RFI _ AHU (002)_.pdf

1. Per the plans the contractor is to finish and paint the temporary walls, is this necessary? Due to the temporary amount of time the walls will be up, can the drywall be unfinished?

A) Concur, Can be unfinished.

2. Per the controls drawings, all new building automation controls are to be Siemens.

Please provide the sole source justification for this.

A) Refer to specs, the specs have a sole-source to Siemens.

3. In the specifications it states that a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

Permit is required for this project. This is not something that we have ever seen on a

VA project before, and we do not believe that any pollutants that would require discharging into any water source in this project.

o The Clean Water Act prohibits anybody from discharging "pollutants" through a

"point source" into a "water of the United States" unless they have an NPDES permit. The permit will contain limits on what you can discharge, monitoring and reporting requirements, and other provisions to ensure that the discharge does not hurt water quality or people's health. In essence, the permit translates general requirements of the Clean Water Act into specific provisions tailored to the operations of each person discharging pollutants.

Can you please elaborate as to which pollutants you anticipate that the contractor should be discharging into the water? We are not aware of any.

A)Dealing with different sources: steam, chill water, condensation and also potable water. There is always a possibility of cross contaminant.

4. Please confirm that the Construction Fence mentioned in Spec Section 01 00 00 – 1.6-

J is only to be installed in the areas as "indicated on the drawings" as it is stated in this spec.

A)Concur, Please refer to drawings Spec 01 00 00 section 1.6 sub paragraph J.

5. Please provide info on manufacturer and roofing contractor that hold the roofing warranties at each roof where work is required.

A)Building 5 – Seaman Corporation Commercial Roofing Warranty (20 year)

Building 6 – Seaman Corporation Commercial Roofing Warranty (20 year)

Building 21 – Peak Advantage Guarantee (20 Year)

Building 16 – no warranty

6. Please confirm that the site SSHO and site Superintendent can be the same individual as allowed by the specifications and the technical proposal can show this person serving both roles.

A) Superintendent can serve as Superintendent, SSHO and Quality Control Manager dependent on their resume and qualifications. A separate person shall act as CSP.

See specification 01 35 26 section 1.9 Inspections sub-paragraph B. A Certified

Safety Professional (CSP) shall randomly conduct monthly site safety inspection.

This person can be a corporate safety professional or independently contracted.

7. The specs require weekly safety inspections by the SSHO and also required separate monthly inspections by a Certified Safety Professional (CSP). Please verify if all safety inspections can be completed by the SSHO or confirm that a separate individual will also be required to complete monthly inspections as per the specs.

See specification 01 35 26 section 1.9 Inspections sub-paragraph B. A Certified

8. The Quality Control specs indicate that the CQC system manager is also the Project

Superintendent but is not the same person as the SSHO. This contradicts the previous safety spec section which indicate that the Superintendent and SSHO can be the same person. Please confirm how many different individuals are required onsite and the different roles that they may have in terms of Superintendent, SSHO, and QC

Manager. This will affect the technical proposal as well.

See specification 01 35 26 section 1.9 Inspections sub-paragraph B. A Certified

9. Please confirm that the Project Superintendent must either be a "graduate engineer, graduate architect, or a graduate of construction management" as indicated in the

Quality Control Spec.

A)This is correct.

10. Please provide cost information for the CQM for Construction course that is required by the Quality Control specs and offered by Naval Facilities Engineering Command so this cost can be included in the bid.

A)According to research: Member cost $250.00/Non-Member cost $375.00

Please Reference Display event - USACE Construction Quality Mgmt for Contractors (CQM) (cagc.org)

11. Per spec section 01 00 00, it indicates that the Contractor shall provide a written testing and commissioning plan as per spec 23 05 93. Spec 23 05 93 is the spec for

Test and Balance and does not require a commissioning plan or commissioning agent. Please confirm that the project does not require commissioning or the GC to hire a commissioning agent as there is no commissioning spec. If this is required, please provide a commissioning spec.

A) Commissioning plan is required per spec 01 00 00 -25 section 1.24 Tests.

