RFIs and Answers.pdf

Questions and Answers

In the specification table of contents it list spec 019100 for commissioning but there is no document provided in the manual to detail equipment in the scope. Spec 220800 230800 260800 all reference spec

019100. Please provide spec 019100 for commissioning.

Answer: See enclosed 019100 specification

This project states that there is asbestos abatement but there were no reports nor documents in the specs.

Is there abatement? The table of contents lists division 2; pages 1-21 “Asbestos Glove bag Abatement.”

Answer: There is a minimal abatement. See enclosed 028211 abatement specification.

Specification section 01 91 00 is listed in the Table of Contents but not in the spec book. Can you provide the section 01 91 00?

Answer: See enclosed 019100 specification

Spec Section 028213.13, Glovebag Asbestos Abatement is missing from the specifications. Please provide.

Answer: See specification 028211 included in this addendum

Can the REVIT drawings for this project be provided during the bidding process?

Answer: No, they can be provided to successful contractor.

Will the scan of the existing boiler room be provided after the bidding process?

Answer: Possibly, but contractor should bid the drawings and specs.

What LOD is required on the BIM coordination drawings for this job?

Answer: Refer to specifications.

What laydown area will be allowed on site?

Answer: Drawing G002 shows the staging area where items can be stored. The stored items shall not interfere with access to the underground tank nor block or damage any other equipment in this area.

How many parking spaces will the contractor be allowed on site?

Answer: The contractor shall park offsite.

Per G002 Sequence of Construction 1. A. 1. That we are to ensure the underground fuel oil tank is full. Is the contractor or VA to provide the fuel oil and if the contractor is required to what amount will be needed?

Answer: The VA will provide fuel. If the contractor is utilizing the diesel fuel, they shall give the government sufficient notice so the government can refill the tank.

AD100 Note G is not quantifiable. Please advise the quantity of items to be removed that are not shown on the plans, or a marked up drawing with these items. Also, a unit price could be used for this work.

Answer: Provide a unit price for this work – Assume base bid 50 items in boiler room

Is the concrete pad for the temporary boiler room to be removed and the ground restored after the temporary boiler is removed from the project?

Answer: Yes.

Does the structural steel installation contractor have to meet AISC certification requirements?

Answer: Yes

Can as-builts for the existing fire sprinkler be provided?

Answer: Assume they cannot for bidding purposes. Contractor shall field verify.

Please provide refrigerant pipe sizes for the basis of design equipment as this is not a design build job.

Answer: Will provide sizing for BOD manufacturer.

On M001 note 19 there is a conflict for notification on utility outages. One-part states 28 weeks, and another states 28 working days. This also conflicts with other places in the documents. What is the minimum timeframe needed for outage notification?

Answer: 28 days.

On M504 note 11. Is an incomplete design. This is not a design build job. You should provide what is required for the sizing of this for at minimum the basis of design equipment.

Please confirm boiler flue sizing.

Answer: Sizes are shown on floor plans and elevations based on basis of design manufacturer.

Confirm final sizes with manufacturer of the actual equipment purchased and approved on shop drawings.

From the site visit it was mentioned that there is coal dust in the bottom of the chimney that the new boiler flue is to go into. We are requesting a quantity of dust for remediation.

Answer: It is not known if the floor in the chimney is on the same level as the slab in the boiler room but the coal dust sits 1 ½ to 2 ½ feet above the slab in the boiler room. Although this coal dust does not contain elevated levels of RCRA-8 heavy metals, the contractor will need to take care when removing this coal dust to prevent any explosion. The contractor shall utilize personnel experienced in the removal of coal dust and an explosion proof vacuum designed for the removal of coal dust in the removal coal dust. In the contractor’s safety plan submittal, the contractor will describe their procedure to remove this coal dust so the VA Industrial Hygienist Supervisor can approve the plan.

From the site visit it was mentioned that there is asbestos in the chimney that the new boiler flue is to go into. We are requesting a quantity of asbestos for remediation.

Answer: After further testing, there is no asbestos in the chimney.

For the new boiler flue to be installed a large opening will need to be cut in the side of the existing chimney to gain access for scaffolding. We need the A/E to show what type, size, and quantity of structural reinforcement is needed for the opening. We will need a 3’x6’ opening. We need to know the thickness of the chimney also.

Answer: Typically the AE does not supply contractor means and methods support. The Contract Documents provide an reinforced opening for a door to access to the flue (43” x43” clear) The opening can be made larger (43”horizontal x 72” vertical) Same reinforcement would apply by extending the channel jamb members. Additional opening height would need to be closed off and a C12x30 header member installed for the flue door. The chimney thickness is believed to be +- 12” and shown on the drawings to be field verified. The chimney is considered a confined space and any work inside the space will require the proper certifications and equipment to work in a confined space.

