36C24219B0045-0002003.docx

RFI responses for project 630A4-14-436 (RENOVATE C3 AND D3 WARD - SA)

1) Solicitation page 5 of 86 states, ‘Provide 12 independent third party monthly construction safety inspections and reports’. --- Please confirm the meaning of this is to provide only one (1) independent third party monthly construction safety inspections and report per month.

Response: Contractor to provide only one (1) independent 3rd party for 12 construction safety inspections throughout the project. It will be based on when the CO or COR requests.

2) Solicitation page 6 of 86 states ‘Provide an independent testing laboratory to perform water sampling and testing and written reports in accordance with VA plumbing specifications and Water System Infection Control Risk Assessment (WSICRA) requirements. The independent testing laboratory must be certified by the New York State Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP)’. --- Please advise how many water samples are required to be tested as independent laboratory charges are based on the count/number of water samples tested.

Response: See WICRA PERMIT APP (attached). The contractor to follow the attached WICRA permit requirement. The finalized WICRA procedure gives a percentage of outlets that are required to be tested based on the total number of outlets (it’s either 10% for Class III or 20% for Class IV depending on the WICRA determination).

3) Spec section 01 00 00 page 2, para C.1,2, and 3 has requirements for ‘Guards’ – Please advise if these are required?

Response: Guards are not required

4) Spec section 01 00 00 page 7, para 2.I states to install a construction fence. Please identify on drawings the location and lengths of this construction fence.

Response: Construction safety fence of 7 feet high chain link with a lockable gate is required for any lifting and storage areas located outside on the ground.

5) Spec section 01 00 00, page 17, para 1.15 has extensive requirements for COR’s field office. Please confirm if this field office and other requirements are to be provided by the contractor. Response: COR's field office is not required

6) Spec section 01 00 00, page 21, para 1.17 states to provide temporary toilets. --- Please confirm if this is required, or the VA will allow the use of building toilets.

Response: Contractors to provide portable Johns as necessary to accommodate employees needs

7) Spec section 01 32 16.15, page 1, para 1.3 states Contractor’s consultant’s requirements. Please clarify if all the scheduling work can be performed by the contractor’s supervisor/engineer or contractor must hire an outside third-party scheduling consultant. Response: Outside third-party scheduling consultant is not required. Work schedule must be submitted to AE/VA for review and approval

8) Spec section 01 35 26 states to have SSHO if our site supervisor has the credentials of SSHO, then can he simultaneously perform the duties of SSHO? Please confirm.

Response: Yes

9) Spec section 01 45 29 states to provide testing laboratory services retained by the contractor for material testing and inspection. As there is an extensive quantity of structural steelwork which requires on-site welding, please advise how many times the inspection is required for this work.

Response: There is no specified number of times, but the VA wants the on-site welding to be able to pass the test and inspection.

10) Spec section 01 91 00 has detailed specs for GENERAL COMMISSIONING REQUIREMENTS. – Please advise if the contractor has to hire an independent third-party commissioning agent/company or contractor can perform this commissioning work with his own crew and sub-contractors.

Response: VA to provide third party commissioning services

11) There is a conflict, spec section 01 45 29 states to provide testing laboratory services retained by the contractor for material testing and inspection, whereas drawing S-002 Schedule of special inspection services # 6 there is a note at the bottom which states ‘the inspection and testing agent shall be engaged by owner and NOT by contractor. Please clarify which is correct?

Response: VA to provide third party commissioning services

12) Drawing AC103.2 ceiling note states ‘7’ – 0” overhead rail system with patient lift N.I.C - VA furnished contractor installed.’ Please confirm that the overhead rail system and patient lift will be supplied by VA, and contractor has to consider only the labor cost for installation. For installation work, please provide specifications and detailed drawings of this patient lift system, Also advice who is/which manufacturer is the basis of design for this patient lift system.

Response: The VA is to supply the lifts and contractor to install including ceiling reinforcement steel to support the load. Specs for ARJO Maxi Sky 600 or equal.

13) Spec section 27 52 23 page 14 para 1.14 states to provide a new nurse call system, also it states The New Nurse Call System shall match the existing ASCOM (GE) Intelligence C600 Nurse call system(or approved Equal). Please advise if VA has any preferred manufacturer/ vendor for the new nurse call system, also advice if Hill-Rom system will be accepted.

Response: Provide a 100% compatible nurse call system per specs; the system shall integrate with the existing ASCOM system; all warranties and service contracts shall not be avoided. VA prefers that the contractor provide the ASCOM system.

