Attachment 5 - Consolidated List of RFI Questions.pdf

1232SA26Q0454 Amendment 0004 – Attachment 5 RFI Questions and Answers

1. The specifications include section 01 91 00.15 Building Commissioning. Will the government clarify whether the USDA is hiring the 3rd-party commissioning agent, or will the Contractor need to hire one?

Commissioning agent shall be hired by the Contractor.

2. The spec calls for a stainless steel liner and work surface, but the Premier hood called out in the schedule on Sheet M6.0 is not available with a stainless steel liner (it has a very robust chemical resistant one-piece molded fiberglass liner.) Also, the part number called out for the work surface is a dished epoxy resin work surface rather than stainless steel.

The fiberglass liner for the scheduled Premier hood shall be acceptable.

3. The spec calls for a stainless steel liner and work surface, but the Premier hood called out in the schedule on Sheet M6.0 is not available with a stainless steel liner (it has a very robust chemical resistant one-piece molded fiberglass liner.) Also, the part number called out for the work surface is a dished epoxy resin work surface rather than stainless steel.

The fiberglass liner for the scheduled Premier hood shall be acceptable.

4. There is not a key to indicate what type of cabinets are required below the hoods. Please confirm these cabinets should be standard (ie., not acid, flammable, etc.) cabinets.

Cabinets below fume hood to be standard cabinets

5. There is not a key to indicate what type of cabinets are required below the hoods. Please

6. There is not a key to indicate what type of cabinets are required below the hoods. Please

7. There is not a key to indicate what type of cabinets are required below the hoods. Please

8. The plans and the price schedule don’t match. The price schedule shows bid option 1 as room 425 but the plans on sheet AD120 show bid option 1 as rooms 425 and 426. Please advise.

Follow plans for scope of Bid alternate 1

9. On sheet EP001 - Detail 1, a note states “Panel N2C outside room 113 below. See sheet ED001 for additional info”. Electrical needs to know how far away the panel in room 113 is located from the area of work to run their conduit. This scope is not clear on ED001. Please advise.

The farthest conduit run will be approximately 150 feet for the dedicated receptacle being fed by N2C-113. The other circuits being fed by panel N2C will approximately be between 130 feet and 140 feet.

10. Could the qualified superintendent / competent person also serve as QC and SSHO and follow the EM385 or is a separate person with EM385 training required to serve as SSHO?

Separate Individual required

11. Is there known ACM at this site? Is there a hazardous material report available? NO known

ACM.

12. Room 425 is indicated as the add alternate #1 but on A-144 some elevations indicate room 424 as part of add alternate #1 (from A-144) B1 LAB 424 - EAST ELEV - ADD ALTERNATE Follow plans for scope of Bid alternate 1

13. Title of Work Laboratory Equipment and Fume Hoods. Specification 115300. Item description and/or discrepancy: Specifications call for stainless steel liner, worksurface (2.2.1.3.1) and stainless steel cupsink (2.2.1.7.1 c.). Fume Hood Schedule on page M6.0 shows Manufacturers work surface (9500400) which is an epoxy resin worktop. Please confirm the hood liner, work surface and cupsink required in the hood.

The fiberglass liner for the scheduled Premier hood shall be acceptable. Epoxy worktop, no cupsink required.

14. Base Finish: The room finish schedule specifies RB-1 (6" rubber base), but floor plan note 11R calls for an integral sheet vinyl cove. Could you please clarify which finish is required?

Integral sheet vinyl cove base

15. Cabinet Toe Kicks: Please confirm if the toe kicks should be painted, finished with a rubber base, or an integral cove. Rubber base

16. Alternate 1: Could you clarify the requirements for Alternate 1? The finish schedule shows rooms 425 and 426 under both the base bid and Alternate 1. See floor plans and elevations for scope of add alternate 1 some work occurs in base and some in alt

17. Who is the current DDC Contractor, and what controls manufacturer are the existing HVAC controls?

The existing DDC system is Distech Niagara. New controls shall be compatible with the existing DDC system, and shall be fully integrated with the existing system. DDC contractor shall be capable of meeting those requirements.

18. There are notes (plan note 2 on sheet P1.0) on the plumbing sheets that say to patch the floor slab per the architectural documents. I don’t see any concrete details for patching on the architectural documents. Will the government provide said detail? Contractor to patch slab where needed with standard concrete patch material

19. Paragraph 1.6.1.1 Duties in section 01 45 00 contain the option for the paragraph to be edited to state whether the QC can also be the superintendent or if the QC needs to be a separate qualified individual. This paragraph has not been edited. Please clarify if a separate qualified individual is required for a QC or if the project superintendent may also fill the role of QC.

