Contractor_Questions___Answers_Revised_08-02-21_0005.docx

CONTRACTOR QUESTIONS/ANSWERS

Revised July 30, 2021

Amendment 0001

Question 1 Project Experience/Performance in Last 3 Years – Section L (page 51) of the solicitation requires project experience be provided for up to 5 relevant projects in the most-recent 3 years (Factor 3). A similar requirement applies to Past Performance for projects (Factor 4). The 3-year period is overly restrictive, especially with substantial reductions in Federal budgets imposed by the last Administration plus COVID-19 impacts. Client delays while awaiting funding for partially funded projects in that same timeframe have also adversely impacted the Government’s and contractors’ ability to complete many projects. Given that reality and to provide NPS with the greatest number and most responsive proposals to evaluate, project experience over a longer duration is desirable – for both the Government and contractors. Other Federal Government solicitations we have reviewed and responded to in the last several years have required project experience in the last 5-10 years. We respectfully request NPS change the duration for project experience and associated past performance be 7 years, the approximate mid-point between the 5 and 10-year durations Federal Agencies have been using.

Answer 1 The project experience duration and associated past performance has been extended from three years to five.

Question 2 Subfactors 3a and 3b – Please confirm that responses to Subfactors 3a and 3b are to be sections separate from/in addition to the Project Experience Questionnaire forms cited in the introductory paragraph of Factor 3 (in Section L, page 51) of the solicitation.

Answer 2 Responses to Subfactors 3a and 3b are separate from and in addition to the Project Experience Questionnaire.

Question 3 Who is the in-house ATC contractor?

Answer 3 The Easton Building does not have an Automatic Temperature control system. Section 230900 Direct Digital Control specifies the installation of a new system to control heating and cooling.

Amendment 0002

Question 4 Questions are due by 7/21 and bids 7/28. That leaves 1 week to incorporate answers into the RFP response, format response, seek pricing, and post for delivery. It seems that responses will be somewhat rushed, and the quality of the responses received may display this rush. The trades and contractor need more time to put together a quality response.

Answer 4 Amendment 0002 will extend the solicitation by three weeks. The new closing date is not August 18, 2021.

Question 5 The PPQ form was not provided in the solicitation document. Contracting officers/Clients need enough time to submit all the Past Performance Questionnaire Form to the point of contact in paragraph B by the due date.

Answer 5 The PPQ form is one of several documents located in Attachment 5, Proposal Submission Package. See the image below.

Question 6 Will you accept a CPARS evaluation in lieu of a PPQ?

Answer 6 Yes

Question 7 Are previously completed PPQs acceptable?

Answer 7 Yes, so long as they correspond to the one of the projects under Factor 3.

Question 8 For Volume 2, Page 53 of the RFP requires complete and submit the attached "General References," form. Please provide the Form.

Answer 8 See the answer for question 5.

Question 9 For Volume 2, Page 53 of the RFP SUBCONTRACTING PERCENTAGE WORKSHEET (SET-ASIDE): This worksheet will be reviewed for completeness and correlation to proposed pricing. Please provide the worksheet.

Answer 9 See the answer for question 5.

Question 10 Factor 3 Project Experience requires Key Trades. Does teaming agreements need to be included with the technical proposal?

Answer 10 No

Question 11 We need more time to understand the design requirements of the proposed ICCP system to meet performance criteria.

Answer 11 Amendment 0002 will extend the solicitation by three weeks. The new closing date is not August 18, 2021.

Question 12 We need more time to review the zoning and anode take off quantity.

Answer 12 Amendment 0002 will extend the solicitation by three weeks. The new closing date is not August 18, 2021.

Question 13 With a complex project like this, we need enough time with respect to estimating to ensure everything is captured based on requirements.

Answer 13 Amendment 0002 will extend the solicitation by three weeks. The new closing date is not August 18, 2021.

Question 14 We need more time to review the submittal requirements.

Answer 14 Amendment 0002 will extend the solicitation by three weeks. The new closing date is not August 18, 2021.

