Inpatient Ward Renovation RFIs as of 8-25-2020.docx

Inpatient Ward Renovation RFIs as of 8/25/2020

1. The drawings had to be reduced in size in order for me to post with the solicitation therefore the contractors are not sure of the correct ratio. What is the correct scale for the drawings?

RESPONSE: The scale of each drawing is noted in the title block or on the individual details. The left-hand vertical margin of each drawing includes a series of graphic scales for correlating the reduce drawing size with the correct scale.

1. Specifications for the Nurse Call System is a Hill-Rom Navicare system. Would another manufacturer be an approved equal, for example, an Ascom system?

RESPONSE: “Delete the nurse call system scope of work from the Building 31 Inpatient Unit Renovation project. The nurse call system replacement shall be furnished and installed under a separate contract. The Building 31 Inpatient Unit Renovation contractor and subcontractors shall be responsible for furnishing and installing device back-boxes and conduit with pull chords stubbed into the ceiling space for each nurse call system device location. The contractor shall accommodate the nurse call system replacement project within the Building 31 Inpatient Unit Renovation project schedule, phased and sequenced as appropriate, and shall grant site access to the nurse call system replacement personnel during normal working hours for the execution of their work.”

VAMC would need to furnish the updated nurse call system replacement layout to the bidders so they can estimate box sizes, quantities and locations which will be provided in a separate amendment.

3. Due to the projects location and the very limited availability of AWI-QCP qualified subcontractors in the region, we are requesting that the AWI-QCP quality assurance standard be removed from specification section 064000. There are zero qualified subcontractors in VT, two in New Hampshire, and only three in Maine that can meet this standard. https://awiqcp.org/woodworkers/find-a-qcp-firm/

RESPONSE: This is acceptable. In lieu of AWI-QCP certification the Fabricator & Installer shall both demonstrate satisfactory service on not less than five similar projects for a minimum of five consecutive years. Upon demand, the Fabricator & Installer shall both provide contact names and addresses for completed projects.

4. Part 1.13 of specification section 013526 calls for tuberculosis screening of all employees assigned to the worksite. There are no provisions in the specifications for any COVID-19 requirements. Please verify and provide any requirements the general contractor must take.

RESPONSE: The VAMC will provide the written Screening & Infection Prevention protocols in a separate amendment. All personnel engaged in project activities while on VAMC property shall adhere to the protocols at all times.

5. Section 019113 calls out the building commissioning requirements. Is this a third party that the owner will contract separately or is the general contractor to solicit and carry the cost for this?

RESPONSE: The Commissioning Agent has been engaged by the Architect. The Architect is carrying the cost of the Commissioning Agent within the A-E contract for services. The contractor shall coordinate with the CxA as specified but the cost of fulfilling the commissioning requirements and working with the CxA shall be carried by those trades responsible for systems to be commissioned.

6. Specification section 01000 part 1.2.C states the work is subject to tests by testing laboratory retained by Department of Veterans Affairs. However specification section 014529 Part 1.1.A states the materials testing activities and inspection services required during project construction to be provided by a Testing Laboratory retained by the Contractor. Please advise who retains the testing agency.

RESPONSE: Testing Agent(s) shall be retained by the Contractor as indicated in specification section 014529. However, the VAMC may, on occasion, engage testing services on their own and at their sole discretion, in which case section 010000 indicates the Contractor’s coordination requirements.

7. The solicitation states the project is to be completed in 600 calendar days from the notice to proceed. Specification section 013216.15 Part 1.1.A states 420 calendar days. Please state the correct project duration.

RESPONSE: The completion timeframe shall be as indicated in the solicitation, 600 calendar days after receipt of NTP.

8. Specification section 122400 calls for window shades to be furnished and installed by the general contractor. The enlarged floor plans state that the window blinds are by the owner. Please verify the intent.

RESPONSE: Window treatment shall be furnished and installed by the VAMC.

9. There are door, frame, and hardware schedules in both specification section 087100 and on sheet 31-AS-602. They do not match. Which one is to be followed?

RESPONSE: Delete the hardware scheduled attached to section 087100. Follow the hardware schedule on sheet 31-AS-602 of the construction drawings.

10. On the finish schedule for base bid cpt 1 and cpt 2 are listed are we to assume cpt 1 70% drop with cpt 2 30% drop per room, similar to alternate 1 with the vct?

RESPONSE: No. Carpet types shall be distributed as indicated on drawing 31-ID-101, Floor Finish Plan, single color in each space where carpet is indicated except as otherwise specifically noted on the plan.

