RFIs.pdf

Building 2: Repair Building Exterior Envelope National Center of Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR) USDA-ARS, Peoria, IL

Response to Bid Requests For Information

Page 1 of 6 July 17, 2020

Question 1: Is there a page limit for sub-factor 2.3 – Subcontractor Team?

Answer 1: It falls within the 5 double-sided (10 page) limit of the Technical Proposal.

Question 2: Please provide SF-1420.

Answer 2: The SF-1420 was referenced in error. Please provide PPQs or CPARS to evaluate past performance.

Question 3: Can a PPQ/CPARS be provided in lieu of SF-1420?

Answer 3: Yes.

Question 4: Should SF-1420 be sent to past Project Owners for past projects that we have completed?

Answer 4: The SF-1420 was referenced in error. Please provide PPQs or CPARS to evaluate past performance.

Question 5: The concrete around the base of the building is scheduled to receive a lot of patching and repairs. It is currently coated. Is the concrete to be repainted/coated following repairs? If so, just at patch locations, or all the concrete? If it gets coated, we will need the specifications on the product. If it doesn’t get coated, all the patches will be visible when complete.

Answer 5: No. The concrete will not be repainted/coated following repairs.

Question 6: Detail 11 on A-504 shows structural steel at the wall columns. How many locations and linear feet of this repair should we assume for the bid? Should we assume full height of all the Work Item 3 designated areas shown on the elevation drawings?

Answer 6: See Addendum #1 for additional information/clarification.

Question 7: The details on A-503 mention to assume 25% of the back up brick will need replacement. Is that 25% of a single wythe, or is that 25% of double wythe of back up brick? Does that note also apply to the back up brick repairs per the details on A-501 and A-502? If not, please let us know if we are to assume any back up brick repairs at the parapet walls and lintels.

Answer 7: The details on A502 and A503 specifically calls out the brick to be removed.

See Addendum #1 for additional information / clarification.

Question 8: Detail 21 on A-502 calls for tin/zinc coated copper flashing at the window head.

Can we use 304 stainless steel flashing instead?

Answer 8: Contractor’s proposal shall be based on tin/zinc coated copper flashing at window head. Contractor may offer stainless steel flashing as a substitution during the shop drawing submittal process. If stainless steel is offered as substitution during shop drawings, Contractor submittal shall also include the cost impact of using stainless steel flashing.

Page 2 of 6 July 17, 2020

Question 9: What is anticipated date of award of the contract?

Answer 9: Mid-September

Question 10: What is anticipated date of NTP?

Answer 10: Late September or early October

Question 11: If the period of performance pushes into cold weather months, will work be paused for completion until spring 2021?

Answer 11: See response to Question 31.

Question 12: Is there access to power in proximity to the work area? Is so, what size breaker or panel is accessible for contractor use and how far is it from the work zone?

Answer 12: Contractor may use existing electrical installations at Building 2 (i.e. power panels) to provide temporary construction power. Two electrical panels located in Electrical Room at Building 2 have spare breakers available. One panel is a 120/208V, 3 phase, 4 wire panel with 100 A, 3 pole spare breaker, second panel is a 120/208V, 3 phase, 4 wire panel with 60 A, 3 pole spare breaker. Contractor shall provide all electrical installations needed for their temporary construction power; installations for temporary construction power shall be code compliant. Electrical Room is located in northeast corner of Building 2 (see Sheet A-101 for Electrical Room location). Contractor shall determine the temporary electrical installations needed for temporary construction power.

Question 13: Is there access to water in proximity to the work area? If so, how far is it from the work zone?

Answer 13: Contractor may use existing domestic water installations at Building 2 to provide temporary construction water service. Building 2 does not have any exterior hose bibs; there are three interior hose bibs located Main Boiler Room. Interior hose bibs are located near Column B-2, near Column D-2 and near Column L-4 (see A-101 for column locations). Contractor shall provide all domestic water installation for their temporary water construction service.

Question 14: Are there tunnels, vaults or underground utilities adjacent to the building that would be problematic for placing large manlifts to be used for access the building?

Answer 14: The NCAUR facility has an active and abandoned utility tunnel from Building 2 to the Main Lab. The utility tunnels are located on the south side of Building 2. The Government does not anticipate that the tunnels will be problematic for placing large manlifts.

Page 3 of 6 July 17, 2020

Question 15: How much space away from the building around the perimeter of the building will the contractor be given permission to stage manlifts, scaffold or other equipment for access to the building elevations?

Answer 15: South Side of Building 2: The parking lot to the south of Building 2 shall remain operational for the Government use. It is approximated that the Contractor will have 30 feet of space available for their use on the south side of Building 2. West side of Building 2: The parking lot and grassy area to the west of Building 2 may be used by the Contractor for staging and their use.

North side of Building 2: The cooling towers shall remain accessible to the Government.

Question 16: Is this contract a lump sum contract for the quantities and scope identified in the drawings and specifications?

Answer 16: See Addendum #1 for additional information/clarification.

Question 17: Are the quantities for each work item designated on sheet A-201, A-202, A-203, A-204 to be tracked for payment by a unit price, or are they provided to the contractor for bidding purposes to establish quantities of work for each work item in a lump sum contract?

Answer 17: See Addendum #1 for additional information/clarification.

Question 18: Project specification contains section 012200 and designates unit prices. There is no unit price schedule associated with Section B – Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs. Please clarify if unit prices are to be included with the price schedule submitted with our offer?

Answer 18: See Addendum #1 for additional information/clarification.

Question 19: Unit Price #1 in section 012200 contains several distinct items of work for one unit price and is confusing how much work should be included in this unit price.

