1333ND26QNB190351 Q and A.docx

1333ND26QNB190351 Building 227 Coils Replacement Project Solicitation Q&A Government’s answers are in RED.

1. We request for the quote due date to be extended to two weeks after RFI responses are issued to allow adequate time to develop responsive proposals.

· See updated due date on solicitation, highlighted in yellow. However please note this is not a design or complete resonation. HVAC unit’s coils replacement one-for-one.

2. Please provide existing drawings, coil schedules/submittals, and TAB reports as available for the AHUs. If coil data is unavailable, confirm field-verified dimensions and nameplate data are the accepted basis for like-for-like selection.

· There is no historical\existing TAB report for the units, TAB shall be performed by the contractor before and after the installation of the new coils. During site visit we asked all vendors to take pictures of the existing unit’s name plate. The representative at “S.J. Rafferty Co., Inc.” can provide coils dimensions and related data for the original AHUs. The representative who has this information is Steve Rafferty, contact is steve@sjrafferty.com (410) 721-4005 Ext 14. Yes, field verification and name plate data are acceptable.

3. Please provide design airflow, entering and leaving air temperatures, and required capacity for all AHUs identified in the SOW.

· There is no existing airflow data nor air temperature data. Contractor to perform TAB before and after the replacement. TAB before replacement will be the baseline.

4. Does NIST have a standard specification or minimum materials requirement for heating and cooling coils? If so, please provide.

· This is not a new design, and we don’t anticipate changing airflow, waterflow, or the temperature. One for one replacement. Same coil dimensions, material, fins/in…etc.

5. Does NIST have a standard specification or minimum materials requirement for steam, steam condensate, and CHW piping? If so, please provide.

· Connect to existing piping and match existing piping size, insulation, and material.

6. Please confirm that only piping and insulation between the outlet of the supply isolation valves and the inlet of the return isolation valve is to be replaced. Confirm other valves and accessories such as control valves, balancing valves, and steam traps are to be reused.

· Reuse of the existing control, balancing, and isolation valves. There are no valves replacements as part of this project.

7. Please confirm that all control devices such as valves, actuators, sensors, etc. are reused.

· Control devices to be reused.

8. Please provide the controls contractor POC and confirm a controls contractor is required to operate the units for TAB.

· We have in-house BAS controls employees, and they will be present during the pre- and final TAB. Coordinate with the project COR TAB date and time.

9. Please confirm TAB is limited to testing at the 12 units in scope, and not any devices downstream, such as VAVs and terminal devices. Please confirm an independent NEBB/AABC agency is required.

· TAB only for the unit listed on the SOW and no other downstream devices are included. Yes, independent TAB certified contractor is required.

10. SOW Task 3 requires balance for all units, and the coils must maintain setpoint throughout. Verifying restored performance requires baseline readings before coil removal. Please confirm pre-testing of air, steam, and water flows is required.

· Yes, pre-testing is required and will be used as the baseline.

11. Please confirm the maximum allowable outage duration permitted per AHU.

· This will be coordinated when the new coils onsite. We don’t anticipate a full shutdown to all the units. This will be phased depending on the lab’s schedule. Maximum outage per unit is three days.

12. Please confirm whether only one AHU may be offline at a time.

· This will be determined when the new coils on site. Depending on the labs and offices schedule. Could be more two or three units at time.

13. Please confirm the maximum number of AHUs offline at once, and whether the limit differs between the lab core and office perimeter.

· This will be determined when the new coils on site. Depending on the labs and offices schedule. Could be more two or three units at time.

14. Please confirm temporary conditioning during AHU outages is not required.

· Temporary AC is not required.

15. Please confirm that new insulation must be painted to match existing insulation colors.

· New insulation shall match the existing material and color.

16. Please confirm the extent of insulation replacement: only on replaced piping, or all damaged insulation throughout Building 227.

· The insulation only for the connection to existing piping only. This is upstream the shutoff valve to the new coil.