11. Looking at the barn-style bathroom doors (G-83A, G-84A, G-85A and G-86A), we need more detail than detail 2 on sheet 31-AS-418 of the drawings. The track/receptor pocket/valance are not fully detailed. Please advise.

RESPONSE: See Hardware Group DFH-G2, Patient Toilet Room Sliding Doors, located on drawing 31-AS-602. See also response to Question 12 below.

12. Section 087100.1, Pg 1-2, DFH-1, Patient Bedroom Door...This group lists 24 doors as being 4'0 x 7'0. In looking at the drawings, these are shown as unequal pairs of doors. The hardware for DFH-1 is shown as hardware for a single door. The sizes for this Group need to be listed accordingly and the hardware will need to be adjusted to show flush bolts, astragals, etc.

RESPONSE: Delete the hardware scheduled attached to section 087100. Follow the hardware schedule on sheet 31-AS-602 of the construction drawings.

13. Please confirm if the locksets are supposed to be mortise or cylindrical, other than DFH-25 that indicates a mortised privacy indicator.

RESPONSE: Furnish & Install heavy duty cylindrical latch & lock sets except where the specialized function of the operating trim requires otherwise.

14. Plans and specifications call for Schluter transitions between flooring of different heights. Does this mean a zero clearance transition for a smooth transition, or a vinyl reducer?

RESPONSE: See drawing 31-ID-104, Interior Finish Legend, Floor Covering Special Instructions and Notes, Note 1. Schluter Reno-U is a metal transition strip.

15. Are there elevations of the ground floor toilets that get wall tile?

RESPONSE: Omit wall tile in Ground Floor Toilet Rooms G-71A, G-78A, G-83A, G-84A, G-85A and G-86A. All walls in these rooms shall have epoxy paint only, no wall tile. Omit wall tile and epoxy paint in Ground Floor Patient Isolation Bedroom G-78. All walls in this room shall have standard paint only.

16. Bathrooms with epoxy floors and wall tiles- do they have epoxy or tile base?

RESPONSE: All rooms with epoxy floor finish shall receive integral epoxy wall base. See drawing 31-AS-603, Interior Details, Detail 14, Epoxy Shower Base Detail.

17. The finish schedule (31-ID-105) calls out RS (resilient sheet) to be used in certain rooms on the ground level but does not state RS1 or RS2. The plans include a finish plan for level 1 but not the ground level. Would you be able to clarify which product is to be used on the ground level?

RESPONSE: All patient bedrooms, patient isolation bedrooms, Multipurpose Work Room & Lockers G-82, and Closet G-82A shall receive RS-1. Medication/Nourishment Room G-81A and Clean Supply Room G-81B shall both receive RS-2.

18. In looking through the specification section 260519, I do not see where type MC cable is shown for concealed work. Will all wiring will be in a solid raceway?

RESPONSE: Yes. The project specifications are based on the VA TIL Master Specs. Section 260519 indicates in Part 3.1.B to "install all conductors in raceway systems." This shall be the basis for bidding.

19. Please provide the correct wage determination schedule. The one issued is for heavy construction project (including water/sewer construction ).

RESPONSE: Included as an attachment to this amendment

20. Is this project tax exempt?

RESPONSE: Yes, a tax-exempt certificate will be issued to the contractor who is awarded this project.

21. As per VAAR 852.219-9 as called out on page 53 of the Solicitation there are minimum small and veteran business goals for award that must be met by an non-small business general contractor. Could you please provide the minimum contracting goals?

RESPONSE: 3% Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, 5% Veteran Owned Small Business, 3% Hubzone, 5% Service Disadvantaged Business, 5% Women Owned Small Business, 17.5% Small Business

22. Will the general contractor need to include all construction permit fees?

RESPONSE: The Owner is not aware of any permits that may be required; however, the contractor shall be responsible for obtaining any permits that may be required, including but not limited to preparing permit applications and supporting documentation, filing the applications, and follow-through with the governing authorities as necessary to ensure timely issuance. The Owner shall pay only the permit fees associated with any application and all other expenses shall be carried by the contractor.

23. Is a Builders Risk insurance policy required to be carried by the general contractor?

RESPONSE: Contractor is responsible for insurance as stated within the solicitation.

24. Hardware Set DFH-5 lists 7 foot tall doors going into an 8'6" tall opening, with the rabbet stopping at 7'. The remaining 18" at the top is supposed to look similar to a cased opening. The hardware set lists overhead stops for these doors. Please advise.