14) Please advise who is the current electronic security vendor/maintenance contractor at St. Albans campus.

Response: Home Front Security, Lloyd Ellis, 631-307-6944

15) Please advise who is the current fire alarm vendor/maintenance contractor at St. Albans campus.

Response: Legionfire, Endrit Ndreu, 201-957-3703

16) Please advise who is the current DDC controls vendor/maintenance contractor at St. Albans campus.

Response: T.M.BIER & Associates, Inc. 516 674 3700

17) Please advise if the structural steel used inside the building for reinforcement of the patient railing system must be hot-dip galvanized or requires spray-on fireproofing treatment or only paint coats? Drawing states structural steel for the exterior dunnage work must be hot-dip galvanized.

Response: Interior structural steel is not required to be hot-dipped galvanized.

18) Please confirm that the agency will allow boom lift delivery on truck and crane for the hoisting of all construction material, mechanical equipment’s and structural steel will be allowed to park/stand on either side of the D3 wing on asphalt pavement/street particularly where cars are parked. --- SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS no.1 and 2. Please confirm boom lift truck, and a crane will be allowed on both of these locations.

Response: Boom lift truck and crane are allowed but with ample time notice (at least 2 weeks in advance) and proper coordinations to meet all safety requirements and not jeopardizing CLC normal operations.

19) If in case if the boom lift delivery truck and crane will be allowed access only from the concrete driveway then the trees which are coming in the way of the crane may have to be trimmed and white precast barriers may have to be moved, Also the existing concrete driveway is in bad condition and will have to be restored back. Please advise if VA will do the restoration of this concrete access driveway, trim all the required trees, and if required to move the precast white barriers which are coming in the path of crane? Or will all this work be the contractor’s responsibility? ---- SEE ATTACHED PHOTO no.3 Response: All this work will become the contractor's responsibilities

20) Please confirm that VA will allow the contractor to use the area outside ‘Stair D’ (for location see attached photo no.2 ) for unloading and staging of construction materials, particularly steel beams.

Response: Unloading and Staging will be allowed outside stair D but MUST be controlled to allow Resident Patients to bypass on a regular basis to reach the areas they use for daily outdoor recreation/smoking/conversation/ etc.

21) The existing passenger elevator seems small size, will VA allow to use this passenger elevator for construction purposes.

Response: Yes for an elevator with continual surveillance for safe co-use with other passengers…also programmed shutdowns for contractor use only

22) In case if required, will VA allow hoist on the exterior of the building?

Response: Yes to hoist

23) Will VA allow the use of the mast climber scaffold/platform on exterior of building for the hoisting of material?

Response: Yes to scaffold and mast climber platform

24) Most of the new partition walls go up to the underside of the deck; please advise what is the height from floor to the underside of deck?

Response: 12'-0"

25) Spec section 05 12 00, page 3, para 1.5 states structural steel fabricator and installer to be AISC certified. For this size/quantity of work, it is very difficult to find a fabricator who has an AISC certified plant and installer too in NY city, which is AISC certified. Can VA waive these AISC requirements?

Response: AISC requirements cannot be waived.

26) The drawing indicates this is a two-phased project, in case later if it becomes just one phase then will agency ask any credit amount to the contractor, if yes then how much amount?

Response: SINGLE/Joint C-D completion is unlikely and should not be considered…we do not have TWO swing wards available to relocate ALL resident Patients and leave the third floor totally clear. But, there is a possibility that if the total completion of C1, the relocation of D3 to C1. Then and only then, you can consider one phase. The contractor must provide appropriate credit amount back to VA and should be indicated as a separate line item to be included in this BID.

27) Drawing AC103.2 NOTE: DIMENSIONS, CEILING HEIGHTS, AND INSTALLATION LOCATIONS OF CEILING MOUNTED EQUIPMENT ARE FOUND ON SHEET AC103A-B UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED HERE. --- There is no drawing sheet AC103A-B. Please provide this missing drawing.

Response: Note should direct to Sheet AC103.1. Please refer to sheet AC103.1, not AC103A-B

28) Spec section 09 06 00, page 6, acoustical ceiling tiles states grid system Superfine size as 15/16”. This is not correct, Superfine size is 9/16,” and Prelude is 15/16”. Please clarify which one to be used.

Response: Please use Prelude 15/16"

29) Spec section 09 06 00, page 6, acoustical ceiling tiles indicates ACT-1, ACT-2, and ACT-3. In order to procure price from a supply house, please provide Armstrong’s correct item number for each type of tile, the name of the tile is not helpful for procuring the price.

