Questions and Answers_1232SA26Q1444.pdf

Amendment 2

RFQ# 1232SA26Q1444

Upgrade Fire Alarm Control Panel & Replace Smoke and Heat Detectors (Morris, MN)

Questions and Answers

1. Will the Government provide the existing fire alarm record or as-built drawings, including riser diagrams and device location plans?

ANSWER: See Attachment 4 for Location report. Drawings unavailable.

2. Will the Government provide a current EST3 device report or programming printout listing every addressable point by device type, address and location?

ANSWER: Yes.

3. What are the total quantities of smoke detectors and heat detectors to be replaced?

Can you provide the latest fire alarm inspection report that should have the quantity of devices on it?

ANSWER: See below table and Attachment 5 Fire Alarm Inspection Report dated 02/26/2026.

Maintained Equipment Qty Edwards EST 3 Fire Alarm Panel 1 Annunciator 2 Pull Stations 29 Smoke Detectors 93 Duct Detectors 9 Heat Detectors 24 Speakers included Strobes included Waterflows Tested by others Tampers Tested by others

4. How many buildings and how many floor levels are served by this fire alarm system?

ANSWER: 8 Buildings, 2 floors

5. Is the existing EST3 a single-panel system, or a networked system with multiple nodes, transponders or remote annunciators that must also be addressed?

ANSWER: Single

6. What and model of existing addressable smoke and heat detectors currently installed?

ANSWER: 93 smoke, 24 heat

7. Other than smoke and heat detectors, what initiating devices are connected to the panel, such as manual pull stations, duct detectors, waterflow switches, valve tamper switches or beam detectors?

ANSWER: 29

8. Are duct-mounted smoke detectors included in the smoke detector replacement scope?

ANSWER: Yes

9. Are the existing notification appliances remaining in place and being reconnected to the new panel, or is notification appliance replacement also within scope?

Answer: existing notification system remains and must connect to new panel.

10. What auxiliary functions must the new panel continue to perform, such as elevator recall, HVAC or fan shutdown, damper control, or release of magnetic door hold-opens?

ANSWER: HVAC shutdown

11. Is the fire alarm system monitored off site, and if so, by what transmission method, and is that monitoring service within the scope of this contract or held under a separate agreement?

ANSWER: No

12. Statement of Work Section 2.0 requires the panel upgrade to be fully backwards compatible with the existing wiring, sensors and other fire detection components, while also requiring the smoke and heat detectors to be replaced. Will the Government confirm that the intent is to reuse the existing signaling line circuit wiring and existing non-detector devices, replacing only the smoke and heat detectors?

ANSWER: Yes

13. If existing signaling line circuit or notification circuit wiring is found during installation to be damaged, non-compliant, or failing loop resistance or ground fault testing, will the corrective work be issued as a contract modification rather than absorbed within the firm-fixed price?

ANSWER: Changes will be addressed pursuant to clause 52.212-4(d) Changes

14. Will the Government establish a not-to-exceed allowance line item for unforeseen wiring, conduit or ceiling repairs, so that all offerors price the same level of risk?

ANSWER: No

15. What are the ceiling heights in the areas containing detectors, and are there laboratory, cold room, greenhouse or high-bay spaces that require specialized detector types or elevated access equipment?

ANSWER: Ceilings range from 8 ft to 10 ft in offices, hallways and laboratories, and much higher in greenhouse, shop and soil and plant processing areas. Any need for specialization would be due to high heat (greenhouse), silica dust (soil processing/pallet area Building 3), auto exhaust and welding (shop area Building 2), wood dust (wood shop Building 3), plant dust (Plant processing and Threshing room, building 2), high heat (Oven room building 2). Additionally, we have had some issues in the past with humidity causing detectors to go off, which might have been due to age.

16. Are there any open fire marshal or safety office inspection deficiencies that the Government expects to be corrected under this contract?

ANSWER: No

17. Manufacturer lead time for a new fire alarm control panel and addressable detectors commonly runs six to ten weeks from approved submittals. Will the Government extend the period of performance to accommodate equipment lead time?

ANSWER: PoP extensions should not be presumed for the purposes of quote submission.

18. If the period of performance remains 30 days after receipt of order, will the Government accept a milestone schedule in which the 30 days applies to on-site installation, testing and training following equipment delivery?

ANSWER: YES

19. What are the approved working hours for on-site work, and will after-hours or weekend work be permitted?

ANSWER: Working hours are 8:30 am to 5pm. Work outside this time frame will only be permitted on a limited basis if confirmed in advance and of urgent need.

20. Will Government escort be required for contractor personnel, and will an escort be available during all approved working hours?

ANSWER: YES

21. What advance notice does the Government require before the fire alarm system is taken out of service for panel cutover?

ANSWER: No less than 48 hours

22. During any period of system impairment, will the Government provide fire watch, or is fire watch the contractor’s responsibility?

