Attachment 6 Solicitation 12805B24R0014 Final Responses 2024.03.29.pdf

12805B24R0014

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East Grand Forks Office and Laboratory Remodel Solicita�on #12805B24R0014

Ques�ons Due: 5pm CST on 3/25/2024

1. Controls

a. Temperature controls, are these to be standalone thermostats or will this be �ed into an exis�ng BAS or are you looking for a new BAS?

RESPONSE: There is not a centralized BAS system in the building. The new HVAC units to be controlled by stand alone thermostats. A new BAS system is not needed.

2. Mechanical

a. Alternate A-1: Is there enough room with the service clearance to install the condensing unit on the side of the building? I believe there is an alley right there. I would think the condensing unit might be on the road or close to it.

RESPONSE: There is as much as 9’ of grass before the alley on the west side of the building.

There is enough room to place the units there.

3. Electrical

a. Can there be clarifica�on on what exact style of plug strip that is to be installed in the lab areas? See Reference note #21 of electrical sheets.

RESPONSE: Install Legrand 4000 Series Raceway with all required accessories or approved equal.

b. EQ-02 listed as 120V but has a NEMA 6039R plug which is 250V, also circuit J-10 for circuit. Please clarify which to use?

RESPONSE: EQ-02 is 120V; circuit ‘J-10’ is accurate. The oven is exis�ng to be relocated. Use a NEMA 5-30P plug and verify the receptacle/plug configura�on with the exis�ng equipment.

4. Do the Superintendent, SSHO and QC Manager need to be 3 separate individuals?

RESPONSE: No, one person can fill all three roles if they meet the qualifica�ons for each of the roles.

5. (If building is occupied) Are there any phasing requirements? How many people will be in the building? Are there any temporary hea�ng/cooling requirements?

RESPONSE: The building will be occupied. The en�re construc�on area will be turned over to the construc�on contractor at one �me. There is a separate HVAC unit to provide hea�ng and cooling to the office area not being renovated under this project. Contractor to closely coordinate outages with the owner. Note that the contract, when issued will require a 2 week no�ce in wri�ng to the CO/COR when outages will occur.

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6. Can the period of performance be extended a�er award once the material/equipment lead �mes are confirmed due to current market condi�ons for the equipment for this project?

RESPONSE: The period of performance provided in the solicita�on took into account the an�cipated submital approval and material acquisi�on �me. The USDA will consider extending the period of performance at no cost to the government if the contractor shows they made a good faith atempt to meet the contractual period of performance.

7. According to the drawings, almost the en�re office and lab's founda�on will need to be removed. Are the drawings correct? Or do we only need to demo/remove por�ons of the concrete founda�on/slab needed to complete the plumbing scope of work?

RESPONSE: The demoli�on drawings only call for the slab removal; there isn’t any direc�on given to founda�ons and they remain. The slab is removed for underslab mechanical / electrical / plumbing work, then a new slab is poured back in the gray hatched loca�ons shown on the floor plan.

8. Will the USDA provide a tax exemp�on cer�ficate for this project?

RESPONSE: The USDA will provide the most recent tax exemp�on cer�ficate as an addi�onal atachment to the ques�ons/responses.

9. Regarding Supervision, Quality Control, and Site Safety and Health Officer, will the USDA require a separate standalone person for each role? Require only a Superintendent to fill all roles? Or require a Superintendent and a person filling both QC/SSHO roles?

RESPONSE: One person can fill all roles if they meet the qualifica�ons for each of the roles and have the capacity to fulfill the du�es of all the roles.

10. Specifica�on sec�on 01-01-00 General Requirements subsec�on 1.04 Safety Submitals item C states that Contractor to provide con�nuous noise monitoring and at no �me shall noise exposure to any ARS staff exceed 75 dB and that a writen report shall be generated weekly of all noise tes�ng results. Will the USDA clarify if the contractor can strike this requirement as many construc�on tasks will exceed the 75 dB level. Please confirm.

RESPONSE: Delete the requirement for con�nuous noise monitoring and the requirement to keep noise under 75 dB. No�fy the COR a minimum of 1 week in advance when there is planned high noise producing ac�vity. This planned ac�vity shall be included on the weekly construc�on agenda under Planned Ac�vity Disrup�ons or similar. Air quality monitoring and repor�ng for chemical vapors and vola�le organic compounds is s�ll required per the specifica�on sec�on.

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11. Specifica�on sec�on 01-01-00-General Requirements states the following in subsec�on 1.17 Construc�on Waste Management subsec�on (B) there is a minimum percentage of 40% to be diverted from landfill. Given the nature of this project some items will not be able to divert and in addi�on or as a result this percentage may not be atainable, will the USDA please clarify the percentage or change this specifica�on to the overall intent is to divert as much waste as possible from entering a landfill?

