Questions and Answers - Canaan Replace Fire Alarm (003).pdf

USP Canaan – Replace Fire Alarm

PROJECT 23Z2AQ1 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

SOLICITATION 15BFA023B00000028

1. Could we get a copy of the existing fire alarm drawings and/or floor plans to put together an accurate estimate?

CLARIFICATION: Drawings are being compiled and sent to be approved

2. Does the solicitation intend to provide for a one-for-one replacement of the existing device utilize the existing box and cabling?

CLARIFICATION: Refer to Statement of Work, Section 1 Bulletin B.

3. Where is an old device removed from wall or ceiling will a blank cover be acceptable, or will it need to be patched and painted to match existing conditions?

CLARIFICATION: Refer to Statement of Work, Section 1 Bulletin E. Third paragraph

4. For a new device installed on a block wall will the device to be installed flush into the block wall or will surface mounted boxes and conduit be allowed?

CLARIFICATION: Flush mount is preferred but if not able then yes as long as FBOP policy is followed. Any conduit accessible to inmates GRC is required along with following NFPA 70 NEC Codes.

5. For any exposed conduit will GRC be required or is EMT conduit acceptable?

CLARIFICATION: Any conduit accessible to inmates GRC is required along with following NFPA 70 NEC Codes

6. Will this project require a level 3 survivability pathways that will require the use of a 2-hour fire rated circuit integrity cable?

CLARIFICATION: We do not require level 3 survivability pathway

7. Could we please get a copy of the pre-bid sign in sheet?

CLARIFICATION: The Sign in Sheet will be posted to sam.gov along with the questions and answers

8. Could we please get at least a one-week bid extension as the answer to these questions will take time to process and complete our proposal?

CLARIFICATION: extending the bid opening until September 13, 2023 at 2pm

9. Who’s responsible for procuring the selected Fire Alarm System?

CLARIFICATION: Contractor/Vendor responsible for procuring the selected Fire Alarm System

10. Is there a specified manufacturer for the system?

CLARIFICATION: Refer to Statement of Work, Section 1 Bulletin A

11. Is start up and commissioning by a procurement vendor included in the fire alarm package?

CLARIFICATION: Contractor/Vendor is responsible for start-up and commissioning

12. Is Electrical contractor support required for startup and commissioning?

CLARIFICATION: Determined by Contractor/Vendor

13. Can the existing wiring be reused?

CLARIFICATION: Refer to Statement of Work, Section 1 Bulletin B. Third Paragraph

14. How is final testing to be conducted within the facility? Will the test alarms be a problem during normal operation?

CLARIFICATION: Standard fire alarm testing procedures. Refer to Statement of Work, Section 1 Bulletin E.

15. Has there been an audit completed to add the fire alarm system to the network?

CLARIFICATION: No audit has been completed

16. Is there Data Conduit with the sufficient space to add the required single mode fiber to the network?

CLARIFICATION: Sufficient space should be available for added lines

17. What type of fiber connectors are used on site?

CLARIFICATION: Two connectors are used for our fiber which are CL connectors and ST connectors

18. Is tamper resistant hardware required for installation?

CLARIFICATION: Yes, tamper resistant hardware required for installation

19. Is any temporary heating required for the project?

CLARIFICATION: No temporary heating is required

20. We do not need to Change the FACP panel backboxes. We only need to replace the inner boards and modules to create a new Current system. Is this Acceptable?

CLARIFICATION: Yes as long as it meets or exceeds NFPA 70 (2023)

21. The existing base for all area smoke and heat detectors is still the same used, and currently manufactured. We would not need to change these, but instead, just change the detector to the new one in each location. Is this acceptable?

CLARIFICATION: Yes as long as it meets or exceeds NFPA 70 (2023)

22. The PAD-3 Horn strobe power supplies and all Horns and strobes Are still 100% Compatible with the new Current

System. The Power supplies are still serviceable and available by the manufacturer. The existing horn strobes can be synchronized with the new system. We propose to leave these as existing to re-use. Is this acceptable?

CLARIFICATION: Yes if it meets or exceeds NFPA 70 (2023)

23. Regarding the Network to be created, will existing site fiber optic cable be available between building at all FACPs?

CLARIFICATION: Yes, fiber optic cable available between buildings at all FACPs

24. For the network, is a Global Graphic PC with all Building floor plans and devices plotted to annunciate upon

Activation required? If so, where would this be located?

CLARIFICATION: Yes, it is required and will be in the Control Center or Comm Shop

25. Per the Statement of work, please elaborate on the 6 Smoke purge panels to be replaced. During the walkthrough these could not be located, and it was believed they were a function of the HVAC system and not connected at all to the fire alarm system. Will these be removed from scope?

CLARIFICATION: Yes, the smoke purge panels are apart of our HVAC system and they will not be replaced

CHANGE: Remove 6 Purge panels from SOW.

