Part I RFIs combined Responses CUP Bid Package KW Reviewed.pdf

DALLAS CENTRAL UTILITY PLANT

RESPONSE TO RFI

Part I

Question 1.001 : Solicitation says RFI's are due on December 14 2020. We are requesting that it is extended until after site visit as there may be some items that need clarification.

Response: Amendment 0002 published 12/02/202, extended the RFI due date to January 12, 2021.

Question 1.002 : Solicitation Page 14 of 71 - Paragraph C3 (Technical Proposal Requirements)

- # 1 (Technical Proposal), AND Solicitation Page 23 of 71 - Paragraph C4 (Price) - # 1 (Price

Proposal Submission), each state that (1) email attachment and (1) CD are to be submitted.

However, box 13a of the SF 1442 states that an original and (1) CD are required; the checklists for both the Technical and Price Proposals further reiterate this requirement. Please confirm if both the Technical and Price proposals should be submitted via (1) email attachment and (1) CD each, or (1) hard copy original and (1) CD each, or (1) hard copy original and (1) email attachment and (1) CD each.

Response: Due to the current COVID pandemic special allowance is being made to transmit proposals electronically via email. Under normal circumstances the “Hard copy original” would be mailed in. Presently the email version will serve as the offerors “Hard copy original”, 1 CD is required delivery via USPS of the same emailed proposals (1 CD Technical and 1 CD Price).

*Question 1.003 : Demolition note on Sheet 70-MD-102 references staging such that “existing capacity is not reduced.” Sheet 70-MP-102 further says to “install new towers sequentially so that existing tower capacity is not reduced.” What is the required minimum cooling tower capacity to be maintained?

Response: Chiller and cooling tower existing total capacity shall be maintained during tower demolition and replacement and during installation of the new chiller. Refer Drawing 70-GS-

001 (GENERAL-ENERGY CENTER PHASING PLAN) as modified in ADDENDUM 2, for additional information including a General Note that begins, “Contractor to maintain minimum cooling and heating capacities, per …” (Also refer to response provided with CUP RFI # 3.056 for additional information.)

*Question 1.004 : Can the loop road “Energy Center Circle” be blocked off for excavation and pipe install, or must it remain open for fire service and/or other access?

Response: Portions of this loop road can be completely blocked off for certain limited periods of time during construction. Refer Drawing 70-GS-001 (GENERAL-ENERGY CENTER

PHASING PLAN) as modified in ADDENDUM 2, for notes and additional information concerning requirements impacting this loop road and refer to other related bid documents. All such road closures must be coordinated and scheduled in advance with the VA Resident

Engineer and the local station and as per related requirements included within the Bid

Documents and the General Requirements. Access to the O2 tank in the fenced yard with the cooling towers must be maintained and coordinated with the VA throughout construction activities. (Also refer to response provided with CUP RFI # 3.056 for additional information.)

Question 1.005 : Will this project receive a tax exempt certificate?

Response: Documentation for tax exempt can be provided, but it is ultimately the decision of the supplier in allowing the tax exemption.

*Question 1.006 : Are the as-builts for the existing sluice gates available?

Response: There are no As-Built documents available for sluice gates nor for the existing construction related to the CUP project. There are no existing sluice gates in the existing basins.

However, there are available some design documents pertaining to the Cooling Tower basins and they will be shared with the selected contractor upon request after award for reference use, but they do not reflect final field construction conditions.

*Question 1.007 : Is there a spec for the sluice gates?

Response: Refer ADDENDUM 2 documents for new specification section added to the project manual. The new section is 23 65 01 SLUICE GATES. Also refer to ADDENDUM 2 drawings for additional sluice gates information including but not limited to drawings 70-A-101, 70-S-101 and 70-MP-102.

Question 1.008 : Please confirm that Offerors are to set themselves up in this portal. After reviewing the PDF documents mentioned in the checklist, it does not exactly seem to be relevant or fit the relationship between a construction management firm/general contractor and the VA on a project like this.

Response: All companies that have contracts or intend to have contracts wit the VA have to complete the Contractor Vendorization process in order to get paid for the services they provide.

It is unclear of the reference to “relationship between a construction management fir/general contractor and the VA on a project like this”

Self Service Portal: https://vaww.cpm.fsc.va.gov/ This site is an overview of the fsc (fiscal service center)

• ID.me Walkthrough v2.pdf This site provides instructions for your companies POC that will be providing the completion of the Vendorization to verify identify and get codes to enter the CEP (customer engagement portal

• Customer Engagement Portal (CEP) Vendor File Webform User Guide v1.pdf This site provides the instructions on how to complete the Vendorization form

Question 1.009 : If this truly is a requirement, please confirm the requirement to ‘verify your identity’ to include personal information such as credit score and photo of driver’s license / passport as part of the initial RFP submission. We envision that this information would be submitted post-award by the successful Offeror.

