Attachment VII - Pre-Bid RFIs - GDI.docx

Questions and Answers

Specs say that the SSHO needs to be separate from the superintendent. Is this necessary as this will add substantial cost to the project.

Answer. Yes, the SSHO must be separate from the site superintendent.

Reference Specification 01 74 19, Will the contractor be provided with a location on the VA's campus to place a construction dumpster?

Answer. It depends on availability of laydown space at time of mobilization. There tend to be a few spots open at any given time. If not, we can coordinate a shared dumpster with another project.

Reference Specification 01 74 19, Is the contractor required utilize the VA's on-site scrap metal dumpster or is the contractor permitted determine the means of recycling the demolished equipment?

Answer. Contractor is responsible for removing items demolished in construction. Waste tickets, including recycle reports, are required to be submitted to the VA for tracking purposes.

Reference Sheet EP114- Plan note 1, Note 1 on sheet EP114, calls for replacing a breaker in a GE spectra switchboard section. This switchboard is located in building 14 and was not able to be visited during the site visit. Could images of the name plates for the section of the switchboard and of the circuit breaker that is being replaced be provided?

Answer. Only a picture of the breaker is available.

Reference Sheets EP-403 & E-703, There are two 400A Temporary-DS-MCCs which are identified as East and North in room C008. Since these disconnect switches will not be permanently installed do they still need to meet the Buy American requirement?

Answer. Temporary equipment does not need to meet the Buy American requirement.

Reference EP-403, There are 4 new VFDs called for in room C008 which will serve AHU-05. Is the contractor responsible for connecting the new VFDs to the Building Automations System and/or temperature control system(s)? What is the required control protocol for the Building Automation System and/or temperature control system(s)? If these systems are proprietary, please provide contact info for the Temperature Control contractor(s) for these systems.

Answer. Yes, the VFD’s will need to be connected to the BAS. The facility standard for controllers is Tridium Facility Explorer – see sole source document.

Reference EP-403, There are 4 new VFDs called for AHU-05. Could you provide the horsepower of the motors for each VFD and a picture of the motor nameplate if possible? This is needed for proper sizing and selection of the VFD.

Answer. There are no available pictures of the nameplates. The horsepower rating of the AHU-05 motors have been noted on sheets E-701 and E-703. These ratings are based off of the existing MCP/VFD in MCC-East. Horsepower rating shall be verified.

Reference Specification Section 26 05 73, Specification Section 26 05 73, Part 1, sub-section 1.1 (B) states "A short-circuit and selective coordination study, and arc flash calculations and analysis shall be prepared for the electrical overcurrent devices to be installed under this project." The requirement for Arc Flash and Short Circuit coordination studies is not mentioned on the drawings or the in the statement or work. Please confirm if it is the contractor's responsibility to complete these studies, and if not please clarify the related scope of work? For the selective coordination study, will it pertain to just the new electrical distribution equipment? Will it include the new VFDs?

Answer. The VA has completed a short circuit and arc flash study in 2024 (included in addendum). Utilize the 2024 study for the required power system study for this project. The updated study for this project only pertains to the new equipment provided up to the normal and standby sources. The new VFD’s shall be included in the updated study. Provide arc flash hazard labels on new equipment.

The specifications do not include a section for Variable Frequency Drives, Could you please provide this?

Answer. Refer to specification section 26 29 11 Motor Controllers, par 2.1.

Reference Single Line Drawings E-701, E-702, E-703 & E-704, The new Distribution panels are identified as being 480V 3 phase 3 wire (Delta), but also as 480/277V which would make the Distribution panels 3 phase 4 wire (WYE). Are the new Distribution panels 3 phase 3 wire Delta or 3 phase 4 wire WYE?

Answer. The new distribution panels are 480V, 3 phase, 3 wire.

Reference Single Line Drawings E-701, E-702, E-703 & E-704, Are the new distribution panels required to have a 65kAIC SCIC? The nameplate on DS-1A shows that this upstream switchboard is rated at 25kAIC and so 65kAIC appears unnecessary. Please reference Figure 1 below

Answer. Utilize the 2024 study to determine the minimum required rating. 65kAIC was noted at the time the drawings were issued since the 2024 study hadn’t been completed.

Reference E703 and E704, Are there any requirements for the digital meters in distribution panels? Communication protocols? Measuring capabilities? No Specification was provided. Please reference Figure 2 below.

Answer. Digital meter shall record, store, and trend voltage, current, kVA, kW, kWhr, kVAR, pf, and THD. Provide with communication capabilities. Connect all meters to BAS and update programming to provide for additional points on the BAS.

Reference Single Line Drawings E-701, E-702, E-703 & E-704, Are standard panelboards which are commonly referred to as lighting panelboards acceptable in lieu of distribution panelboards? Since all distribution branch circuit breakers are less than or equal to 125A, a standard panelboards would be able to be used, would cost less and would have a shorter lead time than a distribution panelboard.

Answer. Distribution boards are required.

There is no HVAC/Mechanical or HVAC controls work specifically defined on the drawings or in the statement of work, but we believe at the least some HVAC control work will be needed to complete this project. Shall the HVAC and/or control work needed to have a full working system be included by the contractor?

Answer. Controls shall be included for a fully functioning system, including any required tie-ins into the BAS.

4 new distribution panels are replacing 4 existing motor control centers (MCCs) and will be identified differently than the MCCs were previously identified. Shall the contractor install updated ID/nameplates at all existing and new equipment served? There approximately 30 pieces of existing mechanical equipment that will be inaccurately identified if this is not a requirement.

Answer. Updated nameplates at the existing equipment served by the new distribution panels are not required. The new distribution panels shall be provided with a two labels: one indicating the distribution panel name and one indicating the name of the MCC it replaces. See note HH on sheet E-001 dated 01/27/2025. Additionally, any upstream equipment shall be updated to reflect the aforementioned labels.

Reference Specification 01 32 16.15 SECTION 01 33 23 & 26 08 00 (3.3), There are numerous references to the "commissioning agent" in the specifications but we do not see where the qualifications of this individual are stated. Is this individual to be hired by the contractor at the contractor's expense? If this is a requirement, is the commissioning agent required to be NETA certified?

Answer. The Cx shall be hired by the contractor at the contractor’s expense. Specification section 01 91 00 will be issued with the Cx requirements.

image1.jpeg image2.png image3.png