Attachment F-Additional Vendor questions and answers.docx

Question 22:

(a) Can the government provide floor plan drawings for Buildings 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 91, 92, 93?

Response to Question 22:

(a) Plans were provided on 36C24226Q0530 Attachment D Question 23:

(a) Can the government clarify the request for geofencing? Is the objective to be able to just identify veterans when a door alarm is triggered or to track veteran throughout the entire unit/buildings?

Response to Question 23:

(a) Objective is to identify veterans when a door alarm is triggered.

Question 24:

(a) Can contractors propose alternate options that would create a stand-alone patient elopement network?

Response to Question 24:

(a) Please review the updated SOW. This system is required to be a stand-alone system without the utilizing of the VA network switch.

Question 25:

(a) Can the government confirm that there is adequate number of ports to cover the entirety of the system?

Response to Question 25:

(a) Please refer to response to question 3. Vendors are required to provide their own network switch and ports.

Question 26:

(a) Can the government confirm that network closets and switches are available on each unit to avoid limitations of 330ft for PoE standards?

Response to Question 26:

(a) Vendor is required to provide material and service for CAT cabling.

Question 27:

(a) Can the government confirm that if there is not adequate number of ports available on government VA network switches that the VA would provide contract additional switches and ports as required?

Response to Question 27:

(a) Vendor is to provide their own switch and ports.

Question 28:

(a) Can the government confirm that cabling for the patient elopement system can be installed in conduit OR cable trays?

Response to Question 28:

(a) We can discuss further during site visit, with input from engineering. Either option is acceptable for VA.

Question 29

(a) Can the VA provide plans that indicate where conduit would be required or if cable trays would meet the requirement?

Response to Question 29:

(a) We don’t have that information.

Question 30:

(a) Can the government confirm if cabling trays can be utilized; that there are existing cabling trays the contractor can install cabling in for this project?

Response to Question 30:

(a) Need further discussion with engineering during site visit.

Question 31:

(a) If cabling must be within conduit throughout the hallways is there existing conduit that can be used or does all new conduit need to be run throughout the facility for the patient elopement system?

Response to Question 31:

(a) Need further discussion with engineering during site visit.

Question 32:

(a) Can the government confirm that the patient elopement system would be considered Electronic Personal Protection System and per VA Telecommunications and Special Telecommunications and Special Telecommunications Systems Design Manual Chapter 2, Table 2-3 Cabling Systems Pathways that cable trays can be used?

Response to Question 32:

(a) Need further discussion with engineering during site visit.

Question 33:

(a) Can the government confirm it will provide dedicated 120 VAC, 60HZ conduit feed into the equipment cabinet and make the connection to the electrical circuit?

Response to Question 33:

(a) We can provide electrical power into the equipment cabinets.

Question 34:

(a) Can the government confirm that there will be available storage on-site throughout the project to store system equipment and installation equipment?

Response to Question 34:

(a) Yes, we will provide a storage area.

Question 35:

(a) Can the government confirm that any work required by the elevator contractor should be included in response to this solicitation? Or would there be a modification to this award for the change order?

Response to Question 35:

(a) The elevator service should be included in this quote. (Elevator information is provided on Attachment G with the amendment).

Question 36:

(a) Can the government clarify item (a) complete manufacturer’s product specifications with all specified elements highlighted? Is this a request for manufacturer data sheets for all parts included in the design of the system?

Response to Question 36:

(a) Yes, please help provide the specifications of the components of the system.

Question 37:

Is the contractor required to provide the physical PC towers, monitors, and peripherals for the 8 stations listed under CLINs 0002, 0003, and 0004, or will the VA provide the hardware while the contractor provides only the client software and configuration?

Response to Question 37:

Yes, contractor is expected to provide all the computers and peripherals.

Question 38:

What is the exact baseline quantity of patient tags and cut-resistant disposable bracelets that the contractor must include in the initial deployment under CLIN 0001?

Response to Question 38:

We are waiting for patient census for the headcount. Should have an answer at the site visit.

Question 39:

Will the VA's existing switches provide sufficient PoE power budget for all 76 door detectors and 4 elevator detectors, or is the contractor responsible for provisioning external PoE switches, injectors, or midspans within the wall cabinets?

Response to Question 39:

As per the most recently revised SOW, the contractor is expected to provide their own network switches. It will be an independent system without utilizing VA network switches.

Question 40:

Will the Government provide the name of the incumbent elevator service contractor and a copy of the current service scope so vendors can accurately assess subcontracting costs prior to proposal submission?

Response to Question 40:

Yes, please refer to the most recent update posted for this bid for the contact info of the elevator service company that the VA is currently working with. The contractor is expected to include the elevator service as part of the quote. On Attachment G of this amendment.