20. Please clarify if the SSHO must be a separate qualified individual from the project superintendent or if the superintendent may also hold the role of SSHO.

21. Sheet AD-120 detail F2 shows the ceiling in rooms 426 and 425 as add alternates to remove ceiling and light fixtures. Sheet EP001 does not show new light fixtures as an add alternate. Please confirm new light fixtures for rooms 425 & 426 should be included as an add-alternative. How many fixtures; which one is the emergency fixture? We assume they would match other new light fixtures. Demolition of existing and installation of new fixtures will be required for the add alternates. Quantities and layout shall match architectural enlargements for the alternates. Types will be the same as the fixtures for the other rooms in scope and should be connected to the same circuit as existing.

22. There are existing voice/data cables on the walls in the area to be demoed. This is not identified on the project drawings. Should this be included in the Demo scope of work?

Yes, it should. The intent will be to relocate voice and data cables to new drops in the scope of work to allow for connections to workstations. Quantities to be relocated will need to be determined to suit the locations where workstations intend to be used. Any remaining cables not being relocated will need to be demolished.

23. Will the new Research Labs 416, 424, 425 and Pick-Up 426 require new data cabling to be added and if so, where will this route to?

See note #22.

24. Keynote 11 on sheet EP001 notes that the existing FACP is being relocated to room 416. The plans do not show anything on Fire Alarm, can the government provide a plan sheet showing the FACP current location.

a. What are the sizes and quantities of conduits that need to be relocated? How many and what sizes of conductors will need to be relocated?

b. Who is the manufacturer of the fire alarm panel, Notifier, EST etc.?

c. Who is the current contractor that maintains the fire alarm for the facility?

d. Drawing ED001 shows the FACP located in room 413 and calls for it to be relocated. The FACP is actually in Vestibule 433 outside of the construction area. Will it still require relocation?

e. There are existing smoke detectors in Corr’s 427B & 427A that are not shown on ED001 or EP001 for reconfiguration. Will these need to be reconfigured?

f. There are existing horn/strobes in all the rooms in the construction area that are not shown on ED001 for demo or EP001 for reconfiguration. Will these need reconfigured? Will the Government please clarify the full extent of the fire alarm scope of work?

FACP is not in scope and will remain in its current location.

25. From the site visit we noticed that the FACP is outdated and parts may not be available, does the government want the existing panel updated/replaced?

See note #24.

26. Please define the Add Alternate (CLIN0002) electrical scope of work that is required.

Drawing A-120 shows lighting & ceiling changes to be made in both Rooms 425 & 426. Drawing ED001 appears to indicate that the existing lighting in both rooms is to stay as is, with existing receptacles and a communications enclosure being removed in Room 426 only, as a part of the Base Bid (CLIN0001). This demolition drawing does not indicate the planned status of the existing receptacles, etc. in Room 425. Drawing EP001 defines the receptacles and plug mold being added to both Rooms 425 & 426, but it does not define the work to be included in the Add Alternate (CLIN0002).

The intent is to demolish the receptacles in Room 425. There are (2) two receptacles fed from circuit N2H-16 and (2) two receptacles fed from N2A-61. Other devices outside the scope of work fed from the same circuits will remain.

27. Following review of the bid documents, and the pre-bid tour we attended this morning, we find that the fire alarm scope of work required is not clearly defined. Drawing ED001 (Key Note

10) and Drawing EP001 (Key Note 11) state that the existing FACP is to be relocated. Please indicate the plan for the many existing fire alarm field detection devices that are currently mounted in the hard-lid type ceiling to be covered by a new T-Bar ceiling system.

See note #24.

28. Drawing Number EP001 #11 New Location of Fire Alarm control panel. Extend existing conduit and conductors to relocated FACP. The current control panel is located out of the scope of work area. But in an adjacent unconnected room, (Vestibule 433).

See note #24.

29. The specifications are still filled with brackets [ ]. This creates ambiguity in many places.

For example, from SECTION 01 35 26, paragraph 1.7.4:

Separate Individual required for SSHO level 1

30. Specification SECTION 01 45 00, paragraph 1.6.1 Quality Control (QC) Manager state that the QC Manager can act as the project superintendent and that the QC manager can only manage the QC program. Can the superintendent also be the QC manager?

