Questions and Answers 9-21-21.docx

36C24221B0067 Questions and Answers 9/21/2021

1. Ground Protection- Is it acceptable to set up protection?

Response: Please see the Statement of Work under Task Description items 1 through 4 included in the Bid Documents for a full description of protection requirements.

2. Is there an asbestos report?

Response: The A/E does not have an asbestos report. There was a PCB report done for several samples of caulking taken during initial site visits.

3. Is this job Prevailing wage?

Response: Yes, the wage determination was included as an attachment to the solicitation.

4. Are stair ramps included?

Response: There are no ramps at the South elevation location of platform and steps. No ramps shall be replaced in the Scope of Work.

5. After any roofing debris and existing metal gutter lining has been removed, you specify to install the rubber roofing membrane directly to the existing concrete substrate.

Response: Not understood.

6. Has the slope on the existing gutters been verified?

Response: No it has not.

7. What will be done with compromised concrete in the gutters or please provide other details.

Response: Treat as ACM.

8. Reference to the asbestos material quart table, it shows the entire roof system as an abatement. Please verify this. Please provide a copy of the ACM reports that were provided.

Response: The A/E does not have an ACM report but did provide a PCB report for caulking.

9. Our roof area on roofing shingles and accessories do not match the area shown on the table. Please Confirm.

Response: Unsure what table you are asking for confirmation on.

10. Are you separating the roofing shingles from the underlayment. Why does it only show 400. Please confirm square feet inside of the gutter.

Response: Inside of gutter SF is unknown. See other RFI’s for SF and height of gutters.

11. Certainteed is not currently manufacturing a shingle that matches the specification. Will you accept an alternate manufacturer that matches the specification.

Response: A shingle that will have a Salient Performance Characteristic and will be of an Architectural profile that the VA will approve in a submission phase by the accepted Contractor. Some choices may be available from Mansville, GAF or Tamco.

12. Please advise which type of shingles to use for VA HVHCS project, since CERTAINTEED stop producing Landmark TL AR.

Response: See previous response to item 11 but for clarity, roof shingles will be an Architectural profile tile that will be submitted to the VA for review and approval.

13. Per “Elevation Key Notes” Note #5- “Clean entire cornice stone around entire building..” Please confirm the type of material this cornice stone is.

Response: The A/E believes the cornices and sills are made from precast concrete. Contractor shall verify with VA and on site.

VA has included a PDF drawing of one Original Building elevation that identifies the cornice and banding materials as “Stonework” and NOT CONCRETE

14. Note #6- “Clean entire sill stones and seal coat around entire building…” Please confirm the location of these sill stones. The drawings indicate a sill around the base of the perimeter of the building, and a few window sills are indicated. Please advise if this note applies to every window sill on the building.

Response: Notes 5 & 6 are depicted on elevation drawings as “typ” which means typical for all, therefore the response is yes, it would be all sills around top and bottom of building as well as all window sills.

15. Note #7- “Remove entire platform and steps to foundation. Replace like kind. Save railings for replacement, paint railing.” Please advise on the extent and scope of this work. Engineer designed drawings and details required to remove and replace structural platforms and steps. Remove and replace like kind is, unfortunately, not enough information. Additionally, please confirm this note is only referenced once on the south east location.

Response: Only the Southeast stair location as depicted by note number shall be removed and replaced as long as all other existing stairs meet ISLM requirements. Replacement stairs and landing require a professionally stamped shop drawing submittal approval supplied by Contractor’s metal manufacturer.

16. Note #10- “All existing custom louvers in the ventilation dormers shall be replaced with custom sized copper louvers with bug screen…” We could find no spec section for these louvers, please advise. Please confirm this applies to every ventilation dormer on the roof.

Note #13- “Replace wooden sash and glazing with new windows…” We could find no reference to this note on the drawings, please advise where this note applies, if anywhere.

Response: The “Brand Name or Equal Equipment Make, Model and Salient Characteristics Appendix III” is listed in the specification table of contents but was not included in the bid documents, along with the remaining Appendix items. The Appendix provides the Salient Characteristics and Informational Sheet for the replacement of the dormers and will be included with this response. Note # 10 is “typ” which means all dormers louvers shall be replaced.

17. Further- Note 12. Under General Notes- “Provide samples of proposed caulking at the doors and windows”. Please advise, where re-caulking at doors and or windows is required.

Response: Drawing 1 & 2/AS-05 Semi-Circular windows in the roof peak requires replacement and caulking. There are no doors that require caulking at this time.