26. A Man lift will be required to reach the ceilings to change smoke detectors. If a lift was delivered to, and checked in to the prison, will the lift be able to be stored in the prison in an agreed upon location, or will it need to be removed from the institution daily?

CLARIFICATION: A man lift will be allowed to be stored in facilities department behind a locked door and the control for the man lift will be accounted for and stored in the facilities tool room with the Tool Room Officer for accountability.

27. The statement of work details that a Lockable storage gang box would be allowed to be left / stored inside the institution. During the walkthrough, it was said that all tools and material would have to be removed from the

Institution every day. Please clarify?

CLARIFICATION: A gang box will be allowed to be left on site and stored in Facilities Tool Room. Gang box will require a contractor/vendor lock a long with a facilities lock so one person would not be able to get into gang box.

Tools will be accounted for at the beginning and end of every work day by Tool room Officer for accountability.

28. Please clarify how Demolished System material is to be accounted for / removed from the prison daily.

CLARIFICATION: It will be the contractor/Vendors responsibility to account for and removal of demolished system

29. The bid description lists 21 “fire alarm panels.” What is the definition of “panel,” in this description? Power supply?

Remote annunciator? Fire Alarm Control Unit? If it is a combination of different types of equipment, how many of each exist on site?

CLARIFICATION: 21 FACP was an estimated count. Please review drawings that will be posted for locations and count. 120V is power supply for Fire Alarm Panels

30. What type of heat detectors are being replaced? 135 degree fixed? 135 degree fixed/ROR? 194 degree fixed?

CLARIFICATION: Heat detectors are 135 degrees fixed

31. What is the power source for the duct detectors? Does the FACP signaling line circuit power the detector or does the air handling unit controller power the duct detectors? Is a separate 120v circuit powering the duct detectors?

CLARIFICATION: All duct detectors are powered by Fire Alarm Panel which is 24V only exception is the training center which the duck detectors are powered by transformer which converts 120V to 24V

32. What features are required for the duct detector remote test switches? Does it require an LED only or does the device need to emit an audible signal?

CLARIFICATION: Both LED and Audible are required

33. Are the “control modules,” listed in the bid description wet or dry relays?

CLARIFICATION: Control Modules are dry relays

34. The bid description lists 6 “smoke purge panels.” Are pictures of these panels available?

CLARIFICATION: No, the Smoke purge panels will be removed from the SOW

Or

CHANGE: Remove 6 Purge panels from SOW.

35. What is required of the contractor while portions of the fire alarm system are shut down for replacement? Will the prison provide fire watch?

CLARIFICATION: FBOP will provide fire watch while fire alarm system is shut down

36. Are contractors able to leave tools and material inside the prison? If not, may the contractor set up a job box outside of the prison?

CLARIFICATION: A gang box will be allowed to be left on site and stored in Facilities Tool Room. Gang box will require a contractor/vendor lock a long with a facilities lock so one person would not be able to get into gang box.

Tools will be accounted for at the beginning and end of every work day by Tool room Officer for accountability.

The COR and the Contractor/Vendor will work out details to store a reasonably amount of material inside the prison.

37. Will the fire alarm control units be networked? If so, what type of fiber is required?

CLARIFICATION: Fire alarms will not be on the network.

38. The Solicitation does not contain all information required to bid the project. Please provide:

a. Diagram of fiber network to be utilized for the FA networking

i. Type of fiber between panels

ii. Confirmation there are 4 fibers available for use of FA system between each set of panels and central station location.

b. As built FA Drawings

c. List of buildings in Scope of Work

d. Fire Alarm Test Reports (to confirm device counts in each building

CLARIFICATION: There is single mode fiber with four fibers available for use. Drawings will be posted. The buildings will be USP, Admin, Rear gate, Warehouse, Garage, Power house, Training Center, Camp Admin, Camp

Dorm and Range. All buildings drawing will be posted to review. Fire Alarm test reports do not show counts of devices.

39. SOW – Section 1 States

a. The contractor shall be responsible for removing and replacing twenty-one (21) existing fire alarm panels

i. We will need to know how many addressable devices and strobes and horn/strobes are connected to each building FA panel in order to configure the panels.

ii. We will also need to know if the existing panels have any switch modules for control functions.