12. The first page of the Contract Drawings makes reference to 3D coordination drawings being required, but there is no spec indicating what is required for these drawings or what specific areas require these drawings. It also states that these drawings are to be submitted, reviewed, and approved for each area prior to completing any demo and prior to setting up any temp. units. This process of completing the drawings and gathering the info from various subs, submitting them for VA and A/E review can take months for each area. This requirement will add significant time to the project if required. Please revise the overall project duration to reflect this time or verify if these coordination drawings are not required.

A)For spec references to coordination drawings, see spec sections 077223, 232113, 232213, 233100, 280500, and 280528.33. For coordination drawings, include new work within project scope areas, including exterior and interior new work. Like most federal projects, VA standard project specifications (PG-18-1) require coordination drawings.(A/E)

13. Based on the quantity of AHU's required to be demolished and installed, the lead time of materials, allowable working hours, the required phasing plan, the site work requirements prior to setting up temp. units, the GPR requirements, the time needed to set up, install, demo, and relocate temporary units with hooks ups at each area, time needed to complete pre-testing at each area, time required to set up ICRA and have VA review/approve at each area, time required to complete demo and install each AHU, complete electrical work, controls work, fire protection work, finishes, https://www.cagc.org/CAGC/Events/Event_Display.aspx?hkey=3c9f8828-9d84-457b-bb59-7a437e0f4eef&EventKey=CQM061617#:~:text=Member%20Cost%3A%20%24250%20%7C%20Non-Member%20Cost%3A%20%24375%20CAGC,%22Contractor%20Quality%20Control%22%20%28CQC%29%2C%20requirements%20in%20their%20contracts.

https://www.cagc.org/CAGC/Events/Event_Display.aspx?hkey=3c9f8828-9d84-457b-bb59-7a437e0f4eef&EventKey=CQM061617#:~:text=Member%20Cost%3A%20%24250%20%7C%20Non-Member%20Cost%3A%20%24375%20CAGC,%22Contractor%20Quality%20Control%22%20%28CQC%29%2C%20requirements%20in%20their%20contracts.

test and balance and VA punch list before moving on to the next area, we suggest that the proposed project duration of 280 Calendar be extended. IF the 3D coordination drawings are also required as indicated on the cover page, this will extend the project even further, but if they are not required we still suggest that the 280 days be extended and recommend the schedule be substantially revised to a longer timeframe to avoid related change order costs in the future.

A) Project duration will be flexible with the market. Project duration will be discussed in negotiations and finalized with the Notice to Proceed.

14. If the 280 day project duration is required for the project, can the VA provide the schedule that was used to determine this duration so that we can bid accordingly especially if the durations at certain areas would indicate that 24 hour shifts would be required in order to complete the work in the allotted timeframe.

A) The VA cannot provide a schedule at this time. Project duration can be negotiated during the proposal negotiation period.

15. Based on the sequencing schedule the GC can simultaneously be working on AHU 5-

24, AHU 5-25, AHU 6-7, AHU 6-27, AHU 6-30, AHU 6-31, AHU 6-50, RTU 16-39,

AHU 21-1, AHU 21-4, AHU 21-7, and AHU 21-8. Please confirm this is correct and confirm that the VA will be able to handle simultaneously working on all these areas at one time and be able to accommodate multiple shutdowns the same day in various locations as may be required while working simultaneously in these various locations. In order to try and have a chance at meeting the VA's schedule of 280

Calendar Days this type of crew workforce will be required and the VA will also need to have enough workforce and engineers assigned to the project so that personnel can be in multiple locations at the same time. Please confirm this scenario is correct and acceptable.

A) The VA will assist with the capacity available, the schedule is still the responsibility of contractor.

16. Please provide existing wall section cuts where infill work is required. One example of where this is needed is MA101 - note 14.

A)- On MA101 Note 14, after the note, add sentence as follows: “See Section

D1/MA501. Paint EIFS to match adjacent brick color.”

On MA403 Note 6, delete Note 6 and replace with the following: “See Section

D1/MA501. Paint EIFS to match adjacent brick color.”

17. Please provide roofing details of each roofing system where penetrations or patchwork is required. The roof plans included with the drawings do not show any details or roofing system components. It is unclear where the details on MA501 and

MA502 apply.

A)MA501 and MA502 adequately provide information for completion of the project.

18. Please provide details and locations of additional steel to be installed if required at any new roofing penetrations in additional to the detail shown on MA502 for the 4" cored openings.

