36C10F18R0651-0005001.pdf

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VA Responses to RFIS

National Cemetery of the Alleghenies Solicitation No. 36C10F18R0651

1. Spec 010001, article 1.17.R: Please confirm that this truck is for the RE’s use on-site only, not for his daily commute as well. If that is not the case, please identify the monthly mileage to be assumed in order that we may estimate the required fuel, maintenance, etc.

VA RESPONSE: Vehicle required in Section 01 00 01 is for the onsite use of the RE staff. The only travel on public roads will be across/along Morgan Road for access to site areas.

2. Spec 010001, article 1.33: Are there any fees associated with using TRIRIGA? Will training be provided?

VA RESPONSE: There are no fees for the access or use of Tririga. A training session will be provided at the project site.

3. Spec 014500: Article 1.5.4 refers to a LEED Administrator hired by the Government;

article 1.5.5 refers to a third-party Commissioning Authority hired by the Government; article

1.5.6 refers to a LEED Commissioning Authority and says this third-party CA is subordinate to the QC manager, which would imply that this person is hired by the contractor, not the

Government. Per spec 019100, the contractor is to appoint a Commissioning Manager (CxM) to work with the Commissioning Team, but it doesn’t state that this person is to be a hired third party. 019100 does not indicate any other responsibilities of the contractor. Please confirm that the contractor is simply to appoint an employee as the CxM to the Commissioning Team.

VA RESPONSE: LEED certification is not required for this project; as a result, the contractor will not be required to have a LEED coordinator per 01 45 00. 01 91 00 Section 1.6 Definitions;

defines the contractor appointed Commissioning Manager as “A qualified individual appointed by the Contractor to manage the commissioning process on behalf of the Contractor.” The VA will hire the third-party Commissioning Team, and the contractor will appoint their employee who will act as the CxM and interact with the VA Commissioning Team. The contractor shall submit the name and resume of the designated manager to document the individual is qualified for these responsibilities.

4. Spec 014500, article 1.18: Except for the limited interior work being performed in the maintenance building, all work on this project is outside. Is this article, and other articles throughout the specs related to IAQ, applicable?

VA RESPONSE: Quality Control per 01 45 00 is required for all construction performed under this contract.

5. Spec 044010, article 2.2: The existing caps on columbarium’s, etc. at the cemetery are cast stone, not limestone. Are all new caps, etc. to be limestone per this article, or cast stone to match existing?

VA RESPONSE: Columbarium and wall caps are to be Limestone as required by the project specifications.

6. Spec 074113 calls for aluminum roofing, but the notes on A-101 call for stainless steel roofing at the walkway roof and the notes on A-103 call for steel roofing at the temporary committal shelter. Similarly, the gutters are called out as stainless steel in 076000 and on A-

101. Please clarify roofing and gutter materials required. (Note that the existing roofing and gutters at the cemetery are aluminum.)

VA RESPONSE: Roofing shall conform to 07 41 13, Part 2 Products, 2.1 Metal Roof Panel.

Gutters shall be of a similar material with matching finish. Samples and manufactures literature shall be submitted for approval.

7. Spec 118300, article 1.1.A.2: Being that we are not aware of the interment statistics, please identify how many rover units are required for this contract.

VA RESPONSE: Three Rover Units are required.

8. Spec 312000: Article 1.4.A is Unclassified Excavation and Article 1.4.B is Rock Excavation.

Please confirm that excavation is to be considered ‘earth excavation’, with all rock excavation

(open excavation and trenches) being paid for on a unit price basis per Articles 1.5 and 1.6.

VA RESPONSE: 31 20 00 Section 1.5 “Measurement and Payment for Excavation” is to be deleted in its entirety. All unclassified excavation and borrow per Section 1.4 A shall be included in the lump sum price for CLIN # 001. The contractor shall provide a unit price for rock excavation, as defined in Section 1.6, according to the measurement criteria described by the measured cubic yard should rock be encountered. Payment under Section 1.6 shall be considered a modification to the lump sum contract.

