Attachment 9 - RFI Responses 36C24823R0008 RFIs for Replace Air Handling Units 36 and 37.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 17 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- 36C24823R0008
About this file
This document contains responses to questions regarding a federal solicitation to replace two air handling units at the Miami VA Medical Center. The solicitation requires contractors to remove and replace two existing air handling units with new units containing HEPA filters, stacked coils, UV lights, direct drive plenum fans with VFDs, and eight-row cooling coils. The new units must provide a minimum of 9,600 CFM for one unit and 9,200 CFM for the other. Ductwork must be double-walled insulated. Contractors must install all necessary piping, electrical systems, ductwork, insulation, louvers, roof supports, controls integration, curbs, and perform testing and balancing. The work must be certified by a mechanical engineer and meet various codes and standards. The responses clarify that no design work is required as this is a construction project, and provide additional details on specifications, existing conditions, and coordination needed for the replacement.
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Sheet1
| RFI's for 36C248230008 - Replace Air Handling Units #36 & #37 | ||
| RFIs | Responses | |
| 1. Will this be a design build project that will include engineer stamped plans, since there is very little information on HVAC, electrical and ductwork types? | This is a Construction Project. AHU must comply with all requirements as per SOW. Electrical Connections and Ductwork shall match existing ones. | |
| a. There are no requirements for preconstruction or post construction design information. | This is a Construction Project. | |
| b. We would believe there will be needs for some calculations from the VA or and MEP engineer to supply HVAC, electrical and ductwork engineering since there are some substantial changes on final setup on both of these AHUs. | AHU shall comply with all requirements as per the SOW. No Drawings or Calculations are required. | |
| c. Will the design needs to be supplied by the contractors? | There is no Design. This is a Construction Project. Fallow the SOW. | |
| 2. We will need the as-builts of the duct plans for both AHUs. | Will be provided. AHU36 is AHU45 and AHU37 is AHU46 in the provided drawings. | |
| 3. Included in the duct plans as-builts we will need information on the disconnected ducts from AHU 37 and the new connection point. | The AHU Supply and Return shall be connected to the existing New Ductwork inside of the MR. | |
| 4. We will need the as-builts of the electrical plans for both AHUs. | Will be provided. AHU Power shall match and must be connected to the existing one inside of the MR. AHU36 is AHU45 and AHU37 is AHU46 in the provided drawings. | |
| 5. Will need scalable floor plans for this total mechanical room. | Will be provided. AHU36 is AHU45 and AHU37 is AHU46 in the provided drawings. | |
| 6. Can the existing I beam supports be reused for the new AHUs & contractors will need to add to if new sizes need a longer footprint? | AHU shall match existing Slab. If an extension is required, the Contractor shall coordinate with Project COR. | |
| a. If existing I beams are reused will they need to be repainted before new equipment is replaced? | Yes. | |
| 7. Can the VA supply the most recent test & balance reports for both AHUs 36 & 37? | No need, AHU shall comply with all requirements as per the project SOW. | |
| 8. Performance requirements of the AHUs states that new AHUs “shall have pandemic mode”. | Yes, Fallow the SOW. | |
| a. Does the VA have a scope or sequence of operation that details “pandemic mode” | Yes | |
| b. Or will design of “Pandemic Mode” be part of the engineering required for this project. | This is a Construction Project. No Design required. | |
| 9. Performance requirements state the CFM minimum requirements for the new AHUs have been listed but do not mention on the following, These values are necessary to select replacement equipment. | ||
| a. the static pressure requirements or | 2.5 - 3 in-wg | |
| b. BTU capacity (sensible / latent / total) that is required. | See page 2 (Existing Chilled Water Air Handling Unit Schedule Table) of the provided drawings to calculate this data. | |
| 10. Will “Pandemic Mode” include the ability to have AHUs operate on 100% outside air as is customary for isolation areas in a healthcare facility? | Yes, Min OA and Max OA. | |
| a. If so, will the total BTU capacity of the cooling coils need to be account for this? | No | |
| b. Should new AHUs be selected at 9600 & 9200 cfm of 100% outside air? | Yes | |
| 11. The mechanical room is currently an Outside Air plenum (the outside air intakes are NOT ducted to the AHUs. The room contains electrical switchgear and electronic devices. | ||
