Amendment 5 RFI Response.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 16 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- 36C24125R0077Solicitation
About this file
This is an Amendment 5 Response to a Pre-Proposal Inquiry (RFI) for solicitation 36C24125R0007, Replace Boilers & Controls at the VA Medical Center (VAMC) in West Roxbury. The document provides Government responses to contractor questions regarding technical specifications, design requirements, and project parameters for the Central Boiler Plant renovation project.
Key clarifications include: (1) Fire alarm system integration—a new standalone EST-4 Fire Alarm Control Panel is acceptable if fully integrated with the existing campus FireWorks network through dedicated fiber and IP connections, coordinated with fire alarm maintenance provider Encore Fire Protection; (2) Gas service fees will be addressed through future contract modification once National Grid receives current 2026 gas load letters and drawings; (3) Steam trap, safety relief valve, and flash tank sizing are confirmed based on connected condensate loads and maximum capacities; (4) Windows must conform to blast-resistant specifications per VA Physical Security & Resiliency Design Manual (PSRDM) requirements, with final blast design criteria provided post-award; (5) All new exterior doors, overhead doors, and louvers must meet blast protection requirements; (6) Project completion time is revised from 943 calendar days to 1,095 calendar days; (7) Notice to Proceed date is set as 05/04/2026; and (8) Storage shed delegated design specifications are clarified, including IBC 2021 compliance, Risk Category I, 110 mph design wind speed, 40 psf roof snow load, and enclosed rear walls with front overhead rolling doors. The Government emphasizes that only official solicitation amendments and written RFI responses are valid for bidding purposes, not information from the Architect/Engineer of record or consultants.
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Table 1
| Pre-Proposal Inquiry Submission Form for Sol 36C24125R0007, Replace Boilers & Controls, Amendment 5 | ||||
| Reference | Question | Response | ||
| Drawing | Spec Section | Paragraph | ||
| Amend#4 | Encore is the listed fire alarm testing and maintenance company at the VAMC in West Roxbury. Encore has informed us that the specified and new fire alarm system will not be compatible with the existing campus wide system (ETS-3 is obsolete). Currently, only a new stand alone EST-4 system, with its' own callout, can be provided. Please confirm that this standalone ETS-4 system is acceptable. | A new standalone EST-4 fire alarm control panel (FACP) serving EST-4 is acceptable provided the system is fully integrated with the existing campus FireWorks network in accordance with manufacturer requirements and campus operational standards. |
Based on coordination with the campus fire alarm service provider (Encore Fire Protection), the existing campus FireWorks architecture includes a FireWorks PC located in Building 1 with an extension workstation located in Building 8, through EST-3 only. The proposed EST-4 panel may interface through the Building 8 FireWorks workstation and relay system information to the main campus FireWorks network.
The contractor shall:
• Provide a new EST-4 FACP with required network/firewall interface module at both Building 8 and Building 1
• Existing EST-3 panel in Building 8 must remain and be relocated as noted by COR to maintain existing fire alarm system
• Provide dedicated fiber connection from Building 8 Fireworks to Building 1 Fireworks station
• Provide a dedicated IP network connection at the proposed FACP location to Building 8 Firework station, Provide a dedicated IP Network connection at the proposed FACP location to Building 1 Firework station to new building 1 EST-4 panel. (Cat-6E Copper)
• Coordinate all programming, configuration, and commissioning required to integrate the new EST-4 panel into the existing FireWorks campus monitoring system
• Ensure full supervisory, alarm, and trouble signal reporting to the campus FireWorks workstation
• Coordinate with the campus fire alarm maintenance provider (Encore Fire Protection) for compatibility confirmation, system configuration, and acceptance testing
• Maintain continuous fire alarm system functionality during construction phasing
• Contractor to coordinate all work with Encore on final terminations
The campus should experience no loss of monitoring functionality as a result of this installation once integration is complete.
Any additional work required to configure, program, license, or commission the FireWorks interface necessary for full campus integration shall be included in the contractor’s scope.
| Amend#4 | We contacted the National Grid POC to request the gas service fee, since the contractor is required to carry that cost. Mr. Brouwer stated that he needs the VA to provide him with a current 2026 gas load letter as well as current contract drawings. The last information that National Grid received was beyond two years, which is their limit for keeping pending project documents. Once that information is received, he can move forward with a gas service cost proposal for the contractor to carry. | The Government does not have this information at this time, do not submit cost within the proposal. A contract modification will be incorporated for this work, the contractor shall provide an invoice from National Grid for payment. | |||
| M-703 | The Steam Trap Schedule provides a list off & T Traps (ST-27 thru ST-41). Please confirm that the steam traps are to be sized based on the connected trap condensate load, not the pipe size. | Trap sizes were based upon the connected condensate loads. | |||
| M-702 | The Steam Pressure Safety Relief Valve Schedule provides a minimum steam relief capacity in lbs/hr. Please confirm that the safety relief valves are sized based on the maximum capacity of the upstream connected pressure relief valves(s). | Safety relief valves were sized for the maximum capacity. | |||
| M-703 | The Flash Tank Schedule provides sizing data for Mark: 8-FT- l with an estimated flash steam flow rate of 5,000 lbs/hr. This capacity will result in an extremely large flash tank. Please confirm the flash steam flow | ||||
| rate for this Flash Tank. | The scheduled flash tank was sized for a maximum 5,000 lb/hr of condensate @ 65 psig entering an atmospheric flash tank. Estimated maximum flash is 521.25 lb/hr | ||||
| AE603 | 08 51 13, 08 56 53 | Detail 7 | Drawing AE603, Detail 7 provides Window Types A,B,C,D,E. The schedule does not clarify if the windows shall meet spec 08 51 13 Aluminum Windows or spec 08 56 53 - Blast Resistant Windows. Please indicate which specification section is correct. Also, the window schedule makes note that the window systems are to have a 1 hour rating. Please confirm that aluminum tube window assemblies can meet the 1 hour fire rating. If blast rating is required, please provide the blast rating criteria. | These are new construction windows and are required to conform with the VA Physical Security & Resiliency Design Manual (PSRDM) blast protection requirements. As such, the window spec should be for blast resistant windows. Refer to spec 08 56 53. |
Specific blast design criteria documentation is under Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and cannot be distributed during solicitation.
