RFIs aand Responses3...pdf

1. How many people do we need wearing the hats of QC / SSHO / Site Supervisor?

The VA requires a minimum of one (1) full-time, dedicated Site Safety & Health Officer (SSHO) present at the project site at all times during construction activities. The SSHO cannot have other duties and must be separate from the QC Manager and Superintendent.

The project must also have a designated Construction Quality Control (CQC) System Manager and a Superintendent (Site Supervisor), both present at the site during construction.

2. Please confirm how long the overall time to obtain a badge should take as described in spec section 01 00 00, from the time the initial paperwork is submitted until the time the badge is in the employee's hands.

The specification (Section 01 00 00) does not guarantee a fixed processing time for obtaining a VA badge (PIV card).

3. Please confirm that any Testing Laboratory Services will be covered by the VA and not the awarded contractor.

For this project, all required Testing Laboratory Services (e.g., soils, concrete, asphalt, steel, etc.) are the responsibility of the awarded contractor, not the VA. The contractor must retain a VA-approved testing laboratory and submit all required test results to the VA

COR.

4. Please confirm any Special Inspections will be covered by the VA and not the awarded contractor.

What Special Inspections are you talking about.

5. Will any obstructions / furniture be removed prior to start of work on the interior of the buildings that might be in the way of the work?

If the VA vacates a space for construction, they will remove any furniture or obstructions in advance. If not, the contractor should coordinate with the VA for access—removal is not the contractor’s responsibility unless specifically directed.

6. Will the Government accept Procore as the Contractor's primary project management, submittal, RFI, document control, and data tracking platform for this project?

Maybe, there is a big push for us to use Kahua, so that will be the primary with Procore as a maybe, if the VA does not have Kahua running yet.

7. Can the owner provide a designated parking area for the Contractor Superintendent and critical subcontractors?

VA may provide designated parking or laydown areas for contractor use, but availability and location are determined by the VA COR and must be coordinated in advance.

Contractors should request parking arrangements during preconstruction, and must comply with all Medical Center parking policies. Special permits or variances may be issued by VA Police on a case-by-case basis.

8. Where will the designated laydown area be for the GC and critical subcontractors?

The contract documents do not specify a fixed laydown area. The location and size of the laydown area will be determined by the VA COR in coordination with the contractor, based on available space and operational needs. Contractors should request and confirm the laydown area during preconstruction and site mobilization meetings.

9. Can the contractor use an existing office inside the building for a temporary construction office during construction instead of setting up a temporary trailor?

The contract documents do not guarantee use of an existing office for contractor purposes.

Use of any VA space for a temporary construction office must be requested and approved by the VA COR. Unless specifically authorized, the contractor should plan to provide a separate temporary trailer or modular office.

10. Can the contractor use the existing restroom facilities in the work area or adjacent ones nearby?

The contractor may use existing restroom facilities assigned by the Medical Center, if approved by the VA COR. The contractor must keep these facilities clean and is responsible for any damage. If not approved, the contractor must provide temporary toilets as directed.

11. Can the contractor use the existing on-site utilities for temporary electrical and water free of charge?

The specifications do not guarantee free use of VA utilities. Use of existing electrical and water for construction is subject to VA COR approval. If allowed, the contractor must use utilities responsibly and may be required to install meters or pay for excessive use. Always confirm arrangements with the VA COR before relying on VA utilities for temporary service.

12. Will there be ICRA requirements?

Yes, ICRA (Infection Control Risk Assessment) requirements will apply. All work in or near occupied clinical areas—including Hospice and Audiology—must follow VA infection control protocols, with ICRA planning, containment, and monitoring coordinated with the VA COR and Infection Control staff.

13. Since the bid opening is to be electronically submitted, would there be consideration to also have the bid opening done via a phone call or Teams call?

Yes, the bid opening will be on Teams and the link is included in the instructions for bidders.