ANSWER: Government will provide fire watch

23. Are building or electrical permits required from the City of Morris or Stevens County, and if so, which party obtains and pays for them?

ANSWER: Contractor is responsible to make this determination and responsible to pay if required.

24. Who is the Authority Having Jurisdiction for acceptance of the completed system?

ANSWER: USDA is the Authority Having Jurisdiction for acceptance.

25. Which edition of NFPA 72 will govern the installation and acceptance testing?

ANSWER: NFPA 2025 edition

26. Is a 100 percent reacceptance test of all initiating and notification devices required, or is acceptance testing limited to the replaced devices and the new panel’s functions?

ANSWER: Test per NFPA 72 requirements

27. Will the Government or its representative witness the acceptance test, and how much advance notice is required?

ANSWER: Government will be present. To be scheduled one week in advance.

28. Must shop drawings and battery and voltage drop calculations be prepared or stamped by a NICET Level III or higher technician or by a licensed Fire Protection Engineer?

ANSWER: Shop drawings and voltage drop calculations shall be in accordance with NFPA 72.

29. What closeout documentation is required, and in how many hard copies and electronic copies?

ANSWER: One hard copy and send electronically to all listed during the kick-off meeting.

30. How many Government personnel require training on the upgraded panel, and is a written operating procedure or recorded session required in addition to the on-site session?

ANSWER: Three personnel should be trained and written operating procedures are sufficient in addition to an on-site session.

31. Must the one-year warranty cover the replacement smoke and heat detectors and all associated labor, or is it limited to the control panel?

ANSWER: smoke and heat detectors that are replaced during this upgrade should be covered by the warranty.

32. What on-site response time does the Government require for warranty service calls at the Morris, Minnesota facility?

ANSWER: A reasonable time frame is 24-48 hours.

33. Does the warranty include the annual NFPA 72 inspection and test during the warranty year, or is it limited to correction of defects?

ANSWER: Yes, should include annual inspection and test

34. The solicitation includes FAR 52.222-41 and Service Contract Act Wage Determination 2015-4957. Will the Government confirm that this requirement is subject to the Service Contract Act (SCA) and that the Davis-Bacon Act does not apply to the removal and replacement of the fire alarm equipment?

ANSWER: SCA applies.

35. Wage Determination 2015-4957, Revision 33, lists occupation 23290, Fire Alarm System Mechanic, while FAR 52.222-42 in the solicitation lists only Electrician, Maintenance. Does the Government agree that Fire Alarm System Mechanic is the appropriate classification for the installation and testing labor under this contract?

ANSWER: Yes.

36. Will the Government consider a schedule of values for payment upon delivery and acceptance of the fire alarm equipment to the site, or is payment limited to a single invoice following final acceptance?

ANSWER: Payments will be pursuant to 52.212-4(i) Payment

37. Will certifications such as NICET Level III or IV, manufacturer factory certification and state licensure be evaluated as part of the technical approach?

ANSWER: Technical approach will be evaluated as described in the solicitation.

38. Please confirm that the existing fire alarm system has a direct tie into the existing paging system for emergency voice evacuation. Is this a direct input into the existing paging system or an alarm contact and the voice evacuation message on the paging head end?

ANSWER: We have conducted drills using the existing paging system.

39. Could you please confirm the manufacturer and model of the existing fire alarm system currently installed at the facility?

ANSWER: EST3. Bank-Koe Systems, Group, Inc.

40. The SOW states that the panel upgrade must be “fully backwards compatible with the existing wiring, sensors, and other fire detection components currently installed at the facility.” Based on this requirement, our understanding is that the Government may intend to remain with the existing Edwards system or another system that is fully compatible with the existing components. Could you please clarify whether the Government would also consider a complete system replacement using a Honeywell Notifier system with System Sensor notification devices, assuming the proposed replacement meets all applicable code and performance requirements?

ANSWER: Refer to the SOW. USDA does not specify the brand name of the equipment, only the backwards compatibility.

41. WHERE SHOULD QUOTATIONS BE SENT? The announcement states that it constitutes the only solicitation and that no separate written solicitation will be issued, and I cannot find a submission address in it. Three addresses appear in the package and each is given a different purpose: yours and Beth Burmeister's for site visit RSVPs, and SPE.inquiry@usda.gov for agency protests. Should quotations be emailed to spencer.hamilton@usda.gov with a copy to beth.burmeister@usda.gov, with the solicitation number in the subject line, or is there another address?

ANSWER: submit by email to spencer.hamilton@usda.gov

42. WHICH DUE DATE GOVERNS? Block 8 of the solicitation terms and conditions reads

09/18/2026 1700 CT. The SAM.gov posting for Amendment 0001 shows a response date of Thursday 17 September at 12:00 PM Eastern.

ANSWER: The quote submission date is extended to 12pm CT on Monday September 22, 2026.