Attachment 15 Combined RFI Responses.pdf

1232SA26Q0056 –USDA HVAC Repair DBNRRC

COMBINED RFI RESPONSES 03/05/2026

1. Will the government clarify if the Contractor is required to have an OSHA 30 Certified on-site Superintendent? If so, is this Superintended required to be on-site at all times? Answer: A full time OSHA person is not required as long as the site supervisor is qualified as he can perform both roles.

2. Will the government allow the Contractor to delegate an OSHA 30 superintendent and associated responsibilities to a member of the subcontractor's team? Answer: A full time OSHA person is not required as long as the site supervisor is qualified as he can perform both roles

3. Will the government clarify if all subcontractors on-site are required to be OSHA 10 Certified? Answer: A full time OSHA person is not required as long as the site supervisor is qualified as he can perform both roles

4. Will the government clarify what is the maximum response time that they are willing to accept for warranty call-outs? Answer: Depends on how vital the equipment’s role is.

5. Will the government clarify if there is any lead-based paint and/or asbestos in the area proposed to be under construction? Answer: This building was constructed after asbestos was banned in commercial buildings. To our knowledge there are no lead-based paints in the building.

6. Will the government provide an asbestos survey for the affected area? Answer: To my knowledge there is no asbestos report.

7. What are the security requirements, if any, to get on campus? Answer: The contractor will be responsible for each employee to sign in. We will issue temporary badges and door PINs for long-term visitors

8. What are the background check requirements for this facility? Answer: no background checks are required.

9. In each Phase’s drawings, there is no mention of the location of existing fire alarm, fire suppression/sprinklers, speakers, cameras, alarms, or sensors. Will the government clarify if these items are to be removed and reinstalled? Answer: The fire alarm, sprinklers, speakers, alarms and sensors will need to be reinstalled if removal is necessary. Contractor must protect existing systems during construction.

10. If the above items are to be reinstalled, will the government provide a copy of as-builts for fire alarm, fire suppression/sprinklers, CCTV, and audio/visual equipment? Answer: There are no as-builts that would include these items. These items have been upgraded and moved since original construction.

11. Will all phases, 2B, 3A, & 3B, be completed at once, or will each phase be completed before the next phase starts? Answer: Each project phase must not start until the previous phase is complete. See updated phasing notes for G-002 on each phase.

12. Will the spaces for each phase be occupied or unoccupied during construction? Answer: All areas under construction will be unoccupied.

13. During the site visit, it was stated that temporary walls will be required to separate construction areas from occupied portions of the facility. Answer: there will need to be a barrier installed to block access to the areas under construction.

A. If temporary partition walls are required, please clarify whether these walls must include a door equipped with an emergency-egress handle or a keyed entry door to allow controlled access while maintaining life-safety requirements. Answer: No

B. What are the approved materials for temporary walls? Answer: plastic sheeting

C. Does the temporary wall need to be a rigid wall or can it be a plastic sheet/barrier that separates the construction area from the rest of the facility? Answer: Plastic sheeting

14. Who is the current fire alarm and fire sprinkler contractor this facility uses? Answer: Nolan Lock

15. Who is the current controls contractor this facility uses? Answer: Air Tech.

16. Who is the current CCTV & audio/visual contractor this facility uses? Answer: Nolan Lock

17. During the site visit, Lab 21 was presented as how each room was staged for the construction happening during Phase 2A. Will the government be staging each room in Phases 2B, 3A, and 3B in the same manner?

Answer: yes

18. During the site visit, contractors were able to walk out on the roof. What type of roof material is at this facility and how many layers of roof are there? Answer: TPO

19. On sheet A-111 of the Phase 2B Drawings, sheet A-101 of the Phase 3A Drawings, and sheet A-101 of the Phase 3B Drawings, the notes state: “Provide new 24" x 24" suspended acoustical ceiling system as specified.” However, no additional specification is provided regarding the required ceiling type. Will the Government identify the specific 24" x 24" suspended acoustical ceiling system required for this project, or provide an approved manufacturer and product that meets the project’s requirements? Answer: See Specification Section 09 51 00 Acoustical Ceilings

20. During the site visit it was stated by an employee that the Fire Sprinkler system was not operational. Will the government confirm if the Fire Sprinkler system is operational? Answer: The fire alarms and monitoring is active, but the fire suppression system is not operable.

A. If the Fire Sprinkler system is not operational, would the government like the contractor to bring the system back into operation during the phases of this project? Answer: No The planned phasing provides an optimal opportunity to repair the fire sprinkler system identified in Phases 2B, 3A, and 3B, as the acoustical ceiling tiles and suspended gypsum board ceilings will already be removed.

Should the government choose to exclude fire sprinkler repairs from this requirement and address them in a future solicitation, the subsequent work would likely damage the newly installed ceilings, resulting in additional repairs or replacement.

B. If the government would like the contractor to bring the system back into operation during the phases of this project, will the government provide a date for a second site visit to allow for the inspection of the current sprinkler system? Answer: No

C. If the Fire Sprinkler system is operational, will the government provide the as-builts for this system?

Answer: The system is not operational

21. Will the government confirm whether the new suspended gypsum board ceiling is required to meet any specific fire-rating classification. If a fire-rated assembly is required, please provide the applicable rating, UL design, or construction details needed to meet the project’s life-safety requirements. Answer: The ceilings are not required to be fire rated.

