RFI _ AHU_.pdf

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.

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.

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) There should be nothing to worry about.

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.

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

A)Roofs are out of warranty period.

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)Please refer to specs.

We request that the deadline for submitting questions be extended to 2-18-2022 or later due to the job walk that was recently held and due to complexity of project.

A)Question was answered prior to deadline.

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.

A)Please refer to specs.

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.

A) Please refer to specs.

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.

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)The COR cannot advise on prices to be used in the bid.

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) Please refer to specs, commissioning plan is required per specs.

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) Please refer to specs.

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, 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)Please refer to contract timeframe.

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.

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 responsibility of contractor.

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

A) Waiting on A/E response.

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.

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)Please refer to drawings.

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.

Where is detail A1 on MA502 to be used?

A)Refer to drawings.

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) Refer to drawings.

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)Waiting on A/E response.

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) Waiting on A/E response.

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.

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)Depending on equipment that is used by contractor. Each manufacture is different.

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

A)Refer to drawings, also seen during walk through.

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)Refer to specs.

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

A)Refer to solicitation of project.

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.

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

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

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

A)The VA will determine.

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) Refer to specs/drawings.

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.

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.

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

A) Refer to specs.

What size of laydown area will the contractor be allowed?

A) Refer to specs./drawings.

Is there a location to place an office trailer?

A) Refer to specs./drawings.

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

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

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.

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

A)Roof is no longer under warranty.

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

A)Yes this is correct.

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

A)Discussed during walk through.

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

A)Refer to drawings.

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.

What brand is the current campus BACNET system?

A) Discussed during walk through.

Can crane work be conducted during normal business hours?

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

Since the primary portion of the work on this project is HVAC, can the NAICS code be revised to 236220 instead of 238220?

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

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.

Page 10 (technical capability) of Solicitation should reflect all other pages of solicitation. Correct verbiage below:

TAB B: TECHNICAL CAPABILITY

a. General Qualifications – Subfactor 1

b. Corporate Experience – Subfactor 2

c. Key Personnel Qualifications – Subfactor 3

d. Quality Control Plan – Subfactor 4