Response: ACT#1 Cirrus 556, ACT#2 Clean Room VL 869

30) There is a spec section 10 14 00 for signage, but there is no signage schedule on the drawing. Please provide a detailed signage schedule for interior and exterior signs.

Response: The signage specification is for the memory boxes noted on sheets AE103A - AE103E. All other signage will be coordinated by VA

31) Spec section 10 25 13 indicates work of horizontal and vertical patient bed service walls. Please provide the detailed drawing, locations, sizes/dimensions, and basis of the design of these patient bed service walls vertical and horizontal.

Response: See Schedule for Finishes 09 06 00 for Basis of Design and floor plans for locations

32) New work note # 5 on new work plans states ‘new medical gas cabinet at the head of each bed. See AE401 for the typical installation location.’ We did not find the location of this medical gas cabinet on this drawing. Please provide the detailed drawing, locations, size/dimensions and basis of design of these new medical gas cabinets.

Response: See Schedule for Finishes 09 06 00 for Basis of Design and floor plans for locations. Enlarged plan 6/AE401 provides typical installation locations in the room expanded RESPONSE: Enlarged plan 5/AE601 is the correct drawing number for reference. Equipment tag A1125 is the prefabricated headwall system identified in the Schedule For Finishes. Locate A1125 at the head of each bed 3'-8" from the centerline of room as dimensions illustrate in drawing 5/AE601.

33) New work note # 4 on new work plans states to provide convector covers at each exterior window to see elevations and sections for details. – None of the drawings has elevations and sections of this convector covers. Please provide a detailed specification, drawing elevation, section, and type of material for these new convector covers.

Response: See 13/AI201 for the elevation of and material for the convector cover.

34) Spec section 10 51 00 is for lockers, equipment schedule mark # A1030 states VV, which is VA furnished VA installed. Please confirm the contractor does not have to include any cost of the lockers in the bid price.

Response: Contractor to provide and install new lockers

35) Drawing AE 601 detail no.3 column wrap type A indicates prefabricated aluminum column cover. Please specify the gauge/thickness and finish of aluminum or provide a detailed spec.

Response: See sheet AF103.1Finish Note 20 for Basis of Design (CW#1). Use Kynar finish

36) New work note # 7 on new work plans states to provide recessed memory box at this location. – Please provide details of this memory box.

Response: Memory Box is a prefabricated item. See Schedule for finishes 090600 Division 10 14 00 for the basis of design expanded RESPONSE: The installation of the prefabricated memory box to follow manufacturerdirections. See Schedule for finishes 090600 Division 10 14 00 for the basis of design.

37) Spec section 03 55 11 calls for gypsum concrete floor decks. Is there a basis of design/manufacturer for this product. Also, please identify the work of this gypsum concrete floor decks on project drawings.

Response: Division 03 and locations of replacement floor deck is within the scope of structural engineering. The two manufacturers we suggested in the Pre Bid RFI (Schonox & Ardex) should be confirmed by structural.

38) Spec section 06 80 00 calls for composite fabrications. – Please identify this work on project drawings.

Response: Specification Not Used. Please ignore

39) Sheet keynotes on drawings S-101, S-102, S-103, S-104, and S-105 are missing. Please advise.

Response: There are no sheet keynotes to reference for sheets S-101, S-102, S-103, S-104, & S-105.

40) Drawings S-101, S-102 does not inform as to which work is new and which is existing. We are assuming that all the beam sizes shown as W8 x 10, W8 x 13, W12 x 22, and W8 x 15 are new steel beams, and rest of all the beams are existing. Is our understanding correct?

Response: Correct. All existing member sizes are noted as "existing."

41) Please confirm that if required, VA will allow the use of debris/garbage chute.

Response: Yes, but must be able to control dust from spreading

42) What are the specifications for the overhead lift systems? Weight capacity, rail configuration, motor options, warranty, built-in scale, in-rail continuous charging abilities, etc.?

Response: Specs for ARJO Maxi Sky 600 or equal.

43) Are the overhead patient lifts being purchased directly from the vendor or has to be purchased by the GC that is awarded the project?

Response: The VA is to supply the lifts and contractor to install, including ceiling reinforcement steel to support the load and manufacturer load testing/certification.

44) Why can we not attach the overhead patient lifts directly to the deck of the building, similar to the existing ceiling-mounted patient lifts currently in the VAMC, that is directly attached to the deck?