A) In addition to detail A4/MA502, refer to the adjacent detail A1/MA502 for infilling openings larger than 4”. Refer to slab core diagram on C3/MA501 for maximum openings. Use L3x3x1/4” angles surrounding all openings to be infilled per

C3/MA501 and A1/MA502. Do not core through concrete beams, stems, or joists.(A/E)

19. Please confirm this bid will be awarded based on technical review and pricing and not be canceled prior to award.

A) Evaluation criteria is in the solicitation.

20. Where is detail A1 on MA502 to be used?

A) MA502 Detail A1 is used at Building 5’s roof. (A/E)

21. Note 7 on MA105 states new "reinforced roof opening" and indicates to reference

MA501. Which detail on MA501 shows the reinforcing required for this opening?

A) Note 7 on MA105 refers to detail C3/MA501.(A/E)

22. Note 1 on MS102 indicates to provide new fence around AHU, Note 2 indicates to provide a temporary security fence, and the specs describe a separate temporary fencing system. Details for temporary security fence are shown on MA502. Are we to follow the specs or the details on MA502 for temporary fencing? What details are to be used for the new fencing indicated in note 1? Where is the temporary fencing described in the spec to be used vs. the temporary security fencing shown on MA502?

A) Note 1 on MS102 is intended to require a permanent, new security fence around the AHU. Permanent security fence details are shown on MA502. The permanent security fence spec is spec section 323140.

Note 2 on MS102 is intended to require a temporary construction (not security) fence.

The temporary construction fence spec is spec section 010000 part 1.6.J.

23. Note B on MS101 indicates that construction materials and work activities are prohibited inside TPZ radius areas, but then note C indicates to include 6 TPZ areas for contractor laydown areas. Please clarify.

A)On MS101 Note C, delete Note C and replace with the following: “Contractor to include (6) quantity TPZ areas to be selected during pre-alteration survey per spec section 010000 part 1.7.”

24. We request that once the VA provides a response to the questions submitted, that the

GC be allowed a week’s time to review and submit additional questions that may arise from the VA responses as this is required in many instances.

A) No additional questions will be answered, Contracting Officer.

25. Please provide sizes and reinforcing to be used for all concrete pads as the sizes of the new AHU's do not appear to be specified on the Equipment Schedule. There are notes that state that the sizes are to be coordinated with the HVAC sub, but these sizes will be needed prior to the bid so that appropriate costs can be included and so that all GC's are bidding the same scope.

A) Pad sizes must be coordinated with the GC’s bid equipment. Detail D1/MA502 requires concrete pads to extend 12 inches beyond equipment outer edges.

Reinforcing requirements are shown on detail D1/MA502. Concrete pad sizes are based on the GC’s equipment included in their bid. Since equipment is not sole sourced, bidders’ equipment sizes may vary, which, in turn, affects bidders’ pad sizes.

(A/E)

26. Please provide sizes of concrete pads to be demolished as per sheet MA108.

A) According to the drawings, 9’ 7”, and 11’ 7”.

27. Note 5 on sheet MA108 indicates to provide new Epoxy wall. Floor and ceiling paint. Is this indicating that epoxy paint is to be applied on the floor, wall and ceiling or that a new epoxy flooring system is to be installed on the floor and walls and ceiling just need to be painted? There is no spec for Epoxy flooring. There also does not appear to be an Epoxy flooring system indicated in the Painting spec as is referenced on sheet MF101. Please clarify.

A) Apply epoxy paint as indicated in bid documents. Refer to spec titled “Section 09

91 00 Painting.” For epoxy floor paint application, follow painting requirements for

MPI #77 listed in part 1.9.G. (A/E)

28. Are funds up to 10mil currently available for this project?

A) Magnitude of construction is in solicitation.

30. Per item F on page 23 of the solicitation, since this is a project on federal property will a license in another of the 50 states suffice for the requirements listed in this? Also, note that many states do not have a general contracting license, so this creates an extreme restriction on competition. We believe that this requirement is unusually restrictive to competition especially to SDVOSB contractors that self-preform HVAC and mechanical work.

A)This project will require license personnel. You cannot self-perform HVAC and

Mechanical work without a proper license.

