S05 Final Request for Information Responses - Questions 1-73.pdf

Question: 1 – The VA has previously provided a PDF file titled “S02+Project+Drawings” containing CAD layers for the first and second floor HVAC layout in areas A-D. Please provide full As-Built drawings in PDF format with all backgrounds included, or CAD files with all affected layers of both HVAC and

Electrical?

Response: For the As-Built Drawings, see the attachment identified as ‘S02 As-Built

Drawings’. Additional CAD drawings other than the documents posted with the solicitation will be provided to the successful bidder upon contract award.

Question: 2 – The scope specifies that the contractor must "Provide panels large enough for inspection, adjustment, and maintenance without disconnecting ducts.

Provide panels also for cleaning heating coils attached to each unit even if there are no moving parts. Panels shall be insulated to the same standards as the rest of the casing and secured, gasketed airtight. Panel accessibility shall require no tool other than a screwdriver to remove."

Please provide an approximate count of panels necessary? The walk-through provided limited access, making it difficult to determine which areas have hard ceilings requiring these panels.

Response: Upon further examination of the project area and project requirement, the 'Access Panels or Doors' paragraph in Section 2.2.5 from the issued Statement of Work is not applicable. Therefore, the 'Access Panels or Doors' paragraph is hereby removed and shall not be considered for bidding purposes. The VAV boxes will not have heat coils; the VAV boxes will only have electric heat strips so no access panel will be required.

Question: 3 – Please clarify if access panel insertion be required for areas with drop ceilings (ACT)?

Response: Not applicable. Refer to the response for Question 2.

Question: 4 – Please provide a BOX Schedule of all 178 existing VAV air terminals?

Response: Refer to the attachment identified as ‘S02 VAV Box Schedule’. Please note that the facility has more than one hundred seventy (178) air terminal units;

however, certain air terminal units were previously replaced, approximately four (4) years ago. For a more accurate quantity, the VA is now requesting the replacement of only one hundred sixty (160) air terminal units.

Question: 5 – Please provide the most recent TAB (Testing, Adjusting, and

Balancing) report for this location?

Response: The most-recent Test and Balance (TAB) was conducted in May 2020 when all the air handling units were replaced and will be available to the successful bidder upon contract award.

Question: 6 – Please clarify if the contractor will be required to exceed the performance of the existing units? If so, to what level should the terminals exceed the existing output?

Response: In-kind units will be sufficient for performance output.

Question: 7 – Please provide the model and manufacturer information for the existing ACT tiles and grid?

Response: Tile is Armstrong 1910A, 1911A, and 1912A. No model number available for the grid. The Government has limited replacement parts for the grid as the grid is no longer sold in the color installed at the St. Petersburg VA Regional Office.

Question: 8 – Please acknowledge that the existing ceiling grid and tiles are original to the building, which may result in color discrepancies due to age?

Response: The ceiling was replaced in 2015. Minimal color discrepancy is expected.

Question: 9 – Please clarify if the VA will require containment for each VAV replacement during the process? If so, please clarify the requirements for containment (e.g., hard-wall vs. poly, air scrubbers, etc.)?

Response: Containment will not be required as the work performed will be off hours. Refer to the responses for Question 28 and Question 52 as well as Question 50.

Question: 10 – The VA indicated that this project will follow “WHEN” hours. Will installers have access to the job site during weekends and holidays? If so, are there specific parameters or restrictions regarding work hours during these times?

Response: All work will be performed Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, between the hours of 6:00 pm and 6:00 am Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Work may be performed on Saturdays or Sundays through prior coordination with and approval by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) per Section 2.5 in the Statement of Work.

Question: 11 – Will contractors have access to B 46 loading dock for equipment deliveries and will government provide space at B 46 for onsite temporary storage of the 178 units?

Response: Yes, use of the loading dock will be available for the loading and unloading of materials. Contractor is responsible for providing the storage container. Also, refer to the response for Question 4.

Question: 12 – Please clarify if the contractor is allowed to keep on-site storage within Building 46, or will a conex storage container be required for storing these terminals?

Response: Yes, an on-site area will be provided for a storage container. However, no space will be provided within Building 46 for the storage or laydown of materials outside the specified working hours [6:00 pm and 6:00 am Eastern Standard Time

(EST)].

Question: 13 – Please provide the preferred / acceptable manufacturers or models for the VAV terminal units to ensure compliance with the specified pressure-independent functionality and single-duct applications?

Response: Johnson Controls-Metasys compatible. Refer to Page 86 of the Invitation for Bid (IFB) solicitation that incorporates Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

52.211-6 titled 'Brand Name or Equal' by reference. Also, refer to the attachment identified as ‘S02 Justification and Approval’.

Question: 14 – Please provide preferred vendor or supply chain contractors should consider for the replacement units and thermostats to align with VARO’s standards?