| a. Should the new system include ducting the OA to the AHUs? | Yes | |
| 12. During the walkthrough it was noted that there is a new Siemens DDC control panel partially installed in the mechanical room. | ||
| a. The existing AHUs are operating on pneumatic controls that appear to be at least partially disabled. | Correct, No Pneumatic control function. | |
| b. Will DDC controls conversion work be performed outside of this project and prior to this project? | AHU Shall be Controlled using DDC and must be connected to the existing BMS. | |
| c. Or will it be included in the project scope? | See above | |
| 13. Does the solicitation include the need to Replace all duct in the mechanical room? | Ductwork will be limited to the AHU connections to the existing new ductworks (Supply and Return) and to the outside air intake inside the MR. | |
| a. Or do we just replace the return & supply ducts off the existing AHUs? | See above | |
| 14. There are (2) large exhaust fans on the roof that tie into the return ducts. There is (2) total fans & (1) connected to each of the AHUs. | Yes. | |
| a. Are both fans to be tied back into the new ductwork connecting to each of the new AHUs? | Yes. Ductwork shall match existing configuration with the addition of the Outside Air Intake. | |
| 15. Will the new control dampers be electric or Pneumatic? | Electric | |
| 16. Will there need be any asbestos testing to be included by the contractors in our proposal? | No asbestos testing needed. | |
| 17. Please confirm that there is no design required for this project. | This is a Construction Project. No design required. | |
| 18. Does the selected contractor need to include As-Built drawing after completion? | No. Only the drawings and documentation provided by the AHU Manufacturer. | |
| 19. Does the freight elevator reach the 3rd floor and if it does, can you please provide a drawing showing the exact location, a path to the mechanical room and confirm it is near the mechanical room? | Freight Elevator only goes to the 2nd Floor. Service Elevators go to 12th Floor. Drawings will be provided. | |
| 20. Can you please provide the maximum weight for the freight elevator? | Service elevator has a maximum capacity of 4000 Lbs. | |
| 21. Is the Hospital providing the panel and circuits for the temporary unit? | Yes. | |
| 22. Are the existing circuits and breakers to be used with the new units? | Yes | |
| 23. Performance requirements state that the Test and Balance must be done before and after. Please provide drawing showing the areas affected by these two Air Handling Units and the bases of design for both areas. | Drawings will be provided. AHU36 is AHU45 and AHU37 is AHU46 in the provided drawings. | |
| 24. Please confirm that both units need to be installed inside the existing mechanical room that houses the existing units. | Yes | |
| 25. If any louvers are required in the project, please provide the dimensions and NOA specifications. | MR has 2 existing louvers one for each unit that shall be used as a connecting point for the outside air intake. | |
| 26. Please confirm that the Mechanical Professional Engineer testing and certifying the work will be provided by the hospital. | Contractor Shall Certify the AHU as per the SOW | |
| 27. Does the new equipment require any floor structural alteration? | No | |
| 28. Per the statement of work having these two units connected as a redundancy, it’s not clear if the VA wants 100% redundancy, or just partial. If 100% redundancy is required, along with pandemic mode, these AHUs could be larger than the existing ones, please advise. | Statement was removed from the SOW; No redundancy required. | |
| 29. Do these two AHU serve different smoke and fire zones? If so, how would the VA like to address the life safety requirements to make sure proper smoke control is done correctly. | All AHUs are to Shutdown upon F/A Activation, Hardwire Safety to VFD for Shutdown and Auto Reset. | |
| 30. Has the VA done a site investigation to make sure that the requested double wall ductwork will fit as intended on the SOW? | Yes, the existing New Ductwork where the AHU shall be connected is a double wall insulated. | |
| 31. Please clarify that outside air will be required for these two units. | Yes, reference to the SOW. | |
| 32. The two units to be replaced are YORK, please advise if other manufacturers such as TRANE would be an allowable substitute. | Yes. | |
| 33. Paragraph 4.1.1 states that one AHU will be installed at a time, please advise what would be the length of time between the two installations. Also, how will the change of services occur? | Both AHU shall be installed during the Project POP. Installation shall start with the one feeding PCU that will be under construction by the time of project been awarded in order to use it as a temporary unit for MICU that will be an active patient unit during the installation. | |
