Pre-Bid RFIs and Responses Sep 16 2020 update.pdf

Solicitation - 36C25020B0043 Project 541-CSI-103 – Expand MRI Suite

RFI Tracker with Responses

KEY: RFI = Black; VA Response = Purple

1. Per specification section 23 09 23, 1.7 Manufacturers, the only manufacturer listed is Johnson FX.

Are other manufacturers such as Schneider Electric (EcoStruxure or Andover Continuum) acceptable?

In addition to Johnson FX, Schneider Electric Ecostruxure is also acceptable. All data connected devices shall be native BACnet only. No proprietary protocols.

2. Provide soil borings for areas requiring excavation and drilled caissons.

See Caisson Plan note 2 on drawing S-111 and Foundation note 1 on drawing S-100. Required bearing capacity is noted under Drilled Piers note 2 on drawing S-100.

The Geotechnical Report from December 15, 2007 is attached for reference.

Use Boring No. B-107 information for this project.

3. The drawings call out insulated metal panel at two walls of the penthouse and "metal panels" at the soffit area. The specifications call out a 22ga exterior / 22ga interior skin, polyiso core, insulated metal panel. Is this correct? The existing panels at that area look to be ACM. My assumption is that ACM panels over rigid insulation and z-furring is what is actually needed. Please advise.

The soffit panels shall be insulated per Wall Sections 1/A-301 & 2/A-301 and shall be same as panels at penthouse in Wall Section 4/A-303.

4. Do you have a Sign-in sheet for the Pre-bid meeting last week, Y1DZ--Expand MRI Suite Project

541-CSI-103 Louis Stokes VAMC, CLE, OH? If possible, can you email this to me?

Site visit documentation will be posted as part of an amendment to beta.SAM.gov along with other pertinent project documentation.

5. Do you have a copy of the current or historical geotechnical for the site?

The Geotechnical Report from December 15, 2007 is attached for reference.

Use Boring No. B-107 information for this project.

6. 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?

Yes.

7. Can the Superintendent have SSHO and QC Manager duties? If so, can they also fulfill the Quality

Control role?

http://beta.sam.gov/

Site Safety and Health Officer (SSHO) – Duties can be performed by Superintendent.

Superintendent is required to meet training, experience, and qualification requirements in

Specification 01 35 26 (Safety Requirements).

Contractor Quality Control System Manager (CQC) – Duties can be performed by Superintendent.

Specification 01 45 00 (Quality Control). Per Specification 01 45 00, “the Project Superintendent will be held responsible for the quality of work and is subject to removal by the COR for non-compliance with the quality requirements specified in the Contract.”

8. Where will the contractors temp office and laydown space be located?

No temporary office location has been provided. Laydown area can occur within fenced area per coded note 5 on drawing L-100 (Site Layout Plan, bottom half of drawing sheet).

9. Will the VA allow use of Edge Guard ICRA panels in lieu of the hard wall panels shown in the drawings?

Yes, if Infection Control and noise transmission requirements are met.

10. Will the VA accept steel fab from a non-AISC shop?

No. AISC certification is required, per Specification 05 12 00 (Structural Steel Framing).

11. Will the Government provide comprehensive written badging requirements for the project if badging is required?

Construction personnel shall wear a company-issued identification badge at all times.

12. Where will the designated laydown & parking areas for workers accessing the construction site?

Laydown area can occur within fenced area per coded note 5 on drawing L-100 (Site Layout Plan, bottom half of drawing sheet).

Contractor parking is not permitted onsite.

An unloading area is designated by coded note 9 on drawing L-100 (Site Layout Plan, bottom half of drawing sheet).

13. Will the government accept the use of Procore Project Management software as the submittal and data tracking tool for this project?

Yes.

14. Has the work area been checked for asbestos?

Yes, the ACM Report from June 19, 2019 is attached for reference.

15. Can the qualified superintendent be able to cover duties listed for the SSHO or will the GC be required to have two positions on this project at full time?

Site Safety and Health Officer (SSHO) – Duties can be performed by Superintendent.

Specification 01 35 26 (Safety Requirements).

16. Can the Sustainable Construction Requirements specification from the VA be removed?

Yes, Specification 01 81 13 (Sustainable Construction Requirements) is deleted from the construction contract.

17. As a result of the effect of COVID-19, please advise how the Government intends to address delays resulting there as it pertains to the current solicitation schedule for this and all future projects.

The Cleveland VA Medical Center has implemented medical screening, mandatory face mask/ covering, and visitor restrictions to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus to staff and patients.

A suspension of work would be addressed in accordance with the following construction contract requirement: Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.242-14.

18. Is AISC (American Iron and Steel Certification) required for the structural steel fabrication and/or erection for this project?

Yes, per Specification 05 12 00 (Structural Steel Framing).

19. What is the level of infectious disease control rating for this site?

Class III.

20. Provide Flagpole base installation details for reinstallation.

Detail has been added to attached updated drawing L-103.

21. In lieu of utilizing contaminated gravel (sheet L-100), confirm that this stone is to match specification of washed river stone materials as called out elsewhere on detail 2.

Salvaged gravel is to be placed in new gravel areas south of the masonry seat wall. Supplement salvaged gravel with washed river stone, matching the salvaged gravel size and color.

New gravel areas north of masonry seat wall to be filled with new washed river stone - size #8, depth as shown on details.

22. Sheet L-100 calls to match existing Brick Pavers. Provide specification of existing materials.

Contractor to match color and dimensions of existing pavers.

Provide a sample of proposed paver to Architect for approval.