Which personnel, being the site supervisor, site safety, and quality control manager does the government expect to be full time separate people on site?

Answer: Yes, the contractor will need to hired qualified personnel for each of these positions per the specifications.

Can the site supervisor, site safety, and quality control manager be the same person on site?

Answer: No.

No seismic restraints or importance factor is marked on the equipment schedule for M603?

Please advise if there is no seismic required for the equipment on this project.

Answer: No

Please confirm that the VA is providing the temporary containerized boiler system. It is noted on MD100 to be returned to the owner in general note A. We assume that returning something would mean that VA originally provided it. If this is not the case, please provide clarification.

Answer: The contractor will purchase the temporary containerized boiler and install it. Once the temporary boilers meet all VA safety checks, the VA boiler operators will run the boilers.

Please provide a steam trap schedule for this project.

Answer: Will add.

MD400 note 22 states to modify to remove existing points removed under this project.

Does the VA and A/E want the new boiler controls on the Johnson system? Or will this need to be a SCADA or PLC type of control for the new boilers and associated items?

Answer: Boiler controls will be a SCADA system as designed in the Specifications. The boiler master panel shall have a BACnet interface for monitoring only at the JCI system. Refer to DDC system architecture on M701.

With the EPA mandated change in refrigerants, should a new equipment selection for the chiller be provided with the new refrigerant that will be utilized?

Answer: Basis of design is 410A. The specification allows for either 410A or R454B if R410A is not available due to refrigerant phase out.

The sequencing plan on the drawings reference months, but do not include years. Is this project to begin May of 2025?

Answer: If submittals are approved and the appropriate equipment is on site, the COR can approve boiler work to begin in May, 2025. The switchover to temporary boilers shall occur before the end of August. Likewise, for the chillers, if the submittals are approved and the appropriate equipment is onsite along with the weather forecast allowing the AHUs to operate in economizer mode, the work on the chillers can start in mid-October 2025 but shall be finished by mid-March 2026.

Is there a current NESHAP asbestos survey of the area?

Answer: See attached asbestos report for facility

How much space will be available for a laydown/storage/office trailer area for the general contractor?

Answer: See answer above.

Will parking be available?

Answer: no.

The specifications state that a 21-day notice to the COR is required for any outage, but the plans say 28 days. Please clarify.

What company currently services the sprinkler system?

Answer: Honeywell

Will this project be tax exempt as it is being performed in Kentucky?

Answer: Yes.

There are several large equipment purchases for this project:

1. Will there be storage onsite.

2. Will the VA pay for storage of materials and how will those payments be approved.

Answer: Onsite storage was answered above. The VA will not pay for storage.

There doesn’t appear to be a seismic section of the specifications. Are there no seismic requirements.

Answer: No.

General commissioning requirements are shown in the table of contents. There is no section in the specs.

Answer: See specification 019100 included

Please identify all drawings and specs by number and section that contain “deleted design” requirements for the contractor to include in their bid.

Answer: It is unclear what the contractor is asking in this question. Please provide more detail.

Who will be the commissioning agent.

Answer: John Poe Architects/Stan Engineers

Has the existing building and roof structure been investigated to confirm it can support the weight of the new breeching and stacks? How will the stacks above the roofline be secured?

Answer: Yes , Structural Engineer verified that wind load is 41lb/sqft: Stacks are cantilevered above the last support.

Does the owner possess native BIM drawings for modeling and coordinated drawings?

Answer: Yes, a Revit model exists for the architecture and MEP systems.

Is X-ray weld inspection required?

Answer: Radiographic examination is required, refer to specification 23 21 11 section 3.3

Has the existing steam system been radiographed to determine the viability of the piping at the tie-in points?

Answer: No

Does the existing steam piping configuration comply with the VHA directive 1810 regarding 2 valve isolation?

Answer: The specific equipment being isolated is not mentioned so it is unknown if there exists 2 valve isolation for that equipment. The current steam plant was installed in the 1960s so two valve isolation may not exist on every piece of equipment. The contractor would need to field verify this information.

Please review the insulation thickness. Calcium Silicate 5” at 1” pipe. Please confirm what systems will be: Calcium Silicate, Rigid Foam, Fiberglass.

Answer: Refer to specification section 23 07 11 for insulation requirements.

Will the RFI period and/or bid date be extended?

Answer: Will be addressed in solicitation amendments.

The wage determination for plumbers and pipefitters listed in the solicitation does match the Union wages that covers Campbell Co which Local 392. Please advise if a corrected wage determination will be issued.

Answer: The wage determination provides the minimum pay required per the DOL and US government. It is the prime contractors to comply with any local requirements.

Please confirm the Superintendent shall not have any shared duties as a QCM, SSHO or any other role of the project.

Answer: Already addressed in the specifications.

Please confirm if the SSHO shall not have any shared duties as a QCM, Superintendent, or any other role on the project.

