Final Responses to Consolidated RFI Sheet 3_36C25221B0003_2-1-2021.xlsx
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- Solicitation number
- 36C25221B0003
About this file
This document contains responses to questions regarding a federal contract opportunity to replace obsolete fire alarm devices at a VA medical center in Chicago. The contract calls for providing all tools, materials, components, labor and supervision to install a fully functional fire alarm system and exit signs in accordance with design documents. The work includes one year parts and labor warranties and must be completed within 581 calendar days of the notice to proceed. The opportunity is set aside for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. The solicitation will be posted on November 25, 2020 with bids due on January 14, 2021. The pre-bid site visit details will be included in the solicitation package. The project value is estimated between $2-5 million and the NAICS code is 238210. Offerors must represent their SDVOSB and small business status and be registered in SAM.gov to receive the contract.
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Sheet1
RFI LIST 3
SOLICITATION #: 36C25221B0003
PROJECT TITLE: Replace Obsolete Fire Alarm Devices
PROJECT #: 537-16-101
| FACILITY: | Jesse Brown VA Medical Center |
| Chicago, IL |
| RFI # | RFI | VA RESPONSE | REFERENCE |
| 159 | Ammendment 0003, RFI 3 response is in direct conflict with the International Building Code, and NFPA 72 for the performance definition of 2-hour pathway survivability requirements with respect to circuit integrity cable. The VA response is technically incorrect with respect to these (2) required codes and installation standards; however, the VA Fire Protection Manual cites this (incorrectly so) and this is from which the response has been based. Does the VA hereby wave any and all requirements for 2 hour rated pathway survivability ratings as would otherwise be required by the Internationl Building Code and NFPA 72? This answer has significant cost ramifications if it is not being responded to by a licensed fire protection engineer with contractual responsibility for this response. | The previous response to RFI #3 remains valid and correct. See below for additional information. NFPA 72 12.4.3 (4) Pathway survivability Level 2 shall consist of one or more of the following: (4) Performance alternatives approved by the authority having jurisdiction. Department of Veterans Affairs Fire Protection Design Manual 7.2 .E Wiring installed in metal raceway within buildings that are protected throughout by sprinklers |
shall be considered to meet the requirements for Pathway Survivability Level 2 in accordance with NFPA 72 as a 2-hour performance alternative that has been approved by the authority having jurisdiction and shall be permitted for voice communication systems in VA facilities.
| 160 | In the event a response given in these RFI responses is technically incorrect with respect to NFPA 72 and the International Building Code and is determined after award to have material and significant cost increase changes in order to comply with these code requirements, how will the VA proceed with making an equitable adjustment to the awarded contractor to comply with the code requirements? | All Requests for Equitable Adjustment (REA) will be in compliance with FAR 52.243-4 (b) and as stated in Part 5 of the Statement of Work (SOW) | FAR 52.243-4(b) |
| 161 | On sheets FA-01-101 (in Police Operation 1555) and FA-11-101 (east of Mech Rm 1248) there is a symbol on the drawings that is not defined in the symbol legend or specifically described in the specificaitons. What physical fire alarm equipment and scope of work is designated by the rectangle with the words "NETWORK" at these locations? | Disregard "NETWORK" symbol at these locations for new work. | |
| 162 | For all 1,850 egress door relays shown on G-0004, detail 16, will the VA be handling any necessary programming and hardware upgrades to their access control system and software programmed sequence of operations to accommodate the new fire alarm relay and fire alarm auxiliary power supply wiring called for by this detail once they have field verified that the access control hardware and programmed capabilities required do not exist? | Contractor shall provide new wire, conduit and relays and connections to new fire alarm control panel and existing security system power supply including security system programming as needed. | |
| 163 | Amendment 0003, RFI 119 response states that initiating and notification circuits are not permitted to be installed in the same conduit. The only reference for this is "A/E" and "VAJB". Page 28 of the 6th edition of the VA Fire Protection Design manual only says that fire alarm wiring (i.e. all fire alarm wiring) shall be installed in separate raceways from other systems (like electrical power systems). Will the VA consider ammending their previous response to permit fire alarm indicating and initiating circuits to be run in the same raceway as long as it is done in accordance with NEC/NFPA 70 requirements for power limitations? Specification section 28 31 00 Paragraph 2.2 indicates all new conduits shall be installed in accodance with NFPA 70 - which permits initiating and indicating circuits in a single conduit. To not permit both types of circuits in a single conduit will nearly double the amount of conduits, material, labor time required and may prohibit the use of any existing raceways. | Initiating and notification circuits are permitted to be installed in the same conduit in accordance with NFPA requirements. | |
