Amendment 1-Q-A-Photos-list of site visit attendees-extend closing.pdf

U.S. Forest Service Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Engineering

PROJECT/SITE: HEBER OFFICE HVAC REPLACEMENT

DATE: 1/27/2026 & 2/3/2026

USFS PERSONNEL: SEE BELOW

OTHER PERSONNEL: SEE BELOW

REASON FOR SITE VISIT: PRE-BID SITE VISIT

NOTES

Forest Service Representatives

• Chandler Cross, Contracting Officer’s Representative

• Christine Hansen, Contracting Officer

• Samta Brahmbhatt, Government Technical Monitor

Contractors

• See attached image

Questions

1. Does the government want high efficiency furnaces?

a. The furnaces must be at least 80% efficient.

2. Can we leave the existing fan coil unit in the attic and install the new unit on top of the old unit?

a. We would like to have the existing fan coil unit demo’d and removed from the attic.

3. Is there a minimum SEER or EER rating required for the new AC units listed in line items 5-7?

a. Minimum SEER of 14

4. Will the existing ductwork be reused with the new system, and if so, has it been confirmed to be compatible with the airflow requirements of the proposed units?

a. Existing ductwork will be reused. It is the responsibility of the contractor to ensure new units will work with the existing ductwork and infrastructure.

5. Should new thermostats or control systems be included in the proposal or will existing building controls be reused?

a. Existing building control systems will be reused.

6. Are there any known limitations related to access, such as parking constraints, ceiling clearance, or public access restrictions during construction hours.

a. The main limitation is the attic entrance where the current fan coil unit is. The attic opening is 30”x22” wide. The building will be open to the public as well as Forest Service Employees during this contract. It is the contractors responsibility to minimize disruption to Forest Service operations during business hours. There is ample parking and staging in the parking lot. Staging areas should be coordinated with the COR prior to staging.

7. The solicitation recommends upgrading to R-454B refrigerant. Is the use of R-454B required, or are other EPA-compliant refrigerants (e.g. R-410A, R-32) acceptable?

a. Low GWP (<700) refrigerants must be used. The use of R-454B or R-32 refrigerant is recommended.

The AIM Act of 2020 banned the manufacturing and import of R-410A systems as of January 1, 2025, therefore R-410A will not be approved.

8. Can the government please confirm the required input and output BTU ratings for the 4-ton and 5-ton furnaces (line items 8 and 9) to ensure proper equipment sizing?

a. The new system must match or better the existing system as long as it meets all specified minimum requirements. All model numbers for the existing units are listed below.

i. Outdoor Units

1. Payne PA13NR060 (5 ton)

2. Lennox HS29-036-13Y (3 ton)

3. Lennox HS24-413-1Y (3 ton)

ii. Basement Units

1. Lennox G20RQ3E-75-6

2. Lennox G20Q34E-100-2

iii. Attic Air Handler

1. Lennox CH19-65-2

9. Are “equal” HVAC equipment products from OEMs not specifically listed in the specifications acceptable, provided they meet or exceed all stated performance and code requirements? If so, what documentation is required for acceptance?

a. If the products meet or exceed all stated performance and code requirements the units will be reviewed and considered. Product data submittals will be required for acceptance of any unit.

10. Are specific manufacturer model numbers required to be submitted with the offer, or only after award as part of the submittal process?

a. Product data and performance specs will be required to be submitted after award as part of the submittal process. No units shall be ordered until the submittal data has been reviewed and approved by the COR.

11. For the line item involving conversion from three-phase to single-phase power, should pricing include any required electrical panel or breaker upgrades, or is the scope limited to equipment-level electrical work only?

a. Price should include any work required to install single phase units. All electrical work must be conducted safely and in accordance with all applicable electrical codes.

12. Please confirm that R-454B is the required refrigerant for all new AC units and that no alternate refrigerants will be considered.

a. See question 7

13. Is Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing (TAB) required to be performed by a third-party firm, or may it be completed and documented by the installing contractor?

a. It should be completed and documented by the installing contractor.

14. Can you provide a length between each compressor unit and its corresponding air handler/evaporator?

a. The exact length is unable to be determined due to limited visibility of the lines. Existing line sets are to remain.

15. Can you provide a photo of the electrical panel(s) (open) showing the breakers?

a. See photos at the end of this document.

16. Can you provide a photo of the data tag on the backside of the door of the electrical panel(s) serving each of these units?

a. See photos at the end of this document.

17. Please confirm this project involves no ductwork replacement and is limited to only connecting to existing ductwork.

a. The project does not involve ductwork replacement. Existing ductwork will be reused.

18. What will be the hours of operation?

a. Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm.

19. Does the fan coil have electric heat strips?

a. No, it does not appear as though the fan coil has heating strips or a heating element.

20. Are we using existing line sets or new ones?

a. Existing

21. Is the contractor in charge of the electrical work?

a. See question 11

22. What is the project start date?

a. Contract will begin ASAP after an award has been made.

23. It appears only one unit is actually 3 phase and the other 2 are single phase. Is this correct?

a. Upon further inspection it appears as though one unit is wired as 3 phase, while the other two are single phase.

24. Single stage or two stage for the furnaces?

a. Two stages would be preferred

25. Do the furnaces run on natural gas or propane?

a. Natural gas

26. The model number listed for one of the furnaces in the solicitation (C16-….) is not a furnace model number but an evaporative coil model number. Can you provide the furnace model number?

a. The C16-… model number was incorrectly listed. Please see question 8 for all correct model numbers.

27. Can the two south side condensers remain as three phase units, or must they be converted to single phase units?

a. We would like all condensers to be single phase units.

28. Are you requiring new disconnect whips and pads for condensers?

a. Disconnect whips should be replaced. Existing concrete pads shall be reused.

29. Is goodman mfgs by Daiken an approved equal?

a. “Approved equal” is dependent on the specifications of the submitted equipment. Without knowing the exact specs of the unit it is unable to be determined at this time.

30. Can you verify we are adapting the new equipment to the existing ductwork with proper transitions field fabricated?

a. That is correct.

31. Is bonding required?

a. No

32. Regarding the submission of the Technical Proposal, if a firm does not have a history of similar projects to list for Past Performance (for example, if the firm is a relatively new business entity), will the absence of this information lead to disqualification from the evaluation process?

a. The absence of that information will not lead to immediate disqualification.

33. We noted the inclusion of this clause (FAR 52.223-2 Reporting of Biobased Products Under Service and

Construction Contracts) in the solicitation. Could you please confirm how this specifically applies to the HVAC equipment and materials required for this project? Additionally, what specific steps or documentation should the successful contractor provide to ensure full compliance with the reporting requirements of biobased content used during the performance of this contract?

Pre-Bid Site Visit Sign In Sheet.pdf