What is the unit of measure? Also please clarify the following for unit price #1:

How many brick are removed? How much flashing and counterflashing are removed? How much sealant is removed? How much concrete is removed around embedded structural steel? How much corrosion on steel is removed from beams and columns? How many capstones are removed? How much repair of structural steel beams and columns is needed?

Answer 19: See Addendum #1 for additional information/clarification.

Question 20: Unit Price #2 in section 012200 contains several distinct items of work for one unit price. Please clarify the quantity of work for unit price #2: How many brick are reinstalled? How much sealant is installed? How many weep holes are installed? How many capstones are installed?

Answer 20: See Addendum #1 for additional information/clarification.

Page 4 of 6 July 17, 2020

Question 21: Can superintendent also serve as the SSHO and quality control supervisor on the project?

Answer 21: No. The Contractor’s superintendent, SSHO and quality control representative shall be three different individuals.

Question 22: Will the sign-in sheet from the site visit be posted to Beta.Sam?

Answer 22: Yes. It is posted with this amendment.

Question 23: Specification Section 040100 – 3.4C states that power tools may be used to remove mortar after test cuts determine no damage to masonry upon completion of cut. However Specification Section 042000 – 3.02H2 states that power tools can only be used to remove the middle of the mortar joint and hand tools must be used to remove the remainder. Can you clarify if power tools are acceptable upon completion of removal without damage via mockup?

Answer 23: Disregard 040100-3.4C. Contractor’s bid shall be based on using power tools in accordance with the requirements of Section 042000-3.02H2.

Question 24: Is contractor responsible for costs associated with ASTM 270 modulus of rupture testing for mortar?

Answer 24: Contractor shall bear the cost of this testing.

Question 25: Spec Section 079200 – 3.3A calls for sealant at various locations. Other than new control joints and sheet metal flashing I do not see the other locations called for.

Are all windows to receive new sealant, and if so which work item should this be included under?

Answer 25: The new sealant is only at control joints and new metal flashing.

Question 26: Spec Section 079200 – 2.2A call for silicon sealants at various locations. 2.3A calls for Urethane sealant at those same locations. Can you clarify which sealant type is to be used?

Answer 26: Use Urethane sealant

Question 27: Spec Section 076200 2.1 calls for stainless steel flashing, however detail 21/A502 calls for Tin/Zinc Coated Copper Flashing. Please clarify if new lintels are to receive copper or stainless flashing.

Answer 27: Contractor’s proposal shall be based on tin/zinc coated copper flashing at window head. Contractor may offer stainless steel flashing as a substitution during the shop drawing submittal process. If stainless steel is offered as substitution during shop drawings, Contractor submittal shall also include the cost impact of using stainless steel flashing.

Page 5 of 6 July 17, 2020

Question 28: For bidding purposes, can an assumed thickness for new steel lintels be provided?

Answer 28: For bidding purposes only, assume lentil is 3 ½” x 3 ½” x ¼” thick.

Question 29: Detail 21 and 31 A503 call for repairs to the backup masonry wall to be performed with an assumption of 25% repair. Can you clarify if the 25% repair scope? I.E. 25% of brick are to be replace, or 25% of backup is to be tuckpointed?

Answer 29: Repairs are more substantial than tuckpointing, details indicate removal and resetting of the brick. See Addendum #1 for additional information/clarification.

Question 30: Detail 21A503 calls for Neoprene “TP Joint filler and sealant. I have been unable to locate this material within the specifications. Can the required material be added or clarified?

Answer 30: This is a piece of neoprene that is shaped like a ‘T’. These should be readily available from many manufacturers. Specification is not needed.

Question 31: Solicitation Offer Page 9 lists a period of performance from September to March.

The majority of the work required for this project is temperature/weather dependent. Are contractors to include all winter provisions in our costs?

Including temp enclosures, temp heating, etc. Or will additional time be allowed for due to weather delays?

Answer 31: Winter provisions (including temp enclosures, temp heating, etc) shall not be included in Contractor’s proposal. If required, a Suspension of Work will be issued per Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause 52.242-14 and the terms and conditions of the contract modification will be negotiated with the Contractor.

Question 32: Detail 11 A504 calls for either welded or bolted supplemental steel plating to be installed when the cross section of a column flange has deteriorated more than 10% after cleaning. Given that there is no way of knowing the cross section loss prior to demolition and cleaning, are we to assume all columns are to receive one of these repair types full height? Or can a quantity of supplemental plating installation be provided to be included in work item #1 for bidding purposes?

Answer 32: See Addendum #1 for additional information/clarification.

Question 33: Specification call for tuckpointing work to be performed in various locations throughout, however no areas have been identified on the plans. Please clarify the extent of the tuckpointing work.

Answer 33: There is not an area that is to be tuck pointed only. Provide brick repairs as indicated on the Drawings and Specifications.

Page 6 of 6 July 17, 2020

Question 34: Are new lintels to receive sheet waterproofing prior to installation of metal flashing, or can the extent of the sheet waterproofing installation (spec section 071300) be clarified further?

Answer 34: Disregard the sheet waterproofing spec.

Question 35: Please confirm that only one coping stone is required to be removed and replaced.

If other coping stone are able to be left in place, that is an acceptable procedure.

Answer 35: There is only one that is called out to be replaced.

Question 36: General Masonry 042000 calls for cleaning of brick masonry. Is this to include where no work is being performed, in addition to cleaning of areas where work is performed? If so, which work item should this work be included under?

Answer 36: Where the installation of salvaged brick, new brick and mortar is required in a Work Item, the cleaning of installed brick and mortar shall be a component of the Work Item’s scope of work and shall be included in the price of the Work Item. Cleaning of brick masonry is not required where no work is being performed.