36C24719R0039-0002001.pdf

PROJECT TITLE: AE DESIGN CHILLER PLANT UPGRADE BUILDING 138

PROJECT NUMBER: 679-17-101

BUILDING NUMBER: BUILDING 138

RESPONSE DATE:

PRE-BID RFI RESPONSES

# Reference Specification/Drawing Sheet Discipline Question A/E Responses

Specifications- 01 00 00 para 1.20 PHOTOGRAPHIC

DOCUMENTATION

Can the VA verify that “photographic documentation of construction progress” that is specified does need to meet all-inclusive requirements of para 1.20?

COMPLETELY DELETED - Specifications- 01 00 00 para 1.20 PHOTOGRAPHIC

DOCUMENTATION

Specifications- 01 00 00 para 1.6 WORK

ACTIVITY/EVENT COST DATA

Can the VA verify that the construction schedule needs to reflect the following per the spec “cost load all work activities/events except procurement activities”?

Actually spec in question is 01 32 16.15 and paragraph remains in effect unless otehrwise revised by the VA

3 Specifications- 01 35 26 para 1.9B Can the VA verify that Certified Safety Professional (CSP) is required per the specification and we should include costs for this person to conduct monthly site safety inspections?

Paragraph remains in effect unless otehrwise revised by the VA

Specifications- 05 12 00 para 2.1F and Drawing Sheet

S001 Structural Steel Notes C1 Structural

The drawing note use of ASTM’s seems to differ from the specification

ASTM for Hot-Dipped Galv. Can the VA verify which should be followed -

ASTM A153 or ASTM A123 for the Hot Dipped Galvanized?

Follow the ASTM requirement shown on S001

The drawing details state 3000 psi concrete. There was no concrete specification provided. Is there a submittal for the design mix required?

See attached specification - 03 30 00 Cast In Place Concrete

Details 9, 11 & 12 call out for reinforcement bars. No specification was provided for reinforcement bars that normally falls under Division 03

Concrete specifications. Is there a submittal for the reinforcement?

See attached specification- 03 30 00 Cast In Place Concrete

Is there a requirement to have the concrete tested? See attached specification- 03 30 00 Cast In Place Concrete

Drawing Sheet S501 Details 9 & 10 and

Specification 23 65 00 para 2.1, N 2

Structural/Mechani cal

The drawing details state that the ladder is to be designed by a vendor.

Normally Ladders usually fall under Specification Section 05 50 00 Metal

Fabrications. However there is a reference to ladders in the provided

Specification Section 23 65 00. The specification calls out for “hot-dip galvanized steel or aluminum ladder”. Are either material acceptable for the ladder?

No, provide vendor designed hot dipped galvanized steel ladder.

Specification 23 65 00 - only includes componets of the cooling towers, not structural componets of the project.

Detail 12 reflects a 4” thick equipment pad while the general note has 5-

1/2” housekeeping pad. Can the VA verify which to follow?

Match existing concrete pad sizes with minimum depth of 5-1/2"

Detail 11 has 4” from face of equipment to edge of pad while the general note states to have 6” in all directions. Can the VA verify which to follow?

Provide 6" in all directions from face of the equipment to edge of pad.

8 Drawing Sheet MH105 Mechanical

The grade depicted on the elevation appears to slope making where one ladder length may be longer than the other. Can the VA confirm that neither ladder will be taller than 12’ where they may require a cage?

The contractor shall field verify the existing conditions (existing grades and steel elevations) per the structural drawings to verify the need for a cage on the ladder.

9 Drawing Sheet M001, Phase I Demolition Note 2 Mechanical

The note specifies that the system shut down can only occur when the outside temperature is less than 55 degrees. We understand that the bid has to be held for 180 days. The average lows below 55 may not occur until

Oct in the year. Can the VA clarify what time frame is anticipated for the shut downs?

Historical Data indicated average temperatures below 55F from Nov-Feb. It is anticipated that contractor schedule shutdowns in approximate times

What equipment does the VA wish to mark for salvage? If any what level of participation will they have in taking possession of that equipment/material?

No salvage equipment.