RESPONSE: Omit overhead stops at all doors indicated to receive them in Group DFH-5. No stop shall be provided at these doors.

25. We are having great difficulty finding the requested “Clear, super-hydrophobic finish (inside face and all edges" on door types DFH-5 and DFH-25 as called for on 31-AS-602. Please clarify that this particular finish is a job requirement.

RESPONSE: Yes. This is an architectural requirement to provide additional protection of the wood veneer doors in wet locations. Often, this may require lightly shop-sanding prefinished doors to apply the coating.

26. Can you please provide us the name and contact for the current control company?

RESPONSE: Siemens is the existing control company

27. On drawing EL-111 there are (3) type F fixtures which are 2x4 recessed fixtures but they are shown on the drawings as 2x2’s. Could we get a clarification on these (3) fixtures?

RESPONSE: Change all F fixtures to F1, 2x2.

28. Please confirm that there are no corner guards, wall protection panels, or hand rails at the ground floor. Neither the floor plans or ID drawings show any.

RESPONSE: Existing corridor hand-rails shall remain and shall be reconfigured to suit new wall openings within the corridor walls. Salvage existing material for reuse. All new “outside” corners and end-walls throughout the Ground Floor project area shall have new corner guards from top of wall base to 48” AFF. Additionally, all new walls inside Clean Supply Room G-81B shall have continuous protective wall panels from top of wall base to 48” AFF. No other wall panels shall be required within the Ground Floor project area.

29. Demolition note 7 on 31-AS-109 states that the headwall units are to be removed. The ground floor proposed plan on that sheet says that we are to patch the existing headwall finishes to match existing. Sheet 31-AS-418 and 420 do not show the wall protection. Please provide additional details.

RESPONSE: Furnish and Install at each proposed Ground Floor bed location one (1) 42”x42” protective wall panel per bed consisting of vinyl acrylic sheet laminated to ¾” sanded plywood backer board with matching PVC edge band. Fasteners shall be exposed stainless steel screws with finish washers, eight (8) fasteners per panel.

30. There are 2 isolation rooms on 31-AS-109 ( G-71 and G-78 ). Please provide headwall details for these 2 rooms.

RESPONSE: See Elevations 3 & 7, Drawing 31-AS-419. See also response to Question 29 above.

31. Are the lockers in room G082 part of this contract? If so, please provide a specification section.

RESPONSE: See locker note on Elevation 4, Drawing 31-AS-417, that states: “Lockers OFOI with blocking by Contractor”.

32. Are any kitchen appliances part of this contract? If so, please provide a specification section.

RESPONSE: “Kitchen Appliances” shall be Furnished and Installed by the Owner unless specifically indicated otherwise within the plans and elevations.

33. Page 9 and 10 of the solicitation list 6 alternates. Pages 6 and 7, along with pages 38 and 39 list 4 alternates. Please clarify which list is correct.

RESPONSE: Will provide response in another amendment.

34. Deduct alternate 6 on page 10 of the solicitation mentions sheet 31-AS-109DA-5. Please issue this sheet.

RESPONSE: Will provide response in another amendment.

35. Deduct alternate 6 on page 10 of the solicitation mentions a Desk-80. What is Desk-80?

RESPONSE: Will provide response in another amendment. The designation “Desk-80” does not occur within the Deductive Alternate supportive drawings as it is simply an “aka” reference in the written DA scope narrative.

36. Please provide drawings of what the corridor / patient room walls would look like if Alternate 4 is accepted. Deleting of the pass-through supply storage units will affect the wall framing, floor finishes, and specialties in these areas. We also request details showing additional wall protection as required.

RESPONSE: See Drawing 31-AS-110-DA4, Deductive Alternate DA-4 Mark-up, 1 page. Upon acceptance of the Alternate the Owner’s Architect will revise and re-issue the affected drawings as a formal revision.

37. Being that there are only (3) new electrical panels in this project, could you verify whether or not a Coordination Study will be required?

RESPONSE: A coordination study is not required.

38. In looking over the bid documents I didn’t find anything in the spec or the plumbing schedule for the shower base or shower surround product, and I also did not see anything called out in the plans. Would you consider a substitution request for the Tower/Meridian Solid-Surface Showers?

RESPONSE: No. The shower walls are indicated to be ceramic tile and the shower floors and base are indicated to be poured epoxy.