Please confirm the QCM shall not have any shared duties as the SSHO, Superintendent or any other role on the project.

Please confirm that all fire stopping must be either installed by an FM global approved contractor, or a

UL qualified fire stop contractor certified.

Answer: Contractor to be UL qualified firestop contractor

Please confirm that the contractor is to include the services of a third-party independent fire stopping inspector in their bid.

Answer: Contractor to provide services in their bid.

Please confirm that fire stopping installers accredited by a fire stopping product manufacturer will not be approved by the VA unless they meet the FM global or UL qualifications referenced in section 07 84 00.

Answer: That is correct.

Please confirm the contractor will be provided with a lay down area on campus.

Answer: See the answer above.

Please confirm a contractor's trailer can be placed outside of the construction limits.

Answer: No, it will have to be placed in the staging area shown on the drawings. The weight of the trailer or any other components cannot damage any underground piping or structures in the designated staging area.

Please confirm that contractor parking will be provided on site. This directly impacts pricing.

Please confirm if this project is tax exempt. If so, will the VA provide the documentation to the prime contractor after award?

Answer: The project is not tax exempt.

Please confirm that this project is a competitive Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-

Aside project and that any bonding provided by a contractor must be through a SDVOSB or SBA/VA

APPROVED Mentor-Protege partnership under the SBA/VA Mentor-Protege program in which the partnership has been approved prior to the bid date.

Answer: Confirmed.

Please confirm that a large business not part of an SBA/VA APPROVED Mentor-Protege team under the

VA Mentor-Protege program cannot provide a Payment & Performance bond for a SDVOSB.

Please confirm that a large business not part of an SBA/VA APPROVED Mentor-Protege team under the

VA Mentor-Protege program cannot provide a bid guarantee for a SDVOSB.

Please define off hours. Bid documents state work hours are from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Please confirm when off hours (second shift) work can start.

Answer: Normal working hours for the facility are from 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Second Shift can start at 4:30 PM. Any work in the evenings cannot disturb the patients who are sleeping on the first floor or second floor of Fort Thomas.

Section 01 00 00 general requirements "alterations includes that the GC will provide a thorough survey of areas in which work is to be done with the COR and VA representative in attendance". Please confirm that the VA staff will schedule and have the time to do these surveys without delaying the contractor as these thorough surveys are extremely time-consuming.

Answer: If the GC provides sufficient notice, this can be arranged.

Please consider waiving the requirement for AISC certification for steel fabrication. There is a very limited subcontractor pool who are AISC Certified Fabricators within the area.

Answer: Requirement will not be waived.

Please confirm if the General Contractor is to have two separate and direct contracts with the DDC

Contractor and the DDC Systems Integrator.

Answer: General contractor is sole source responsible. It is not necessary for DDC contractor and

DDC systems integrator to be separate contracts.

Please confirm the DDC Contractor is not a sole source vendor for the campus and this project.

Answer: The DDC contractor does not have to be a sole source vendor for the campus and this project, however the contractor has to meet the specification requirements.

Please confirm the DDC Systems Integrator is not a sole source vendor for the campus and this project.

Answer: The DDC System Integrator does not have to be a sole source vendor for the campus and this project, however the contractor has to meet the specification requirements.

Please confirm the contractor is required to carry cost for a Document Management Control software platform such as Submittal Exchange or equal.

Answer: Contractor to provide cost for Document Mangement Control Software

Please confirm if the roof of Building 64 is currently under warranty.

Answer: Tremco installed the roof but the warranty has expired.

Please confirm who holds the roof warranty.

The Specifications Table of Contents include section 02 82 13.13 Glovebag Asbestos Abatement. No specification section is included. Please confirm there is no Asbestos Abatement on this project.

The Specifications Table of Contents include section 01 91 00 General Commissioning Requirements. No specification section is included. Please confirm if commissioning is by the VA and provide a specification.

Answer: Commissioning specification is included in addendum

Please confirm depth of existing concrete floor slab in mechanical room.

Answer: Existing concrete floor slab thickness in the mechanical room is unknown, assume 12” thickness, field verify

It is expected that the removal and installation of new equipment in the basement will require enlarging existing openings. Please confirm preference of equipment loading path and opening areas.

Answer: Boilers are to be site built, refer to specifications. It is anticipated that the condensate tank shall have a removable stand to allow for installation.

Is there an area for additional lay down storage, dumpster, and contractor trailer?

Answer: The contractor will work within the confines of the staging area shown in the drawings.

There is no specification section for seeding or sodding. If restoring grass in temporary boiler area is within scope of project, please provide.

Answer: Specification will be provided

Please confirm existing structural steel supporting exterior rooftop equipment is to be demolished for new structural steel shown on S104.

Answer: Correct existing platform on west wing to be removed.