9. Drawing A-201 shows the location of the shelving specified in 105613, but does not identify what is required. Please clarify.

VA RESPONSE: Shelving units to be provided shall conform to 10 56 13 Section 1.2 A 1. “Heavy

Duty” classification. Contractor to provide steel units 48” in height with a solid top and back containing 3 shelves. Units shall be of sufficient quantity to provide a minimum of 16 total lineal feet of shelf units.

10. Section 01 91 00 General Commissioning Requirements page 21 jumps to page 35.

VA RESPONSE: The A/E confirmed no pages are missing. The numbering is miss-sequenced.

11. The Cecil Township secretary states that no permits are required since it's federal property and the structures are under 1,000 sf.

That goes over the township's road, which probably would not be considered federal property.

It seems like that should have been sent to them by the AE. And did not see any procedures or information on the Package B documents about logistics/requirements of the bridge installation, road closures, etc. Can you confirm?

VA RESPONSE: All bridge plans have been reviewed and approved by Cecil Township however permits for the bridge construction are not required.

12. Amendment Numbers: Please reference page 1 of the SF30 Amendment 0002, dated

9/14/18 and page 1 of the SF 30 Amendment 0003, dated 9/22/18. On FBO.gov they are listed as Amendment 1 and Amendment 2. Please confirm the correct amendment numbering.

VA RESPONSE: Be sure to look at all Amendments for this solicitation including those from

Sources Sought and Pre-Solicitations and include them in on the BLOCK 18 of the 1442. The VA

Contract Writing System included Amendment 0001 found on the “Modification to a Previous

Notice”. Is was Amendment 0001. Please acknowledge on Block 18 of the SF 1442 Amend.

0001 and attached with your proposal along with any other amendments.

13. Cecil Township secretary is pretty sure that no permits are required since it's federal property and the structures are under 1,000 sf.

What about the bridge? That goes over the township's road, which probably would not be considered federal property. It seems like at least that should have been sent to them by the

AE. And I don't recall seeing any procedures or information on the Package B documents about logistics/requirements of the bridge installation, road closures, etc. This bridge is a big deal and all this should be clarified so the bidders all have the same info and are on a level playing field.

VA RESPONSE: All bridge plans have been reviewed and approved by Cecil Township, however permits for the bridge construction are not required. Maintenance of traffic and all road closures shall be coordinated with Cecil Township prior to commencement of bridge construction. All signage and maintenance of traffic devices shall per PENNDOT standards.

14. If available, please provide us with the Governments lump sum item takeoff for this project.

VA RESPONSE: Lump sum estimates / takeoffs are not provided to the contractors.

15. Is the supply and delivery of the columbarium units to be included in the CLIN 002 with the crypts? Or are they to be included (furnish and installed) under CLIN 001?

VA RESPONSE: Columbarium Niche units are furnished and installed as part of CLIN 001.

16. Sub-Factor 2.2 Key Personnel includes a (3.) Project Engineer. This is a bid build project not design build. Please verify if this person is to be included and / or the role of this person.

VA RESPONSE: A project engineer is not required for this project.

17. Sub-Factor 2.2 Key Personnel includes a (7.) LEED Coordinator / Commissioning Agent.

Spec 01 91 00 Calls for VA to Contract Directly with Commissioning Agent (1.8.C). Also, we do not see where LEED Certification is being applied for. Please verify if this person is contractor’s responsibility or not.

VA RESPONSE: LEED certification is not required for this project, as a result the contractor will not be required to have a LEED coordinator per 01 45 00.

18. The specs indicate that there are Pylon Street Signs, but there are none shown on the drawings. Can you verify if any Street Signs will be required for this project? If so can details be provided for the Street Signs?

VA RESPONSE: Street signs (pylon signs) are not required.

19. Are we replacing the Flower Water Station Signs at existing locations?

VA RESPONSE: All watering stations are to be replaced with a new watering stations consistent with the details on sheet L505. Trash receptacles and vase holders shall be removed from the existing watering station and reinstalled following reconstruction of the pad.

