Attachment - RFI Questions and Answers.docx

RFI Questions and Answers

1. Will the VA provide CAD files for this project?

ANSWER: CAD files will be provided upon request during the project.

2. Please confirm this is not a tax-exempt project. If tax-exempt, will the government provide the prime contractor with a tax-exempt certificate for use by subcontractors and vendors?

ANSWER: VA will provide Tax Exemption Certificate to awardee

3. If a Prime Contractor is awarded multiple projects at the same VA Medical Center location: Can the Superintendent be shared across multiple projects at the same site/location, or should they only be dedicated full-time to this project?

ANSWER: Superintendent can be shared across multiple projects; COR reserves the right to request adequate supervision.

4. Can the Superintendent fulfill the Site Safety & Health Officer (SSHO) role? Specification 01 35 26, 1.7 D in its reference to FAR 52.236-6, can be interpreted to mean that the SSHO can also be the Superintendent. Please confirm that the Superintendent can fulfill the Site Safety & Health Officer (SSHO) role.

ANSWER: Yes, per the COR's discretion; the Site Super must have the required qualification. The COR reserves this right and/or requires a competent person if deemed incompetent Spec 01 35 26; 1.7 E.

5. If the Super can’t be the SSHO, the average ADDITIONAL cost for a dedicated SSHO is approximately $36,000 per month (salary, labor burden, per diem, housing, company vehicle, monthly return trips home, company phone, etc). We expect this project to be 12 months long, and the bid is expected to increase by $432,000.00. Please confirm a dedicated SSHO is still required.

ANSWER: Contingent on the answer to question #4.

6. If the Super can’t be the SSHO, is the SSHO required to be on-site full-time, or can they visit the site daily for safety inspections?

ANSWER: Contingent on the answer to question #4.

7. If the Super can’t be the SSHO and the SSHO is required to be onsite full-time, should they be assigned to this project only, or can they be assigned to another project as well on the same property?

ANSWER: Contingent on the answer to question #4.

8. If the Super can’t be the SSHO, can a subcontractor fulfill the SSHO role?

ANSWER: NO

9. Will background checks and fingerprinting be required for any scope of work related to this project? If required, how long is the turnaround time for background check results?

ANSWER: See “BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS” under INFORMATION REGARDING BIDDING MATERIAL, BID GUARANTEE AND BONDS, and VAAR 852.204-71 Information and Information Systems Security in the solicitation. The turnaround time is determined by the security office and is dependent on the submissions.

10. How many hours should the prime contractor and subcontractors’ budget for on-site badging, safety training, orientation, etc.?

ANSWER: See project info as posted

11. The period of performance (POP) on this project is given to be 457 days. However, we estimate the project will take 548 days, including preconstruction activities. Contractors never know when the government will issue an NTP; sometimes, it's immediately after the award; sometimes, we receive an admin NTP to begin submittals, etc. We estimate the time to construct this job plus preconstruction activities to be longer than the stated POP. We request that the POP be extended by 91 days, assuming NTP is issued before preconstruction activities.

ANSWER: See project info as posted

12. Is any scope of work for this project required to be performed outside of regular work hours? If so, what trades or scopes will be required to be performed outside of regular work hours? If so, what will the work hours and days be for scopes required to be performed outside of regular work hours?

ANSWER: See project info as posted

13. Are water connections available near the construction area?

ANSWER: See project info as posted

14. Will the VA allow contractors to use water from VA sources?

ANSWER: See project info as posted

15. Does the VA expect a construction entrance to be located within the laydown yard to prevent mud on the roads?

ANSWER: See plans and specs

16. Does the VA expect the laydown yard to be rocked during construction to prevent mud on the roads?

ANSWER: See project info as posted

17. Please confirm the VA needs the laydown yard graded/seeded and returned to the as found condition at the end of construction.

ANSWER: See project info as posted

18. Where is the electrical connection for power to the mobile office?

ANSWER: To be coordinated with the COR

19. Are contractors required to set a pole and meter electric usage?

A. If a pole and meter are required, please provide the location of the pole and meter.

B. If a pole and meter are required, please provide the location where power can be pulled from to feed the pole and meter.

ANSWER: No

20. If no electrical outlets nor temp power are available, a generator will be required, which usually adds significant cost to rent and fuel. Please confirm this is necessary if no power is available.

ANSWER: See project info as posted

21. Is temporary construction fencing required anywhere on the project or at the laydown area?

A. Please confirm that 6’ tall temporary construction fencing panels on 6’ stands (6.5’ height overall) are acceptable. We ask this because the standard VA specification is a minimum of 2.1m (seven feet) tall, which is not an industry standard height and would require a custom fence to be made at that height. Alternatively, an 8’ high fence generally tends to blow over even with sandbags on the bases when the fabric is required to be fastened to the fence, since 8’ tall panels with fabric have to potential to cause damage to property and injury to personal, we strongly recommend using 6’ tall temporary construction fencing if required.

ANSWER: see plans and specs

22. Can utility tie-ins be performed during regular hours?

ANSWER: See project info as posted

23. Will the VA allow for stored material so that we can procure and lay down long lead items and/or critical path material/equipment? If not, bid prices will be higher to account for unknowns (inflation, tariffs, etc).

ANSWER: To be coordinated with the COR

24. Will the VA fully pay for this material/equipment if stored onsite and before installation?

ANSWER: Contingent upon approval of material/equipment by the COR per plans and specs

25. Please confirm that the current design documents meet current VA TIL guidelines.

ANSWER: See project info as posted

26. Is there any work not included in the drawings or contract documents that will need to be performed under the contract?

