S05 Correct FCA Chiller Plant Deficiencies RFI 542-26-105.docx

Correct FCA Chiller Plant Deficiencies Solicitation 36C24426B0001

AMENDMENT 0002

The purpose of this amendment is to add the following:

1. Responses to Contractor RFI’s

Correct FCA Chiller Plant Deficiencies | Coatesville VAMC | RFI

1. Please confirm contract can triple hat the project i.e. SSHO, QC and Superintendent can be one person –

VA Response: No, they cannot be the same person. Site superintendent can be SSHO, QC must be a separate person.

2. Please confirm if the contract award date is the same as NTP or will NTP be provided at a later date –

VA Response No, the award date will not be the same date as the Notice to Proceed (NTP). The Notice to Proceed will be issued at the time of the preconstruction meeting.

3. Please clarify whether commissioning is performed solely by the Contractor or requires a third-party commissioning agent provided by the VA.

VA Response: The contractor must ensure that all testing and verification of operation is witnessed and approved by the COR. All Commissioning documentation will be provided to the COR. See commissioning specifications for commissioning requirements.

4. Please confirm if abatement will be required for this project.

VA Response: No Abatement required

5. Is the insulation free or hazardous material?

VA Response: No known hazardous materials in insulation

6. Please provide pictures of the Evap-co fans if possible

VA Response: Pictures are not available. Contractor site visit was provided on 1/8/2026.

7. Please confirm location where new equipment it to be placed, i.e water softening system.

VA Response: See attached drawing for water treatment location.

8. Please provide available all available as-built drawings of the plant. For example, exhaust fans drawing, mechanical schedules, etc.

VA Responses: All available drawings were provided in the RFP.

9. Please confirm what type of meters will be required.

VA Response: Contractor to match existing

10. Will the project be phased to minimize downtime of equipment?

a. For example, shutdown window during peak not weather / peak cooling season?

b. What is the maximum shutdown period?

VA Response: Maximum shutdown time is 8 hours. Project to be phased to minimize shutdown time to the chillers. Isolation valves to be replaced first to minimize shutdown time of both chillers at the same time. The intent of the phasing is to maintain the operation of one chiller throughout the construction. Chilled water work shall be completed before peak cooling season. Contractor shall submit a phasing plan to the COR for approval.

11. Is the contractor required to provide temporary solutions during shutdown?

VA Response: No

12. Please confirm whether the three (3) new water meters require BAS integration or remote monitoring beyond visual remote-read capability from grade level

VA Response: No BAS integration for water meters required, only visual remote read.

13. Please confirm tie-in locations, bypass piping requirements, and whether existing softeners are to remain operational during installation of the new duplex system.

VA Response: To be installed per drawings. There are no existing softeners. See attached drawings

14. Please clarify whether the motorized dampers/louvers are to be controlled locally or integrated into the existing BAS system, and whether the existing BAS has available points and capacity

VA Response: Fans and dampers are controlled by BAS. BAS system is Trane.

15. Please confirm power source locations, voltages, and breaker availability for new fans, dampers, meters, and controls.

VA Response: Contractor to tie into existing power source.

16. Are electrical shutdowns subject to the same 3-week notice requirement as utility shutdowns?

VA Response: Yes

17. Please confirm approved crane access routes, setup areas, and ground bearing capacity limitations on VA property.

VA Response: Contractor to assess project site and provide appropriate crane lift plan

18. Is it required to have a full-time SSHO with no other duties?

VA Response: SSHO does not have to be full-time.

19. Is it required to have a full-time Quality Control Manager with no other duties?

VA Response: QC manager does not have to be full-time.

20. Is any of the work to be performed off-hours?

VA Response: After- hours work is not anticipated to meet medical center needs. Any after-hours work requested by the contractor would need to be negotiated with the COR and approved by the Medical Center and Contracting Officer. Proper project phasing by the contractor should negate the need for after-hour work. The contractor is required to staff the project to the level necessary to complete the work within the period of performance.

21. Could you please provide us with a specification for the bypass valve?

VA Response: See project specifications for valves

22. Could you please provide us with a plug valve specification as there is not one currently for this project?

VA Response: Contractor to match existing. Site visit provided on 1/8/2026

23. The GPM on the spec provided doesn’t match the model provided. Please confirm the GPM on the specification

VA Response: Contractor shall supply and install a 600,000-grain metered duplex water softening system with bypass capable of providing soft water for the entire chiller plant per supplied specifications. Contractor must include enough salt to fill the brine tank two (2) times. Meter shall have an operating range of 3.5 to 350 GPM. Softener basis of design- US Water Systems 140-39-600-DX-7 or Equal.