Can the temporary fence posts be driven in the ground rather than T-stands?

Answer: Temporary fence can be driven into ground but area needs to be brought back to original state after project. Contractor to coordinate with COR.

Please provide detail for temporary boiler concrete pad.

Answer: the temporary concrete pad should be 4 inch deep with WWF

There is a keynote 1 symbol shown at various sinks on the basement level. Please confirm no scope associated with sinks.

Answer: Plan note 1 : Existing area, piping of item of equipment (type as indicated) to remain.

Please confirm that loose material, equipment and personnel equipment in the basement will be removed by Others.

Answer: A pre-survey of the area shall be conducted by the contractor, COR, and Fort Thomas

VA maintenance personnel to determine loose items to be moved.

A104 Penthouse Plan Keynote 7.04 references new equipment support, but none shown on drawing.

Please clarify location of equipment supports.

Answer: Keynote has been added to plan A104, See structural drawings

A105 Detail 26 shows exterior connection of penthouse wall to roof but is missing callouts for bottom of wall and penthouse roof. Please clarify exterior side penthouse wall details.

Answer: wall detail clarification has been added

Multiple References are given through the contract documents calling out the phasing plan but no phasing requirements or constraints are provided by the VA. Please provide any phasing plan required for the GC's to follow.

Answer: Sequence of construction is provided on G002.

If a phasing plan is not available, please confirm the contract can provide one post bid.

Answer: See above.

If a phasing plan is not available, and the contractor can provide a plan after award, please confirm if there are any constraints required by the VA Facility. This information does affect pricing.

Answer: See above.

Please confirm who the current Fire Alarm system service provider is?

Answer: Honeywell. System shall be sole sourced to Honeywell for any modifications required.

Please confirm the required warranty on the Firm Alarm system will only be for the new portion(s) of the system installed and not the entire campus fire alarm.

Please confirm if there is an isolation valve at the Fire Sprinkler Main to isolate the area(s) required for demo to accommodate the installation of the new boilers?

Answer: Basement isolation is shown on plans.

If there is not an isolation valve at the Fire Sprinkler Main for the Mechanical Room, Please confirm the

VA wants an Isolation Valve installed?

Answer: refer to above answer.

Please confirm the area we are to remove and demo the existing branch piping for the fire sprinkler in the work area does not remain in place and does not need to be modified to accommodate temporary conditions during the course of construction for the boiler replacement sequence.

Answer: confirm with the fire department.

A105 Penthouse Plan Detail 19 shows louver details. This detail is not referenced in the enlarged plans.

Please confirm that there is no louver scope in the rooftop penthouse.

Answer: The louver is by mechanical contractor. See note 20 on sheet MH104. Contractor to frame opening and provide flashing. Section has been noted in east elevation

Will both the area in the boiler room and on the roof be considered ICRA Class II area?

Answer: The boiler area will be an ICRA Level III. As a result, a negative pressure machine will be required along with a differential pressure device to ensure the pressure to the corridor is always -.01”

When the Fire Alarm/Sprinkler System is down for more than one shift, who will perform the Fire Watch?

Answer: If the Fire Alarm/Sprinkler system is down for a weekend, VA Police Services may be willing to perform the Fire Watch. For longer periods of time, the contractor will have to perform the Fire

Watch every four hours.

Who will perform training to personnel to compensate for impaired structural or compartmentation features of fire safety. Also, who will conduct organization wide safety education programs to promote awareness of any Life Safety Code deficiencies.

Answer: The contractor will perform these trainings.

Who will perform at least two fire drills per shift per quarter per the ICRA requirements when the Fire

Alarm/Sprinkler system is down.

Answer: All Fire Watch and Safety activities in the event of an extended shutdown shall be completed by the contractor.

In section 23 81 43 2.1.N., it refers to TPLFYP036EM140B as an outdoor unit. This appears to be an indoor ceiling cassette unit.

Answer: That is correct. This is an indoor cassette unit. For Section 23 81 43, various outdoor units of various capacities are to be supplied by the contractor along with indoor cassettes and wall hung units.

The spec calls out for us to provide a new JCI Facility Explorer System, however the entire site is

Metasys… to be most cost effective, are we able to just integrate into our existing Metasys system?

Answer: Facility Explorer JACEs and field controllers shall be installed. The contractor can install Tridium Server Software on the Virtual Server in the data server room on the fourth floor at the

Cincinnati campus or utilize the Metasys Virtual Server in the same data server room.

The spec 23 81 43 calls out 4 ton Hyper Heat pumps with R410A. These heat pumps are no longer available.

Answer: These units are available in the 3.5 ton size. As a result, the requirements in section 23

81 43 have been changed to reflect the 3.5 ton size. As a note, because of the change in size of the outdoor units, there was also a change in size and quantity of the indoor units and other associated equipment.

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