Response: Johnson Controls-Metasys compatible. Refer to Page 86 of the Invitation for Bid (IFB) solicitation that incorporates Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.211-6 titled 'Brand Name or Equal' by reference. Also, refer to the attachment identified as ‘S02 Justification and Approval’.

Question: 15 – The scope specifies that the maximum capacity per terminal unit should not exceed 566 liters per second (1,700 CFM). Please clarify if this capacity applies uniformly across all units, or are there varying capacity requirements based on location within Building 46?

Response: Uniformity across all units.

Question: 16 – Please clarify any minimum airflow requirements specified for the VAV units in low-flow situations or for minimum operational performance?

Response: No minimum airflow required.

Question: 17 – For the galvanized steel casing specified (22-gauge minimum), please clarify if all units include the exact specified gauge, or is slight variance permissible within certain tolerances?

Response: 22-gauge is sufficient for all units.

Question: 18 – Please provide any additional information for the required hanger brackets for attachment. Specifically, are there specified dimensions or a minimum load rating for these brackets?

Response: No additional requirements for the hanger brackets other than the manufacturers’ requirement.

Question: 19 – The insulation specification requires a 13 mm (1/2 inch) thick, foil-faced, rigid fiberglass with a 4 lb/ft³ density. Please clarify that the thickness and density are adequate to meet both thermal and acoustic performance standards throughout the entire building.

Response: Yes, the specified thickness and density are adequate.

Question: 20 – For NFPA 90A compliance and UL 181 standards, is there an approved list of insulation products or materials that have been used successfully in similar projects?

Response: No.

Question: 21 – Please clarify the dimensions of access panels or doors required for inspection and maintenance. Please provide the preferred minimum dimensions that should be adhered to?

of Work is not applicable. Therefore, the 'Access Panels or Doors' paragraph is hereby removed and shall not be considered for bidding purposes. The VAV boxes

Question: 22 – Please clarify for the units with attached heating coils, should the access panels provide full, unobstructed access for coil maintenance, or will partial access be acceptable?

of Work is not applicable. Therefore, the 'Access Panels or Doors' paragraph is hereby removed and shall not be considered for bidding purposes. The VAV boxes

Question: 23 – Please provide the specific material or gasket type preferred for ensuring airtight panel sealing?

Response: Not applicable. Refer to the responses for Question 21 or Question 22.

Question: 24 – Regarding the leakage requirement (maximum 2% of nominal capacity at 750 Pa), will on-site testing be required to verify compliance? If so, please provide guidelines or specifications for this testing.

Response: No testing or verification required.

Question: 25 – Please clarify if any specific test certifications will be required with the delivered units to document the leakage criteria compliance before installation?

Response: No test certifications required.

Question: 26 – For the thermostat replacements, could the project team specify compatibility requirements with the new VAV units to ensure seamless integration?

Response: Johnson Controls must be consulted for the thermostat recommendation along with programming requirements. Refer to the attachment identified as ‘S02

Justification and Approval’.

Question: 27 – Please provide the communication protocols or building management system (BMS) integration requirements for the new thermostats?

Response: Metasys compatible. Johnson Controls must be consulted for the thermostat recommendation along with programming requirements. Refer to the attachment identified as ‘S02 Justification and Approval’.

Question: 28 – Please confirm that construction will be completed during normal hours of operation 6 AM to 6 PM, weekdays, Monday through Friday.

Response: Section 2.5 within the Statement of Work inadvertently inverted the working hours for this project. Section 2.5 should read as follows: All work will be performed Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, between the hours of 6:00 pm and 6:00 am Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Work may be performed on Saturdays or Sundays through prior coordination with

Question: 29 – If needed, can night‐work and weekends be made available to expedite the project's completion?

Response: Refer to the response for Question 28. All work will be performed

Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, between the hours of 6:00 pm and 6:00 am Eastern Standard Time (EST). Work may be performed on Saturdays or

Sundays through prior coordination with and approval by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) per Section 2.5 in the Statement of Work.

Question: 30 – Please confirm if Procore is acceptable to be used as the project’s management tool for submittals, record keeping, and project organization of project’s data.

Response: Procore is an acceptable project management software for post-award contract administration functions, requests, and documentation.

Question: 31 – Are there any hazardous material report(s) for the areas where removal and replacement of Variable Air Volume (VAV) terminal Replacements work is to be performed?

Response: No known hazardous materials are present. The most-recent air quality test was conducted in October 2024 and will be available to the successful bidder upon contract award. The facility performs quarterly air quality tests.

Question: 32 – If any additional hazardous material is found/discovered in performance of the project, would this be considered an unforeseen condition?

Response: At the Contracting Officer’s discretion with consideration given to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.236-2.