ANSWER: See project info as posted

27. Please provide specifications for the following missing specifications:

A. 33 10 00 B. 32 17 23 ANSWER: See Attachment 331000 and 321723

28. Please provide water utility specifications for the new 2” water line.

ANSWER: See Attachment 331000

29. Will the discovery of any unsuitable material for backfill be treated as a change order? To include costs for hauling off materials, costs for suitable backfill, and costs for hauling in suitable backfill.

A. If not, please provide a geotechnical report / boring logs, as we have no insights into subsurface conditions in the absence of boring logs.

ANSWER: See project info as posted

30. Where can excess excavated materials be stockpiled?

A. How large can the stockpile be?

ANSWER: See project info as posted

31. Please include a sanitary profile for all new 6” sanitary sewer lines shown in the plan view.

ANSWER: Profiles provided for sanitary trunk lines 8” or greater. Profiles not provided for individual 6” building services.

32. Please provide the standard detail for the new 2” water line piping, including minimum depth of pipe coverage and bedding/fill material.

ANSWER: Please review water main notes, pipe trench detail, and specifications for requested information.

33. Please provide the joint method for HDPE piping.

ANSWER: HDPE Pressure Pipe Joints should be butt-fused or jointed with electrofusion couplings. Mechanical joints and couplings are prohibited. Pipe and joints/connections should be rated for a minimum of 160 psi.

34. Are the testing quantities listed in Specification 01 45 29 3.8 intended as minimums or binding quantities for the duration of the project?

A. Please confirm whether the '14 man-days' of inspection by geotechnical personnel indicated is intended to represent a binding quantity for material testing.

i. If yes, will any additional man-days of inspection be required?

ii. If yes, will these additional days be addressed through a contract mod?

iii. If no, can the VA provide an accurate testing schedule?

B. What is “(Minimum _1.5_ months)” within this specification representing?

i. If this exceeds 1.5 months, will the cost for additional services be addressed through a change order?

ANSWER: See project info as posted

35. Specification 31 20 11 E b. states that the bottom quadrant of piping shall be bedded on suitable undisturbed soil or granular fill; while Pipe Trench Detail #1/CS502 shows pipe bedding as crushed stone/Granular Material Indot. Please confirm which specification should be followed, and if suitable undisturbed soil can be used as pipe bedding.

ANSWER: Both are acceptable. Suitable undisturbed soil may be used per specification 312011.

36. The drawing depicts trees near the excavation path that are not noted to be removed. If unavoidable, will these trees be allowed to be removed with a change order?

ANSWER: All tree removal must be coordinated with the COR. Any tree not noted to be removed should be assumed to be protected during construction.

37. Drawing CS306 and CS307 utility note 8 states “ALL SANITARY CONNECTIONS REMOVED FROM EXISTING COMBINATION SEWER. SEWER TO BE DEDICATED AS STORM SEWER.” Are there any sanitary sewer lines that need to be disconnected from sanitary sewer in area 4 that are not shown on the drawings to ensure that these disconnected sanitary lines become dedicated as storm sewer? The particular SS line of concern is the one that crosses Nelson Avenue as shown in the picture below.

ANSWER: This line comes from a previously demolished building and ties into a section of sanitary sewer that has been isolated from building services. The function of this note is for record purposes to identify this section of sanitary as storm after the completion of this project. Work outside the scope of this project is not anticipated for fulfillment of this note.

38. What seed mix is needed to match the current grass on-site?

ANSWER: Please see specification section 329000

39. Will the VA accept 30” rectangular structures in leu of 30” round structures?

ANSWER: See Attachment 329000

40. Please provide a striping layout or pavement marking plan.

ANSWER: All proposed pavement striping is shown on the Site Layout Plans (CS106 & CS109)

41. The drawings do not show where the 70 lf of ACM is located.

1. Can you please show the locations and number of locations.

2. Can you please identify what type of pipe contains the ACM. Steam, Sanitary or etc.

ANSWER: See Specification 028211 Section 1.1.B.2.

42. Will the owner accept Procore Project Management software as the primary submittal and data tracking tool for this project?

ANSWER: YES

43. Is this project tax-exempt, and will the CO/COR provide the necessary tax-exempt certificates?

ANSWER: VA will provide Tax Exemption Certificate to awardee

44. What is the approximate duration between issuing the award and issuing the NTP?

ANSWER: Approximately 10 days, subject to change

45. For planning the preliminary project schedule, can you please provide an anticipated award date?

ANSWER: The award date cannot be anticipated at this time. It will depend on the results of the bid opening.

46. How many calendar days should be included in the critical-path method schedule for owner and A/E review and respond to RFIs?

ANSWER: See project info as posted

47. How many calendar days should be included in the critical-path method schedule for owner and A/E submittal review?

ANSWER: See project info as posted

48. Will the Government provide the 3-D REVIT Design model in native file format, for the creation of coordination drawings?

ANSWER: Revit files are not available for this project, however there are CAD files available upon request during project construction.

49. Where will the designated parking & laydown area be for workers accessing the construction site?

ANSWER: To be coordinated with the COR

50. Will the owner be providing the civil site SWPPP and associated permitting fees?

ANSWER: No. Any costs shall be included in bid.

51. Can the contractor use the existing restroom facilities in the work area or adjacent ones nearby?

ANSWER: NO

52. Many VA campuses are beginning to address Turbulosis protocols on VA campus projects. Are there any TB required protocols for this campus/project?

ANSWER: NO

53. Will you provide a copy of the site visit attendance and sign-in sheet in amendment?

ANSWER: See Attachment: Site Walk Sign-In Sheet image1.png