| 34. Paragraph 4.1.2 it is requiring that AHU #36 produce at least 9,600 CFM & AHU #37 produce 9,200 CFM, neither of these two single units once connected are going to be able to serve the two departments with one unit. | Redundancy system no longer required. | |
| a. Will this meet the minimal requirements for the designed air flow parameters when working individually? | Redundancy system no longer required. | |
| 35. Please advise how to meet the requirements on section 4.1.3 without engaging the services of an A/E to provide design coordination drawings and specifications for the different components. | ||
| a. 4.1.3 - The contractor shall provide all materials and equipment necessary to remove and discard the existing air handling units #36 and #37 and to install two new air handling units with VFD function and DDC Controls including, but not limited to: | ||
| • | Piping and Fittings | |
| • | Electrical System | |
| • | Metal Duct and Duct Connections (Supply and Return) | |
| • | Chill Water and Hot Water Hydronic Black Steel Pipe and Fittings | |
| • | Thermal Insulation and Aluminum Jacketing | |
| • | Louvers | |
| • | Roof Supports for Pipes and Ducts | |
| • | DDC Control, Low Voltage Wiring, and Integration to Siemens System | |
| • | Wind Load Rated Roof Curb and Tie-Down | |
| • | Roof Flashing (Curbs, Pipe/Duct Support) | |
| • | Rigging and Hoisting | |
| • | Test and Balance (Before and After) | |
| VFDs shall be selected using the Fan Motor Capacity. DDC shall be used to monitor and control the AHU. AHU shall be connected to the existing Chill and Reheat Water Lines. AHU Electrical Supply shall match the existing one. Metal ductwork shall match the new existing ductwork. In conclusion, all AHU connections shall match the existing one with the exception as per the project SOW. | ||
| 36. Please clarify if weekend work is necessary to be able to accommodate the different shutdowns necessary to perform the requested work. | Weekend work will be allowed but will need to be coordinated in advance. | |
| 37. Please provide the additional information on the breaker size for each of the Air Handler Units. | Contractor shall request a side visit to perform a site investigation as per the SOW. Existing C/B could be used as long as the New AHU Feeder has the same side as the existing one. C/B are mean to protect the Feeder no the load. | |
| 38. Is the VA planning to use redundant power for both new units? | No. All Normal and Critical Power at VA are 100% backed up by Generators. | |
| 39. Are both units going to be fed from the same panel, as they are right now? | New AHU shall be connected to the existing Power Source feeding the old AHU. | |
| 40. Please provide clarification on the statement of the solicitation on pages 8 & 54, see below) which contradicts itself between a bid build to a design build. There are many components that need to be addressed and designed by an A/E firm. Without a full set of plans and specs being provided by the VA, there are a lot of unknowns. In its current form this is not bid-build project, and the GC would be accepting all liability based on the way the current SOW is written. Currently the SOW states the following "The Contractor shall, without additional compensation, correct or revise any errors or deficiencies in its designs, drawings, specifications, and other services". The proceeding statement signifies that this project was meant to be a design build that would have made the GC responsible for any deficiencies in its design. Currently there is not enough information for a Bid Build while trying to make the GC responsible | ||
| • | Page 8 - The entire work must be Tested and Certified by a Mechanical Professional Engineer (PE) and meets NFPA, EPA, ANSI, OSHA, National Plumbing Code, National Electric Code, ASHRAE, National Safety Code, VA Specifications, VA Construction Standards, VA Design Build Handbooks and VA Fire Protection Design Manual available in the Technical Information Library (https://www.cfm.va.gov/TIL). |
| • | Page 54 - 4.26 RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DESIGN-BUILD CONTRACTOR | |
| 1. | The Contractor shall be responsible for the professional quality, technical accuracy, and the coordination of all designs, drawings, specifications, and other services furnished by the Contractor under this contract. The Contractor shall, without additional compensation, correct or revise any errors or deficiencies in its designs, drawings, specifications, and other services. | This is a Construction Project. No Design required. |
| 41. Does the VA require A/E Pre-Construction Services and Construction Support? | No |
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