Attachment 14 Questions and Answers Amendment 0002.pdf

Attachment 14 – Questions and Answers Amendment 0002

Q1: What would the USDA like us to do with the removed/old VFDs?

A1: A few parts will be salvaged from them by USDA employees, Contractor is responsible for maximizing diversion of the cabinets through reuse and recycling at their discretion. Weight tickets of diverted material to be submitted to USDA.

Q2: The current lead time on the new VFDs is 14-16 weeks. Would the USDA grant an extension to the period of performance for this project?

A2: The USDA will grant time extensions in accordance with authorities within this solicitation, material delays are typically allowable depending on the situation.

Q3: Do the Superintendent, SSHO and QC Manager need to be 3 separate individuals?

A3: No

Q4: Does the USDA anticipate the need to replace any VFDs outside of normal working hours, or on weekends or holidays? If so is there a rough estimate of how many would be required to be changed outside of normal working hours?

A4: No, all work to take place during normal operating hours.

Q5: Please confirm all personnel planning to work onsite for this project shall complete the two-hour NBAF Site Security and Safety Orientation training.

A5: All new personnel working on site need to attend a two hour safety and security training provided by NBAF.

Q6: Regarding calendar invites mentioned in the scope of work, how often is the USDA expecting these to be distributed and to approximately how many people shall the invite be distributed to? This will help in figuring correct management time into proposal costs.

A6: A bi-weekly coordination meeting to discuss progress and schedule updates to include the COR and SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) for USDA for attendance. Meeting should take less than an hour on most occasions unless issues arise that need to be resolved.

Contractor personnel to include someone who is up to date with the projects progress and schedule updates.

Q7: Will payment and performance bonds be required? PWS item 3.2.3 states “Bid or performance bonds may be required….”. The SF1442 shows a bid bond is required but please confirm if a payment and performance bond is required.

A7: Bid Bonds are required for the proposal, and Payment and Performance bonds will be required for the awardee.

Q8: Regarding anchors left in place once existing VFD cabinets are removed, if the new cabinet does not line up with existing anchoring and new anchors are needed, will the old anchors need to be removed and holes patched? If so, how are anchors to be patched?

Please provide details on hole filling material and a coatings patch detail as this may change depending on the area where the VFD’s are located.

A8: Old anchors can be cut off flush with no sharps protruding from the pads. All equipment is located on equipment pads and only the ones in the cup are coated pads except under the feet of the existing equipment there are no coatings, and no new coatings need to be applied where bare concrete is exposed after new cabinets are installed. Any damaged coatings are addressed in Question 13.

Q9: For any new anchors, will ground penetrating radar be required to ensure anchors do not compromise existing reinforcement?

A9: All equipment is sitting on cast in place pads. No GPR (ground penetrating radar) will be required for penetrations into the equipment pads.

Q10: Regarding the provided document titled “Attachment 3 – Specifications 20 05 14 VFD System”, it references in section 1.8 a q4 quality level element and cross references Section 01 40 00 for a complete definition of these levels of Quality Management. Please provide this information so the contractor can price quality control appropriately. Further, being it appears quality control will have more stringent requirements, is the USDA expecting the contractor to provide both a Site Superintendent and a Quality Control Manager (i.e. two separate individuals)? Or will the Site Superintendent be allowed to fulfill both roles?

A10: Attachment 3 Specifications were included in the project to provide background of the existing equipment that is being removed, and provide an understanding of how it is currently installed. Section 01 40 00 is not included as part of this contract and USDA only expects 1 person to fulfill the roll, contractor may use more personnel at their discretion.

Q11: Does the USDA want to retain/salvage the existing VFD’s that are to be replaced? If the USD wants to retain/salvage equipment, is the contractor responsible for transporting equipment to any specific area? If so, please designate the area.

A11: Contractor to maximize diversion of solid waste from landfills through reuse and recycling programs. USDA may salvage some parts of the VFDs, but a majority of the units and components will be up to the contractor to divert.

Q12: What kind of casters/wheels are approved for use on the facility floors to not damage flooring and floor coatings during transport of old and new equipment?