18. Re: 29-AS-03- Please confirm the contractor is to clean out and re-line with epoxy all leaders down to basement cleanout, and cement mortar in new elbows and horizontal pipes to gutters, at all locations identified by Note 4 on this drawing. Please advise on the approx. length of each pipe to be cleaned and epoxied, and their diameter.

Response: Contractor shall clean out and re-line with epoxy all leaders down to the basement cleanout, and cement mortar in new elbows and horizontal pipes to gutters at all locations identified by Note 1 on the drawing 29-AS-03, for a total of (14) locations. (There is no note 4 on the drawing). Refer to elevation drawings for approximate length of each pipe, the diameter is unknown.

19. 29-AS-01-

Per note 13- Please confirm the contractor is to include 200 SF of 1 x roof decking. Additionally, it says to include a SF price for this work. The bid document only includes one spot for a lump some bid, and no unit price locations are provided. Please advise where the contractor is to include unit pricing.

Response: Please provide SF unit price on a separate page attached to the lump sum bid price for all of the items requested.

Per Note 10 under General Demolition Notes- Please advise what is meant/required by installing a “Stair Tower”.

Response: The VA would anticipate that GC would utilize a temporary exterior scaffold stair tower for access to the roof that would require daily inspection and documentation of that inspection by the GC. This would be a “Means and Methods” decision by the GC

20. Re: Drawing 29-HA-01;

The drawing and asbestos specification indicate 27,200 SF of “Roofing shingles”. Can you please advise on the type of roofing shingles that are to be treated as ACM (i.e. are they slate, clay, asphalt, etc.)? Can the roofing shingles be cleaned to be recycled or treated as non ACM?

Because weight is a crucial factor when estimating for asbestos abatement (specifically ACM debris hauling and disposal), and the type of roofing shingle involved in this project is not a typical material encountered by most abatement companies, it will be impossible for all companies bidding to provide an equal and fair price to the VA. Please either provide an estimated weight either per SF or total weight for all 27,200 sf for the roofing shingles.

So every contractor bids based on the same qty and weight, we believe it would be fair for both the VA and all bidders to provide an estimated weight for all bidders to include in the bid, and an alternate with unit pricing should the weight of the roofing materials go over (or under) the estimated weight.

Response: The type of shingle should have been determined at site walk-through but for clarity, roof shingles will be an Architectural profile tile that will be submitted to the VA for review and approval. Any clearing of materials or surfaces shall have all cleaning solutions captured for proper disposal and to prevent contamination of the surrounding soils, shrubs or vegetation. Cleaning of existing roof shingles for removal will be at the discretion of the GC and will be their determination if it is possible to properly clear roof shingles to render them as non-ACM materials if applicable or possible.

21. Re: Drawing 29-ES-01 The lightning protection drawing calls for the installation of a Class 1 copper grounding conductor going around the entire perimeter of the building. It does not show multiple obstructions that would prevent such an installation, such as concrete building entrance steps, ramps, play grounds, and other obstructions. Is a ground conductor required to be installed around the entire perimeter of the building? If yes, please provide an accurate drawing indicating where these obstructions are, and where to install this ground conductor around or through them.

Response: Upon review of the Lightning Protection Plan , we do call for a complete ring around the exterior for the grounding and lightning protection of the building. This is indeed required. As to any obstacles and hindrances, they are shown on the site plan. There are entry vestibules and the courtyard as well as steps and ramps that occurs on multiple sides of the building. These can be dealt with by barrowing under the concrete for the installation of the ground wire. No ground rods need be placed in such areas of conflict but can be placed on either side. In the courtyard, if there is asphalt then that would have to be trenched and repaired. The AE’s office is re-examining their layout for the ground level component of the Lightning Protection System with the understanding of the existing site elements (Ramps, Site Stairways, Daycare Entry Porch, Daycare Yard Play-areas, etc.) which may potentially be result in a simplified version of the ground level loop of the Lightning Protection System which would surround the entire Building 29 location in a larger simple loop. The Bidders should anticipate a worst-case scenario to provide Lightning Protection wire runs as identified presently on the Contract documents. The Contractor will be responsible for all minor site excavation, cutting and repairing of sidewalks and paved areas and the restoration of the areas to their original state after the Lightning Protection System has been certified as complete and fully functional.

22. Re: Drawing 29-AS-04 Note 1 calls for the contractor to remove and replace the horizontal pipe and elbow leading from gutters to the leaders on the interior of the building. If the contractor can clean and re-line the leaders without removing the horizontal section of pipe (and surrounding cement), can that section of pipe remain? Is there any other "horizontal" pipes in the attic space to be replaced besides the one previously mentioned?