39. What is earliest date that patients can start being moved out in order to start construction of Phase #1?

RESPONSE: Will provide response in another amendment.

40. The finish schedule lists epxy/tl on the walls in the toilet rooms, but the Wall Finish Schedule only lists the TL. Is there a clarification on this, or wall detail to show what is expected?

RESPONSE: See project enlarged floor plans and interior elevations for material distribution.

41. Is it required that millwork vendors be AWI certified?

RESPONSE: See response to RFI Item 3.

42. Can we request additional detail for the headwalls? It calls for laminate and trim but not sure what kind of laminate and what kind of trim?

RESPONSE: See drawing 31-ID-103, Headwall Finishes. Trim shall be solid vinyl, “glued and screwed” with fasteners countersunk and plugged, color TBD, manufacturer to match wall protection panels.

43. Print 31 AS 101 depicts the Ground Floor demo that must be accomplished to support the 1 st floor Phase 3 work which will be completed in limited work areas. The Phase 1 work will require the ceilings in the Ground Floor Nursing Unit to be removed entirely. The mechanical contractor will install the sanitary piping for Phase 3 at that time so the core drilling will be the only work in the Ground Floor Nursing Unit that will need to be coordinated and completed in the occupied space. Please confirm that is correct?

RESPONSE: Coordinate sequencing of activities with the Owner whenever spaces outside the immediate work area may be impacted. The documents suggest a broad overview of Phasing activities but the A-E will not predict the full and absolute scope of work required within each phase.

44. All associated work on the Ground Floor utilities required to support the First Floor drainage must be accomplished in small coordinated footprints. There are no reflected ceiling prints for the ground floor. Please provide information regarding the number of access panels required or can you provide the reflected ceiling print for the existing Ground Floor.

RESPONSE: Notes on the Ground Floor Plumbing plans outline the existing ceiling types and general requirements.

[Tim: I don’t know if you have an accurate Ground Floor Reflected Ceiling Plan in your records. If so, it should be distributed to the bidders and referenced in this response.]

45. The notes on the plan indicate complete demo of the existing fire sprinkler system. The legend only indicates minimal demo of existing pipe. Is it the intent to completely demo the existing system ?

RESPONSE: Only field documented sections of existing piping are illustrated. Scope remains to demolish and remove all existing fire protection piping, heads and hangers, throughout the project limits.

46. For the sprinkler system the plans indicate all schedule 40 pipe. The specs (21 13 13-5 2.1) allow schedule 10 pipe for 2 ½” and larger pipe. Is it the intent to use schedule 40 pipe throughout?

RESPONSE: Design intent is for all sizes of new fire protection piping to be Schedule 40 steel, approved for fire protection systems.

47. Note 4 on the demo drawings calls to “provide temporary fire protection in construction areas”. Is it the intent to turn the existing pendant heads to the upright position and leave the existing system in service throughout the project until the new system is in service?

RESPONSE: It is acceptable to modify and utilize the existing fire protection system as required to provide temporary coverage.

REQUESTS FOR PRODUCT SUBSTITUTION:

1. Ceiling-Mounted Patient Lift: A bidder requests that ARJO be accepted as a bidding alternative for ceiling-mounted patient lifts.

RESPONSE: The contractor shall design, furnish, install, and test new ceiling-mounted patient lift systems in all patient bedrooms, 31 systems total. See attached drawings 31-AS-501-PLS1, 31-AS-502-PLS2 and 31-AS-503-PLS3, “Patient Lift System (Turn-Key Design-Build)”, 3 drawings total. All nationally recognized patient lift system manufacturers that meet the requirements are acceptable.

2. Epoxy Resin Flooring and Moisture Barrier: A bidder requests that Armor-Rez CQ-100 and VaporSolve Basic System, both as manufactured by ICP Building Solutions Group, be accepted as a bidding alternative for the specified poured epoxy resin floor system.

Moisture Vapor Emission Control – Flooring:

RESPONSE: This is acceptable in consideration of the bidder’s undersigned certification of compliance.

3. EXTERIOR REPLACEMENT WINDOW: The proposed Pella Impervia fiberglass unit does not appear to meet the specified requirements. Submit a fully-executed “Comparable Product Request” to consider this product further.

4. MINERAL WOOL BLANKET INSULATION: The proposed Johns Manville Mineral Wool Sound Attenuation Fire Batts appears to meet the requirements and is acceptable on the basis of the undersigned “Comparable Product Request”.

**If a product substitution is given, Contractor will need to specifically state this within proposal.