36C24418R0071-00004001.pdf

Solicitation No. 36C24418R0071

Amendment 00004

Replace Steam & Condensate Mains – Oval 2 and Outlying

Questions:

1. Note A. under General Scope states, “The actual construction activities must be done between April 1 and October 1 to minimize the impact of temporary steam shutdowns.” Is this correct?

A: (Answer): This requirement will be amended as follows:

A means of returning steam condensate to the boiler plant must be maintained between

October 1 and the following April 1 in order to avoid excessive sanitary sewer bills. Steam condensate may not be dumped to the service room floor drains because they are pumped to the storm sewer. Replacement time of crawl space condensate piping must be minimized.

Steam outages will not be allowed between December 1 and March 15, or when the high and low outside ambient temperatures during the shutdown are forecasted as below 47 degrees F and 33 degrees F respectively.

Construction activities during the colder months are not prohibited, although the full steam requirements must be provided to all buildings at all times other than during scheduled shutdowns.

2. Is the period of performance of 365 calendar days realistic? This seems to be incongruent with question #1.

A: The period of performance will be amended to 450 calendar days.

3. Note D under General Scope states “The portions of the scope requiring temporary steam must be done one building at a time unless approved by the COR.” Is the government requiring that the entire steam loop, with the exception of the single building being bypassed, to remain active?

A: The intent is that the work is contained and not too spread out because it leaves the government at risk in the maintenance of the systems. The work should be focused and finished efficiently and effectively. Any discoveries affecting the work in one area can be planned in for the next. Also, safe work practices can be more effectively monitored.

4. It is not wise, advisable or safe to perform work activities inside of a confined space with active steam. With that said, is it reasonable, with consideration given to both safety and the completion time line, to anticipate allowing only one building to be bypassed at a time?

A: General Scope, Note D will be modified to read, “Mechanical room work must generally be done one building at a time unless otherwise approved by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).”

The contractor is permitted to utilize temporary boilers as required to support their work. As a matter of explanation, the steam main in Oval 2 is a loop, thus boiler plant steam service can be provided from either direction. Please note that the existing isolation valves are not effective. Also note that according to the drawings, there is no isolation valve in the steam main between the take-offs to

Buildings 38 and 39.

5. What space requirements / safety controls will the government require for work to be performed within the service corridors?

A: There is no contract work directly within the corridors. The drawings document “Pipe Basements”, which is crawl space. Overhead work in Building 59 is located in spaces without suspended ceilings.

6. Item F states that a new natural gas meter must be provided by PECO? Should the contractor carry the cost of the PECO supplied meter?

A: No. The contractor only needs to facilitate the request for service application and coordinate with

PECO for the work.

7. Item I indicates that adequate space for the staging of materials will be provided in accordance with the specifications. Can the government give an indication of where these areas will be located? Distance traveled to access materials has an impact on contractor means, methods and expense.

A: Limited quantities of materials may be stored near the buildings. The T-21 area will be available for additional storage. (Reference the Site Plan on the cover page, Drawing GI-001. T-21 is located

West of Building 138.) All storage areas near the buildings must be fenced all around, including the back sides. Note that these areas must be maintained and kept orderly.

8. The Scope of work references failure to complete the contract work within the specified time, “The contractor shall provide equitable consideration in the form of liquidated damages from the first day of inexcusable delay through final acceptance by the government. These damages are associated with additional time granted for completion and acceptance of contract work.” The SOW states the LD’s in the amount of $251.88 per day will be assessed. Is the allowable duration to be held to 365 days? I believe the prior bid request allowed for in excess of 450 days?

A: The period of performance will be modified to 450 days.

9. Contractor work hours for the project are stated to be from “7a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through

Friday”. Should the contractor plan on scheduled steam outages inside of normal business hours?

A: Generally speaking, yes. If extended outages are required, they can sometimes be accommodated, depending on weather and hospital operations. Note that the week before Veterans

Day has numerous activities and steam shut-downs will not be allowed during that week. The Friday before Veterans Day (November 9) should be treated as a federal holiday – do not plan on work.

10. Contract requirements state that domestic hot water must be provided to buildings during outages and during mechanical room replacements. Domestic hot water requirements are different from building to building. Please provide domestic hot water requirements for each building.

A: The hot water demands (gpm) are shown in the equipment schedule, drawing PL-601 for each of the six (6) buildings.

11. In the event temporary heating is required due to outdoor temperature and with the understanding that the heating requirements are different for each building, please provide steam heating requirements for each building.

A: HX sizing is scheduled on drawing MP-603. Actual load requirements will vary depending upon outdoor conditions.

12. Specification 01 00 00-6 requires the removal of the chilled water expansion tanks in the mechanical rooms for buildings 38,39,57,58,59 and 139 and the removal of the chilled water piping in building 39 to allow for the new equipment and piping. Will there be a requirement to supply temporary conditioning for these buildings while the chilled water is unavailable?

