Pre-Bid RFI Q_Answers.docx

1) The RFP solicitation had no drawings. Will the drawings be provided in an amendment?

The drawings were uploaded into SAM.gov on 04/04/2023

2) Can the contractor use the restrooms inside the building instead of providing portable toilets outside building?

No, the contractor shall provide their own restroom per division 001 and mobilization.

3) Can you confirm that ALL work is to be performed after 4pm? All work of this contract is after VA normal daytime hours.

All work for this contract is to be performed after 4 pm, unless approved in advance by the COR.

4) Where is the contractor laydown and storage yard to be located on site?

Coordinate with COR for laydown and storage yards. North of Building 6 is provided for general laydown and storage yard for contractor use.

5) Where will the contractor employees be allowed to park?

Coordinate with COR for parking. North of Building 6 is provided for general parking area for contractor to used.

6) Where will the contractor trash dumpsters be located?

Coordinate with COR for trash dumpster location. North of Building 6 is provided for general area for contractor to use. Dumpster shall always be kept covered and secure.

7) Will the owner accept the use of the industry leading Procore Project Management software as the primary submittal and data tracking tool for this project?

Procore Project Management software is acceptable.

8) As a result of the effect of COVID-19 throughout the U.S., and the resulting Federal, State and local governments’ responses / requirements of safe distancing and potential advocations of working remotely and/or complete organization closures, please advise how the Government intends to address delays resulting there as it pertains to the current solicitation schedule for this and all future projects.

No anticipated delays of any kind anticipated related to COVID-19.

9) Is this project tax exempt, and will the CO/COR provide the necessary tax-exempt certificates?

No

10) After award, the Contracting Officer will provide a NTP to the awardee. What is the approximant duration between issuing the award and issuing the NTP?

Anytime after 5 days, when all parties are available.

11) For planning the preliminary project schedule, what is the anticipated award date?

Award date cannot be estimated at this time.

12) How many calendar days should be included in the critical-path schedule for owner and A/E review and respond to RFIs?

Refer to specification 01 33 23 1.10 E This defines the length of time for the VA to respond to RFIs. It is up to the contractor to define how many days to include in the project schedule for this activity.

13) How many calendar days should be included in the critical-path method schedule for owner and A/E submittal review?

Refer to specification 01 33 23 1.10 D This defines the length of time for the VA to return submittals. It is up to the contractor to define how many days to include in the project schedule for this activity.

14) Will the owner provide as-built drawings for the existing structures/work area of the project?

Yes, the VA will provide any applicable drawings that are available and pertinent to the project.

15) Where will the designated parking & laydown area be for workers accessing the construction site?

See note 7 and 8.

16) Will the contractor be authorized to build a temporary office inside the space in lieu of renting an office trailer for the duration of the project?

Coordinate with COR for mobilization area. North of Building 6 is provided for general mobilization area for contractor used.

17) Due to the unprecedented and unpredictable material price increases occurring in the nation, will the CO/VA/Owner allow a fixed price contract with economic price adjustments per FAR 16.203 to be used as the basis for contract award? This will allow the most competitive price to be offered at this time.

No, this is a Firm Fixed Price Contract.

18) We anticipate certain construction activities to generate high levels of noise. Please confirm that only the Contracting Officer can suspend work via written notification to the Contractor.

All work shall be coordinate in pursuit of Division 001 with COR. Please note specification requirement regarding execution of work.

01 00 00 1.6 G.

Execute work so as to interfere as little as possible with normal functioning of the Medical Center as a whole, including operations of utility services, fire protection systems and any existing equipment, and with work being done by others. Use of equipment and tools that transmit vibrations and noises through the building structure, are not permitted in buildings that are occupied, during construction, jointly by patients or medical personnel, and Contractor's personnel, except as permitted by COR where required by limited working space.

If any such work requires high levels of noise, it must be coordinate and approved by COR.

19) Has the work area been checked for asbestos, lead based materials and/or other hazardous materials? Is there a report available?

Contractor is to assume that work area is clear of all hazardous material. If hazardous materials found when demolition is undergoing the contractor is to stop all work in the area and notify the COR.

20) For this project/contract, can the GC site superintendent also hold the responsibilities/roles of CQC system manager and SSHO?