Question 15 Based on take offs provided, understanding the miscellaneous items (conduits and cabling) requirements is going to take some time.

Answer 15 Amendment 0002 will extend the solicitation by three weeks. The new closing date is not August 18, 2021.

Question 16 Subcontractors we are engaging are stating they need more in order for them to get us what we need to price this accurately.

Answer 16 Amendment 0002 will extend the solicitation by three weeks. The new closing date is not August 18, 2021.

Amendment 0003

Question 17 Please confirm that for 2” and smaller ProPress is acceptable on hot/glycol water piping.

Answer 17 Yes, for hot water. We do not know of any glycol piping below 3” size.

Question 18 Please confirm that for 2 ½” and larger Victaulic is acceptable on hot/glycol water piping.

Answer 18 Yes, Victaulic is acceptable.

Question 19 Does the fuel oil fill/vent have to be installed in containment piping?

Answer 19 No, containment piping is not required for fuel oil fill and vent piping.

Question 20 Who is responsible for removal of existing fuel oil? And if there an estimated amount currently in the tank?

Answer 20 The Contractor is to remove oil from tanks being removed. The existing oil level at the time of construction start is unknown.

Amendment 0004

Question 21 SPECIFICATION 18 0100 – Cathodic Protection, Clause 3.4 While continuity testing protocol is defined, the quantity of estimated continuity bond corrections is not provided. Please advise on the quantity of continuity corrections that is to be included within the bid price.

Answer 21 Assume two anchors per stone in the anode zone of influence, with a unit rate for bonds. Where new stones are being installed and titanium anchors used, no bonding is required.

Question 22 SPECIFICATION 18 0100 – Cathodic Protection, Clause 3.4.I states that stray current testing will be as per contracting officer direction. Given that the building was not surveyed by the bidding Contractors please provide estimated number of tests to be included within pricing.

Answer 22 Provide unit price for two tests per zone – testing will need to address all metallic items within zone.

Question 23 SPECIFICATION 18 0100 – Cathodic Protection, confirm whether it is acceptable to have the Power Supply Unit and Main Control Unit installed as a single enclosure unit.

Answer 23 Acceptable

Question 24 SPECIFICATION 18 0100 – Cathodic Protection, Clause 3.6.B.2 Mentions ballasted ribbon anodes. Please provide clarification on what is required for ballasted ribbon anodes.

Answer 24 See Drawing XX03 Detail 2. Spot weld anode ribbon to ballasted probe anode to create a ballasted ribbon anode.

Question 25 SPECIFICATION 18 0100 – Cathodic Protection, Clause 3.6.F Confirm if a 3rd party electrical contractor is required for running DC power connection cables between the Power Supply Unit and junction boxes. Does this apply to both positive anode feeder and negative cathode feeder connections? Will the bidding Contractor be required to run reference electrode and steel test connections from the power supply unit to the junction boxes?

Answer 25 Electrical contractor is required for running DC power connection cables between the Power Supply Unit and junction boxes.

It does apply to both positive anode feeder and negative cathode feeder connections.

The contractor will be required to run reference electrode and steel test connections from the power supply unit to the junction boxes.

Question 26 SPECIFICATION 18 0100 – Cathodic Protection, Clause 3.9 Requires that after grouting each probe anode, a functionality test is to be performed for reach anode. Please confirm that this is required for each anode individually. If it is to be performed individually then the anode drawings depicting the anodes installed 3” deep would suggest that the cable is connected to each anode prior to it being grouted. This will work on the first anode on any given anode string only, as the second anode would be already connected via the first anode. Please advise on whether this test should be performed on a per anode string basis instead of an individual probe anode basis.

Answer 26 Install on string basis with measurements taken as each anode is grouted in place.

Question 27 SPECIFICATION 18 0100 – Cathodic Protection, General - The design of the system is not part of the scope. Assuming installation of all elements of the system is as per the design and approved methods, confirmation of the performance and achievement of cathodic protection criteria of the system should be the responsibility of the Designer. The bidding Contractor should only be responsible for confirmation of the functionality and operation of the cathodic protection system.