20. The drawings nor the specs provide a total overall size of the shelving required (L x H).

Can this be provided?

VA RESPONSE: See response to RFI #9 above.

21. The specs refer to drawers for the shelving. Please verify if this is a requirement.

VA RESPONSE: Drawers are not required; all shelving shall be per response to RFI #9 above.

22. Detail 13 CT501 States Heavy Duty Sidewalks to be 6” thick. The drawings nor the specs indicate which areas are to receive Heavy Duty Sidewalks. Please indicate the locations that will require Heavy Duty Sidewalks.

VA RESPONSE: Heavy duty sidewalks are not required for this project; all sidewalks shall be 4” thick.

23. In the trailer compound enlarged plan on drawing CS107, there is a note that says "(RE trailer to remain after construction)." In spec 010001, article 1.17.P says to remove the facility at the end of the project. Please confirm it is to be removed.

VA RESPONSE: RE Trailer is to remain in place until all construction and punch list corrections are complete. Fenced yard shall remain in place and turned over to the Cemetery for their use.

24. Spec 010001, article 1.17.O says that the entire RE trailer and facilities are to be relocated once during the project to a "location within the NCA site." Is that correct?

What is the purpose for this move? If so, please identify the location since we would need to determine from where to get utilities, etc. for our estimate.

VA RESPONSE: Relocation of these facilities is not required.

25. Please see questions below from a commercial photographer regarding the requirements in General Requirements 010001, article 1.27. But in general, is it necessary to have a commercial photographer take monthly progress photos? Most current projects require only digital submissions on a monthly basis, which is something that either the PM or QCM typically does.

1. It seems they need 450 photos each month we visit the site, which seems quite excessive. Is this correct?

2. Is printing for all photos required? They ask for 8x10 and 16x20 prints. This part will get very expensive depending on how many of the 16x20 prints are required. It seems the 16x20 are for the aerial photos, so their likely would only be about 15-20 of these per visit. Is this correct?

3. Images must be received within five days of when taken. Are they referring to just the digital images or do they want prints that quickly?

4. The method they require prints is commercial RA4 process. This is a very old standard.

I assume this is an old document from which this part was copied. This is a method that was used for film photos and is not feasible. There are people that provide this service, but this is considered a specialty and the price would surely be prohibitive.

VA RESPONSE: To clarify the photo requirements:

1. 450 images are the total for the project.

2. 8 x 10 is the size for all images to be printed with the exception of aerial photographs per Section 1.27 F and final elevation images per Section 1.28 which are printed 16 by

20 inch.

3. Prints are to be provided within 5 days of the date taken. Digital images per Section

1.27 G are to be posted to a shared site the following morning. All other images are submitted monthly.

4. Delete 01 00 01, Section 1.27 and 1.28 and insert the revised Sections below:

1.27 CONSTRUCTION DIGITAL IMAGES

A. During the construction period through completion, furnish Department of Veterans Affairs with 450 views of digital images. Digital views shall be taken of exterior and/or interior as selected and directed by RE/COR. Each view shall be taken with a professional grade camera with minimum size of 6 megapixels (MP) and the images will be a minimum of 2272 x 1704 pixels for the 8 x 10-inch prints and 2592 x 1944 pixels for the 16 x 20-inch prints, as per these specifications:

1. Normally such images including aerial photographs of the site will be taken at monthly intervals. However, the RE/COR may also direct the taking of special digital images at any time prior to completion and acceptance of contract. If the number of trips to the site exceeds an average of one per month of the contract performance period then an adjustment in contract price will be made in accordance with clause entitled "CHANGES" (FAR 52.243-4 and VAAR 852.236-88) of Section 00 72 00, GENERAL CONDITIONS.

2. In event a greater or lesser number of images than specified above are required by the RE/COR, adjustment in contract price will be made in accordance with clause entitled "CHANGES" (FAR 52.243-4 and VAAR 852.236-88).

B. Images shall be taken by a commercial photographer and must show distinctly, at as large a scale as possible, all parts of work embraced in the picture.