| 164 | Amendment 004 RFI Response 158 states "Communication between fire alarm panels is via 2 HR rated copper wire system, not fiber optic, so question does not apply to this Work". This statement conflicts with VA Ammendment 0003 Response to Question 3 and it conflicts with p. 29 of the 6th edition of VA Fire Protection Design Manual which clearly states a VA preference for fiber optic cable between buildings. Specfically, "Where signaling line circuits are run between fire alarm |
control units in separate buildings, fiber optic circuits are preferred because they are not
| susceptible to damage from lightning strikes." Will the VA licensed fire protection engineer responsible for this projects contractual and code adherence consider fibe optic cable betwen buildings and clarify where exactly, if any, 2-hour rated survivability requirements must be met, as the RFI responses to date are not clear. | The Response to RFI 4 does not conflict with Response to RFI 3 because the wiring between buildings does not meet the VA Fire 2 hour fire rating survivability criteria since the wiring between biuildings is not within the building and so is not protected by the sprinkler system. The Response to RFI 4 is correct and valid. The use of copper wire does not conflict with the VA Fire Protection Manual but the VA will consider, during contruction, an alternate suggestion by the installing contractor to use fiber optic cabling approved for fire alarm system use. | |||
| 165 | When the Contract Documents and contractually binding ammendment responses are in conflict with any required regulatory agency or Veterans Affairs adopted building code requirements, which of the two items will prevail, or take prcedence, the Contract Documents or required Codes and Regulatory Agencies? How will the Government make equitable adjustments to the contractor after award to remedy any discrepancies? | All Requests for Equitable Adjustment (REA) will be in compliance with FAR 52.243-4 (b) and as stated in Part 5 of the Statement of Work (SOW) | FAR 52.243-4(b) and SOW | |
| 166 | Section 28 31 00 Paragraph 1.5, Subparagraph F, sub-paragraph 3 indicates that this Specialty Construction contract shall have warranty obligations included beyond those of FAR 52.246-21, and references 2 to 5 years. Please clarify if this contract will be a multi-year service contract or is the Contractor's obligation only a one (1) year warranty as indicated in Section 01 00 00, p. 12, Paragraph 1.13? | Warranty will be in compliance with FAR 52.246-21, Warranty of Construction. This is not a multi-year service contract. | FAR 52.246-21; Specs and SOW | |
| 167 | Detail 16 on drawing G-004 calls out to assume 1,850 locations. There have been several questions and answers regarding this detail. The scope is still unclear and the fire alarm vendor quotes have substantially less control relays then 1,850. Some are stating that they are only required on Egress doors and some are stating that they only need them at the power supply and each power supply will power more then one door. Could we get clarification on the actual number of control relays required in lieu of locations so everyone is on even playing field. | Additional information has become available resulting in a modification of the quantity referenced by Detail #16 to be included. The new quantity is now 317. See revised Drawing G-004, detail 16. | Drawing G-004, Detail 16 | |
| 168 | Will the fireman phones require just a jack to plug in the headset or a red cabinet with headset? | Provide jacks and cabinets as required by the specifications. | Specification 28 31 00 section 2.13 | |
| 169 | Note 13 on drawing G-002 says we are responsible to coordinate and pay for for work by a VA selected and approved elevator contractor. Who is the VA selected elevator contractor so we can reach out to them and include their fees? | Existing Elevator Service Contractor: MidAmerican Elevator Company, Chicago | G-002, note 13 +VA | |
| 170 | We know from previous bids and understanding of the facility that there are not 1,850 doors with card access. We believe there are approx.. 250-300 locations where card access is located. We need confirmation of quantities from the facility to understand where the 1,850 locations are. The difference of 900 door locations is significant. We do not understand the reasoning of why the AE of Record put 1,850 locations, where are they coming up with this amount? | Additional information has become available resulting in a modification of the quantity referenced by Detail #16 to be included. The new quantity is now 317. See revised Drawing G-004, detail 16. | Drawing G-004, Detail 16 | |
| 171 | From RFI 148 response, We understand that there are no replacement of electric strikes in this work, or any re-working of hardware at these locations. There are still major unknowns.. 1.) Is there to be a fire alarm relay required at each location? 2.) Will the existing security system have the capacity for the new relays? 3.) Per Detail 16 – do all relay locations need new conduit and wiring from Relay to the Fire Control Panel / Security System Power Supply? – All questions will need to be answered to understand how to accurately price this. | As indicated in Detail #16 a fire alarm relay, with conduit and wiring is required at each location. There is no impact on security system capacity. | Drawing G-004, Detail 16 | |