Answer 27 Contractor is required to install the system elements to demonstrate performance in accordance with the specifications and design criteria. Assuming the elements are installed and adjusted in accordance with specificalities and design criteria, the Designer will be responsible for the adequacy of the design. Contractor must provide required tests, which are witnessed by the Contracting Officer. Installation will be validated based on test data. All data must meet or exceed the design requirements.

Question 28 SPECIFICATION 18 0100 – Cathodic Protection, Clause 3.19.C States "Adjustment to the control setting shall only be performed following discussion with the Contracting Officer". Clause 3.19.3.1-3 Outlines various visual inspections are to be performed at each performance monitoring check. Clause 3.19.G states "Any adjustments to the control settings that the Contractor considers to be necessary to comply with the requirements of the specification shall be carried out within 7 days of completion of the performance monitoring." Clause 3.19.F states "The Contractor shall give the Contracting officer not less than 7 days’ notice of his intention to carry out the performance monitoring and shall offer the Contracting Officer the opportunity to attend whilst the performance monitoring is being carried out." This appears to indicate all performance monitoring shall be performed in person by a technician and precludes the option for a remote monitoring system to be installed to the Main Control Unit. If the Contracting Officer is required to approve all changes to the control settings, how will this be accomplished up to, but not exceeding, 7 days after completion of the performance monitoring check? Should the bid price include budget for performance monitoring checks to take place over multiple days?

Answer 28 Contracting officer will have to be present at the time of monitoring. Time on site is dictated by contractors’ means and methods. Monitoring should take no more than eight hours on site, if running a 24-hour test, contractor can spread this over 2 days per visit. It is anticipated a system of this size, the time on site should be no more than eight hours.

Remote monitoring shall be installed, with adjustments made remotely; however, performance monitoring visits for the initial 12 months is to be in persons, at quarterly intervals.

Question 29 SPECIFICATION 18 0100, Clause 2.2.D&E Confirm if STRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGIES Electrotech CP Main Control Unit and Power Supply Units are approved equal. Please provide contact/website information for listed approved Main Control Unit and Power Supply Unit manufacturers.

Answer 29

1. Duvine Duvine Ltd | Custom DC Power solutions and Impressed Current Cathodic Protection Power Supplies

2. CPI / Force Corrosion control (forcetechnology.com) Structural Technologies is their US distributor.

3. Aegis Data Sheet Template File.ai (ctsonline.com)

If the ST ETCP Main Control meets specification requirements is can be used.

Question 30 SPECIFICATION 18 0100, Clause 3.1.A&B Confirm is bonding of stray metallic elements into the system cathode is required to be performed by a Massachusetts licensed electrician.

Answer 30 Cathodic bonding can be performed by a qualified CP technician. All bonded elements are required to be documented as continuous.

Question 31 Drawing XX04 Details 5 and 6 indicate PROBE ANODE ASSEMBLY for beams. Confirm these details are intended to reference Ribbon Anodes

Answer 31 Confirmed: Ribbon Anodes

Question 32 Drawing XX07 Detail 1 includes callouts with references to drawing CP4. Confirm these callouts are intended to reference details on drawing XX07.

Answer 32 Confirmed: XX07

Amendment 0005 Question 33 SPECIFICATION 18 0100 – Cathodic Protection, Clause 2.8.B states "Reference cell cable shall be 18AWG". This conflicts with Specification 18 0550 Clause 1.4.D which states " Monitoring cables shall be a minimum of 14AWG". Please confirm the required size of reference cell monitoring cable.

Answer 33 Per Section 180100. 2.8 Masonry Embedded Cables, Item B. Reference cell cable shall be 18AWG (180100-13). Per Section 260520 Low Voltage Electrical Power Conductors: Part 3: Branch Circuits are Copper stranded 14 AWG THHN / THWN (260520-2). For clarification, masonry embedded cables are those on the exterior of the building, branch circuits are on the interior of the building.

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