Response: Would need procedure for cleaning out horizontal leaders described along with product data submittals. We believe there is only the one horizontal pipe. Horizontal and Vertical Vent Pipes within the attic space do not require replacement .

23. Re: Drawing 29-HA-01- Please advise on the type of underlayment that exists under the existing roofing shingles. We didn’t note any nails coming through the sheathing that would indicate a felt paper or other similar material.

Response: Unknown at this time but the VA has included a copy of the Original Building details of the typical Ventilation Dormer, roofing material detailing and typical Yankee Gutter system for reference clarification. GC shall anticipate that the original roofing tile installation did contain an underlayment which would only be visible during roofing system removals.

24. Re: Drawing 29-ES-01 The lightning protection drawing calls for the installation of a Class 1 copper grounding conductor going around the entire perimeter of the building.

a. Per a “Lightning Protection Certified Master Designer” we’ve been in contact with regarding this project, a grounding loop is not required by code, or necessary, and will only serve to increase project costs substantially. Will the VA accept a differently designed system, using acceptable methods if it meets all applicable codes and that will provide the building a desired certified UL or LPI certified system?

Response: Grounding codes require a single point of potential - if there is not a grounding grid that the lightning protection is connected to, how would the contractor provide a single potential?

The grid is the standard of installation that I have encountered. What are they proposing and would the VA be open to an alternate method?

b. Specification section 26 41 00 – States: “A UL representative shall inspect the lightning protection system. Obtain and install a UL numbered master label for each of the lightning protection systems at the location directed by the UL representative and the COR.” Please confirm this is only referencing the new Lightning protection system associated with this project on building 29. Please confirm if the lightning protection system needs to be installed by a Ul or LPI certified installer.

Response: Yes it only pertains to new lightning system for Bldg. 29 and no it does not need to be installed by UL contractors but the VA requires that the system should be installed by qualified personnel trained and certified in the installation of lightning protection systems will have a valid certification of the new the Lighting Protection System for final sign-off of the system

25. Re: Drawing 29-AS-05 and 06 Note 7 - Calls for the contractor to include 500 SF of tuck pointing and an additional 250 sf to be identified when under construction for a total of 750 SF to be included in base bid.

Response: Please provide SF unit price on a separate page attached to the lump sum bid price for all of the items requested.

Note 10 - Calls for the contractor to include 100 SF of brick replacement, and an additional 100 sf to be identified when under construction for a total of 200 SF to be included in base bid.\

-Both of these notes say to provide a SF unit cost in the bid, but we could find no place in the bid documents for any unit prices. Please advise where the contractor is to write these unit prices in.

Response: Please provide SF unit price on a separate page attached to the lump sum bid price for all of the items requested.

26. Referencing- 29-AS-05/06:

Regarding Note 10 under general notes. Which states; “100 SF of Brick Replacement is shown on plans”. However, we could only find one location indicating 1 SF of brick replacement on the West side of North Front Elevation (2 – 29-AS-05). Is there more than this 1 SF of brick replacement indicated on the drawings or currently known to need replacement? If yes, please advise where, and quantities at each location. Due to various obstacles around the building (Playground, entrances, walkways, etc.), its relevant to know where brick replacement will take place prior to bidding.

Response: There will be a revised drawing issued to the Contractor of record that will highlight the 100 SF of Brick Replacement locations and amounts or as the COR deems necessary. The Bidders will provide unit costs (labor & materials) with their bids, for potential of additional brick replacement locations for the project.

27. Would you please issue the Pre-Bid conference minutes as well as the sign in roster

Response: Included in the amendment.

28. Is this project tax exempt? If so, will you be providing tax exempt certificate to project awarded contractor?

Response: In accordance with FAR 52.229-3 the contractor shall include all taxes in their proposed price. A tax exemption is up to the state and local government. The successful contractor can apply if wanted, with a copy of the contract.

29. Will the Site Superintendent, if duly qualified, be permitted to also serve in the roles of CQC and SSHO or will a separate individual be required for either of those two roles?

Response: The Superintendent can act and should be your site safety officer and CQC is the (CQC) Construction Quality Control and the Superintendent should be responsible for this.

30. Will the government accept the use of the industry leading Procore Project Management software as the primary submittal and data tracking tool for this project?

Response: This will not be accepted. Submittals and other data will be tracked through email via the CO, COR, and AE.

31. Can you please provide us existing masonry (exterior) pictures for this project.

Response: Exterior pictures provided. These photos are ‘For reference Only” and is not to be used as substitution for Bidder Research for their Bids.