Question 41:

Does the St. Albans facility have an existing medical-grade Wi-Fi network that the system can utilize for wireless configuration, or must the contractor install a dedicated wireless infrastructure (e.g., local Bluetooth routers or a separate wireless LAN)?

Response to Question 41:

As per the most recently revised SOW, contractors are expected to provide their own network switches. It will be an independent system without utilizing VA network switches. (Attachment E of this amendment).

Question 42:

Is there a requirement to integrate these alarms into an existing central VA emergency notification system or PA system, or are alarms strictly localized to the 8 provided workstations?

Response to Question 42:

Alarms are localized to the 8 provided workstations.

Question 43:

Will the Government confirm that this is a full open-competition procurement where any brand system meeting the functional requirements will be evaluated equally, or is this a strict Brand Name Only requirement?

Response to Question 43:

This is a full open competition, in which any brand of patient elopement system is acceptable and will be evaluated equally.

Question 44:

Are vendors required to install 100% of the new CAT 6A cabling in closed conduit, or is open-air plenum routing permitted in ceiling cable trays where available? Additionally, will the VA provide the referenced building plans showing the trays?

Response to Question 44:

We can review this with engineering during the site visit. Close conduit is preferred.

Question 45:

Does CLIN 0007 represent a requirement for a single setup tablet, or should the vendor propose a quantity sufficient to support their specific system design under a single lump-sum line item?

Response to Question 45:

Vendor should propose a quantity sufficient to support the specific system design.

Question 46:

Is this procurement being conducted as a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection where exceeding the requirements yields no evaluation credit, or a Best Value Trade-Off process where technical enhancements can justify a price premium?

Response to Question 46:

See response to question 43 and FAR 52.212-2 of the solicitation. Government does not use LPTA as source selection.

Question 47:

The SOW states the tags on the disposable bracelets must have a battery life of at least 3 years. Can the Government provide an estimated baseline number of active patient tags/bracelets required for the initial kickoff kit deployment under CLIN 0001?

Response to Question 47:

We are waiting for patient census for the headcount. Will post on bidding portal once the information is available.

Question 48:

The SOW notes that Windows systems must preferably use Windows 11. Are the software platform and client applications required to be hosted on an on-premises VA server, or is a secure, cloud-based solution permissible if it possesses a valid VA TRM approval?

Response to Question 48:

Since the system will be an independent stand-alone system without utilizing VA network, it will not be required to be hosted on VA server. Physical server is preferred.

Question 49:

The contract requires as-built drawings of all installed components and wiring on building plans. Will the VA provide editable AutoCAD/.DWG floor plans of Buildings 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 91, 92, and 93 to the winning contractor, or will only hardcopy/PDF plans be available?

Response to Question 49:

Only pdf plans will be available.

Question 50:

The solicitation states a site visit is highly encouraged and a walk-through must be performed before bidding. Given the proposal deadline of June 22, are there pre-arranged dates for this walk-through, or should vendors contact the CO immediately to schedule individual site visits or will the submission deadline be extended to accommodate the site visit and walkthrough?

Response to Question 50:

A site visit is scheduled for June 18, 2026, at 10 AM; no other site visits will be arranged due to the time sensitivity of this requirement. All vendors that are interested in being at the site visit should call Yuxuan Li at (347) 544-2754 or email her at Yuxuan.Li@va.gov to confirm if your company is joining and all parties that will attend. This has been posted in the amendment before this one on (Attachment A). The solicitation has also been extended to June 26, 2026, at 10 AM.

Question 51:

The SOW notes that endpoint hardware/software must have an existing, approved Enterprise Risk Assessment (ERA). If a vendor's proposed system is currently undergoing VA ERA review but is not yet fully finalized in the TRM database, will their proposal be disqualified from technical evaluation?

Response to Question 51:

Please refer to the recently updated SOW. ERA approval is not required. (Attachment-E)

Question 52:

Block 3 states invoicing is allowed "Upon acceptance and installation of Patient Elopement system". Given that this involves hardware delivery, physical installation across 8 buildings, and a 1-year warranty phase, will the VA allow for partial milestone billing (e.g., hardware delivery, installation completion, final acceptance) rather than a single lump-sum payment at the very end?

Response to Question 52:

Yes

Question 53:

The SOW states that “Detectors installed at the elevators can be a stand-alone unit, alarm at the elevator, and prevent the elevator doors from closing”. Please confirm whether this is an existing capability of the elevators that the vendor’s solution can trigger? Please provide elevator controller information. Does the elevator control accept JSON or XML messages?

Response to Question 53:

Please reach out to the elevator service company for details on the capability of the elevators. (Attachment G)