24. Please provide the model or makes for the existing exhaust fans provided

VA Response: Contractor to match existing. Site visit provided on 1/8/2026

25. Please provide the model or make for the 5 existing dampers and louvers

VA Response: Contractor to match existing. Site visit provided on 1/8/2026. See attached drawing

26. Please provide the make or model for the 3 existing water meters

VA Response: Contractor to match existing. Site visit provided on 1/8/2026

27. The SOW indicates the chiller plant water softener should be capable of providing soft water for the entire chiller plant. Can the VA indicate the size of pipe and required flow for the water softening requirement at the chiller plant?

VA Response: Existing piping is 3” copper. Softener piping to be sized per manufacturer’s recommendations.

28. The contractor shall supply two (2) rooftop exhaust fans to match existing. There is no schedule for the exhaust fans. Can the VA provide a schedule for these two fans? If no schedule can be provided can the VA indicate what will be required? If the VA cannot indicate what will be required can they provide a drawing indicating what will be required?

VA Response: Contractor to match existing. Site visit provided on 1/8/2026

29. Can the VA provide the drawings that indicate the size and location of the five (5) motorized dampers as described in the SOW? If no drawings are available can the VA indicate the size and location of the louvers to be replaced?

VA Response: Contractor to match existing. See Building 17 Details, Building 17 Misc details, and building 17 elevations drawings provided in the RFP

30. Can the VA provide a photo of the EVAPCO Cooling Tower nomenclature plate.

VA Response: Pictures not available. Contractor site visit was provided on 1/8/2026.

31. The PWS indicated the contractor should replace three (3) water meters. Can the VA indicate the location of these meters? Can the VA identify the water line size?

VA Response: Contractor to match existing.

32. Can the VA supply and available as built drawings of the chiller plant?

VA Response: All available drawings were provided in the acquisition package, contractor site visit provided on 1/8/2026.

33. Much of the insulation in the chiller plant is in poor condition. The SOW indicates the contractor must replace or repair all pipe insulation disturbed or damaged from the work on the project. Can the contractor assume that 24” on either valve is sufficient for this work? Or should the contractor plan for another distance?

VA Response: Contractor to replace what they disturb or called out on SOW.

34. How should the contractor plan on addressing hazardous substances like lead paint and asbestos for this pricing effort?

VA Response: None required.

35. Are there any hazardous materials the contractor should plan for as part of this SOW?

VA Response: No.

36. Will a laydown area be provided for the contractor’s work?

VA Response: Yes. Contractor is responsible to fence in laydown area and dumpsters.

37. Replacement of the plant valves will result in a loss of cooling for the campus. Can the contractor count of performing this work in the winter to avoid an interruption in cooling?

VA Response: Work to be completed prior to the cooling season. Contractor to provide schedule and phasing plan after contract award.

38. Is 120 days for the POP sufficient? Some of this material is going to have a long lead time.

VA Response: 120 days is sufficient. Contractor to identify long lead time materials and staff the project to meet the period of performance.

39. Is the Government’s intent that the work be completed in a single continuous shutdown window, or will the contractor be required to phase/isolate sections, complete work on one side, restore service, and then repeat for the remaining work? Please clarify/advise the dates per page 8 of 84 “Chilled Water Shutdowns will not be authorized during hot weather during peak cooling season”. If phasing is required, please confirm the expected tie-in points, isolation locations, and any minimum service requirements during the work.

VA Response: Contractor to phase the work. Maximum shutdown window is 8 hours.

40. Please confirm if the Government anticipates specific after-hours windows (nights/weekends), or if after-hours will be directed only when required to support outages and patient-care operations.

VA Response: After- hours work is not anticipated to meet medical center needs. Any after-hours work requested by the contractor would need to be negotiated with the COR and approved by the Medical Center and Contracting Officer. Proper project phasing by the contractor should negate the need for after-hour work. The contractor is required to staff the project to the level necessary to complete the work within the period of performance.

41. Can the onsite OSHA “competent person” be an individual from the subcontractor team, provided the individual meets the OSHA training requirements and is authorized by the prime to serve in that role?

Please confirm what documentation is required and whether it should be submitted to the CO or COR prior to mobilization.

VA Response: See answer to question #1

42. Please confirm the Government’s intent regarding controls integration, is the intent for the contractor to reconnect the new exhaust fans and associated dampers/louvers back into the existing controls matrix/BAS, or will the contractor be required to furnish a new controls matrix and associated controls equipment (controllers, sensors, relays/IO, programming, etc.) to accomplish the required sequence?

VA Response: If a new controls matrix/equipment is required, please provide the desired control sequence/sequence of operations (e.g., fan enable/disable logic, damper open/close proof, alarms, interlocks, HOA, minimum run times, fail-safe positions, etc.) and any preferred controls platform/standards (BAS manufacturer, controller type, points list, programming requirements, network/communications requirements).

Contractor to match existing configurations. BAS system is controlled by Trane

43. Appears one tower piping is insulated, and one tower piping is not. Please clarify if all piping on the roof is to be insulated?

VA Response: All tower piping to be insulated.

