RFI RESPONES - 626A4-18-204 - Upgrade Energy Management System.pdf

RFI RESPONES - 626A4-18-204 - Upgrade Energy Management System

1. SECTION 01 91 00, 1.1 COMMISSIONING DESCRIPTION:

Does the contractor or the government select the “commissioning agent/party”? Obtaining 3rd party commissioning shall be the responsibility of the bidder/ contractor per section 2 of the Scope of Work. The VA will not be responsible for 3rd party commissioning. Costs for 3rd party commissioning shall be merged into this bid.

2. 1.14 PRE-CONSTRUCTION RISK ASSESSMENT:

a) Full ceiling system restoration, Any ceiling damaged by contractor on this project will be restored to an “as-good or better” condition

b) Patch and paint of affected areas, and Any walls/ floors, or ceilings damaged by contractor on this project will be restored to an “as-good or better” condition

c) Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) requirements during ceiling work? Yes.

Traversing through an active hospital will require infection control commensurate to the area in which work is performed. Much of the work will be in Mechanical space, sub-basements, and common corridors; each have a low to moderate ICRA significance but the contractor must still be mindful of dust, smoke, noise, etc..

3. 1.16 TUBERCULOSIS SCREENING:

Are there any other mandated vaccination or immunization requirements beyond TB? No

4. Which version of Section 23 09 23 is the binding contract document — the 2020 version in Part 1 or the TIL 03-2023 version in Part 2? Will the VA issue a formal amendment identifying which version governs? The version being used for this bid and this project is TIL Version 03- 2023 and is uploaded to SAM.gov.

5. Three separate provisions in the specification establish different mandatory training requirements:

Section 23 05 11 (Part 1): 16 hours of manufacturer's representative instruction for VA personnel

Section 23 09 23 (both versions): Phase 1 = 32 hours formal training + Phase 2 = 32 hours on-the-job training (64 total hours, min. 2 VA personnel)

Section 23 09 23 Part 2 (TIL 03-2023): The above plus an additional 1-day (8-hour) operational training program for up to 4 operators within 30 days of BAS Acceptance.

a) What are the definitive total training hours required? Section 23 09 23 (both versions):

Phase 1 = 32 hours formal training + Phase 2 = 32 hours on-the-job training (64 total hours, min. 2 VA personnel)

b) Which provision governs — 16 hours, 64 hours, or 72+ hours? Section 23 09 23 (both versions): Phase 1 = 32 hours formal training + Phase 2 = 32 hours on-the-job training (64 total hours, min. 2 VA personnel)

c) Must training be provided by the BAS manufacturer's direct employees only, or can qualified subcontractor staff lead training sessions? Training shall be by the manufacturer or a licensed representative of the manufacturer (i.e.- franchisee with required knowledge and training to represent the manufacturer)

6. Section 23 09 23 Part 2 specifies a 1-year warranty for control systems under FAR 52.246-21.

However, Section 27 05 11 (Requirements for Communications Installations) requires a 2-year warranty for Emergency Systems from the date of final acceptance. The BAS integrates fire alarm monitoring and other emergency system interfaces. There is no clear delineation in the specification of which components are classified as "Emergency Systems" warranting a 2-year obligation coverage.

Which components of the BAS scope are classified as "Emergency Systems" subject to the 2-year warranty? Will the VA provide a definitive list? Installation errors and all construction shall be a minimum of 1 year on all VA projects, however this project will require that the System (entire system to include cabling, front end system, computers, controllers, sensors, programming, graphics, etc..) installed shall carry a 2 year warranty on the System and any latent defects or any labor to make necessary mitigation of warranty claims during that 2 year period.

7. Who Furnishes "Furnished-but-Not-Installed" Products?

Section 23 09 23 identifies products that the BAS contractor is required to furnish but not install (control valves, flow switches, flow meters, sensor wells, terminal unit controllers) and separately identifies products that the BAS contractor must install but not furnish. The party responsible for furnishing the "install only" products is not identified by name. Failure to coordinate this prior to procurement creates scheduling and responsibility gaps.

a) Who is the furnishing party for products listed as "installed but not furnished" under Section 23 09 23?

b) Can the VA provide a complete, itemized list with responsible parties?

The bidder is furnishing and installing each and all of the required equipment and materials to include control valves, flow switches, flow meters, sensor wells, terminal unit controllers. The matrix list in section 23 09 23 simply breaks down which trades section each appurtenance falls under. This matrix is to help you and your subcontractors know who is responsible (ie- does your plumber or electrician need to provide this appurtenance?) It will tell you in the before mentioned matrix. Ultimately, it is the Prime Contractors responsibility to provide and install all materials and equipment needed to have a fully functioning system.

8. Mandatory After-Hours Work With No Cost Allowance Section 01 00 00, paragraph 1.6.J states: "In order to accomplish tasks and meet deadlines, permission to work (no extra cost allowed) at times other than those specified above will be granted/denied at the COR discretion upon request. Work during off hours will be required in order to minimize disruptions. Conduct work on floor below and floor above after hours and on weekends." There is no cap on the volume of after-hours work that can be required, and the COR has sole discretion. This is effectively unlimited mandatory overtime at no additional compensation.

a) Is there a cap on the number of after-hours or weekend work hours the COR can require? No. Typically the Prime will ask to work certain nights (after normal hours) and weekend to see if the VA can cover the work. We currently have 4 engineers and 3 technicians, so there have been zero occasions in the last year that we could not cover after-hour work. This rule is to simply give the facility a chance to schedule a COR or competent representative from Engineering to be present during the work. Not all holidays will be approved due to time off for the VA staff.

b) How far in advance will after-hours work directives be given? 2 Weeks is the normal request for after hours work. The VA can adjust the COR’s tour to accommodate night and weekend work.

c) If after-hours work is mandated as a result of VA-caused access delays (e.g., late badge approvals), is that eligible for equitable adjustment? These are two separate issues. The local facility does not perform badging but will help facilitate the badging process. A COR or COR rep can be made available to escort any unbadged workers during the badging process. Once the Superintendent and Foremen are badged, they can escort any un-badged workers. We can also work with the CO to not perform the NTP until the Superintendent is badged. No, the VA will not do an EA for badging. If there are delays with the facility, the contractor is to contact the COR and the CO and place a claim at that time, then a determination will be made by the CO if it is equitable.

9. Are actual building structures being removed or just modified?

Answer: The scope of work for this project does not involve the removal of actual building structures. Instead, the work primarily consists of modifying and upgrading existing systems within the facility.

10. Please provide the # of points for Fire Alarm System to monitor due to the limitation of a single module vs multiple. Refer to specifications and drawings. As a campus standard, there is a main fire alarm panel in each building that reports back to a main front end fire alarm panel for the campus. There may be outlier areas where the panel is not in a specific building but served by an adjacent building. Points will need to be accounted for to stop the make-up of air in the air handler in the event of a fire, amongst other NFPA reasons. Connections and points will be made accordingly for the BAS to work as intended and to meet fire codes as intended. Refer to specifications and drawings for further information.

11. Campus BAS system UL listed for fire service? Refer to specifications for system requirements of UL rating. Specifications will include many of the appurtenances, such as sensors, metering devices, and electrical system and devices will be UL listed.

12. Does each building annunciate to its own panel or a central panel located on campus?

As a campus standard, there is a main fire alarm panel in each building that reports back to a main front end fire alarm panel for the campus. There may be outlier areas where the panel is not in a specific building but served by an adjacent building.