RESPONSE: The 40% diversion target will remain as writen. The successful Contractor will collaborate with the Architect regarding landfilling and diversion strategies. If the 40% diversion target is shown to be unatainable the government will relax this diversion goal.

12. Please confirm the contractor is responsible for providing a project field office with sufficient space to accommodate 4 persons (per spec 01-50-00 subsec�on 1.10). Further, please confirm if the contractor can tap into exis�ng u�li�es (i.e. power and water) without metering for the field office needs.

RESPONSE: Subsec�on 1.10 deals with vehicular access and parking. Subsec�on 1.12 addresses a field office and states a field office is not allowed. Contractor to use space within the construc�on area for a field office.

13. Will the building be empty of government personnel at the �me of construc�on?

RESPONSE: No, the area being renovated will not be occupied but other por�ons of the building will stay opera�onal.

14. Is the work to take place during normal business hours?

RESPONSE: Yes, per sec�on 01-10-00 subsec�on 1.06 work is limited to 8:00- 4:30 Monday – Friday excluding federal holidays.

15. Is USDA amenable to extending the period of performance in the event of significant lead �mes for equipment?

RESPONSE: See ques�on 6.

16. Will waste management mee�ngs be conducted separate from the normal bi-monthly or weekly project mee�ngs? Or is contractor to assume waste management will be discussed during the normal construc�on mee�ngs?

RESPONSE: The waste management mee�ngs will be held in conjunc�on with the project mee�ngs.

17. Is the use of Microso� Project acceptable for developing schedules?

RESPONSE: Yes, Microso� project is one so�ware which can be used for scheduling.

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18. Is security fencing required for this project? Most of the materials will be stored inside or offsite in a protected area. Will the job office trailer need security fencing?

RESPONSE: A security fence is not required for this project. A job trailer is not allowed. See ques�on #12. The contractor has the op�on to fence or not fence any materials stored outside.

All materials will be the responsibility of the contractor un�l installed as part of the project.

19. Regarding the CLIN structure, how long a�er award of the base can the government award a follow on alternate/op�on CLIN? Just wanted to confirm because the price schedule states contractor to hold pricing for Base bid and alternates for a period of 60 days. Therefore, contractor assumes if funding is available the alternates will be awarded at �me of base award and not at a later point in �me. Please confirm.

RESPONSE: Disregard the 60-day pricing note on the bid schedule. See Page 5 of the solicita�on which states the following: **NOTE**: Op�on pricing submited must remain valid to exercise through 09/30/2024. See page 45 of the solicita�on for addi�onal informa�on.

20. If a successful bidder was not on site, do they forfeit any unforeseen condi�ons?

RESPONSE: Atendance by the Prime Contractor was mandatory in order to be eligible to provide a proposal. Failure to atend the site visit by the Prime Contractor will result in the proposal receiving an unacceptable ra�ng, thus not eligible for award. Page 44, paragraph L.6 states: “(SITE VISIT ATTENDANCE AT ONE OF THE TWO DATES IS MANDATORY TO PROVIDE AN OFFER ON THIS SOLICATION)”. Further, page 48, paragraph M.1, 2d states: “Site Visit Atendance. Offerors shall atend one of the two Government organized site visits of the construc�on site. Offerors that do not atend the site visit will be found non-responsive. Offerors must ensure that they understand the orienta�on and layout of the construc�on site to ensure that their offer is within reason and context of the worksite.” Unforeseen condi�ons may or may not occur a�er contract award and will be handled at that �me.

21. Will Microso� project be acceptable for project schedule?

RESPONSE: See ques�on #17.

22. Will Procore be acceptable for file sharing, for example, submitals, RFI’s, transmitals, etc.?

RESPONSE: Yes, Procore is one so�ware which can be used for project management.

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23. Please clarify how many competent people are needed on site for supervision from the general contractor?

a. Can the SSHO dual hat and be the site superintendent?

b. Can the Superintendent triple hat and cover the QC manager role?

c. Are there any other requirements for supervision?

RESPONSE: The site superintendent must be an employee of the Prime Contractor. The superintendent must meet the competent person and training requirements as listed in the specifica�ons. The site superintendent must be on site whenever Prime Contractor or subcontractor employees are working. Also see ques�ons #4 and #9. See specifica�ons for other supervision requirements.

24. Will the contractor or the owner be responsible for moving all exis�ng equipment out of the construc�on area?

RESPONSE: The USDA will move all items they want out of the construc�on area prior to turning the space over to the contractor. Any remaining items in the space when turned over to the construc�on contractor will be the responsibility of the construc�on contractor to dispose of.

25. Will the owner please define where the laydown area will be located?

RESPONSE: See drawing C101-N for laydown area.

26. Will the owner please provide geotechnical reports?

RESPONSE: A geotechnical report is not available for this project.