Separate Individual required for QA/QC can double as site SSHO. Superintendent must be separate from QA/QC

31. Specification Section 26 05 73 POWER SYSTEM STUDIES seems to be unrelated to the rest of the project. Is this complete set of studies a requirement under this contract?

That was added by default when the rooftop mechanical units were still being qualified to coordinate the addition of the equipment with the existing infrastructure. Given the removal of these units, the remaining circuits do not need coordination given their relatively low impact to the system and can be removed.

32. On the plans the statement “Removal of Asbestos containing and other potentially hazardous….” appears several times as General Note 12. No asbestos survey was included in the package. Is there an asbestos survey available for the work area? Where can we expect asbestos to be present? ACM is not anticipated.

33. Sheet ED-1 and Sheet EP-1 Key Note 10 discuss relocating the Fire Alarm Control Panel.

Please verify that this will be moved. Are there any details of the panel?

See Note #24

34. Are there any phasing requirements? How many people will be in the building?

No Phasing required. Area of work will be vacated.

35. Are there any temporary heating/cooling requirements?

Refer to spec 230300-3.5.1. Temporary HVAC shall be provided to maintain space conditioning and ventilation during construction.

36. Is this project tax exempt? Refer to the solicitation “Special Contract Requirements #13”

37. When do you anticipate on site work starting?

TBD upon receipt of bids and contract award. Anticipate Q4/2026

38. Are third party inspections required? No

39. Is permitting required? Refer to FAR Clause 52.236-7 Permits and Responsibilities, as well as contract specifications.

40. Are partitioning, dust containment, and/or negative air machines required for this project?

YES. Work area to be isolated from occupied portion of building

41. Does the government have a preferred Direct Digital Control (DDC) for HVAC company? If so please provide the contact information.

The existing DDC system is Distech Niagara (Sun Balt controls in Boise Idaho) . New controls shall be compatible with the existing DDC system, and shall be fully integrated with the existing system. DDC contractor shall be capable of meeting those requirements.

42. Specification SECTION 26 08 00 APPARATUS INSPECTION AND TESTING requires NETA ATS testing by an independent organization. Is NETA ATS testing required and can the testing be accomplished by a licensed electrician rather that a NETA qualified organization. NETA testing organizations are not plentiful.

the design does not include any new transfer switches that would require a NETA certified technician to inspect. Inspection of existing transfer switches that are affected by the design can be done by a licensed electrician. A report of findings and recommendations shall be submitted to the COR and EOR for review for any inspections performed.

43. Specification Section 26 05 73, Power System Studies, has been included with the bid documents. Since the electrical scope of this project only includes small branch circuit wiring changes & additions, does the owner intend for the cost impact of this specification section to be included in our pricing? See Note #31.

44. Specification Section 26 08 00, Apparatus Inspection and Testing, has been included with the bid documents. Since the electrical scope of this project does not include any electrical “apparatus”, does the owner intend for the cost impact of this specification section to be included in our pricing?

See Note #42.

45. 1. It’s noted that the VFD’s controlling the fume hoods are to be located in the mechanical room. But at the rooftop hood location, it asks for a single double lug disconnect and for both hoods to be powered by the same circuit. The VFD’s would be powering the same disconnect on the roof, meaning only one VFD would be usable if they are on the same circuit feeding the same disconnect. This would also mean the hoods only operate at the same speed controlled by the VFD. The only way to supersede this is by having two rooftop disconnects, is this acceptable? YES, We need those to operate separately with independent VFD control, so we’d need 2 disconnects. The VFDs need to stay in the mechanical room per USDA request

46. 2. Is the use of MC cable wiring acceptable? NO

47. 3. Onsite we noticed data jacks in some of the rooms. The plans do not mention any demo of these items. Will they be abandoned? Or will they need to be put back?

The intent will be to relocate voice and data cables to new drops in the scope of work to allow for connections to workstations. Quantities to be relocated will need to be determined to suit the locations where workstations intend to be used. Any remaining cables not being relocated will need to be demolished.

48. Can pro press fittings be used on the copper pipe? Please advise. NO

49. Can compression fittings be used on the 316 ss pipe for the di water? Please advise. NO

50. 6. Please identify the purpose of the 15amp circuit breaker “located in recessed area of base cabinet” as per article 2.2.1.7.1 d.1 of the spec as there are no 15a service on the hood.

Refer to fume hood schedule, note 5. Circuit is for hood MFG’s receptacle kit