Drawing Sheet S501 Details 11 & 12 and Drawing Sheet

M001 Gen Note 17

Drawing Sheet S501 Details 9, 10, 11 & 12 Structural

Structural/Mechanical

11 Electrical

Per drawings switchboard 138-MSB3 is located inside the Mech/electrical room. Upon site inspection 138-MSB3 is actually located outside on the concrete pad underneath the cooling towers. Please advise the physical location and panel name that CWP-1 is to be fed from?

Switchboard labeled 138-MSB3 should be labeled 138-MSB2 on the drawings, this is a typo. The switchboard shown on the drawings is correct, but labeled incorrectly on drawings. Tuscaloosa VA Response - Cwp-1 is fed from 138-MSB3. 138-MSB3 is located outside underneath the cooling towers.

12 Electrical

Upon site inspection the switchboard on sheet EP-101 labeled 138-MSB2 is not physically labeled. The switchboard that is labeled 138-MSB3 on the drawing is actually labeled 138-MSB2. Please advise correct labeling and how this will affect the one line drawing?

Switchboard that has no label is actually 138-MSB-1. 138-MSB-3 is outside of building.

13 Electrical

Per drawings CWP-3 is to be fed from new 300 amp breaker installed in panel 138-FP-GA. IF a 300 amp breaker will not fit in that panel will it be acceptable to feed CWP-3 with a 250 amp breaker instead?

This is acceptable as long as breaker can handle motor inrush current without tripping.

14 Electrical May the existing conduit be reused to feed any of the new equipment? IE:

cooling towers, pumps, etc.?

No, the design intent is to replace all associated components of the electrical system including conduits.

15 Electrical

Note 20 on sheet EP-101 states to connect new switchboard to existing wire. Please confirm butt splicing or other acceptable means to extend wire within the new panel should the existing wire be too short?

It is anticipated that conductors are long enough, but butt splicing is acceptable if not.

16 Electrical

Sheet EP-101 note 25 states to refer to the panel schedule on E-001, our drawing set does not have a sheet E-001 nor a panel schedule. Please advise?

E-001 was included in final set of drawings, page 21 of the attached drawings that were included in the original solicitation.

17 Electrical

There were lightning rods observed during the site visit all over the cooling towers that will need to be removed and possibly reinstalled but there is nothing in the specifications or drawings about them. Please advise what is to be done with the lightning rods

Lightning protection demolition is covered by note 15 on ED-101 and reinstallation is covered by note 10 on EP-101. Specification section 26 41

00 Facility Lightning Protection was provided on page 445 of the specs attachment.

18 Please define normal working hours Monday - Friday, 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Can crane work be done during normal working hours or just on the weekends?

Tuscaloosa VA Response - Crane work can be performed during normal working hours but if the adjacent road will need to be closed, proper 2 week notification must be sent to all VA employees by the Engineering staff, requiring an additional 1 week notification by Contractor to

Engineering staff. Crane work may also be accomplished on weekends if desired with proper COR representation.

20 Will there be any need for temporary power or cooling?

There is no anticpated need for temporary power or cooling. All utility outages shall be scheduled with the VA COR per the contract documents. If outages extend past acceptable time durations temporary power and/or cooling will be required.

The drawing set appears to be a scanned copy making some of the information difficult to view. Will contracting please provide higher quality

PDF or original pdf document from A/E instead of a scan?

VA to address. We do not see problems with files as issued. Tuscaloosa VA

Response - Please contact the Contracting Officer for reissue of package if not legible .

Will the VA retain any existing equipment that is being removed or should contractors account for removing all demolished equipment from site

Remove all demolished equipment. See General note 18 on sheet M-001.

Tuscaloosa VA Response- will not retain any of the removed equipment.

Contractor is responsible for disposal of all demo. Equipment and materials

Drawings S001 for General Noted 1.7 refers to verifying dimensions from several drawings that are not a part of the project drawing set. Please provide these documents if this requirement is to remain

The intent of the note is for the contractor coordinate with all discipline drawings in the set of drawings provided and existing conditions. If a particular discipline drawing is not provided in the drawing set then coordination is not required.

24 Will the NTP be provided before or after approved equipment submittals? Tuscaloosa VA Response - Before.

The solicitation states to submit one (1) electronic proposal by email. Please confirm we are to submit all technical and price data for Tabs A, B & C in a single file.

