Attachment IV - Additional Questions and Responses rev.pdf

Additional Questions & Responses

1) The design does not identify any panels or locations for the demo or new work. It would be impossible to estimate labor and material accurately if you do not know where the panels you are to tie into are located. The panels could be in the next room or on the other side of the campus. Contractors should know precisely what they are bidding in a firm-fixed-price contract. Here, we are entirely guessing where the panels may be. I know the statement will be raised that a site visit was offered, but this is not the kind of information we can see in a 30 or 60-minute site visit. This is why the VA hires an AE to perform the due diligence needed to spec the exact work to be performed.

Attachment #2 has changed the demolition scope for existing 120-volt dampers.

2) The AE or their Electrical Engineer should provide a panel schedule showing which panels we will tie into. Also, part of that process is panel load calculation. This ensures that the panel remains at its capacity after adding the electrical load. This wasn’t done, or if it was done, it's not shown in the drawings. Nobody knows if the existing panels have sufficient capacity to accommodate the new loads. If not, new panels will have to be added which would be a cardinal change to the contract.

There are no new powered dampers. Only fire dampers with fusible links are new.

3) The drawings include electrical demo drawings but no plans for the new electrical work.

There are no new powered dampers. Only fire dampers with fusible links are new.

4) Also, part of what the Electrical Engineer should do is size the breakers, the conduit, and the wire (based on the length of run) and specify what dampers are on what breaker. All of this requires engineering, and not performing this engineering leaves it up to the electrical contractor to engineer the electrical and hope they get it correct.

There are no new powered dampers. Only fire dampers with fusible links are new.

5) There are no specs for electrical breakers, wires, conduits, etc. From the VA TIL, the following electrical specs are needed but missing: 26 05 19 ( Low-Voltage Electrical Power Conductors and Cables), 26 05 33 (Raceway and Boxes for Electrical Systems), a spec for breakers (not sure what spec this I, etc.

There are no new powered dampers. Only fire dampers with fusible links are new.

6) In reviewing the bid requirements for this project (and the 2nd floor renovation project), the solicitations require bid bond(s) in the amount of 100% of the bid price. This is normally 20% of the bid price, is this correct?

Additional Questions & Responses

Please refer to FAR 28.101-2(b). The minimum bid guarantee amount is 20% but ultimately, the CO has the authority to determine this and he has elected to set the bond amount at 100%.

28.101-2 Solicitation provision or contract clause.

(a)The contracting officer shall insert a provision or clause substantially the same as the provision at 52.228-1, Bid Guarantee, in solicitations or contracts that require a bid guarantee or similar guarantee. For example, the contracting officer may modify this provision-

(1)To set a period of time that is other than 10 days for the return of executed bonds;

(2)For use in connection with construction solicitations when the agency has specified that only separate bid bonds are acceptable in accordance with 28.101-1(b);

(3)For use in solicitations for negotiated contracts; or

(4)For use in service contracts containing options for extended performance.

(b)The contracting officer shall determine the amount of the bid guarantee for insertion in the provision at 52.228-1 (see 28.102-2(a)). The amount shall be adequate to protect the Government from loss should the successful bidder fail to execute further contractual documents and bonds as required.

The bid guarantee amount shall be at least 20 percent of the bid price but shall not exceed $3 million.

When the penal sum is expressed as a percentage, a maximum dollar limitation may be stated.

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-52#FAR_52_228_1 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-28#FAR_28_101_1 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-52#FAR_52_228_1 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-28#FAR_28_102_2