22. On sheet E-600 of the Phase 2B Drawings, please confirm if Panel 1LB is new or existing? Answer: Panel 1LB is existing.

23. For Phase 2B, will the government provide a plan indicating electrical panel locations for Panel HD1 and New Panel HD1B. Answer: Panel HD1 is located in the main electrical room. Panel HD1B is to be installed in the mechanical mezzanine in the proximity of Panel M1.

24. On sheet E-102 of the Phase 2B Drawings, should Note-2 apply to all new LEF’s and EF-11? Answer: Yes.

25. On sheet E-500 of the Phase 3A Drawings, the exit light is missing from the lighting schedule. Will the government update the schedule to include these? Answer: Refer to answer for comment #29.

26. For Phase 3A, will the government provide a plan indicating electrical panel locations for Panel HD1B and S2L1? Answer: Refer to answers to comments #25 and #30 this document.

27. On sheet E-500 of the Phase 3B Drawings, Types C, C1, G1, G2, and Exit Lights are missing from the lighting schedule. Will the government update the schedule to include these? Answer:

Type Lumens Load Description Make Mounting

C 3000 34.8 W DOWNLIGHT LITHONIA RECESSED

C1 3000 34.8 W DOWNLIGHT,

EMERGENCY

LITHONIA RECESSED

G1 1000 10.4 W DOWNLIGHT LITHONIA RECESSED

G2 1000 10.4 W DOWNLIGHT,

WALLWASH

LITHONIA RECESSED

X1 EXIT SIGN LITHONIA SURFACE

28. For Phase 3B, will the government provide a plan indicating the electrical panel location for Panel S2L1?

Answer: Panel S2L1 is Section 2 of Panel L1 located in room 132.

29. The below picture was taken during the site visit. It shows the ceiling of Room 101 in Phase 3B.

A. In the center of the room there is a wall track. Does this need to be removed and replaced for the installation of the new Suspended Gypsum Board Ceiling System? Answer: yes

B. Does the projector need to be removed and reinstalled? Answer: Yes

C. There are several speakers located on the ceiling in Room 101. Are these speakers to be removed, stored on-site, and reinstalled in the same place with the new Suspended Acoustical Ceiling System?

Answer: Yes

30. The specs call for the DI water to be stainless steel pipe with press fit fittings. Can we use Viega s.s. mega press fittings? Answer: No, Fittings for DI water must be welded. Section 22 00 00 has been updated accordingly.

31. is there a timeline schedule for when the phases need to be completed? Answer: Yes, Refer to revised phasing plans.

32. is there a date or rough time line when this project will start? it was mentioned on the job walk this project will not start until a existing project is completed Answer: Yes, 2B Sequence 1 (See addendum) may start once the contract is awarded, Phase 2B Sequence 2 may not start until Phase 2B Sequence 1 and the current Phase 2A is completed. Phase 3A follows 2B and 3B follows 3A through completion.

33. Can you provide a contact for the roofer the facility is already using? The roof looks new and may be under warranty so we would like to use the same roofer. Answer: DBNRRC will supply that information.

34. Can you verify there are no seismic requirements for hanging supports? normally this is its own spec in the specifications Answer: Seismic bracing is not required for this project. Provide standard supports and hangers for mechanical systems in accordance design documents.

35. What onsite storage will be available? We need a place to store and bring in material during parts of the project. Answer: DBNRRC will designate a suitable location.

36. Will the contractors be able to use the restrooms and facilities or do we need to bring in temporary toilets?

Answer: Project requirements are that Contractor provides toilets.

37. Will the facility have space available to provide a office for a job superintendent? Answer: Project requirements are that Contractor provides whatever office space in trailers located in an agreed upon place with DBNRRC.

38. The lighting plan for Phase 2B shows A1E fixtures and there are not A1E fixtures on the fixture schedule and the fixture schedule shows A fixtures and there are not A fixtures on the lighting plan. Can you clarify what material is to be used? Answer: Provide Type A1 fixtures with integral self-diagnostic emergency battery pack.

39. Will the building be occupied during the phases? Answer: Yes, if so, what areas will be occupied during each phase? Employees will be moved to a part of the building that construction is complete.

40. What onsite storage will be available? We need a place to store and bring in material during parts of the project. Answer: There is limited space for storage at this facility. There will be areas that can designated for storage depending on how much room is needed. The contractor will have to work with location personnel to coordinate storage areas.

41. What building access will contractors have for each phase? Answer: They will be issued an access code that will only work during designated times.

42. Will fire suppression sprinkler lines in phase 2 B need to be modified or re-worked? Answer: NO, the fire suppression lines will remain in place.

43. Is walk-in cooler in L3 re-work part of phase 2B? Answer: No

44. Is removing and replacing ceiling grids part of the phases or will it be done before work starts and be replaced after work is completed? Answer: The contractor will be responsible for removing and replacing ceiling tiles.

45. Can you define the repainting scope/scheme for each phase? Answer: Painting is not included, only repaint areas that get damaged during construction.

46. Is the contractor responsible for removing and replacing the security cameras in the halls? Answer: The contractor can remove and discard the security cameras; they are not operational.

47. Will phase 2B, 3A, and 3B be an extension of the existing Alerton building management system which currently handles other parts of the building and has already been approved for Phase 2A? Answer: Yes

48. Will TSI lab controls for Phase 2B be an extension of the lab controls that are approved for Phase 2A? Answer: Yes