Yes, but can be broken down per email if too large. Please read Page 6, paragraph I. A. 2. of soliciation

May subcontractor past performance experience be used to supplement

Sub-Factor 1 and Sub-Factor 2 responses ?

Not entirely. Please read solicitation Page 7, paragraph C. 3. I. defining

"relevant performance as a Prime Contractor…. "

Please confirm if all bidders are to provide all subcontractor quotes with proposal submission?

If subcontracting costs apply then Yes.

Pease confirm that the price breakdown required in Factor 2 is only for CLIN

1 Base Bid Yes, Base Bid Only

29 Will a tax exempt certificate be provided for this project ? No

Is anyone under contract or currently servicing the fire protection equipment ? If so, please provide contact

Tusacaloosa VA Response - Yes, there is a service contract on the fire protection equipment. Contact information will be provided after award.

Specification 01 00 00 paragraph 1.20 requires photographic documentation with electronic indexing. May the Prime Contractor perform these tasks with its own resources as long as they meet the personnel experience and camera requirements stated in the specifications?

DELETED

Specification 01 32 16 requires cost loaded scheduling. Since the schedule of values and the cost loaded scheduling interrelate, please confirm that both of these items will be submitted within 45 calendar days after NTP.

Tuscaloosa VA Response - Yes, the contractor is to submit both items within

45 calendar days after NTP.

Specification 01 35 26, Paragraph 1.5 requires AHAs to be submitted for work activities. Please identify the minimum work activities that will require a submitted AHA

As appropriate for activities

Please confirm that the SSHO may perform as the Site Superintendent as stated in 01 35 26 Paragraph 1.7 - D

This paragrapgh does not state they may be one and the same. Due to size of this project, we prefer they be separate.

Please confirm if contractors are required to provide, in addition to the full-time SSHO, a monthly visit by a Certified Safety Professional or a Certified

Safety and Health Technician?

Spec includes this requirement

Specification 01 91 00 Paragraph 1.8-A states that “Clark Nexsen” will be the Commissioning Agent (CxA) on this project. Please confirm that all cost associated with Clark Nexsen or any other CxA are the responsibility of the

VA as noted later in paragraph C

GC and the Subs shall participate in the commissioning process. Only the cost of Clark Nexsen's participation as the CxA is the responsibility of VA.

How many days after NTP will the CxA provide the commissioning plan that is identified in specification 01 91 00 paragraph 1.12-A 45 days after approval of submittals

Specification 01 35 26 – 8 requires “Demolition plan (to include engineering survey)”. Please provide more details to the requirement of the engineering survey.

No specific requirements. Verify existing conditions.

Are contractors rigging plans required to be designed by a Registered

Professional Engineer ?

Yes, See 23 05 11 - 3.4.E

General notes 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4 on drawing S001 require Special

Inspections in accordance with Chapter 17 Building Code. Are these inspections to be provided by the Government or the contractor?

Special inspections shall be provided by the contractor

41 Is there any other than normal work hour expectations for this project? Not at this time, but can be arranged if needed.

Where can a laydown area be established for materials, portolets, office, etc.?

Tuscaloosa VA Response - There is a laydown area in the back of the VA property which used to serve as the ballfield. Smaller laydown areas nearer

B138 may be utilized if needed with permission from the VA HVAC

Supervisor and VA Engineering.

43 Will water/power be available for use and if so is there a cost?

Tuscaloosa VA Response - Yes, power and water will be available at no cost to the contractor unless unnecessary usage/waste becomes a significant issue.

What onsite personnel requirements (number and type) for supervision are required?

Comply with spec requirements and FAR Clause 52.236-6 Superintendence by the Contractor

45 Will any type of permits (crane, etc.) be required?

Tuscaloosa VA Response - Yes, crane permits will be required along with standard hot work permits, trenching, etc.

46 Are any geotechnical investigations required? No.

47 Electrical Please provide Sheet E203 as referenced on Sheet S501, Detail 11, Note 1 No sheet E203 is in the set. Note SHOULD read “Refer to Mechanical and

Electrical Drawings for equipment plan locations”