S05 Morgue Freezer RFI responses.pdf

Solicitation: 36C24226B0046

Project No.: 526-20-508 Replace Morgue Freezers

James J. Peters VAMC 130 West Kingsbridge Rd, Bronx, NY 10468

RFI responses 8/5/2026

1) Please confirm all the demolition and new construction work can be performed during regular work hours of Monday to Friday. Answer: Yes it can.

2) Drawing 100-AS-101, construction key note no.1 states install new premanufactured polyurethane walls and ceilings. These walls and ceilings are for the new morgue freezers/walk-in-coolers, right? Then these walls and ceilings should be constructed of stainless-steel panels and polyurethane. Please clarify. Answer: Polyurethane walls and ceilings are polyurethane with stainless steel outer and inner jackets.

3) Spec section 01 00 00, page no.3 states ALTERNATE NO.1: Demolition of existing area and ALTERNATE NO.1: Construction of new suite. Please advise if there are any alternates and revised the bid sheet accordingly. Answer: There are no alternates. Please disregard this bid form.

4) Please advise if there is any phasing involved for this project. Answer: One morgue shall remain operational at all times see phasing drawing 100-PH-100.

5) Please advise that freight elevator will be allowed for hauling of all construction material.

Answer: Freight elevator will be allowed for hauling construction materials.

6) Drawing detail 2 of 100-PH-100 indicates temp construction partition wall up to the deck height. Please specify what is the floor to deck height. Answer: Assume 10’6” for bidding purposes.

7) Drawing no. 100-PH-100 key note 1 state to close off the existing door opening. Please specify how many door openings and what is the size. Its not clearly shown on the drawing.

Answer: Close off one door opening on the plan west side of the main morgue.

8) Drawing no.100-AS-101 General note no.2 states provide new spray-on fireproofing at all locations it was affected. Please identify on drawing the locations for new spray-on fire proofing. Answer: Located at all ceiling suspension bars where new work was installed or old work removed.

9) There is a spec section for Metal Fabrication. Please clarify the scope of the work.

Answer: To coordinate the stacking of the water-cooled condensing units.

10) Drawing 100-MH-101 states replace ceiling tiles to match if running in hung ceiling.

Please specify the ceiling tile manufacturer’s item number to procure pricing from supplier Answer: Armstrong ultima ceiling tile model # BP1940.

11) There is a spec section for General Commissioning Requirements. Please confirm VA will hire a third-party agent. Answer: VA will hire a third-party agent.

12) There is a discrepancy in quantities of asbestos shown on drawing 100-HA-101 and of spec section 02 82 11, page no.2. Please advise which quantities are correct and to be used for bidding. Answer: Use the drawings for bidding and removals.

13) Please confirm VA will hire independent 3rd party air monitoring firm for all the required asbestos abatement monitoring work and contractor is not responsible. Answer: VA will hire independent 3rd party air monitoring firm for all the required asbestos abatement monitoring work.

14) The VA morgue project adds a Square D 208Y/120V three-phase subpanel, new lighting, and temperature monitoring while phasing work around an operating facility. Is the new three-phase subpanel enclosure or the phased tie-in to the morgue refrigeration load the first distribution-box item to settle? I can return a fit check on that one item. Answer:

Phasing should be coordinated with the GC and COR.

15) I am inquiring whether this bid specification requires us to provide the tear-out. Answer: Performance of demolition shall be decided by the GC.

16) Will the VA allow the use of a standard top track offset with fire-rated mineral wool stuffing in the honeycomb gaps, or must the metal track be snipped and physically contoured to every jog? Answer: The use of a standard top track offset with fire-rated mineral wool is acceptable.

17) Are the Phase 1 and Phase 2 boundaries required to be completely independent, or will we be allowed to shift temporary barriers without completely decommissioning the negative pressure zones? Answer: Phase 1 and Phase 2 boundaries are independent.

However, when one phase is complete, you will be allowed to move the temporary barriers to the next.

18) Who is responsible for providing, running, and analyzing the air samples mentioned on Page 2—the contractor or the VA's third-party safety inspector? Answer: The VA's third-party safety inspector.

19) Page 7 references a Sequence of Operations for the Morgue Cooler Control System. Are the existing digital controls (ECC/Engineering Control Center) fully functional, or should the bidder allocate a allowance for legacy software integration issues? Answer: The bidder should allocate an allowance for legacy software integration.

20) Are there any known hazardous materials (e.g., asbestos insulation) inside the walls scheduled for demolition on the 2nd floor? Answer: None that is known of.