Pre-Bid RFIs - VA Response.pdf

Provide Variable Air Volume Boxes for the Operating Room, Oncology, and Eye Clinic Project

#540-22-115

Pre-Bid RFIs

1. Specification Section 01-00-00-1.20.A is labeled as Storage Space for Department of Veteran Affairs

Equipment to include sections A.1-3 and B and includes some of the verbiage

“Contractor shall complete approximately 300 square feet of space in building accessible from ground level without use of elevators for storage of certain materials and equipment by

Department of Veterans Affairs.”

Question: Can you confirm that this section is not applicable to this project?

a. VA Response: 01-00-00 1.20.A. is not applicable in its entirety. 1.20.B is applicable.

2. Specification section 01 35 26 1.7C states “… However, the SSHO has be a separate qualified individual from the Prime Contractor’s Superintendent and/or Quality Control Manager with duties only as the

SSHO”

Question: Is the contractor’s superintendent permitted to fill the role of SSHO for this project?

a. VA Response: The contractor's superintendent is permitted to fill the role of SSHO for this project.

3. Specification Section 01-35-26-1.12 states to Refer to Note in Drawing MH101 which references a plastic barrier. The specs discuss plastic barrier and hard barriers.

Question: Can it be identified as to what type of ICRA barrier is to be utilized on this project and where they are utilized (i.e. plastic barrier to the ceiling, hard barrier to the deck, etc.)?

a. VA Response: Consult the ICRA. Project is Class IV in its entirety. Point 1 of Level IV control measures reads "1. Barriers must be hard barriers unless temporary to install final barrier". A plastic barrier taped over a closed-doorway is a hard barrier.

b. VA Response: Barriers must go from floor to ceiling grid. Respective AHU is to be powered down prior to demolition as to disrupt particulate disbursment above grid.

4. Drawing MD101 Detail #1 shows the Oncology Area.

Question: Would the proposed ICRA plan be acceptable for this area (See screen shot)? If not can a proposed ICRA plan / location be provided?

a. VA Response: A proposed ICRA plan for the Oncology Phase is below:

b. The contractor shall follow the detail “Temporary partition details” and “Infection Control Notes” shown in the design documents MH101.

c. All supply, return and exhaust air devices shall be temporarily sealed in the area of work.

5. Drawing MD101 Detail #2 shows the Eye Clinic Area.

Question: Would the proposed ICRA plan be acceptable for this area (See screen shot)? If not can a proposed ICRA plan / location be provided?

a. VA Response: A proposed ICRA plan for the Eye Clinic Phase is below:

b. The contractor shall follow the detail “Temporary partition details” and “Infection Control Notes” shown in the design documents MH101.

c. All supply, return and exhaust air devices shall be temporarily sealed in the area of work.

6. Drawing MH102 shows a partial fourth floor plan – Plan “C”.

Question: Is the intent of this project to access and change these VAV units from the fourth floor (above

3rd floor OR area)?

a. VA Response: It is not the responsibility of the government to dictate the means and methods which the contractor accomplishes the work specified in the contract documents. If the contractor feels it is both possible and best practice to access and install the VAV units from the catwalk space above the 3rd floor operating rooms, then doing so is permissible.

Question: If this is the intent, what will the ICRA requirement for this area and below be for this project?

a. VA Response: The ICRA requirement remains Class IV. Project area specific ICRA requirements will be discussed and decided during pre-construction walk-throughs and meetings with site Infection Prevention staff and project COR.

7. Question: Is the VAMC responsible for the terminal clean of the construction area?

a. VA Response: VAMC is responsible for the terminal clean of the construction area. The contractor is responsible for a construction clean of the construction area.

8. Question: Is there duct cleaning on this project? If so, what areas (to include equipment) would need to have the duct cleaned?

a. VA Response: Contracted duct cleaning may or may not be necessary. Consult the project SOW, section 4. Detailed Requirements, Point 5, subsection D. HVAC Systems, subpoint ii: "Verify that

HVAC systems are clean and operational." All dust, particulate, construction debris, etc. emitted during the scope of this project is to be completely abated.

9. Drawing M001 Sequence of Work note #1 states For Oncology and surgical areas (Drawings MD- 101, MD102, MH101, MH102) Work shall be done on the long week-ends (Friday after 4 until Monday at 4:00 a.m.).

Question: Is the intent of this project to have all the VAV’s replaced in each of these areas in 1 long weekend?

a. VA Response: It is not the intent of this project to have all of the VAVs replaced in each of the 3 areas within 1 long weekend. It is the intent of this project to accomplish the scope within the period of performance.

b. The contractor shall provide construction work schedule for COR review and approval.