C. Prints of Digital views shall be made on 8 by 10 inch regular-weight matte archival grade photographic paper and produced by a process with a minimum of 300 pixels per inch (PPI).

Prints must be printed using an approved commercial process (inkjet prints will not be acceptable). Photographs shall have 8 by 8-inch full picture print with no margin on three sides and a 2-inch margin on the bottom for pre-typed self-adhesive identity label to be added by Contractor. Aerial Photographs shall be printed at 16 by 20 inch size with a 2-inch margin on the bottom for pre-typed self-adhesive identity label to be added by Contractor. It is required that the prints are professionally processed so the quality will meet or exceed that of the same size print made with a film camera. Prints, along with a CD-ROM, must be shipped flat to the RE/COR monthly.

D. Images on CD-ROM shall be recorded in JPEG format with a minimum of 24-bit color and no reduction in actual picture size. Compressed size of the file shall be no less than 80% or the original with no loss of information. File names shall contain the date the image was taken, the Project number and a unique sequential identifier. The CD-ROM shall also contain an index of all the images contained therein in either a TXT or Microsoft Word format.

E. In case any set of prints are not submitted within five days of date established by RE/COR for taking thereof, the RE/COR may have such images/photographs taken and cost of same will be deducted from any money due to the Contractor.

F. Aerial Photographs: Submit aerial photographs at one-month intervals during the entire construction period. The first aerial photo shall be taken just prior to the start of construction and then at one-month intervals. A minimum of 2 or more views shall be taken to show all construction occurring during the preceding month. The final aerial photograph shall be taken at full project completion during a growing season when lawns are green and not dormant and as directed by the RE/COR.

G. Take digital photos of the daily work in progress, including close-ups. The photographs shall be of the actual work progress, intended to convey to the RE and A/E team members the actual work in progress. The images shall be of both close-up in nature as well as panoramic in nature to get the feel for the entire work in progress, especially when there is site work in progress. In addition, work of product installations of materials that are going to be covered up, especially if before the RE, and A/E team member responsible for the design of the element is not going to be making a site visit, before the work is covered up. The purpose of these photos is to allow another set of eyes on the work as it is in progress, as this will provide additional potential for catching things that aren't correct before they are buried or cast in concrete. It is better to make things correct before they are poured in concrete. Having photos done daily, and posting them to one of more sites, to which the team can be provided with easy access is also required. These daily photographs will allow the team members to make note of anything that just doesn't look right, and discuss with the RE or to ask the Contractor to take more specific photos to facilitate discussion. The frequency and type of these photos shall be acceptable to the RE/COR following discussion with the respective A/E team members, are not included in the Digital Image quantity stated in part A and do not require the services of a professional photographer. A DVD copy shall be provided to the RE/COR monthly.

1.28 FINAL ELEVATION DIGITAL IMAGES

A. A minimum of four (4) images of each elevation shall be taken with a minimum 6 MP camera, by a professional photographer with different settings to allow the RE/COR to select the image to be printed. All images are provided to the RE on a CD.

B. Photographs shall be taken upon completion, including landscaping. They shall be taken on a clear sunny day to obtain sufficient detail to show depth and to provide clear, sharp pictures.

Pictures shall be 16 by 20 inches, printed on regular weight paper, matte finish archival grade photographic paper and produced by Prints must be printed using an approved commercial process (inkjet prints will not be acceptable) process from the digital image with a minimum 300 PPI. Identifying data shall be carried on a label affixed to back of the photograph without damage to the photograph and shall be similar to that provided for final construction photographs.

C. Furnish three 16 by 20-inch color prints of the All Cemetery buildings / elements constructed under this project (elevations as selected by the RE from the images taken above). Photographs shall be artistically composed showing full front elevations. All images shall become property of the Government. Each of the selected six prints shall be place in a frame with a minimum of 2 inches of appropriate matting as a border. Provide a selection of a minimum of 3 different frames from which the SRE will select one style to frame all six prints. Photographs with frames shall be delivered to the RE/COR in boxes suitable for shipping.

This is the complete RFI submission and Response, the RFI period is closed