A12: Non-marking wheels that are free of dirt and debris. Steel wheels are not allowed as they will damage the floor coatings.

Q13: Please provide types of floor and wall coatings in all work areas so contractor knows how to repair in the event of dinging/damaging walls or flooring during the replacement process.

A13:

• Main Lab Building - Floor coatings for the main lab are sealed concrete.

with ProMar 200 Zero VOC Interior Latex Primer B28W02600

• CUP (Central Utility Plant) – Floor coatings are MMA installed by Res-Tek certified installers. No new flooring to be installed as part of this contract, only damage areas to be addressed if caused by the contractor or their subcontractors.

• Wall coatings for both locations are OES-1 Eggshell Topcoat ProTech C132 MPI #143 Dove White

Q14: Are the wall and floor coatings under an existing warranty?

A14: No warranty exists on the wall and floor coatings.

Q15: When bringing new equipment to site, will the VFD’s and cabinets need to be x-rayed through the transshipping building?

A15: If the cabinets are brought on site via a box truck, the truck must pass a security checkpoint where it will be searched. The VFDs will not need to be unloaded and unpackaged to go through an x-ray machine for this project.

Q16: Will tools and other items brought to site need to go through x-ray scan?

A16: Tools brought on site with an approved company vehicle through gate 2 once access has been granted will not need to be fed through an x-ray scanner. USDA will allow the contractor vehicular access to the laydown area for tools and small components.

Q17: Will tools and/or personnel need to undergo a decontamination process to both access and leave the work areas?

A17: None of this work takes place within a bio-containment boundary, therefore no decontamination of tools or materials will be required as part of this contract.

Q18: Regarding PWS item 3.4.14, it states at no time shall noise exposure to any ARS staff exceed 75 db. If new anchors are required to install new cabinets, hammer drilling to install new anchors will exceed this rating. Can this requirement be waived?

A18: Contractor to hang signage in the area noting USDA to limit employee activities in the area during the drilling, and that hearing protection is required to enter the area. USDA will provide government employees with the hearing protection. The signage that is mounted needs to have red caution tape, a point of contact for the contractor, and a phone number if there are questions about entering the space. USDA will alert our staff of the work taking place through internal communications as well.

Q19: Regarding PWS item 3.4.14, please provide more information regarding the level of monitoring for chemical vapors that workers may be exposed to? If floor and wall coatings need repaired or patched, this coating process will involve chemical vapor off-gassing as the coatings cure.

A19: Contractor to hang signage in the area noting USDA to limit employee activities in the area during any hazardous activities, and that proper PPE will be required to enter the space based on the risks of the tasks taking place. USDA will provide government employees with the appropriate PPE that is required. The signage that is mounted needs to have red caution tape, a point of contact for the contractor, and a phone number if there are questions about entering the space. USDA will alert our staff of the work taking place through internal communications as well.

Q20: Does the USDA know if the ABB equipment they have specified for use will meet the FAR 52.225-9 Buy American Construction Materials? Many electrical equipment devices require Buy American waivers. Is USDA amenable to providing waivers as required for electrical equipment that cannot meet the above referenced FAR clause?

A20: No, the Contractor shall use only domestic construction material in performing this contract, except as provided in paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this clause. Per page 28 in the solicitation. If the contractor believes an electronical device that cannot be sourced domestically, can you please inform us so we can research and add to the clause if determined to be needed.

Q21: When visiting the site, Arc Flash placards were not observed on any of the equipment to be removed and replaced. Per NFPA 70E, external VFD’s are required to have Arc Flash information posted on the equipment. Will the USDA require Arc Flash information on the new VFD devices? If so, a coordination study will need to be completed to determine final information as the ratings of the new devices may not match the existing exactly. Further it is unknown if a coordination study was completed previously on the equipment. Please clarify if a coordination study is required and if Arc Flash information is to be placed on the new equipment installed.

A21: New Equipment shall have the Arc Flash information installed on it. Existing equipment not modified by this contract will be reviewed by a separate contract to update Arc Flash tags. No further action will be required of the contractor for this.