31. Will the VA provide contract directly with the commissioning agent on this project?

32. Will pre-demolition test and balance be required for each AHU?

33. How many keys will be provided to the general contractor for access?

A) The VA will determine.

34. The current period of performance is listed as 280 days. The current led time on AHU’s from all vendors ranges from 30 weeks to 48 weeks currently from approved submittals. If the current duration is maintained, it would be physically impossible to complete this work in the 280 days as there would only be at a maximum of roughly 40 days to conduct the work on the entire project. We request that the project be extended to a two year duration due to current led times on AHUs.

A) As previously addressed in questions 13 & 14, project duration can be negotiated during the negotiation period of the proposal.

35. Can the bid hold period be reduced to 30 days due to current commodities market volatility? Prices are currently increasing every 15 to 30 days.

A) No. The complexity of the evaluation process, along with negotiations may go past 30 days. Understand the market is changing at a rapid pace and will work hand in hand with the apparent winner to make necessary adjustments.

36. Will work be allowed on federal holidays due to the amount of off hours work required on this project?

A) Yes, it is authorized with coordination from the COR/VA.

37. Will duct cleaning be required for any of the duct on this project?

A) As each AHU is demoed/removed, the COR and GC will inspect the existing ductwork and make a determination if duct cleaning is required.

38. What size of laydown area will the contractor be allowed?

A) Once the construction contract is awarded, the COR will walk the site with the GC and designate laydown area as close as possible to work site. Laydown area will be on campus.

39. Is there a location to place an office trailer?

designate office trailer as close as possible to work site.

40. Will material that is stored off site be allowed to be billed for if it can be inspected?

A) Offsite storage is allowed, provided the storage is secure and insured. Contractor will have to verify via invoicing/paperwork and COR may visually inspect.

41. Where can the fuel oil for the temp generators be stored on site?

designate and/or create a plan of action.

42. Can the current REVIT and CAD drawings be provided to the contractor after award for use in preparing the coordination drawings?

A) All drawings from the A/E will be provided, Contracting Officer.

43. What company or brand of roofing has the roof warranty on each roof that will be worked on during this project?

A) Building 5 – Seaman Corporation Commercial Roofing Warranty (20 year)

Building 6 – Seaman Corporation Commercial Roofing Warranty (20 year)

Building 21 – Peak Advantage Guarantee (20 Year)

Building 16 – no warranty

44. Will the scrap metal and equipment become property of the contractor once it is removed out of the building?

A) Yes this is correct.

45. What Brand DDC controls systems are currently in each building on the project?

A) Sole Sourced to Siemens.

46. What Brand Fire Alarm systems are currently in each building on the project?

A) DNR Duct Smoke Detector by System Sensor (This is the housing for dry locations)

DNRW Duct Smoke Detector by System Sensor (This is the housing for wet locations)

RTS151key by System Sensor (This is the remote key test switch)

FSP951R by Notifier (This is the smoke head that goes inside either housing)

47. Please provide as-built fire protection plans to allow for accurate bidding of the relocation of the sprinkler systems as necessary for the work required.

A) As-Builts are not available for this. This will be determined during demo and installation based on the needs of the project.

48. What brand is the current campus BACNET system?

A) Sole Sourced to Siemens.

49. Can crane work be conducted during normal business hours?

A) Yes, with coordination of the COR/VA.

50. Please provide as built information for RTU-5-46 so that a curb adaptor can be sized.

A) Please refer to drawing MH103B, new work keynote N1.

51. The Environmental Protection Plan, as described in the Specifications, is not applicable to the work being performed. There are no special methods for the preservation of trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, ground cover, landscape features, air and water quality, fish and wildlife, and soil resources applicable to this work, as the work in performed within the hospital. The scope of work does not include excavation of any type, making an Erosion

Control Plan moot. No special permits are required for disposal of any waste generated by this project and environmental monitoring (land, air, or water) are necessary. The scope does not require work that would require erosion or sedimentation control devices, any special protection of water resources, or other items described in the Environmental Protection Plan.

The solicitation indicates that no noise or vibrating equipment is permitted, which negates the need for noise monitoring as well. We request clarification that only portions applicable to the scope of work should be applicable to any submittals. Alternatively, we ask for clarification of the scope of work that would require the items described above.

A)There will be excavation for the AHU pads.