Response: Current roof slab is not sufficient to support additional loading and deflection requirements from patient lifts

45) Since overhead patient lifts can be attached directly to the existing deck and our lifts can hold up to #1100 lbs., why are I-beams being installed in the project? Are they specifically for the overhead lifts?

Response: Current roof slab is not sufficient to support additional loading and deflection requirements from patient lifts. New steel beams are to support new patient lifts.

46) Will the VAMC consider 1 each overhead lift system for the semi-private rooms, to cover both beds? That would save the VAMC a lot of money and provide a full-room covering system, which is how to best utilize an overhead lift when performing patient care functions.

Response: Yes

47) Why does the VAMC not want full room covering systems that are X-Y configurations?

Response: We could use X-Y configurations, but it must be accessible for the beds.

48) There is a plumbing schedule on drawing P001, but there is no manufacturer, make and model specified, our supply house won't send us the price/quote until we have this information, so please provide the requested details.

Response: Per VA rules, this information cannot be on schedules.

49) There are various HVAC equipment schedules on drawing MH601 and MH602, but there is no manufacturer, make and model specified, our supply house won't send us the price/quote until we have this information, so please provide the requested details.

Response: Per VA rules, this information cannot be on schedules.

51) Please refer to drawing no. HA-100, asbestos abatement notes nos. 1 and 8, it states There are areas on Wards C3 and D3 where sheetrock, ceiling plaster, wall plaster, concrete, masonry, and/or ceiling tiles will be abated and disposed of as ACM because it is contaminated with thermal system ACM. These materials must be removed to access the underlying pipe insulation that is concealed.

a) Please identify on drawings which areas are to be considered as ‘concealed’.

b) Drawings indicate the majority of floor area (diagonally hatched area ) for pipe insulation abatement, so does contractor have to consider all of the sheetrock, ceiling plaster, wall plaster, concrete, masonry, and/or ceiling tiles demolition in this area as abatement removal and disposal? Please clarify in detail as the demolition and disposal cost for this abatement waste will have a big impact on our bid price.

Response: All hatched floor area, ceiling tile, and wall Plaster to be demolished and disposed of as indicated on drawings.

52) Please refer to drawing no. HA-100 and HA-101, legend states diagonally hatched area for abatement of pipe insulation, floor tile, and mastic removal. On the plans, there is a ‘square hatched area’ too, see room nos. C-323, 324, etc, what does this represent?

Response: C323, C324, and C 324B Have Pipe insulation, Floor, and Mastic to be mitigated and disposed of. C325 has pipe insulation only to be mitigated and disposed of.

53) Drawing AE601, frame type 1 states polyurethane casing PNT # 5. --- Please specify what is the size/dimensions of this poly casing? Can this poly casing be painted? Please provide a section drawing and more details about this ploy casing because it is applicable for all frame types 1.

Response: Delete polyurethane casing from frame type 1. Frame type 1 to be typical 2” hollow metal frame, finished with PNT #5.

54) Drawing AE601, window type B, is this aluminum frame and door? Will the spec sec 08 41 13 be applicable for this window type B?

Response: Correct window type B is aluminum frame and door. Please use spec section 08 41 13.

55) Please advise if all HM door frames should be welded or knockdown.

Response: Refer to specification section 08 11 13, 2.3, A5

56) Please advise the insulation type for the medium pressure steam pipe.

Response: Please refer to specification 23 07 11 section 3.3.A

57) The specified patient bed headwall manufacturer couldn’t find the medical gas service requirements, so they proceeded with 1 Oxygen, 1 Air, and 1 Vacuum w/ slide. Please confirm if this is correct. Also, manufacturer quoted Option A, which matches model # found in Spec Section 09 06 00. However, based on Spec Section 10 25 13 for “Patient Bed Service Walls,” they quoted Option B and believe the product preferred may be the recessed version 6813-R/6823-R along with how the boxes are drawn in the overhead view in the plans. Please confirm this is correct.

Response: Recessed option is correct. Confirm medical gas requirements with PME drawings.

58) Finish plan, note no.3 states to provide chair rail in all bedrooms. Please advise if this chair rail will be installed on all the four walls of each bedroom. There is no bedroom elevation.

Response: Chair Rail to be installed only along the bed wall. Coordinate installation height with bed height to protect wall from impact.

59) Finish plan, note no.4 states to provide WP#4 in all bedrooms. Please advise if this WP#4 will be installed on all the four walls of each bedroom. There is no bedroom elevation.

Response: WP#4 to be installed on all 4 walls.