Yes, the GC Site Superintendent can hold other responsibilities as noted. However, if deemed by the COR, additional personnel will be required to fill these roles if repeated instances of nonconformance to the plans and specifications has been documented.

21) *If RFI answers elicit a follow-up question, will an additional RFI submission period be allowed?

No

22) Will the VA provide a copy of RFI questions and responses submitted from all contractors on this solicitation?

Yes. Answers to RFIs from all contractors will be posted in the next solicitation amendment/update.

23) SF-1442 states 120 days hold for Government acceptance. The concern is the effect of escalating prices of material, equipment, and shortages in supply chain affecting pricing after longer than anticipated acceptance by the government being held in a FFP contract.

This is a Firm Fixed Price Contract.

24) The drawings do not address Infectious Controls (ICRA) What levels of ICRA will be required in the different sections of the basement corridors?

Class I is required in all areas. Tool mounted dust collectors are preferred while doing any type of sanding or grinding. As a minimum, Class II will be required for the demolition work to be performed on the flooring in tunnel G054.

25) The drawings do not address the many pieces of equipment such as monitors, artwork, signage, wall signs that are VA equipment and fixtures. Will the VA remove this equipment, artwork, and signage prior to contractor work?

The VA will remove and reinstall artwork and other miscellaneous items. Anything that the VA does not remove the contractor will have to paint around it.

26) Note 5 on drawing G102 UL fire labels on doors. Labels can be protected with tape during painting. What happens when the existing door labels are already damaged and/or have paint on them? We have heard that the VA wants these replaced. We assume that starting a new section if labels are found damaged and/or paint on them, these will be documented and noted with VA for further direction.

The contractor is to document and submit a report, with pictures, showing UL labels that are already painted or damaged prior to commencing any painting of the hollow metal doors or frames.

27) Note 2 on drawing G102. Hollow metal doors and frames to be painted P4. The drawings do not reference or note repair to hollow metal frames and doors. We assume that Hollow metal door frames and doors are painted 'as is' basis with no repair of sanding, grinding, removal of old flakey layered paint for smooth finish. Drawings do not address this.

Refer to specification section 09 91 00 3.2 Surface Preparations for painting and 3.7 refinishing of existing painted surfaces.

28) Note 4 on drawing G102. Door hinges are not to be painted. Any existing hinges that have paint will need to be replaced with new hinges to match the size and weight of the existing ones. Since the drawings were not available for review prior to the site visit and contractors are not to take directions from VA staff on site walks, how can the contractor quantity which hinges are to be replaced? The contractor did not know this was a requirement prior to the site walk. Does this apply to wood and hollow metal doors? There is no door or hardware schedule to know what hinges are required. We, therefore, assume not to be included in our bid and that starting a new section of the corridors, found existing hinges that are painted will be documented and noted with VA for further directions.

A second site visit will be scheduled. Contractors can verify sizes, types and quantities of the existing hinges during the follow up site visit. This requirement is for all door types, wood or hollow metal.

29) Note 6 on drawing G102. Does 5% painted area on walls included drywall/paster and cmu/terracotta wall surface areas together?

The 5% area is inclusive of all painted walls.

30) Note 7 on drawing G102. Does this repair of damaged surfaces to be included in the 5% painted surface area in Note 6?

No

31) Note 7 on drawing G102. Does this note apply to plaster surfaces only?

No, there is some repair work to be done on the lower cmu walls also.

32) There is no door or hardware schedule. How can we tell which doors are Hollow metal or wood? They are not noted on the drawings when reviewing note 1, 2, 3, and 4 requirements.

The counts of hollow metal doors and frames are indicated in the SOW.

33) Note 9 on drawing G102. Calls for removal of existing flooring to be removed and replaced. What is the existing flooring to be removed consist of? Are the floors required to be leveled? Or shall new epoxy flooring to be applied to existing in-situ conditions post-demo (removal of existing surface flooring)?

Refer to specification section 09 05 16.

34) Drawing A-102 detail 4. Is the end condition of the handrails to be turned into the wall or square-ended?

The handrails are to be returned to the wall.

35) Level 5 finish is noted on plaster walls. Does this apply to paster only or does it also include drywall sections as well as cmu wall finish?

The level 5 finish applies to all plaster and drywall walls. It does not apply to the CMU portion of the walls.