Question: 33 – Please confirm if any state, local, and/or Federal permits will be required on this project?

Response: No permits are required for this project.

Question: 34 – Will the VA provide As-Built mechanical drawings for Building 46?

Where drawings show the building's floor plan and location of the VAV units?

Response: Refer to the attachment identified as ‘S02 As-Built Drawings’.

Question: 35 – Can you please confirm the noise hours to accommodate the demolition phase accordingly to minimize the impact on the staff and visitors.

Response: The normal hours of operation at the St. Petersburg VA Regional Office are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) for the public and 6:00 am to 6:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) for the VA employees. Therefore, this project being conducted from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am Eastern Standard Time (EST) will not interrupt visitors or staff operations. Refer to responses for Question 28 and Question 52.

Question: 36 – Has an ICRA analysis be prepared by the VA for the various work areas of this project?

Response: No patient care in the building, thereby Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) is not required for this project.

Question: 37 – Can you please confirm where the proposed stage down area would be (This will be used for material storage and dumpster lay down).

Response: An on-site area will be provided for a storage container near Building 46.

However, no space will be provided within Building 46 for the storage or laydown of materials outside the specified working hours [6:00 pm and 6:00 am Eastern

Standard Time (EST)]. The exact location for storage will be provided upon contract award.

Question: 38 – Can you confirm the means of entrance & egress for the project's equipment, materials and debris, would come through the building's service elevator(s) be used. Will the building's loading dock(s) be available to the contractor to receive and ship AVAs and other materials?

Response: Yes, all materials will enter and exit the building via the loading dock rolling door. The loading dock will be available for the contractor to use for the movement of construction materials. The contractor will be responsible for all receiving and shipping of all materials.

Question: 39 – Will all contractor personnel and subcontractor personnel be required to complete a daily security check–in?

Response: No. Daily check in and check out will be through the Contracting Officer’s Representative on duty. Working hours for this project are outside the normal operating hours of the St. Petersburg VA Regional Office, which the security check point will be closed.

Question: 40 – Please provide a unit cost for each of the two required items associated with issuance of non-PIV badges: (1) fingerprinting and (2) background investigations., see Statement of Work, Section 4.1.1 Badging and Identification -states "Contractor is responsible for the cost of fingerprinting and background investigations, if required".

Response: No cost to the Contractor. Fingerprinting and background investigations will not be required on this project.

Question: 41 – Is the contractor required to maintain a continuous negative air space for the construction area and if so can the HEPA unit(s) exhaust be vented into the non-critical area?

Response: Negative air is not required. Spaces worked need to be cleaned at the end of each shift.

Question: 42 – Will electrical power be available to the work area(s)?

Response: Yes, all work areas have electrical power.

Question: 43 – Will the new replacement VAV units be required to be fully functional by end of shift? Or, will the newly installed VAV units be allowed to be locked in an open position for extended period time until electric and controls can be restored?

Response: All VAVs are required to be fully operational at the end of each work week.

Question: 44 – Will the VA be responsible for commissioning, i.e., contract a commissioning agent, for the project to replace the VAVs?

Response: No, the Contractor is responsible for all commissioning.

Question: 45 – Please confirm is Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI) is under contract with the VA?

Response: Refer to the attachment identified as ‘S02 Justification and Approval’.

Question: 46 – Please provide information for the existing drop ceiling grid, i.e., manufacturer, style, color?

Response: Tile is Armstrong 1910A, 1911A, and 1912A. No model number available

Question: 47 – Please provide information for the existing acoustical ceiling tiles, i.e., manufacturer, color, style?

Response: Tile is Armstrong 1910A, 1911A, and 1912A. No model number available

Question: 48 – Is the contractor responsible for replacement of ceiling tiles if damaged during the work to remove and replace VAV units?

Response: Yes, the Contractor is responsible for replacing all ceiling tiles that are damaged during construction.

Question: 49 – Acoustical ceiling tiles that are size 24" x 24" can be replaced with one ceiling tile 48" x 24"?

Response: No, replacements must be and are only authorized as 24” x 24” ceiling tiles.

Question: 50 – Will VA employees remove and/or pack their personal items from their work area prior to work being completed overhead?

Response: Yes, horizonal surfaces will be cleared of personal items.

Question: 51 – Will the government please provide the full set of existing building plans (PDF files of the full scope showing the schedule of the VAVs and all VAVs to be replaced and existing to remain)?

Response: Refer to the attachment identified as ‘S02 VAV Box Schedule’.

Certain air terminal units were previously replaced, approximately four (4) years ago. For a more accurate quantity, the VA is now requesting the replacement of only one hundred sixty (160) air terminal units.

Question: 52 – Can the government please clarify the working hours for this project?

