Fire Solicitiation Questions and Answers.pdf

Fire Solicitation Questions and Answers

19AQMM-22-R-0206

1. Attachment 1 -Description/Specifications Statement of Work Section 5.7.14.2 states the Fire Pump Technician must be certified by the fire pump manufacturer. Please confirm that as per NFPA 20 Section 4.3.4.3 that OBO Fire, as the authority having jurisdiction, will require the fire pump technician be trained, experienced, and certified by the manufacturers of the engine and fire pump controllers per the manufacturers requirements to provide proper service. And that these certifications must be provided as per Attachment 1 Section 5.9 for the specific personnel along with each task order proposal.

OBO Response: Confirmed – all NICET and Manufacturer’s Certifications should be included in personnel resumes associated with performing the inspections. Copies of the certifications shall accompany the resumes.

2. Solicitation Section M 52.212-2 Evaluation factors are incomplete. Please provide the evaluation factors for this solicitation.

Please see the updated section M attached to this amendment.

3. Please provide an example of a task order price proposal request.

OBO Response: provide hourly wage of all personnel which will be associated with contract.

Include first year rate and each year after (which will include inflation, other variables which would increase rate) for the full 5 years of the IDIQ Contract.

4. Several of the various items that are listed as part of the inspection process for the fire sprinkler, fire alarm, water tank, and fire pumps indicate that inspection and maintenance work is to be provided as monthly action items. Is the intention of this contract to have personnel travel the associated sites to perform these various inspections and/or maintenance items or is the intention of the work is to have the personnel on site (Facility Manager Crew) perform these work elements?

OBO Response: This contract is for annual service only – all other inspection timeframes will be completed outside of this contract

5. Per section 3.5.2 it states that the dry pipe valves are to be fully tripped as part of the maintenance scope every three years, this shall be performed with the valve fully opened. The other years, the control valve shall be closed, and the air pressure released to verify the operation of the valve. Please confirm that the intention is to have the system only fully tripped every three (3) years as per the RFP.

OBO Response: Confirmed

6. As per the Section 3.5.2 it states that the various pressure switches on the dry pipe system are to be tested both semi-annually and annually, is the intent of this RFP to have the system to test the systems twice a year or is the intention to have this tested only once a year.

7. Per section 3.5.1 it states that the tamper switches and flow switches are to be tested both semi-annually and annually. Is the intention of this RFP to have the testing completed only once a year or twice a year?

8. Per section 3.5.3 and 3.5.4 the fire pumps (electric and diesel) have specific items that are listed to be inspected monthly, is the monthly inspections to occur as part of the onsite facility maintenance crew or should this RFP cover these monthly inspections?

completed outside of this contract – Contractor will be responsible for the manufacturer’s listed annual inspection requirements only. Post will perform other inspections.

9. As required by 3.5.4, the diesel fire pump oil and filter are to be changed, is this material to be provided by the site or does this material have to be shipped to the project site to allow for the work to occur?

OBO Response: All filters and belts are to be purchased and shipped to post. Oil and coolant will be available to contractor at post. Contractor will be required to inform post PROIR to visit type and quantity needed to complete the annual maintenance requirements.

10. In Section 3.5.4 there is no reference to the fuel filter to be replaced as part of the annual maintenance. Is this scope to be included and if so, is the filter provided by the site or does it have to be provided by the team?

OBO Response: See response #9

11. Per section 3.5.1 the standpipes, fire hose valves, and fire hydrants are to be exercised and tested annually. As these shall be at various locations that shall have special hose threads provided, is the ability to connect a NHT connection to the items and allow for the flowing of the system? As some of these shall be the connections at the top of the standpipe, shall the team include the cost to travel with fire hoses, hose monsters, and testing tips to allow the hoses to be connected to the fire hose valves and to allow the discharge of the water? If the system is at the top of the stair well, can the water pass through the roof access door and discharge to the roof?

OBO Response: Teams will not be required to travel with hose valves etc. Teams will evaluate inspector drain discharge locations and will perform the standpipe test when acceptable to post using what is available on site.

12. As per section 3.5.5 the reference is made to the water storage tank interior is required. As these are typically considered to be a confined space, is the associated safety equipment (air monitors, tripod retractable rescue assembly, etc.) provided by the site or does this equipment have to be taken to the project site by the team?

OBO Response: the tank inspections will be conducted within 2-5 years of the IDIQ. Contractor shall coordinate with post the OSHA requirements/equipment needed on year 1 inspection visit. The year 1 inspection at post will be fire alarm, sprinkler, and fire pump with survey/coordination/schedule determination for water tank inspection

13. As the project provides a various location with Outside Stem and Yoke (OS&Y) valves, is the RFP to include the associated cost to lubricate and exercise the OS&Y valves during the annual inspection?

OBO Response: Contractor shall exercise all valves. If lubrication is needed coordinate with post for type – post will purchase lubrication. SOW includes day of training included in cost/visits.

