36C24619R0064-0003001.pdf

36C24619R0064 RFI Questions

Convert Pneumatic Controls to Direct Digital Control Project (590-18-109)

1. Can Plenum rated communication / control cable below 50V be ran above the drop ceiling area on the 1 & 2nd floor?

Answer: Yes, plenum rated communication/control cable below 50 volts can be run above drop ceiling areas as long as it is properly supported by an approved means.

2. Can Plenum rated communication / control cable below 50V be ran in the interstitial space serving the 1 & 2nd floor?

Answer: Yes, plenum rated communication/control cable below 50 volts can be run in the interstitials as long as it is properly supported by an approved means.

3. FCU 8 , 9 & 10 Where are they located on the plans?

Answer: See attached drawing 110-H41.

4. Drawing 110B. MP-7 has a piping detail showing the convert VAV pneumatic controls piping diagram. The note indicates that we are to install new individual ball valves along with valve packages (strainer and balancing valves), unions, and air bleeders at each VAV box. Please confirm that each individual box will require all new items as listed above.

Answer: Each VAV box will require the items shown on the drawings.

5. There is a detail on Drawing 110B. MP-7 showing full line size ball valves in existing branch lines. It is unclear on the as-builts how many of these will be required.

Please advise locations as to where these valves will be required.

Answer: There are two valves per unit. They will be placed before each unit during one of the four (4), or less, outages allowed on the heating hot water loop.

6. Does the existing mechanical system have any chemical treatment in the water that will be required to be tested, drained, or captured when installing isolation valves or reworking piping diagrams at each unit?

Answer: The system does utilize chemically treated water, however, there will be no need for testing or capturing for reuse.

7. Can piping rework be done during normal working hours or are we to assume after hours and weekends for valve installation?

Answer: Refer to specification section 01 00 00, 1.2, B.

8. Is replacing the pneumatic valves serving the Buffalo AHUs in the scope of this work. If yes, please provide number and size of valves to be replaced.

Answer: It is not.

9. If the pneumatic valves serving the Buffalo AHUs are to be replaced, will the contractor be responsible for removing the E-P switched in the existing Johnson Controls panel and altering the existing programs in the controller.

Answer: Refer to answer #8.

10. Please confirm that gateways are not allowed per section 230923 paragraph 1.1.A.2 and communication to the ECC must be through the existing JCI NAEs.

Answer: Communication must be through the existing JCI NAEs.

11. Section 230923 paragraph 1.1.F.1 states to re-used the existing JCI Mestasys ADX but section 230923 paragraph 1.1.F.2 says to provide a new BACnet ECC. Is it the intention to add the new systems to the existing ECC or to provide a new one? If a new one is provided, is it the responsibility of the control contractor to map all the existing points and recreate all of the existing logic on the network to the new ECC in addition to the new work?

The intention is to add the new systems to the existing ECC

12. Does 230923 paragraph 1.4.A.1 regard existing legacy systems already installed in the building? This work will require making programing modifications to the air handlers which have non-BACnet controllers. Will the controls contractor be required to prove ability to work on and commission such systems prior to commencing work?

Answer: The Air Terminal Units work independently from the air handlers, therefore, no programming modifications to the air handlers will be required.

13. 230923 paragraph 1.5 are the new existing systems required to modify the existing graphics on the existing Metasys ADX? Will the floor plan graphics be required to be modified?

Answer: Yes, floor plan graphics will be required to be modified

14. 230923 paragraph 2.2.E. Is it the intention to re-use the existing server? Does all the data need to be stored in the same server or can it be stored in separate locations.

Will alternate servers be allowed and if so, is it the responsibility of the controls contractor to merger them?

Answer: All data is to be stored on the existing server.

15. 230923 paragraph 2.7.7.A through h require programs that must utilize logic over the network. Does this require all new devices to be on the existing BACnet network and communicate through the existing JCI NAE? Is it acceptable to install an alternate manufacturer’s network engine, pass information/programs over the BACnet network to a separate non-JCI sever, to the JCI server over IP, and then to the existing JCI network? What is the acceptable lag time if the work is installed in this manner?

Answer: Yes. No.

16. Are the fan coil units and unit heaters to be monitored by the DDC system or is it the intention for those be local controlled by a line voltage t’stat.

Answer: They are to be monitored by the DDC system.

17. Is owner training required? How many hours are required?

Answer: Yes. One (1) eight-hour day; broken down into two (2), four-hour sessions.

18. Sheet 110B.MH-8, general note 2. Will the controls contractor be required to demonstrate the ability to communicate with the existing Buffalo Air Handling controllers prior to proceeding with work?

Answer: No.

19. Cost breakdown worksheet is for deduct, is deduct requested?

Answer: Yes. Provide deduct to eliminate all work associated with the second floor and the second-floor interstitial.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

1. Will work in the occupied areas need to be done after business hours or can it be done during the day?

Answer: Yes. Work in occupied areas will need to be done after business hours. Hours of work in those locations will normally be after 5:00 pm Monday through Friday and on weekends from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. However, patient care will take precedence.

2. Will all cabling be required to be in a conduit raceways including the drop ceiling areas and within walls?

Answer: No. However, it will be required to be proper suspended by an approved means. Where cable(s) pass through walls, floors, decks, ceilings, etc., it will be required to be sleeved and fire stopped.

3. Are enclosures required to be installed on the VAV boxes for the new DDC controllers?

Answer: No, it is not a requirement.

4. During the walk-through it was noted that the boxes that we were able to look at did have airflow stations installed however because we were not able to look at all that boxes it is unknown if all the boxes have them. Can the government verify if all the boxes have them?

Answer: Yes. All Air Terminal Units have airflow stations installed.

5. Title – ¾” Conduit down existing walls: Conduit can be run from the interstitial space into the ceiling area below, providing there is a suspended ceiling. But, can ¾” conduit be run down an existing wall. Is it acceptable to use a bushing on the end of the conduit and then run open cable in surface mounted wiremold down the wall? The existing pneumatic stat location could be covered with a wiremold box.

Please advise.

Answer: No exposed conduit or wiremold will be excepted. All wiring must be located within the wall. If new thermostats do not completely cover the area of the old thermostats, then the contractor will be required to patch and paint the wall to match existing or supply an approved trim ring.

6. One other thing. There were no points list or schematics for the unit heaters and fan coil units, only for the VAV boxes. You may want to make it clear that the VAV Boxes are shutoff boxes with hot water so there is no power at the boxes and the control contractor is responsible for providing power to the VAV Boxes for the new DDC controllers.

Answer: Points list and schematics for both, unit heaters and fan coil units, are attached.

It is not up to the government to stipulate who provides power for the new DDC controllers.