17. The SOW Security section requires all non-Government employees to be registered with security prior to site access, with the Contractor providing the COR names, country of citizenship, and Green Card status, and a NIST 1260 form for anyone on a work visa. Please confirm these vetting requirements apply to all on-site installation labor throughout the project. Please confirm whether installation labor is restricted to U.S. citizens.

· No, the installation labor is not restricted to U.S citizens. Labor shall have real-ID, permanent residence (green card), or work authorization.

18. Please confirm on-site storage/staging is permitted, including a contractor trailer, and identify the location.

· Yes, onsite storage is permitted. Coordinate with project COR for trailer location during or after project kick-off. Also, see Guidelines for Contractors and A-E firms attached.

19. Please confirm whether testing and balancing is limited to the replaced coils or requires full air and water balance of the entire AHU.

· Pre and final TAB is limited to the coil replacement only.

20. The existing low-pressure steam supply and condensate isolation valves serving the heating coils may be original to the 1996 building and may not provide positive shutoff. If a unit's isolation valves do not hold, please confirm whether NIST will provide and schedule that shutdown.

· All the valves shall hold and work properly. In case of valve is not working properly. NIST will coordinate a shutdown and possible contract modification to replace the broker valves.

21. If the existing isolation valves must be replaced to isolate a coil, please confirm replacement of those valves will be handled as a change order to the original contract.

· The broker valves repair/replacement will be a contract modification.

22. Are there any specific Commissioning and/or Construction Quality Management (CQM) services required for this project?

· No, there is no specific commissioning. The project COR will oversee the installation and document the progress via construction punch list.

23. For efficiency purposes, what factors and sub-factors in Volume I and II quotations must be provided by the Prime and which ones can be provided by the subcontractor?

· For Volume 1, Factor 1 Past Experience, quoters can list both Prime Contractor and Subcontractor’s experience. However, a Prime Contractor must account for the majority of the submission.

· For Volume 1, Factor 2, Key Personnel, a Prime Contractor, and Subcontractor can both provide a submission, however Prime Contractor submission is required.

· For Volume 1, Factor 3, Project Execution, a Prime Contractor, and Subcontractor can both provide a submission, however Prime Contractor submission is required.

· For Volume 1, Factor 4, Bonding, this must be only submitted by the Prime Contractor.

· For Volume II, Price Quotation, this must be only submitted by the Prime Contractor.

See updated language in the solicitation highlighted in yellow.

24. How long can each AHU be shut down in order to replace the intended coils?

· This will be phased depending on the lab’s schedule. Maximum outage per unit is three days.

25. Are control valves being replaced as part of this project? If so, please provide the contact information for the controls contractor currently in building 227.

· No, the control valves are not part of this project.

26. For pricing purposes, what is the extent of the insulation replacement listed in the SOW?

· Matching the existing insulation, material and color. The insulation linear foot might vary from one unit to another. Depends on the length of the pipe connection upstream the shutoff valve up to the coil connection.

27. Are as-built drawings available for the penthouse space that show the mechanical schedules with the Buffalo AHUs listed?

· No, there are no as-built drawings available. Field verify existing units, and route in and out to each unit.

28. Please confirm that AHU shutdowns can happen during normal working hours.

· AHU shutdowns and work shall be done during business hours. We don’t anticipate work after hours or weekends.

29. Will the contractor be responsible for draining down the piping to each unit or will facilities maintenance perform this task?

· Draining the units shall be done by the contractor.

30. RFQ page 5, Factor 4, references inclusion of Performance and Payment Bonds with the proposal submission. Since P&P Bonds are a post-award submission item, please confirm NIST will accept a letter from the Offeror's surety indicating bonding capacity and intent to issue P&P Bonds if successful with award.

· See updated language in the solicitation for this factor, highlighted in yellow.

31. The existing steam coils have 16-gauge galvanized steel casings. The existing chilled water coils have stainless steel casings. Do the new chilled water coils need to have stainless steel casings or are galvanized steel casings acceptable?