Contractor will show local staff “how to” perform proper lubrication/exercise of control valves

14. As the water storage tanks have typically automatic water fill systems, is this RFP to include the testing of the automatic fill system?

OBO Response: This will happen as the tanks will be required to be drained. The automatic fill will perform after inspection. Any repairs/recommendations will be noted on inspection form and handled by separate task order

15. As per NFPA-25 (2020 Edition) section 13.8, the fire department connection is to be hydrostatically tested every five (5) years. Is this hydrostatic test to occur for the piping from the check valve to the fire department connection? If this pressure test is to be provided, should the team plan on a hydrostatic pump being taken to the project site or would one be provided on site?

OBO Response: Do not perform

16. No reference is made to any backflow preventors being provided as part of the fire protection system, should the annual testing (certification of no backflow of water) be provided for any location that has a backflow provided?

OBO Response: Notify COR/POC if backflow is found on site. This will be handled on case-by-case basis

17. The RFP does not reference the need to do internal inspections of the check valves, dry pipe valves or piping as part of the five (5) year inspection. Should this RFP include the associated work to perform these inspections as part of the RFP. If these are to be provided as part of this RFP, is the intention for these internal inspections to occur as part of the first-year inspection?

OBO Response: Do not perform – if repair is needed to valves (leaking, packing need replaced, etc) coordinate with post, inform what parts are required and list ALL issues on inspection form

18. The fire alarm system is to be tested as part of this RFP, please confirm that 100% of the devices for the fire alarm system are to be fully tested.

OBO Response: 100% tested – include list of all devices tested attached to inspection form – note any devices not tested and indicate reason (ie. Security area not accessible – if not permitted into area list the name of person not allowing access) NOT having key/access code is NOT a reason of device not being tested

19. Per the section 3.6.2, the requirements of the testing of smoke detectors is to use listed spray test smoke, as this compressed gas is considered a hazardous item and cannot be provided in a checked bag, is the intention of this RFP is to have this canned smoke shipped to the project site as part of a hazmat shipment or is the canned smoke to be provided on the project site by the facility?

OBO Response: Teams in prior IDIQ use the Testifire system fire alarm tester or equivalent without any travel issues to post – will discuss at kickoff meeting any concerns to approved contractors

20. Per section 3.6.4 some locations have beam detectors which states that the beam detector is required to be tested using a manufacturer’s obscuration screen or equivalent. As part of the original install was the testing screen installed as part of the beam detector or will the ability be provided on the project site for the team to access the detector and provide the screen to test?

OBO Response: Beam detector inspection process will be discussed at kick off meeting with approved contractors

21. For the fire alarm systems, shall the associated battery testing be included as part of the RFP?

OBO Response: Confirmed also note installation/age of batteries on inspection form

22. As required by NFPA-25, the fire sprinkler gauges are to be tested every five (5) years. This is typically completed by having a certified gauge and testing against the certified gauge or by replacing the gauge with a new one. Is the intention of this RFP to test the gauges as part of the first year of testing or shall this only be provided as an inspection to determine the date of installation and verify the pressure appear, correct?

OBO Response: Most gauges located on site are out of date – note gauges need replaced on inspection form

23. As per section 4.6 it states that all field labor on the project site is to have a minimum of Secret Clearance. As part of this work shall occur within the Core areas, these are typically required to be provided as Top-Secret labor. Please confirm the final clearance required for the project inspections.

OBO Response: Will discuss at kick off meeting with approved contractors. Secret level workers can get into the majority of areas required to be inspected

24. Shall all areas of the campus be provided to allow for the inspection of all devices, components, and coverage of all areas?

OBO Response: Correct - contractor shall coordinate with post PROIR to inspection all areas, keys, codes, etc will be accessible during inspection

25. For the replacement of the diesel fire fluids, shall the disposal of the waste be provided on site?

OBO Response: Post will handle disposal of waste

26. As many of the fire alarm systems are provided as Notifier, shall DOS OBO provide a sponsorship to provide the associated program to allow for the testing and download of all the testing data points? In addition, for the locations for Simplex and Siemens Systems, as these are typically only proprietary to these vendors, shall the staff on site be able to assist with the download of the testing points at the completion of the testing?

OBO Response: Contractor is required to be able to connect to panel – contractor will have a fire alarm technician on staff/inspection able to perform minor programming changes via main panel – contractor can use printer software (Hyperterminal or equivalent) on laptop – contractor to use available printer when not able to connect to panel and provide testing printout of system

27. As part of the security requirements, shall the various locations provide the list of preferred locations for the staff to stay at approved hotels?

OBO Response: will discuss at kick off meeting to approved contractors

28. Please confirm if there are any restrictions on airlines for the crews to utilize as part of the security protocol for the various locations.

OBO Response: Will discuss at kick off meeting with approved contractors

29. As required by NFPA-25, please confirm that no sprinklers on any project are older than 50 years old and do not require any testing.

OBO Response: Will discuss at kick off meeting with approved contractors