RFIs phase 1 _4232026.docx

1. On Page 27 under subfactor 4C, a. the government is requesting the Contractors bonding capacity and expected availability in 2023/2024, what years should we provide? This should be 2026.

2. Is the Contractor required to submit Safety or Environmental Violations and Experience Modification Rate as part of PH I? Phase II with offers, see page 25.

3. There is no direction on where the SF1442 and amendments shall go in the PH I RFP. Shall these be included after the cover page before TAB A Corporate Experience? Email to contracting officer.

4. There is a lot of requested information required in TAB A, subfactor 1b, and TAB B. Would you consider increasing the page limitations to at least two pages? No, One page per project and one page per person.

5. Please confirm the instructions for Past Performance (TAB C). If Offeror has PPIRS reports, printed copies of these reports shall be submitted for this factor and included on the CDs. Will system copies of CPAR's be sufficient to include to meet this criteria? CPARS with UEIs will meet the criteria.

6. Subfactor 4C Capability to perform states that we are to include project schedules for current and pending projects, as well as the anticipated impact of this project on those schedules and staffing plans. Please clarify if we are to submit a full list of current projects for the company or only a list of current projects the proposed individuals are working. Provide current workload of offeror and availability of staff.

7. Are we to include a teaming agreement with our PH I proposal for our proposed Design Build team? Phase II requires this as part of the pricing submission. See page 30.

8. Please confirm the instructions for Past Performance (TAB C). Are we required to submit anything for this TAB or is this informational only? See page 26.

9. Subfactor 4B States: Project Delivery Approach - Include statements concerning the proposed Design Period Peer Review technical/administrative by VA & RFP AE). Please clarify what we are expected to provide as part of this requirement. This section should describe how the project team plans to deliver the design, and how reviews during the design period will happen. How the VA and the Architect/Engineer (A/E) will review the design as it develops. What kinds of checks will be done—both technical (engineering/architecture quality) and administrative (documents, requirements, compliance). When these reviews will take place during the design period. How feedback will be communicated and addressed.

10. Please provide the original as-built drawings for Building 3, including the complete drawing set dated approximately 1965 and any other available relevant drawings.

These are in the solicitation.

11. Please confirm that the intent of the project is to fully demolish and reconstruct the 4th-floor space and that bidders should not assume reuse of existing architectural, mechanical, electrical, or plumbing systems unless specifically noted.

Per the scope, some areas will only require light renovation. Reuse of existing utilities will remain an option to meet budget.

12. When the RFP requires a “ducted forced-air system,” please confirm whether the VA’s intent is a fully ducted all-air system and whether recirculation of return air is permitted, or if the system must operate as 100% outdoor air.

The system shall be designed to the standards of the VA HVAC Design Manual, dated November 01, 2017, Rev. March 1, 2024.

13. Please confirm whether fan coil units are prohibited on the 4th floor and whether any hybrid system using fan coil units will be considered acceptable.

Fan coil units are prohibited on the 4th floor, a hybrid system will not be permitted.

14. Please identify the governing design criteria for the 4th-floor HVAC design, including the applicable editions of PG-18-10, TIL, ASHRAE, and any other required standards. This is important because if the “latest version” changes between now and bid time all parties will be aligned on the version to which the project is to be designed.

See answer to #12 above.

15. The 3rd-floor reference drawings indicate HWS/R and CHWS/R risers serving both the 3rd and 4th floors; please confirm whether this hydronic infrastructure is to be reused, abandoned, or removed, as it may conflict with the forced-air design approach.

The intent is to reuse these risers.

16. Please provide the required temperature, humidity, filtration, total air change, outdoor air, and pressure relationship criteria by room type for the 4th-floor PACT renovation.

See answer to #12 above.

17. Please identify the existing service areas for AHU-16, AHU-17, AHU-18, and AHU-19 by floor, wing, and space type.

· AHU-16: Floors 1-4, West Side and Center

· AHU-17: Floors 1-4 East Side

· AHU-18: Floor 3 West Side Exam Rooms

· AHU-19: Floors 2-4 East Side Exam Rooms

18. Please provide any available TAB reports, sequence of operations, controls graphics, and as-built documents for AHU-16, AHU-17, AHU-18, and AHU-19 and their associated distribution systems.