A: Please note the following:

a. The contract documents specify chilled water system modifications for Buildings 38, 57, 58 and 39 only. All work on the chilled water systems in these buildings will need to be coordinated with the new elevated access platforms. No modifications to the chilled water piping systems are shown for buildings 59 and 139.

b. The only work on the chilled water system within buildings 38, 57 and 58 are the replacement of the expansion tanks which could be accomplished with minimal disruption. Temporary expansion tank locations could be coordinated to facilitate maintenance of the chilled water service during renovations.

c. Chilled water piping in building 39 will be modified and more extensive system down time will be required. We suggest scheduling the work on the chilled water system within building 39 during the HVAC transitional months of the year (i.e. approximately October and April).

13. We could find no mention of Asbestos Removal / Testing in the drawings or in the contract documents. What will be the requirements / procedure if asbestos is discovered or present during the course of the project?

A: In the event that asbestos is discovered during construction, Contractor shall notify the COR immediately and prior to disturbance of material.

14. Please provide an example of the requirements for the Mechanical and Electrical Pre-Testing as described in the specifications 01 00 00-4 1.19.

A: The pre-demolition tests are detailed in Specification Section 01 00 00, Article 1.4 (Statement of

Bid Item(s), paragraphs A.10 and A.11.

15. Will the Government function as the commissioning agent for the project or will the contractor be required to hire a separate commissioning agent for the project? If a separate commissioning agent is required please specify the required credentials for this commissioning agent.

A: The VA will not function as the commissioning agent, nor provide one. The Contractor must hire a separate independent commissioning agent. There are no particular credentialing requirements, but the commissioning agent must be qualified.

16. Section 01 00 00 – 6 require photographic documentation of the work to be performed. If this is a true requirement which aspects of the construction should be recorded? Will the online component be a requirement? To what extent should the pre-existing conditions be photographed?

A: Reference entire Article 1.21 in Section 01 00 00. Online access will not be required. Disks of organized electronic files must be provided. Dates and locations must clear.

17. Section 01 00 00 – 7 requires full photographic documentation prior to applying insulation. It should be noted that this system will need to be active and should be insulated prior to putting the system back in service as required per the contract documents. To what extent should the piping be photographed?

A: Progress photos account for pre-insulated piping documentation.

18. Please clarify the requirement, “Customizable project- specific digital photographic documentation of other details or milestones.”

A: As stated milestones or specific details i.e. pipe through wall or louver detail, exterior building elevation piping, work in pipe tunnels etc.

19. Please clarify the requirement, “Contractor shall provide all on line domain/web hosting, security measures, and redundant server back-up of the documentation.”

A: Online web hosting will not be required.

20. Can the government provide a list of acceptable locations for site waste containers to be used for the duration of the contract?

A: This will be coordinated with the Contractor once contracted.

21. Section 33 63 00-12 section 3.6 Joint Construction requires a radiographic inspection of field welds, radiographic inspections of this scale would be very expensive. Is it the government’s intention to have each field weld inspected? If this is not the case please indicate to what extent radiographic inspections should be planned / accounted for?

A: This radiographic inspection requirement will be relaxed from inspection of all pipe welds to inspection of 20% of the pipe joint welds at the discretion of the inspector and VA.

22. Drawing M-001 Note 38 directs the contractor to test and balance work completed. Can we assume the Test and Balance will be limited to the balancing of the pumps associated with the buildings?

A: Not necessarily. Any place that piping is modified where balancing is needed, such as at HX pairs, balancing will be required. Ensure that systems are pre-tested prior to demolition and are functioning back to their original conditions after new work is completed. (See specification 01 00 00

1.4.A.10).

23. Sheet MD-402, Sheet key note #20. Note# 20 indicates the contractor should verify the 4” LPR pipe in the pit should have been changed over to a 4” LPR line. Should the contractor plan on offering a solution after award if the line is incorrect? This is also noted on MP-402 note 23.

A: The pipe entering the pit from underground is 4-inch, direct-buried pipe, however at the flange it converts to 2-1/2 inch above-ground steel. Thus, the piping will have to be replaced as indicated in the diagram.

24. Mechanical Pipe drawings reference using Metraflex Anchors, Pipe Guides and Expansion Loops

(Example SHEET KEYNOTE 6, 7, and 8 on MP-101). Typically these products would be fabricated and assembled by the contractor. Are contractor fabricated materials acceptable?

A: Provide only manufactured products. Metraflex is the basis of design.

25. The drawings frequently reference testing of the DDC system to ensure proper operation of the existing valves. Are we to assume the VA’s shops will assist with the testing of the valves? Or will the

VA require us to contract with a controls contractor to ensure operability?

A: The Contractor is responsible for all testing without VA assistance. There are no DDC controls in the project.

26. Could the government provide the contact information for controls contractors authorized to work on the system at the Coatesville, VA if a control contractor is required? If there is a preferred controls contractor please indicate.

A: We cannot provide this information at this time, although this should not be an issue since DDC is not involved.

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