Attachment 7 Questions and Answers.pdf

No. Proposed RFI Question Source Reference / Reason

1 Please confirm whether the contractor must provide both performance and payment bonds, or whether payment bond or irrevocable letter of credit is acceptable payment protection for this purchase order.

A: Yes, performance and payment bonds are required when over $150,000.00

SF1442 Item 12a requires performance and payment bonds within 10 days. SF1442 continuation states on-site work cannot begin until the Payment Bond or Irrevocable Letter of Credit is received and approved.

FAR 52.228-15 is checked. BC directed this issue to be addressed by RFI.

2 Please confirm whether CLIN 1001 Unit Heater Replacement and CLIN 1002 Drywall over north windows are option CLINs/alternates or required priced line items. Also confirm whether award may include the base CLIN only or the base CLIN plus one or both options.

A: CLIN 1001 Unit Heater Replacement is no longer needed. We would like separate prices for CLIN 0001 and CLIN 1002 Drywall over north windows. Award will be CLIN 0001 only, or CLIN 0001 and CLIN 1002.

SF1442 Schedule of Items lists CLIN 0001, 1001, and 1002. SF1442 Price section states base CLIN and all options. Attachment 2 G-101 identifies Bid Option #1 for unit heaters and Bid Option #2 for gypsum board over north clerestory windows. BC directed this issue to be addressed by RFI.

3 Please confirm whether the 2010 limited asbestos survey is intended to cover all areas and materials affected by this project, including roofing, flashing, clerestory/window work, pipe insulation, caulking, ceiling tile, and transite. If not, please confirm who is responsible for additional testing, abatement design, abatement work, air monitoring, cost, and schedule impacts.

A: No pipe insulation and no ceiling tile are to be disturbed by the work.

Attachment 3 Asbestos Report states the survey was limited/non-destructive, roofing materials and other listed items were seldom tested and should be assumed asbestos-containing until tested, and untested products should be tested before disturbance. BC directed this issue to be addressed by

RFI.

4 Please confirm whether any known asbestos-containing materials will be disturbed by the roof replacement, unit heater replacement, or north clerestory gypsum board work. If yes, please provide locations, quantities, abatement requirements, and whether abatement must be completed before construction starts.

A: The base CLIN for roof replacement should not disturb any asbestos containing materials. CLIN 1002 is for covering the north windows with sheetrock attached to a wood framework and should not disturb the windows themselves, so any asbestos in the window units should not be disturbed.

Attachment 3 Asbestos Report identifies asbestos-containing materials including texture/joint compound, interior window glazing, pipe fitting insulation, ceiling tile, gray caulking, and transite. Project scope includes roof, unit heater, and clerestory/window-adjacent work.

5 Please confirm whether the contractor is responsible for protecting existing equipment and ceilings below the roof, or whether the Government will provide any existing protection. If contractor protection is required, please confirm whether there are areas requiring special protection beyond what is shown.

A: USDA ARS will protect any equipment remaining in the interior space. Existing ceilings have already been protected with overlying ¾-inch plywood covering attached to 2 x 6 ceiling joists. There are no areas requiring special protection beyond what ARS will provide.

Attachment 2 General Building Notes state the Government shall be responsible for protection of existing equipment and ceilings shown to remain, but also states contractors shall evaluate structural integrity of this protection before bid and determine sufficiency for contractor means and methods.

6 Please confirm whether roof work may be phased by area and whether any work-hour, access, security, noise, odor, hot work, or facility-operation restrictions apply beyond maintaining watertight conditions.

A: The building will be vacated by ARS. Contractor and contractor’s workers are required to sign in daily at building 1. Contractor may work on site during normal business hours Monday through Friday except for federal holidays. Normal business hours are between 7 am and 5 pm. Exceptions to work hours and days may be granted by the COR in accordance of the Laboratory Director. Access to the work site is through a security gate that opens at 7 am and closes at 5 pm. An area for staging materials and parking of work vehicles will be designated by the COR. Hot work permitting is addressed in the Specifications.

Attachment 2 General Building Notes require daily dry-in, watertight conditions, and materials on site before roof removal. SF1442 and specs do not clearly state all facility operational restrictions.

7 Please confirm whether the existing roof assembly contains any hidden conditions, wet insulation, damaged deck, structural deterioration, or concealed utility conflicts known to the Government.

A: The roof deck dates from the 1960s and doubtless has deteriorated during that time. The existing bar joists are in good condition. There are no concealed utility conflicts to our knowledge.

Attachment 1 Section 01 00 10 notes utility or structural conflicts and Attachment 2 demolition notes require removal down to existing bar joists and preparation for new trusses/roofing assembly.

8 Please confirm who is responsible for removal/reinstallation or temporary relocation of light fixtures exposed to the work environment, including electrical disconnect/reconnect and storage coordination.

A: Contractor is responsible for removal and reinstallation of light fixtures, including electrical disconnect and reconnect. Contractor shall coordinate with ARS for storage of the light fixtures.

Attachment 2 General Building Notes state the contractor shall remove light fixtures exposed to the work environment, turn them over to the Government for storage, and reinstall after the building is dried-in.

9 Please confirm whether the delegated light-gauge roof truss designer must design for future solar panel loading and, if so, provide required design criteria, panel load assumptions, layout assumptions, and attachment limitations.

A: No, the design is not required to allow for future solar panel loading. The roof will face north.

Attachment 2 Structural General Notes state the delegated truss designer shall design the truss system to support future installation of solar panels on the roof.

10 Please confirm whether bid pricing must include all required progress payment forms, certified payroll reporting, submittal preparation, and closeout documentation as incidental to the work, with no separate pay item.

A: Any costs associated with preparing progress reports, submittals, payrolls, closeout activities and invoicing must be included in your price, there is no separate line time for this.

SF1442 continuation requires payroll records and IPP invoicing. SF1442 452.232-71 and Attachments 5 and 6 include progress payment requirements/forms.