This can be evaluated during the pre-bid site visit.

19. Please confirm whether AHU-18 and AHU-19 are existing mechanical-room units to be removed under this project and identify their exact locations.

AHU-18 is located in the Westside Penthouse. AHU-19 is located in the Eastside Penthouse. The intent is to replace these units.

20. If AHU-16/18 and AHU-17/19 are removed or consolidated, please identify what spaces outside the 4th floor will lose HVAC service, as this determines whether the project remains a 4th-floor renovation or becomes a building-wide HVAC modification.

These units serve floors 1 thru 4. Hospital operations shall not be disturbed.

21. Please confirm whether the intent of “replace AHU-16 and AHU-18 with one unit” and “replace AHU-17 and AHU-19 with one unit” is to create two new consolidated systems, and if so, identify the intended service boundaries for each.

The intent is to create two new consolidated systems serving floors 1 thru 4.

22. Should bidders assume that any required HVAC, electrical, controls, or architectural work on lower floors needed to support the 4th-floor system is included in this contract, or is the scope intended to be limited to the 4th floor and direct tie-ins only?

The scope is limited to the 4th floor with direct tie-ins only.

23. Please confirm whether replacement of the existing chilled water riser is included in this project, as its condition is known to be deteriorated and may not support the proposed HVAC design.

See answer to #15 above.

24. Please confirm whether the VA will accept a phased or hybrid HVAC approach that maintains portions of the existing system in service while the 4th floor is renovated, including leaving existing rooftop units in service while new 4th-floor systems are added.

The VA is willing to accept these approaches provided hospital operations are not interrupted.

25. If existing HVAC service to occupied areas is interrupted, please confirm whether temporary conditioning is required and identify any outage restrictions, blackout periods, infection-control constraints, or areas that cannot lose service.

Blackout periods will be limited to afterhours and weekends. Hospital operations are not to be interrupted.

26. Please confirm whether exterior weatherproof ductwork is permitted if interior routing is infeasible, and if permitted, identify any requirements for screening, architectural treatment, duct insulation/jacketing, roof warranty protection, and coordination with existing lightning protection.

Exterior weatherproof ductwork may be permitted, see answer to #12 above.

27. Please provide the existing roof system type and any available roof warranty information applicable to new rooftop equipment, supports, penetrations, and exterior ductwork.

This can be evaluated during the pre-bid site visit.

28. Please provide the actual deck-to-deck height at the 4th floor and identify the minimum acceptable finished ceiling heights by room type, including corridors, exam rooms, offices, restrooms, and support spaces.

Deck to deck height is 11’0”. The minimum acceptable height is 7’6”. Intent is to achieve 9’0” ceiling, however due to structural beams throughout, this may not be possible in all cases.

29. Please identify the minimum acceptable finished ceiling heights by room type for the 4th floor and confirm whether deviations below 9’-0” will be considered acceptable where required for HVAC routing. For reference, ceiling heights as low as 7’-6” were accepted in portions of the 3rd floor.

See answer to #29 above.

30. Please confirm whether the conceptual layout in Attachment 2 may be revised as needed to accommodate code compliance and MEP routing, including relocation or resizing of restrooms, provided program requirements are maintained.

Attachment 2 is a conceptual layout only, the final design shall take code compliance and MEP routing into consideration.

31. Please confirm whether all 4th-floor restrooms must be brought into full current ADA compliance and clarify whether bariatric requirements apply, including any required fixture counts or room size criteria.

All 4th floor restrooms shall be designed to VA Barrier Free design guide and ADA standards.

32. For Deduct Alternate No. 1, please confirm whether the reduced demolition in the north-central portion of Section B also reduces associated MEP scope or whether the change is limited to architectural demolition and finishes.

Deduct Alternate No. 1 does not reduce the MEP scope. These spaces will still require forced air.

33. Please confirm whether all 4th-floor domestic water, sanitary, vent, and related plumbing branch piping is to be removed and replaced as part of the renovation, and define the required extent of replacement beyond the 4th-floor footprint at points of connection.

