RFI Answers Final.pdf

Invitation for Bid 36C24923B0015 Amendment 0004, Site Visit RFI Answers Project # 626-22-203 Upgrade Mixing Valves, Faucets, and Showers at the Nashville VA Medical Center

1. RFI: Supply lines for fixtures, can Flex Supply Lines be used?

Answer: Yes-limited use. See SOW BB.3.

2. RFI: Can Project Superintendent also serve as one or both Safety Officer & QC?

Answer: Yes.

3. RFI: Page 16 of the specification’s states “Job sites, mechanical room, electrical closets shall be secured.

They shall be keyed to the government keying system. Keys are not required on this job. VA will not provide keys for prime Contractor to distribute to the superintendent and lead foreman. Keys are a privilege that can be taken away. Please clarify, will the VA not issue keys to designated work areas?

Answer: See General Requirement (GR) - Keys are not required on this project. Most rooms are open during the day. At night, COR will open rooms.

4. RFI: Please provide a copy of the Green Environmental Management System policies and documents that set forth the appropriate Environmental Management Programs and Operational controls and the monitoring and measurements required on this project. If not identified in the documents provided, please provide the EPA sponsored environmental training referenced.

Answer: Not required, but recyclable material shall be recycled.

5. RFI: PAYMENT FOR MATERIALS STORED OFF-SITE: Payment in advance of installation for materials stored off-site is not authorized under this contract unless otherwise approved by the Contracting Officer. Materials must be on-site to receive payment.

Answer: This is not a question, but you are correct.

6. RFI: Cleaning: After installing of each fixture, Contractor shall clean the room, leaving it in an orderly condition, hospital clean and ready for use or patient treatment. Please define what the VA deems “hospital clean” as this is a subjective description.

Answer: See SOW, B.13, Cleaning. All spaces need to be cleaned to a condition that is equal to or better than it was before the work is started. Essentially, leave it as clean as you found the room. Remove all dust/debris and wipe down surfaces.

7. RFI: Each plumbing crew (working in an area) must include a Master Plumber (licensed) to perform the Plumbing installations. The Company holds a master plumbers license, please change this requirement to licensed Journeyman to perform Plumbing installations.

Answer: A Licensed Journeyman or Licensed Master Plumber is acceptable per crew.

8. RFI: The basis of design for fixtures in listed in the SOW and faucet type is listed on the work location page, please provide clarification what faucet type corresponds with the listed designs.

Answer: See amended specification, Plumbing Fixtures 22 40 00. See amended SOW, C. REFERENCE

EQUIPMENT.

9. RFI: Please provide the locations at the six valves to be replaced in the risers? Will a gypsum wall, tile wall or a gypsum ceiling removal and replacement be required to access the risers for the new balancing isolation valve installation? P Part II.C says to install a new gas line from existing gas main to the new generator pad. Please identify on the site plan the location of the existing main.

Answer: Work will be in the sub-basement or a chase. Include the cost to cut into a wall and the cost to repair x6 (area of wall to be limited to 16 SF per location). The work would be limited to gypsum board or plaster over wire mesh. Patches will be gypsum wall board. COR will identify specific locations to the awardee. See amended SOW-“Balancing” deleted; isolation valves required.

10. RFI: Please clarify the following: Any fixture deviations/substitutions must be submitted in writing and accepted by the COR and CO prior to bid as part of the RFI process.

1. T & S Bronze and Brass Works – Model B-1141-2VL15CR4

2. T & S Bronze and Brass Works – Model B-0890-CR-LF05 add outlet B-0199-08-LF15

3. T & S Bronze and Brass Works –Model B-2866-05CR-L15

4. T & S Bronze and Brass Works – Model B-2990 – BWH4CR add outlet B-0199-08-LF15

5. T & S Bronze and Brass Works – Model B-0231-CR4-L22

6. T & S Bronze and Brass Works – B-1122-XS-V22CR

7. T & S Bronze and Brass Works – Model BP-0300-CR-VF15

T&S’s new Shanghai facility operates not only as a manufacturing location, but also as the company’s sales headquarters and customer service center for China. An ISO 14001-certified operation, it is used for sourcing, inspecting, training, and manufacturing, and its products meet the same standards as those manufactured in T&S’s U.S. facilities.