44. Is a safety plan required? Is a rigging plan required?

VA Response: Yes for both.

45. Is there an As Build of the rooftop exhaust fans? There was no tag associated with the existing to obtain information off of. Please advise of Existing Model/Serial # and New Specified Model #.

All available drawings were provided in the acquisition package.

VA Response: Contractor to match existing., contractor site visit provided on 1/8/2026

46. Are the specific water meters to be provided per the county/municipality that are to be abided by or is the only specification to match existing size and be able to be read remotely? Please confirm and clarify.

VA Response: Contractor to match existing water meter size and be able to be read remotely. See answer to question #8.

47. Per the SOW on page 8 of 84 it states “the contractor must ensure that all testing and verification of operation is witnessed and approved by the COR. All Commissioning documentation will be provided to the COR”. Is there any specific commissioning/plan required, and 3rd party CX agent to be hired as part of the project? Please clarify and advise.

VA Response: The contractor must ensure that all testing and verification of operation is witnessed and approved by the COR. All Commissioning documentation will be provided to the COR. See commissioning specifications for commissioning requirements.

48. Are all 14” Butterfly valves on the 3 condenser water pumps and 2 chillers? Are all 10” Butterfly Valves on the 3 chilled water pumps? Please confirm and advise. Can you also confirm the 10” bypass valve to be replaced in the chiller plant. (Location of this valve).

VA Response: See the drawings provided in the acquisition package.

49. Will Commissioning be required and if so, will the VA hire the Commissioning direct?

VA Response: The contractor must ensure that all testing and verification of operation is witnessed and approved by the COR. All Commissioning documentation will be provided to the COR. See commissioning specifications for commissioning requirements.

50. The contract drawings do not indicate where the new water softener is to be installed. Please advise. Also, what size and type of pipe is the water feed to the Chiller Plant?

VA Response: Please see attached Drawing for location of water softeners

51. The existing exhaust fans on the roof do not have visible nameplates to provide manufacturer, model, or performance. Please provide this information.

VA Response: Contractor is required to identify fans and match existing performance. Site visit provided on 1/8/2026

52. The contract drawings do not indicate where the 5 new dampers are to be installed or the size of these dampers. Please provide this information.

VA Response: Please see Building 17 elevations drawing provided in RFP.

53. Do the 3 new water meters replace existing meters, or are they new installations? Where are they to be installed?

VA Response: Meters are replacing existing water meters inside chiller plant.

54. Will the entire chiller plant be shut down for the duration of the work? If not, what will be the phasing requirements?

VA Response: Chiller plant to remain in operation. Contractor to submit phasing plan to the COR for approval.

55. What is the current control sequence for the two existing exhaust fans? The VA Response: They are activated by temperature, and the dampers open upon activation of exhaust fans.

56. Does the remote readout for the three flow meters go back to the BAS? Also, what is the sequence of operation for these flow meters?

VA Response: No BAS integration for water meters required, only visual remote read.

57. Please provide the serial numbers for the cooling towers on this project VA Response: See SOW.

58. Is a make and model# for the existing 14” gate style valves in the chiller room available? I would like to verify the face-to-face measurements which could not be accomplished during the walk-through.

VA Response: Contractor site visit was provided on 1/8/2026.

59. There is a total of eight (8) butterfly valves to be replaced on the cooling tower. Is this typical of two (2) towers? Sixteen (16) in total?

VA Response: Yes

60. Is a make and model# for these valves available?

VA Response: They are currently insulated. See drawings and provide new valves per specifications

61. Is all work to be done during normal working hours? 7am-3:30pm?

VA Response: Most work is anticipated to be completed during normal business hours. Proper project phasing by the contractor should eliminate the need for after-hours work.

62. What exactly is to be replaced on the CW & condensing pumps? Just the supply and return butterfly valves?

VA Response: Valves highlighted on the drawings.

63. Is there mention of three (3) water meters with a remote feeder, but not highlighted on the drawings? Are they to be included in the pricing and is there any info/located available?

VA Response: Meters are replacing existing water meters inside chiller plant. No BAS integration for water meters required, only visual remote read.

64. Will both cooling towers be down during the renovations or will one cooling tower be operational while the other is being worked on?

VA Response: One tower must remain operational while the other tower is being worked on.

65. There is no schedule for the rooftop exhaust fans. Can the info be provided?

VA Response None available

66. Where does the new water softener get installed and tied-in?

VA Response See attached drawing

67. Where are the MOD’s “shown on the drawings”. Is there a BAS company involved?

VA Response: Building 17 elevation drawings and building 17 details. See attached drawing. BAS company is Trane

68. The valves described in the RFP don’t match up with the quantity and sized on the drawings? Please advise.

VA Response: Two 14” Plug valves, Fourteen 14” butterfly valves, six 14” gate valves, six 10” butterfly valves, one 10” chiller bypass valve, and twelve 8” cooling tower valves. See attached drawings for valve locations.