It will be the responsibility of the DB firm to determine what system are reconfigured. Existing system are to be reused as much as possible, but due to new floor configurations and/or MEP system requirements, some systems may need to removed and/or replaced as part of this project.

34. Please confirm whether the Design-Build team is responsible for correcting deficient, non-compliant, or deteriorated utilities, materials, or components located outside the 4th-floor renovation limits, including but not limited to unauthorized piping materials and failed valves, where such conditions impact system operation. If so, please clearly define the required extent of work outside the 4th-floor renovation footprint.

These “issues” are not part of the scope of this project. The VA realizes that some “issues” may need to be resolved by the DB team during the design phase.

35. Please identify the available electrical source(s) and spare capacity for new HVAC equipment, including whether 480V power is available, the location of the switchboard or source equipment, and whether power is available in the penthouse.

This can be evaluated during the pre-bid site visit.

36. Please confirm whether new feeders, panelboards, and related electrical distribution outside the 4th floor required to serve the final HVAC design are included in this contract.

This can be evaluated during the pre-bid site visit.

37. Please confirm that the scope of work on the 4th-floor renovation includes complete removal and replacement of: fire protection, fire alarm, BAS/controls, low-voltage, data, nurse call, security, and access controls.

Fire protection (replace all Water Flow and Tamper devices, relocate piping and sprinklers as necessary); Fire Alarm (DAA panel to remain, replace NAC panel, need temporary devices installed for demo and construction, need to maintain system integrity for the whole system throughout project); BAS/controls (demo and install new); low-voltage/Data (replace all data lines with Cat6A); nurse call (demo and install new based upon risk assessment); security (demo and install new); Public Address (demo system and replace using 2x2 lay-in speakers); Fiber to New TR room (need 12 strand Single-mode ran from 3-4 TR room to Bldg. 5 Demarc); access controls (demo and install new)

38. Please confirm whether lightning protection systems exist on the roof and identify any requirements for removal, relocation, or coordination with new rooftop equipment.

This can be evaluated during the pre-bid site visit.

39. Please confirm if Cat 6 or Cat6(a) is required.

Cat6(a) is required.

40. Please confirm whether EHRM (Electronic Health Record Modernization) requirements apply to this project and, if so, identify the applicable design and construction criteria.

Yes, the applicable design and construction criteria is Infrastructure Standard for Telecommunications Spaces manual.

41. Please confirm whether the 4th floor will be fully vacated for construction and whether access for investigation, tie-ins, and construction will be permitted on the 3rd floor, basement, penthouse, roof, and other affected areas as needed.

The 4th floor will be fully vacated for construction. Access to other floors/areas will be permitted provided there are no interruptions to hospital operations.

42. Please confirm the required number of design submission and the Government review duration for each design submissions.

Design submission will be as follows: Conceptual (15%), 50%, and 95%. The Government review period for each will be 14 calendar days.

43. Please confirm whether an expedited review period (e.g., 14 calendar days) will be considered for the D/B Team’s initial enabling package consisting of demolition, existing-conditions verification, floor plan/wall layout, and submittals for long-lead procurement items prior to the full systems design package.

See answer to #42 above.

44. The Design-Build team’s approach includes initial demolition and scanning of the 4th-floor shell to verify existing conditions, followed by development of a fully coordinated design based on those verified conditions. Please confirm whether demolition activities to expose existing conditions may proceed prior to completion of 100% construction documents for this purpose.

Demolition to expose existing conditions may proceed prior to completion of 100% construction documents.

45. Please confirm whether the “technical peer review” referenced in the RFP will be performed by the Government / VA / RFP AE review process, or whether the design-build team is required to retain a separate third-party peer reviewer.

This will be performed by the Government / VA / RFP AE review process

46. Please confirm whether commissioning of MEP systems is required under this contract and, if so, whether commissioning is to be provided by the design-build team or by the Government.

Commissioning will be provided by the DB Team

47. Please confirm whether technical questions / RFIs will also be accepted during Phase II after shortlist and site visit, or whether all technical clarifications must be resolved before Phase I closes.

Additional technical questions may be asked after the site visit.