23. Sheet L-100 is missing notes in Site Demolition 1 / Phase 1. Provide all notes 1 thru 8 (top of sheet).

See attached updated drawing L100.

24. Sheets V-100 & L-100 shows existing fire hydrant to remain. Provide location of existing underground supply lines.

See drawing V-100 and attached updated drawing L100 (Site Demolition Plan, top half of drawing sheet).

25. Sheet A-503 / detail 15: Provide clarification of coping detail and if front edge is to extend past facebrick vertical edge? Is front of coping to have drip-edge to match back of coping?

Front edge of stone coping shall match extension of existing stone copings.

A drip edge on front edge of coping is not expected nor required, similar to existing stone copings.

26. What are the weekdays and working hours to be figured for shutdowns of the med gas system, water system and sanitary & vent systems?

Weekends. The working hours for shutdowns shall minimize disruption to patient care.

27. What are the VA requirements (duration, etc.) for any work that requires a fire watch provided by the plumbing contractor?

Provide fire watch while performing hot work and for 30 minutes following completion of hot work.

Inspect area 30 minutes after hot work is completed for the day.

28. Drawing MG-101: Which manufacturer is used for the existing medical gas system so new devices/equipment can match the existing system? No opportunity was given to see the existing

MRI Suite so no determination could be made nor did the VA rep at the Pre-Bid Meeting could provide that info.

Existing medical gas system is Tri-Tech Medical.

29. Who is responsible for the med gas certifications – VA or plumbing contractor?

Contractor shall retain a third-party medical gas certifier to perform testing and certification in accordance with the specifications and medical gas general notes.

30. In Plan is a note “WG” which could not be found in the med gas legends so need to know what “WG” means. Is this a wave guide since there is a detail on P-501 titled Wave Guide Detail? If so, is this for the plumbing contractor to provide and install and, if so, provide a manufacturer and model number so that pricing can be obtained.

Correct, “WG” abbreviation on drawing MG-101 floor plan refers to a wave guide as detailed on drawing P-501.

Wave guides will be provided by the construction contractor.

Coordinate all sizes and quantities of penetrations of the RF shield with the construction contractor.

31. Drawing P-201: Plan 1 Partial Basement Plan Plumbing Plan has no piping designated as existing even at the connection points. Is the piping shown in Corridor BB552 (6” Sanitary), Staff Lounge

BB553 (water & vent) and EMS BB554 (sanitary, vent & water) new piping or existing piping?

Provide clarification.

6” sanitary piping in Corridor BB552 is existing.

Water and vent piping over Staff Lounge BB553 is existing.

Sanitary, water, and vent piping over EMS BB554 is existing.

32. Is asbestos present within this project?

No, the ACM Report from June 19, 2019 is attached for reference.

33. Where is the room finish plan?

See drawing I-600. Also refer to the specification sections.

34. Drawing Q101 / Equipment Plan shows the Gauss 5 arc occurring approx. 6’-10’ past the exterior wall. Being that the magnetic field is a full 360-degree arc, it is possible to have it extend below the new MRI Scan room finish floor? With this there is a possibility that a person working / sitting close to the building and with a pacemaker could be affected by the MRI?

The shielding requirements are found in:

a. Specification 13 95 00.

Requires the construction contractor to provide “a pre-engineered radio frequency and magnetic shielded enclosure including, all engineering design, documentation, labor, supervision, equipment, materials, transportation, and tooling necessary to fabricate, install, test, certify, and warrant a radio frequency (RF) and magnetic shielding system for use with GE Healthcare Signa Premier Equipment in Room MRI-1B555.”

b. PDC Shielded Room Drawings.

This set of nineteen (19) drawings is found in the Volume 3 Drawings file (pages 25 to

43).

The drawings contain general shielding requirements, which the construction contractor is to use (along with the Specification 13 95 00 shielding requirements) to design the shielded enclosure and prepare the shielded enclosure shop drawings.

The Volume 3 Drawings file was posted with the solicitation at beta.SAM.gov on August

18, 2020.

35. Who is the current servicer for the DDC?

The VA Medical Facility utilizes a smart building network/Tridium controls system. The core control system equipment shall be integratable by open protocol with Tridium. New equipment shall be non-proprietary; refer to Specification 23 09 23, part 1.7 for list of manufacturers of controls-related products.

A specific company is not required to be used. The HVAC controls subcontractor shall meet the quality assurance requirements in Specification 23 09 23.

All data connected devices shall be native BACnet only. No proprietary protocols.

36. Who is the current servicer for the Fire Alarms?

Listed in alphabetical order:

Paladin 216-441-6500 or 216-701-2023

7680 Hub Pkwy

Valley View, OH 44125

Protegis Fire & Safety 216-433-7200 or 216-214-7433

4545 W 160th St

Cleveland, OH 44135 http://beta.sam.gov/

37. Drawing T-202, note B, mentions adding a new screen in the building automation system. Is this part of the Technology scope? This is normally in the Temperature Controls Contractors scope.

The construction contractor is responsible for distributing scope among the sub-contractors.

Refer to Addendum 1 for additional information regarding the master systems integrator scope.

38. Drawing T-202, note C, mentions to provide AHU supply and return fan to existing building automation system. Is this part of the Technology scope? This is normally in the Temperature

Controls Contractors scope.

The construction contractor is responsible for distributing scope among the sub-contractors.

Refer to Addendum 1 for additional information regarding the master systems integrator scope.

39. Spec Section 27 05 11 (Requirements for Communications Installations), should the scope of work for the Distributed Antenna System (DAS) be included in this project?

No.