· The coils replacements are like-for-like. No, galvanized steel casing is not acceptable.

32. Please clarify the requirements for bringing materials into the building and stockpiling materials onsite. Are there specific time constraints, etc.?

· See attached Guidelines for Contractors and A-E firms.

33. Please confirm that all work may performed during regular working hours.

· Yes, all work must be performed during business hours. No, after hours nor weekends work is anticipated.

34. We would like to know if this is a brand new contract OR if there is (was) an incumbent performing these services.

· Yes, this is a new contract.

35. Please confirm that the existing heating coils use steam, not heating hot water.

· The existing heating coils utilize steam and not heating hot water.

36. In the statement of work, Tasks 3. states: "The contractor shall perform testing and balancing depending on the specifications of the selected similar cooling and heating coil. Contractor to perform air and water balance for all units." If the new coils are the same specifications as the old coils, will the contractor be responsible for performing water and air balancing?

· There is no historical\existing TAB report for the units, TAB shall be performed by the contractor before and after the installation of the new coils. During site visit we asked all vendors to take pictures of the existing unit’s name plate. The representative at “S.J. Rafferty Co., Inc.” can provide coils dimensions and related data for the original AHUs. The representative who has this information is Steve Rafferty, contact is steve@sjrafferty.com (410) 721-4005 Ext 14.

The pre-TAB will be the baseline and must be matched after the installation is complete.

37. Please confirm that all existing controls are to remain.

· The controls and controls valve are existing to remain.

38. The existing insulation is painted with a color scheme for different piping systems. Will the new insulation need to match color?

· Yes, the insulation material, thickness, and color to match the existing insulation.

39. Will there be any off-hour work?

· No, all work must be done during business hours. No, after hours nor weekends work is anticipated.

40. Please clarify the technical proposal - Factor 4- Performance and Payment Bonds: "Quoter shall provide performance and payment bonds minimum of $750,000.00." What are the offerors required to submit for this section?

· See updated language in the solicitation for this factor, highlighted in yellow.

41. Our subcontractor team is reviewing the project's scope to prepare a quote, but they were unable to attend the scheduled site visit in person. To ensure we can provide an accurate and competitive quotation, would it be possible for the government to provide additional equipment details ? They would need the pictures of the equipment locations, models, and serial numbers to identify the equipment size.

42. We are not responsible for any contractors missing the site-visit. This project required all quoters to be onsite from logistical and technical standpoint. During site visit we asked all vendors to take pictures of the existing unit’s name plate. The representative at “S.J. Rafferty Co., Inc.” can provide coils dimensions and related data for the original AHUs. The representative who has this information is Steve Rafferty, contact is steve@sjrafferty.com (410) 721-4005 Ext 14.

43. How long can each AHU be shut down in order to replace the intended coils?

· This will be phased depending on the lab’s schedule. Maximum outage per unit is three days.

44. Are control valves being replaced as part of this project? If so, please provide the contact information for the controls contractor currently in building 227

· There are no control valves nor controls replacement as part of this project.

45. For pricing purposes, what is the extent of the insulation replacement listed in the SOW?

· Matching the existing insulation, material and color. The insulation linear foot might vary from one unit to another. Depends on the length of the pipe connection upstream the shutoff valve up to the coil connection.

46. Are as-built drawings available for the penthouse space that show the mechanical schedules with the Buffalo AHUs listed?

· No, there are no as-built drawings available. Field verify existing units, and route in and out to each unit.

47. Please confirm that AHU shutdowns can happen during normal working hours

· Yes, shutdown will be during business hours. This will be coordinated with the project COR based on the lab’s schedule.

48. Will the contractor be responsible for draining down the piping to each unit or will facilities maintenance perform this task?

· The contractor is responsible for draining the system.

49. Will the contractor be allowed to stage materials in the parking lot outside Building 227?

· The contractors are allowed to store the material onsite. see Guidelines for Contractors and A-E firms attached.