Response: Section 2.5 within the Statement of Work inadvertently inverted the working hours for this project. Section 2.5 should read as follows: All work will be performed Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, between the hours of 6:00 pm and 6:00 am Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Question: 53 – Does the facility require Infection Control Risk Assessment containment?

Response: No patient care in the building, thereby Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) is not required for this project.

Question: 54 – Has the building been checked for asbestos and are there NESHAP

(Hazardous Air Pollutants) reports?

Response: Yes, Building 46 has been checked and no asbestos was found in said building. The most-recent air quality test was conducted in October 2024 and will be available to the successful bidder upon contract award. The facility performs quarterly air quality tests.

Question: 55 – Do all new VAVs match the existing VAV electrical schedule?

Response: Yes.

Question: 56 – Will the government consider a one-week extension to the current proposal due date, to 10, December?

Response: Refer to Block 11 in this Amendment of Solicitation (A0001).

Question: 57 – Will the VA contract directly with Johnson Controls? And will the government please provide the point of contact at Johnson Controls?

Response: No, the VA will not contract directly with Johnson Controls for this project. Refer to the attachment identified as ‘S02 Justification and Approval’.

The point of contact for Johnson Controls is the Tampa, Florida, branch.

Question: 58 – Will the government allow room for a 30-yard dumpster onsite?

Response: Yes, space for an on-site dumpster will be provided.

Question: 59 – Ref: Statement of Work, section 4.1: “The Contractor is responsible for the cost of fingerprinting and background investigations, if required.”

Can the government confirm if fingerprinting and background investigations are in fact required to account for associated costs?

Question: 60 – Is it possible to request another site visit?

Response: No. The Invitation for Bid (IFB) solicitation explicitly stated in Block 10 as follows: A Pre-Bid Site Visit will be held on Monday, November 4, 2024 at 10:00

AM EST. This Pre-Bid Site Visit will be the only opportunity for potential bidders to visit the site. Similar language is also on Page 78 as well as Page 85 of the aforementioned IFB solicitation.

Question: 61 – Will the building be occupied?

Response: No, work will be performed after hours. Section 2.5 within the Statement of Work inadvertently inverted the working hours for this project. Section 2.5 should read as follows: All work will be performed Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays, between the hours of 6:00 pm and 6:00 am Eastern Standard Time (EST).

VA employees will occupy the building during normal business hours (6:00 am to 6:00 pm EST). Spaces worked by the Contractor need to be cleaned at the end of each shift.

Question: 62 – Does the work need to be performed after hours?

Response: Yes. All work will be performed Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, between the hours of 6:00 pm and 6:00 am Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Work may be performed on Saturdays or Sundays through prior coordination with

Question: 63 – Will there be any design drawings with VAV schedules to work from, only as-builts are in the files.

Response: This is not a design-bid-build project. However, refer to the response for

Question 1.

Question: 64 – The SOW indicates replacing 178 VAV Boxes only, will there be any other work involved?

Response: The entire scope of the project is described by Section 2 in the issued Statement of Work. Refer to the responses for Question 4 and/or Question 51.

Question: 65 – Is a Test and balance going to be required? (Before & After)

Response: The most-recent Test and Balance (TAB) was conducted in May 2020 when all the air handling units were replaced and will be available to the successful bidder upon contract award. TAB will thereby not be required before. However, a

TAB will be required after.

Question: 66 – What are the existing duct sizes at the existing transitions?

Response: The existing transitions from the VAV boxes on the first floor, second floor, and a part of the third floor are either six (6) inches or eight (8) inches. A majority of the third floor are ten (10) inch existing transitions. However, if other existing transitions are being requested, the Government would need more information and clarification for this question.

Question: 67 – Is the header piping being replaced?

Response: No. The VAV boxes will not have heat coils; the VAV boxes will only have electric heat strips.

Question: 68 – What are the specifications of the existing VAV’s?

Response: Single-duct fan terminal units and single-duct air terminal units.

Question: 69 – What are the existing insulation specifications?

Response: Existing insulation matches the requested requirement. Refer to the 'Lining Material' paragraph in Section 2.2.5 from the issued Statement of Work.

Question: 70 – What are the specifications on the new thermostats?

Response: The building automation system is all Johnson Controls equipment.

Refer to the attachment identified as ‘S02 Justification and Approval’.

Question: 71 – The drawings downloaded are not complete drawings. The border and floorplan are missing. Can drawings be reposted?

Response: Refer to the response for Question 1.

Question: 72 – If new drawings will be posted, can the due date be extended so a complete review set can be used in bids?

Response: Refer to Block 11 in this Amendment of Solicitation (A0001).

Question: 73 – Ref: SOW 4.1.1 – Badging and Information

The SOW states, “The Contractor is responsible for the cost of fingerprinting and background investigations, if required”. Can the government please advise if this is required so bidders can account for any associated costs?