36) Details 1, 2, and 3 on Drawing A-102 require the addition of 1/4" x 24" high aluminum plate to be installed at the base of corridor walls. Does the VA want these plates glued? For warranty’s sake, installing with screws is better but will cost more for labor and material. The drawings do not address how. What is the VA's method of attachment for plates to the wall base?

Prior installation of this type of material was done with adhesive. Contractor to submit proposed adhesive for approval at the submittal stage.

37) Do the finishes stop at the double doors leading into the tunnels or the back side of the double doors (where there are floor, wall, and ceiling expansion joints)? The drawings do not specify and show partial tunnel walls.

The hollow metal doors at the end of the corridors are included in the scope of work. Both sides of all hollow metal doors and frames are to be painted.

38) At the site walk, we noted seeing tapping on the floor marking the door swinging into the corridor which is a life safety concern. If this is a code or life safety issue, is the contractor required to include in the bid to provide once the final floor finish is installed? What about marking locations during the construction process when the tape and flooring is removed? Is this a code or life safety issue to?

Marking of the floor is not a requirement of this contract.

39) Can you confirm four (4) phases of this project are required? We don’t see a phasing plan in the drawings.

The corridor numbers on the plans are for coordination purposes. The contractor will submit a schedule, per the specifications, to propose the best sequence of work to complete the project on time with the least impact of the operations of the facility.

40) Can you confirm that the existing masonry/CMU corridor walls of this project do not have the integral terracotta cove base as other areas in the building on campus?

There is no terracotta cove base in the area of work. It is all 6” vinyl cove base and it is to be replaced per note 8 on plan page G-102.

41) Can all the hollow metal doors be painted in place so as not to have a fire code/life safety issue of the door being removed to be painted? Will we have access to the room to allow the HM door to be painted in place?

Hollow metal doors can be painted in place. Coordination with the COR will be required to gain access to the room if it is secured to be able to paint both sides of the doors.

42) Are door HM frames and HM doors to be painted only on the corridor side? Not the interior non-corridor side.

All hollow metal doors and frames are to be painted on both sides of the opening.

43) Will the VA remove all the existing materials stored on the floor areas prior to floor demolition and keep them out of the area until the final flooring is installed and punched out after completion?

The VA will keep the corridor clear of all materials when work is scheduled to be done in the area. This corridor will be in use during the day for normal VA operations. Flooring demolition and installation is to be scheduled at an agreed upon time when the length of time is available for sufficient curing of the epoxy before traffic is allowed on the new floor. This portion of the project may need to be scheduled on weekends to allow for the time necessary for the epoxy to set.

44) Can you confirm that corridors GG048, G018, G063, and G030 do not get new flooring finishes since there is no room finish schedule?

Only corridor G054 is to receive new epoxy flooring.

45) Can you confirm that corridors G048, G018, G063, G030 get new cove base per note 8 on drawing G102 since there is not room finish schedule?

Yes, all corridors are to get new cove base except for corridor G054. Corridor G054 is to have the cove base as an integral part of the new epoxy flooring.

46) Note 10 on drawing G102 calls for new recessed transition strips between the existing floor and the new epoxy floor. There are no details showing requirements. Does that mean the existing concrete floor is to be saw-cut and removed? Please provide details on this requirement.

Contractor is to submit the proposed transition strips as part of the flooring submittal to meet this requirement. If it is standard industry practice is to saw-cut the existing floor to install the recessed transition strips that is the contractor’s choice on how the work is to be performed.

47) Will the corridors be allowed to be shut down in sections during the evening work shifts for containment? Or will the corridors be required to be accessible with 1/2 corridor containment? Parallel containment work in conjunction of accessibility i.e., 1/2 corridor, will be time consuming to the POP.

Only ½ corridor containment is to be used the main corridors. The corridors will be required to be accessible for pedestrian traffic. Corridor G054 can be closed off completely after business hours to complete demolition, epoxy flooring installation or other scheduled work.

48) Does the customer want us to use one continual handrail like the existing one which extends across an expansion joint? Normally handrails and wall guards should stop 1” off the expansion joint. If the building moves it could loosen or tear out fasteners on either side.

Handrails are not to go across expansion joints.

49) There is an electrical outlet that will be located behind the wall guard. Should the wall guard stop short allowing access?

Install wall guards so that all electrical outlets are accessible.