REFERENCE: https://www.tsbrass.com/a/ts-brass-opens-a-new-shanghai-operation

The solicitation states that this is Buy American Act compliant, however, they require the use of Chinese made products. Please clarify. Please provide Sole Source justification requiring use of these and other specified items. If no sole source justification exists, please allow for substitutions.

Answer: See amended specification, Plumbing Fixtures 22 40 00. See amended SOW, C. REFERENCE EQUIPMENT. Bidders/offerors are responsible for Buy American Act compliance. FAR solicitation provision 52.211-6 Brand Name or Equal was incorporated into the solicitation with amendment 0003.

11. Is this a tax-exempt project? If tax-exempt, will the Government be providing a tax-exempt certificate to the Prime Contractor for use by subcontractors and vendors?

Answer: Refer to IFB contract clause 52.229-3 FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL TAXES: Offerors are hereby notified that all state and local sales or use taxes for construction materials must be included in their bid or proposal price. It is solely the responsibility of the offeror to include all other applicable taxes in their bid or proposal price as well. The Government has determined that for this acquisition it cannot take advantage of any sales or use tax exemptions that may be available to it under applicable state law.

Under no circumstances will any Contractor be designated as an agent of the Government for purposes of any tax exemption, nor will the Government authorize any Contractor’s use of any tax exemption directly applicable to the Government under this procurement.

12. Can the Superintendent be shared across multiple projects, or should they be dedicated full-time to this project and this project only?

Answer: No

13. Can the Superintendent fulfil multiple roles? If so, can they also fulfil the Quality Control role? What about the SSHO role?

Answer: Yes.

14. Will the VA provide a spot for the Prime Contractor to set up a temp office? Or should contractors include monies for a temp office, utilities, etc.? (We ask this because we know the VA has very little spare real estate). Will staging and/ or parking be an issue for this project?

Answer: See GR. There are no temporary facilities or staging authorized for this project. Contractor is authorized one small Conex for storage of materials. A limited number of permits (2 to 5) shall be issued for General Contractor and its employees for parking in designated areas only in the VA garage. Permits are purchased through Travel Pay/Agent Cashier Office, cost no more than $50 per permit, and last for 2-month cycles before renewal is required

15. Does the VA anticipate this project will require off hours work? If so, what trades or scopes will be required to perform off hours work?

Answer: Yes. See SOW.

16. Faucet Style

Answer: See amended specification, Plumbing Fixtures 22 40 00. See amended SOW, C. REFERENCE

EQUIPMENT.

17. Balancing Valves in Sub-basement – do we know line sizes? Can we get locations and what type of balancing valve is required? What is the plan to drain the building for installation?

Answer: Scope amended. “Balancing” deleted. Isolation valves required.

18. Injection ports – How many? Please provide detail of location, size, and description.

Answer: See Attachment B - Biocide Injection Port Detail. See amended SOW, BB.7.

19. Item 27 & 28 – States need to bend copper around bowl. Please clarify and send pictures.

Answer: The bowl is a larger size; longer supply tubing may be required.

20. Removing Dead Legs - Do we have a total number and location?

Answer: See - Work and Locations Attachment. The VA has estimated 45 dead-legs to be removed (35 in the schedule and 10 additional noted below the schedule). Distance from fixture to the main or main branch are indicated. Of course for a faucet location, if 15 LF is indicated, this would apply to each supply line (HW and CW), so that would be a total of 30’ of domestic piping being removed. If linear feet are not indicated on the schedule, assume approximately 25 feet from the fixture to the branch line.

21. If we are scheduled to be in a room and there are patients, what is the plan for the downtime this will cause?

Answer: See SOW, B.9 and B.18.

22. Who is responsible for freezing pipes if main line isolation valves can’t be located or are not working?

Answer: It is the responsibility of the contractor to freeze the pipes (with contractor furnished equipment) and to install valve(s).

23. How many faucet mixing valves are on the project?

Answer: There will be a new mixing valve on every new faucet. In addition, there will be 21 additional mixing valves identified in Attachment A- Work and Locations, that will be added to existing faucets to remain.