| 172 | We would like to confirm that fire alarm submittals to the City of Chicago are not required for this project. | No submittals to the City of Chicago are required. | ||
| 173 | Would it be possible to obtain a report or list of the Addressable Fire Alarm Relays currently that are in the system which are being used to deactivate electric locking devices on doors, from the incumbent fire alarm vendor? | All existing relays are to be replaced; contractor to field verify location. | ||
| 174 | The specifications indicate that both jacks and cabinets with handheld are needed but the drawings only show the symbol for the cabinet with the handheld. Please confim if one or both are required at these locations | Provide jacks and cabinets as required by the specifications. | Specification 28 31 00 section 2.13 | |
| 175 | The VA indicated that the operator terminal is in the Bed tower, room 1608. Can the VA provide a riser diagram and the type of conduit and wire required to interconnect the buildings? | Existing connection information is provided. See detail 13 Fire Alarm System Annunciation Locations and Types and detail 15 Site Fire Alarm Communications (For Non-Contiguous Buildings) for requested information. | Drawing G-004 details 13 & 15 | |
| 176 | Can we get clairification from the EOR who is also the Network Safety and Fire Protection Engineer (SFPE) for the VA, as to what standard will govern NFPA72, or the VA design manual 6th addition September 2011? | The reference standards are as indicated in the specifications. For fire alarm specifics see Specification 283100 section 1.7. Reference Standards apply except as specifically directed by the Bid Documents and/or Response to RFI's. | ||
| 177 | Is this project considered a Design -Build or have a performance specification ? | This project is not a design-build. Bid document do include specifications. | ||
| 178 | Can the engineer of Record provide a riser diagram as to how the elevators will interface with the elevators? | Elevator interface shall be as decribed in the specifications and drawings. | Drawing G-004 details 15, Specification 28 31 00 section 3.2 | |
| 179 | Please provide the locations that are staffed on a 24-hour basis and the area's that are not. For example, locations such as the VA Police office or VA Fire Department station house might not be staffed continually | 24/7 Operations: VA Police, ER, AOD, Hospital Entrance (Ogden, Damen); Maintenance Shops (Bldg 32); Energy Center-ESG (Bldg 6); Electrical Substation (Bldg 15); Switchgear (Bldg 21); Chiller plant (Bldg 18) | ||
| 180 | Are there existing fire dampers that must be tied in to the FA sysem? | No. | ||
| 181 | Has the Engineer of Record given the local fire protection officials the opportunity to review and comment on projects for compliance with local regulations and compatibility with local fire fighting practices. | The Department of Veterans Affairs is the Authority Having Jurisdiction for this project which is on Federal Property. All appropriate parties have reviewed and approved this Work as applicable. | ||
| 182 | Has the facility solicited the services of a third party with knowledge of applicable fire protection criteria such as the respective Network Safety Manager, Network Safety and Fire Protection Engineer (SFPE), or other qualified fire protection engineering consultant during design in order to insure the project as designed by the A/E complies with such criteria. | The Department of Veterans Affairs is the Authority Having Jurisdiction for this project which is on Federal Property. All appropriate parties have reviewed and approved this Work as applicable. | ||
| 183 | Are all Emergency Telephones supposed to be mounted in a cabinet with integrated handset or should common areas such as elevator lobbies and hallways just be a telephone jack? | All emergency telephones are to be mounted in a cabinet with integrated handset. | Specification 28 31 00 section 2.13 | |
| 184 | Regarding the Security System Card Interface drawings on G-004 – is the relay control device that is shown existing? | Contractor shall provide new wire, conduit and relays and connections to new fire alarm control panel and existing security system power supply including security system programming as needed. | Drawing G-004 detail 16 | |
| 185 | Regarding the Security System Card Interface drawings on G-004 – is the intention to only drop power to doors with an electrified lock as shown in the diagram? | The intent is to drop power to the locks that are connected to card readers. The type of lock shown is an example. | ||
| 186 | Regarding the Security System Card Interface drawings on G-004 – Approximately how may doors does each relay control module provide power to? | There may be one or two doors each with a lock controlled by a single card reader at each location for which one relay is to be used to drop power to the one or two locks at that location. |
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