27. Are we able to work federal holidays?

RESPONSE: The contractor will not be allowed to work on Saturdays, Sundays, or Federal Holidays unless requested and approved to make up for unplanned weather delays.

28. What are the acceptable working hours for the contractor? Will 6:30AM CT be an acceptable start �me for the contractors?

a. Are we able to accelerate and work nights if needed?

RESPONSE: The contractor is limited to working Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm per specifica�on sec�on 01 10 00, sec�on 1.06. Addi�onal hours can be approved by the government to make up for unplanned delays or to conduct outages. Also see ques�ons #14 and #27.

29. Is an OSHA 10 cer�fica�on required for all employees on site?

RESPONSE: Yes, per specifica�on sec�on 01 01 00, sec�on 1.01.D.1 all employees on site must have a minimum of 10 hours of OSHA training.

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30. If patching a wall, is the requirement to paint from corner to corner on the affected wall or will spot pain�ng be acceptable?

RESPONSE: Refer to the pain�ng scope in Sec�on 09 21 23.

31. E101-N / Note 11 states to see civil plans to see loca�on of flagpole but neither C101-N or E101- N provide power requirements or breaker loca�on, will the USDA please clarify?

RESPONSE: See Civil note #2 and sheet C101-N for loca�on. Flagpole luminaires circuited to ‘K- 43’, per 2/E101-N.

32. Some pages in the Specifica�ons state “95% Submital” in the top right corner and some state “Issued for construc�on”, can the USDA please clarify that all documents present in this solicita�on are issued for construc�on or are we to receive an updated specifica�on prior to construc�on?

RESPONSE: The specifica�on sec�ons 01 01 00, 11 53 00, 12 30 90, and 12 31 00 show 95% Submital but are the Issued for Construc�on Specifica�on sec�ons. No updated specifica�ons are planned to be issued.

33. M101-N shows (2) 6” duct being replaced outside the construc�on zone, are these to be included in the base bid? If not, what alternate are they to be included in?

RESPONSE: The ducts are to be included in the base bid. New ducts in this area are required to connect to the exis�ng to remain RTU to provide hea�ng and cooling to areas of the building being supplied by the RTU being removed.

34. Sec�on 01-30-00 3.02 preconstruc�on mee�ng states to have the Mechanical Electrical subcontractors in atendance, this is typically not required and wanted clarifica�on from the USDA that this is the requirement.

RESPONSE: The subcontractors are not required to atend the preconstruc�on mee�ng. Delete this requirement.

35. Sec�on 01-30-00 3.06 Progress Photographs states to submit photos with the pay applica�on, is this required?

RESPONSE: Yes, digital picture files are to be provided at a minimum monthly.

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36. Specifica�on sec�on 01-40-00 Quality Requirements states in 1.05 Contractor Design Related Professional Design Services, to base design off of performance and or design criteria indicated in individual specifica�on sec�ons and to provide design for structural formwork, fire protec�on, direct digital control, and piping system design.

a. Is the awarded contractor to include all of this design in the base bid proposal?

b. Is the awarded contractor responsible to provide this design scope as shown in the specifica�on book?

c. If this design is to be the responsibility of the awarded contractor are we to bid to the design as shown on the plans and specifica�ons or to a design not shown on construc�on drawings released in this solicita�on?

d. Can this specifica�on sec�on be deleted/removed from the specifica�on book?

RESPONSE: The specifica�on sec�ons listed in specifica�on sec�on 01 40 00 subsec�on 1.05C are not part of this project. There are no expected contractor design-related professional design services required for this project.

37. Specifica�on sec�on 01-40-00 Quality Requirements states in 1.07 Quality Assurance subsec�on

B. designer qualifica�ons, as it is not typical to hire a designer for an already designed project unless the requirement ques�oned above is to provide one can this sec�on also be removed?

RESPONSE: See response to Ques�on 36.

38. 01-50-00 1.12 Field Offices states that field offices are not allowed, can the USDA please clarify that the awarded contractor will not be allowed a trailer on site?

a. If the awarded contractor is not allowed a trailer on site, will an office space inside the building be made available to the contractor?

RESPONSE: See ques�on #12 & #18. Office space inside the facility will be made available to the construc�on contractor.

39. Please confirm all project iden�fica�on sign artwork will be provided by the Architect, correct?

RESPONSE: The artwork for the project sign will be provided in digital form to the construc�on contractor to be used to create the sign.

40. Please confirm that the commissioning scope and agent is owned by the USDA, correct?

RESPONSE: Correct, the commissioning agent will be hired by the USDA and not the construc�on contractor.

41. Does the USDA have established locates of the property?

RESPONSE: A property and u�lity survey was performed during design. All known u�lity lines were located and are shown on drawing C101-N.