Response: The form is for contractor information not “personal” information. Only a copy of the completed vendorization form is asked for in this tab, it is not required or mandatory, and it is not an evaluated item. Yes, normally this is a post award action but to save time at award waiting on this process and form to be completed it is asked that the offeror complete the vendorization beforehand. However, any companies performing as sub-contractors will not have to use this process. This vendorization is for companies performing as prime contractors. A https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA3MTMuMjQzMDc3NDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3Zhd3cuY3BtLmZzYy52YS5nb3YvIn0.72BPlX7epKU5_vOqKYYTXzdeNIgbWwPcwUSrwpqsa-A/s/595859525/br/80974118292-l https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA3MTMuMjQzMDc3NDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2NvbnRlbnQuZ292ZGVsaXZlcnkuY29tL2F0dGFjaG1lbnRzL1VTVkFBSENNUy8yMDIwLzA3LzEzL2ZpbGVfYXR0YWNobWVudHMvMTQ5NDAwMS9JRC5tZSUyMFdhbGt0aHJvdWdoJTIwdjIucGRmIn0.Gcset-9W27xL1VVRWTe6WL2jIZOtYcjoyhjA_AEyIOo/s/595859525/br/80974118292-l https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA3MTMuMjQzMDc3NDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2NvbnRlbnQuZ292ZGVsaXZlcnkuY29tL2F0dGFjaG1lbnRzL1VTVkFBSENNUy8yMDIwLzA3LzEzL2ZpbGVfYXR0YWNobWVudHMvMTQ5NDAwNC9DdXN0b21lciUyMEVuZ2FnZW1lbnQlMjBQb3J0YWwlMjAlMjhDRVAlMjklMjBWZW5kb3IlMjBGaWxlJTIwV2ViZm9ybSUyMFVzZXIlMjBHdWlkZSUyMHYxLnBkZiJ9.xOjvMw0NpgFiWipusu0xP0pQYBA9UmtERs2A5hpyTaw/s/595859525/br/80974118292-l company with previous contract award with the VA is already vendorized. If a company has never received contract award will have to be vendorized for electronic payments to be received.

Vendorization is the process where the company provides the VA their business and banking information for direct deposit of payments.

*Question 1.010 : Are the tie-in points for the existing condenser water lines as shown on sheet

70-MP-102 exact, or are they just diagrammatic? As shown, this will require additional shutdowns of the loop road as we sequence the tower replacement.

Response: The tie-in points for the existing condenser water lines are diagrammatic. The locations indicated for the existing condenser water lines are approximate and subject to field verification, including field verification for total extent of demolition and points of reconnection.

*Question 1.011 : Are the as-builts for the existing concrete tower basins available?

Response: There are no As-Built documents available for the existing construction of the tower basins. However, there are available some design documents pertaining to the Cooling Tower basins and for the chiller portions of the existing plant that will be shared with the selected contractor upon request after award for reference use, but they do not reflect final field construction conditions.

*Question 1.012 : Are we allowed to use the thermal storage to maintain minimum capacity?

Response: No, the thermal storage may not be utilized for this purpose.

Question 1.013 : Given that we are submitting a price with our proposal, we respectfully request 24-48 hours after email delivery for delivery of the CD.

Response: See solicitation page 12, item C. “Proposal Instructions”. Instructions in the solicitation provide for the delivery of all offeror’s submission on, or before the date provided in the solicitation. The technical proposal is a separate submission from the price proposal. As with a CD of each (CDs are to be delivered via USPS). All are due on or before the proposal due date. (See amendments for the most current revision to the proposal due date)

Question 1.014 : Page 24 - Price Proposal Package Submittal Checklist - as part of the Price

Proposal, we need to submit confirmation of vendorization through the self-service portal. We respectfully request registration in this portal be deferred until a contractor is selected. If we are submitting as a joint venture, we will not have much of the required information at bid time (i.e.

tax ID, bank account, etc.)Ð

Response: Only a copy of the completed vendorization form is asked for in this tab, it is not an evaluated item. Yes, normally this is a post award action but to save time at award waiting on this process and form to be completed it is that the offeror complete the vendorization beforehand. However, any companies performing as sub-contractors will not have to use this process. This vendorization is for companies performing as prime contractors. A company with previous contract award with the VA is already vendorized. If a company has never received contract award will have to be vendorized for payments to be received. Vendorization is the process where the company provides the VA their business and banking information for direct deposit of payments.

Question 1.015 : Page 1 of the RFP in block 13 of SF 1442, it states "Sealed offers in original and _____1 CD______________copies..." however, there is no mention of an original hardcopy requirement in the proposal submission instructions. With exception to the original Bid

Guarantee as stated on Page 26 of the RFP , please confirm a hardcopy of the proposal response is not required.

Response: Response: Due to the current COVID pandemic special allowance is being made to transmit proposals electronically via email. Under normal circumstances the “Hard copy original” would be mailed in. Presently the email version will serve as the offerors “Hard copy original”, 1 CD is required delivery via USPS of the same emailed proposals (1 CD Technical and 1 CD Price). Please ensure the appropriate Bid Guarantee(electronic copy) is also included in the email submission as indicated in the proposal instructions.

Question 1.016 : Page 12, item C1.1 - states "Electronic Submission to... US Postal Service

Deliveries... or Commercial Deliveries/Hand Carry..."

Page 14, item C3 - states "Offers are required to submit 1 technical package via email attachment and 1 CD via mail (USPS of the technical evaluation factors/responses..."

1. Can we use a USB flash drive instead of a CD?

2. Can the CD/flash drive be hand delivered?

Response: Due to the current COVID 19 pandemic. The office is not fully staffed. All CDs delivered USPS will be collected by Contracting personnel at the time of proposal due only as delivered by USPS carrier.

The Government prohibits the use of USB flash drives in electronic systems. USB flash drives are unacceptable.

*Question 1.017 : Page 16, Subfactor 1b Project Personnel, item i1 lists "QA/QC Specialist".

Spec Section 01 45 00 page 5 identifies a QCQ

System Manager.

1. Is this the same person?

2. Is the QA/QC Specialist required to have the experience as outlined in this section?

Response: 1. YES. 2. The QA/QC Specialist indicated in the requirements and evaluation of technical proposal is the CQC System Manager as described in spec section 01 45 00.