Offerors shall include an allowance for blast-resistant window assemblies meeting VA PSRDM requirements. The blast design report will be provided to the successful contractor after award for final design coordination and submittal compliance.
| Please clarify if any of the exterior doors, overhead doors, louvers are to meet a blast rating. If yes, | ||
| please provide the blast rating criteria. | All new construction exterior doors, overhead doors, and louvers must be constructed in accordance with the VA Physical Security & Resiliency Design Manual (PSRDM) blast protection requirements. |
Note, overhead doors specification is missing from bid documents, specifications will be provided at time of award. For bidding purposes, utilize similar exterior door blast requirements for overhead doors, once specification for overhead door is provided, if requirements are different, a contract modification can be incorporated. Contractor shall provide a line item cost for the overhead doors to account for any potential changes once final specifications are provided. This line item is for purposes of a contract modification only and will not be part of the price evaluation.
Specific blast design criteria documentation is under Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and cannot be distributed during solicitation.
Offerors shall include an allowance for blast-resistant window assemblies meeting VA PSRDM requirements. The blast design report will be provided to the successful contractor after award for final design coordination and submittal compliance.
| SF1442 | SF1442 block 11 indicates the project time of completion to be 943 calendar days. Feedback from subcontractors raises the concern that with the required project phasing and very tight working conditions, 943 calendar days may difficult to achieve. Please consider revising the project time of completion to | ||
| 1095 calendar days. | Based on the required project phasing, site constraints, and coordination requirements associated with this project, the Government concurs that an adjustment to the contract performance period is appropriate. The project time of completion will be revised from 943 calendar days to 1095 calendar days. |
| SF1442 | page 12/46 | In Subfactor C. Schedule, the proposal schedule is to use a Notice to Proceed date of 3/2/26. Since that date has already past, does the VA wish to use an updated NTP date ? | Utilize a NTP date of 05/04/2026 | |
| SSI0l.1 | Drawing SSI0l.1 indicates to F & I (2) new 30' x 30' Salt Storage Sheds and there is a detail 5/S-561 which is referenced. Detail 5/S-561 lists a Basis of Design shed manufacturer and model number. We have not found any other information on the drawings or specifications regarding these sheds. The detail 5/S-56 I notes that the shed is a delegated design. In speaking with the BOD representative, we have been told that additional information is needed in order for them to provide pricing. They have requested the following information to be confirmed: I. build to IBC21. 2. Assume Risk Category I 3. Assume Wind Speed 110 mph 4. Assume roof snow load of 30 psf. 5. Is the shed to be roof only or are end walls with ventilation and overhead doors required. 6. If overhead doors are required, please provide the size. | Provide delegated design of the storage sheds in accordance with the following: |
• Design in accordance with IBC 2021
• Risk Category I
• Design wind speed: 110 mph
• Roof snow load: 40 psf
• Site Class: D
• Storage sheds shall include enclosed rear walls and overhead rolling doors at the front opening, consistent with previously issued solicitation clarification
• Provide overhead rolling doors sized to accommodate the full front opening of each shed, coordinated with the shed manufacturer’s standard framing system
Contractor shall include all structural framing, anchorage, door support components, and connections required as part of the delegated design.
Final design loads and structural requirements shall be verified by the Contractor’s delegated design engineer based on site-specific conditions, including exposure category and applicable governing codes.
Proper communication between offerors and Government. The Government has been made aware that potential offerors have contacted the Architect/Engineer (A/E) of record and/or subconsultants seeking clarification of contract requirements.
Offerors are advised that only information provided by the Government through official solicitation amendments or written responses to Requests for Information (RFIs) is considered valid for bidding purposes.
The Architect/Engineer of record and their consultants are not authorized to provide direction, interpretation, clarification, or supplemental information regarding the contract documents during the solicitation period.
Any information obtained through sources other than official Government-issued solicitation amendments or RFI responses shall not be relied upon for bidding purposes.
The Government reserves the right to clarify, revise, or adjust contract requirements through formal amendment as necessary to maintain a fair and equitable bidding environment for all offerors.
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