1. If there are switch modules, please indicate the number required in each new FA panel

b. three hundred fifty-nine (359) horn/strobes

i. We will need to know how the count of horn/strobes in each building FA Panel in order to provide booster power supplies & calculate circuit loading.

c. six (6) smoke purge panels

i. How many control switches for exhaust fans are currently available

ii. Please provide schematic of existing panels

iii. Please provide sequence of operation for these panels

d. one hundred-one (101) control modules

i. We will need to know if the control modules are non supervised relay modules or if the modules are supervised notification appliance control modules

1. Please provide count of supervised modules per building FA panel

2. Need to know count of non supervised relays per building FA Panel

3. Need to know count of supervised relays per building FA Panel

e. each new alarm panel will continue to communicate with the main panel in the Control Center

i. During the Site Visit, it was stated that there is no existing central control panel

1. Please verify if there is an existing central FA control panel

2. Please provide location and specifications for existing panel

ii. We will need to know if the new panels are required to communicate with an existing main panel in the Control Center OR if one of the 21 new panels will be functioning as the main panel

CLARIFICATION: All numbers of devices were estimated. Refer to Drawing for locations and count. The 6 smoke purge panel will be removed from the SOW due to they are a part of our HVAC system. Control Modules are supervised and roughly 5 per FACP. There is no Central Main Panel all panels will be functioning as the main Fire

Alarm Control panel but all will have emit audible and LED in Control Center

40. Please confirm the number of escorts that will be provided each day

a. This determines the number of technicians required and the duration of the project in work days

b. We have to have a commitment by bid time, not just we will work it out later.

CLARIFICATION: 2 escorts will be provided each day

41. During the Site Visit it was observed that some sally ports had annunciator panels in them. There are no annunciator panels in the provided counts on the SOW.

a. Are there any annunciators required for this project?

b. Please provide existing annunciator count and locations if they are required by this project.

CLARIFICATION: Yes, annunciators are required for the project. Refer to Drawings for location and count.

Or

CHANGE: FAA panels to be replaced

42. Are there any devices required in the Guard Towers?

a. Please provide counts and locations if required.

CLARIFICATION: No devices are located in Guard Towers

43. SOW Section F3 Shop Drawings

a. As we are reusing existing conduit and wire, will the requirements in this section for shop drawings be waived and contractor will submit as builts of the new system.

b. Please revise these requirements

CLARIFICATION: If any device is moved from existing location for any reason to a new location. New drawing will need to be updated and submitted.

44. Solicitation States: The contractor to submit signed and stamped/ sealed drawings from fire protection engineer and a written memo that the installation of fire protection and detection system is designed by a licensed fire protection engineer per latest edition of applicable codes.

a. Question – will the owner approve NICET 4 Fire Alarm Designer in lieu of the Fire Protection Engineer

CLARIFICATION: No, the drawings must be signed and stamped by a Fire Protection Engineer.

45. All existing fire alarm panel's report error conditions to the main panel in the Control Center

a. Question – what method of communication to the main panel is currently installed (fiber, copper, IP, or other method)

b. Question – is the existing network communication path to be reused

c. Question – is the existing network communication path 100% operational

CLARIFICATION: Copper is used for communication to Control Center. The existing communication path to be reused is to be determined by contractor/vendor. The existing network communication path is operational.

46. IN SCOPE OF WORK, Contractor Shall be Responsible for removing & replacing 21 fire alarm panels. Please provide more details on these 21 fire panels, are these solely fire alarm control panel or Booster panel & Remote

Annunciators included in the count?

CLARIFICATION: 21 FACP was an estimated count. Please review drawings that will be posted for better description, locations and count for all other Booster and annunciator panels.

47. Referring to project drawing, considering privacy/protection, please specify the number of floors and numbers of fire

& smoke zones or share better floor plans with dimension for example one line/schematic drawing showing system layout like zones & circuits for better understanding of the system.

CLARIFICATION: Drawings will be posted once approved.

48. In Scope of Work, 23 Monitoring Module and 101 Control Module.

a. Please specify are these only for sprinkler system monitoring or is their any other system which is required to be monitored & controlled by fire alarm system

b. Can we use a dual monitor module for monitoring sprinkler flow and temper switch.

c. Please provide the part/model number for Smoke Purge Panel.

CLARIFICATION: Sprinkler system is monitored by the fire alarm system. Refer to drawing once posted for a better clarification. It is up to the contractor/Vendor to use dual monitor module for monitoring sprinkler flow and temper switch. Smoke purge panels are apart of our HVAC system and they will not be replaced

49. The contractor shall determine the existing wiring can be utilized & meet or exceed per NFPA70, 2023, should faulty wiring be located contractor will inform in the COR & Contracting Office.

a. We understand that we can use the exiting wiring and conduits whereas if we find any faulty lines do we have to replace those under this contract or just inform the COR about it?

b. Can we allow to perform an extended site visit upon award to layout the construction drawings?

CLARIFICATION: Yes inform the COR and the COR will inform the Contracting Officer. Upon award contractor will be able to visit 6 times before the start of the Construction Contract Security.

Or

CHANGE: Any faulty wiring or conduit must be replaced to insure proper installation for Fire Alarm System. The contractor should estimate for 10,000 linear feet of 16 awg wire and 2,000 linear feet of ¾” conduit for faulty wire and conduit in existing Fire Alarm System