is the contractor responsible for fees associated with BMO/engineering for after-hours work? If so, what is the contact information for the vendor responsible for providing these services?

a. ANSWER: Not for emergencies as designated in question #55’s answer. If the contractor is attempting to get ahead on the schedule, then the cost to have NAL staff onsite will be the contractor’s responsibility. In the event they need to complete this task the contractor will contact ISG (David Bruce 202-550-7505).

58. Is the contractor responsible for fees associated with BMO/engineering for utility shutdowns and/or draindowns? If so, what is the contact information for the vendor responsible for providing these services?

a. ANSWER: No fees associated with utility shutdowns but contact the building engineers for coordination. Contact Roy Falconer at 301-351-8204.

59. Is use of the loading dock and freight elevator(s) allowed after hours? Are there additional costs associated with this?

a. ANSWER: The loading dock & freight elevator are accessible after hours only for an emergency situation. No additional fees for emergency work.

60. Is the contractor allowed to operate the freight elevator(s) or is there a dedicated building vendor for all freight elevator(s) operations? Does this apply to day-shift and after-hours work?

a. ANSWER: Yes

61. Is the contractor responsible for any costs associated with use of the freight elevator(s)? If so, what are the costs and what is the contact information for the vendor responsible for this?

a. ANSWER: No

62. Confirm commissioning/CxA activities are the responsibility of the 3rd party CM contracted by the government and not by the contractor.

a. ANSWER: Contractor is responsible for commissioning the new cooling tower system. The Government will contract with a 3rd party CxA.

63. Is any abatement anticipated for this contract, and is the contractor to include any abatement cost or allowance in their bid price?

a. ANSWER: No asbestos containing materials or lead paint requiring abatement were identified in the affected areas.

64. Will any phasing be required for this work?

a. ANSWER: See answer to question 18.

65. What is the progress meeting schedule and who shall be required to attend?

a. ANSWER: Progress meetings are generally every (two) weeks and include the COR, Super, and AE.

66. Is there room for staging, storage, and dumpster on site?

a. ANSWER: See answer to question 44.

67. Is parking available at the building?

a. ANSWER: Yes. There will be a contractor designated parking area within the existing parking lots onsite.

68. Does the contractor have access to the bathrooms on site, or will they need to include port-a-johns in their bid?

a. ANSWER: Contractors will not have access to facility restrooms, and should include port a john costs in their bid.

69. Will CAD drawings be available to the winning contractor?

a. ANSWER: Yes.

70. Are you able to provide the name and contact information for the existing Building Controls

Management and Water Treatment vendors.

a. ANSWER: See responses to questions 16, 26, 27, 41, and 46 above.

71. What is the height of the building?

a. ANSWER: Top of parapet is at EL 195 ft.

72. Is this proposed layout approved?

a. ANSWER: Preliminarily this crane placement seems to be acceptable. Final crane placement is to be formally approved by the COR and Location Monitor in advance prior to bringing in the crane. Contractor will be responsible for all repairs to the flower-bed and asphalt areas. Lift plan for all lifts are to be pre-approved by ARS and the design A&E.