Question: If so, does this include TAB, duct cleaning if applicable, and commissioning performed before the space is turned back over?

a. VA Response: post-construction TAB, adjacent duct cleaning, and commissioning will all need to be accomplished before the space is turned back over.

Question: Would it be acceptable to remove and replace 2 VAVs in the OR space per weekend shift?

a. VA Response: It is the VA’s position that as much work as possible should be accomplished while the space is in construction phase to limit the impact of construction of the facility. If the contractor feels that 2 VAVs per phase shift in the OR is the most work than can be successfully accomplished within 1 uninterupted after-hours period, that is permissible.

b. The contractor shall provide construction work schedule for COR review and approval.

10. Question: Is each work area to be commissioned separately?

a. VA Response: Work is to be commisioned as it is completed. Commissioning may take place for all 3 phases at once if work is completed ~simultaneously.

11. Question: For bidding purposes, can a staging area inside the hospital be provided for this project?

a. VA Response: Answer dependent upon requested size of hypothetic staging area.

12. Question: For bidding purposes, where would the dumpster be able to be placed for this project?

a. VA Response: Waste disposal stage site to be determined post award during pre-construction meetings.

13. Drawing M001 Commissioning work note 3 states there shall be no less than eight (8) hours scheduled at owner’s convenience.

Question: Is the 8 hours for the total project or each work area?

a. VA Response: 8 hours minimum of equipment demonstration/instruction period for the building operating personal by the contractor for the total project.

14. Drawing M001 Sequence of work note 2 states eye-clinic and other areas (drawings MD-101 and MH-

101) work shall be done after hours / and or weekends.

Question: If work is performed after hours during the week, does the work area have to be back in operation before the next morning or will rooms be closed off until completion?

a. VA Response: Rooms/ project area is not to be closed off during normal facility working hours;

facility/project area must be in normal operating state from 6 am – 5 pm, Monday – Friday.

15. Drawing M001 states under commissioning notes #3 that commissioning shall include air handling units, return fans, exhaust fans, controls, air and water distribution systems, ETC. The project scope is to only replace VAVs and portions of related ductwork.

Question: As the items named in note #3 are not being replaced, are they listed because they would relate to the TAB scope for this project?

a. VA Response: All ductwork, air devices, and VAVs which are served by the respective areas of

AHU’s supply and return/exhaust fans and heating water pumps. The project area is to be tested and balanced before the area is turned over to the VA. Consult the 1st and 3rd floor AHU areas mapping .pdfs distributed in the amendment for the exact domain of the required TAB report.

Question: What is the scope of the TAB to comply with this note?

a. VA Response: Post Construction Testing and Balancing is to take place within the total ductwork and air devices serviced by the AHUs in question. Consult the 1st and 3rd floor AHU area mapping

.pdfs distributed in the amendment for the exact domain of the required TAB report(s). The initial SOW required a pre-construction TAB; the amended SOW does not require a pre-construction TAB.

b. TAB Report(s) must support the room air exchange and pressure relationships below in point c.

c. Consult the below chart (consolidation of room Air Change per Hour and Pressurization schedule from VA HVAC Design Manual) for requisite TAB specifications:

Room Type Min ACH Pressurization

Corridor 4 (+)

Medication Room 4 (+)

Medication Preparation Room 6 (++)

Office 4 (o)

Toilet – Public (interior) 10 (- -)

Toilet – Staff (interior) 10 (-)

Staff Locker Room (w toilet) 10 (-)

Staff Locker Room (w/o toilet) 6 (-)

Clean Utility/Storage Room 4 (+)

Housekeeping Aid Closet (HAC) 10 (- -)

Soiled Utility and Storage Room 10 (- -)

Examination Room 6 (o)

Nurse Station 6 (o)

Eye Clinic Exam/ Treatment/ Optometry 6 (o)

Eye Clinic Laser Room 15 (+)

Patient Rehabilitation Therapy Gym 6 (-)

Hydrotherapy 10 (-)

Ultrasound Room 8 (o)

Waiting Room 6 (o)

Operating Room 20 (++)

Pre-Operative Holding / Phase II Recovery Patient Bay/Room 6 (+)

Immediate Use Sterilization Room 10 (- -)

Sub-Sterile Room 6 (- -)

Surgical Soiled Utility Room 12 (- -)

Semi-Restricted Corridor 8 (o)

X- Ray Panoramic / Cephalometric 6 (o)

CSR&D Staff Breakroom, Staff Support 4 (-)