S06 - Att 2 Pre-Bid RFIs 676-23-004 Res.pdf

No. COMMENT Response (CO - COR - AE)

1 How will the VA handle the long lead time with this period of performance?

The VA plans to start the period of performance at Notice to Proceed for submission of documents and ordering of materials. Contractor shall determine long lead time material items specific to the contract. Long lead time would be anything that would not be available for use at the time expected per the Contractors Critical Path Schedule because of procurement delays outside the Contractors influence (for example, HVAC air handling units, specific electrical equipment, circuit boards/chips, or other custom materials that may be experiencing global production and delivery issues). The potential exists for the contract to be suspended because of long lead time delays at the discretion of the Contracting Officer once these items are identified and submitted.

Spec Reference 01 35 26 - Is the SSHO required to be onsite at all times? Can the SSHO and superintendent be the same person?

SSHO - One fulltime SSHO at each project site, for each shift (with no other duties) that holds as current, a professional safety certification. See 01 35 26, 1.9, A.

SSHO and Superintendent must be separate people. See 01 35 26, 1.9, C.

Is the temp AHU switchover required to occur over the weekend? No. The Pharmacy cannot go unconditioned for longer than 4 hours. AHU-5 is active until connections are final.

Will the Pharmacy require any certification or re-certification by a 3rd party when the HVAC system is shut down and switched over between AHU's 5 and 7?

If so, will the VA furnish these services?

No.

No.

Spec Reference 23 05 93 - Does the HVAC system require a pre-construction survey to record air values?

If so, what are the extents of pre-construction TAB for HVAC?

Yes. Rooms identified in the VAV Unit Schedule.

Is the existing ductwork required to be cleaned after HVAC modifications are complete?

If so, what are the extents of duct cleaning?

Will duct cleaning be required prior to AHU switch overs?

Duct cleaning was not called for in the Bid Documents.

7 Sheet GC105 keynotes make reference to AHU-06. Confirming, temporary HVAC will be provided through use of existing AHU-07? AHU-7 is the correct AHU to use for the temporary supply air and return air while AHU-05 is replaced.

The spec for HVAC controls (par. 1.1.F.1) mentions that the GC is to directly hire a Control System Integrator for the project. Division 25 work was not included with the spec manual.

Is this required?

If so, can a spec be provided for integrated automation?

Remove System Integrator references. Responsibilities noted for the System Integrator shall be by the BAS contractor used by the Tomah the Facilities BAS System (JCI authorized BAS Contractor).

9 In building 406 do you know what the existing electrical panels are, brand and frame size?

Ex. Panel CMP-1B is Cutler Hammer Type PH Panelboard.

Ex. MD 480 EQ is Square D, HCM, 10246, Cat. No.

12282536770020001.

Ex. NMP-1-B is Cutler Hammer, model not known.

10 Will the facility require any work to be completed off-hours?

a. If so, can these tasks / scopes of work be completed in evenings and/or weekends?

Shut-downs require off-hours work. It is the contractor's responsibility to develop a work plan and schedule detailing procedures. See 01 00 00, 1.6, G. , H., and I.

Project # 676-23-004 Replace AHU-05 in B406 and Add Humidification to B455 Solicitation # 36C252-25-B-0013

Project # 676-23-004 Replace AHU-05 in B406 and Add Humidification to B455 Solicitation # 36C252-25-B-0013

11 Is temporary power and water available for a Construction Trailer at the laydown/storage area?

Utility is available for temp power, but it shall be installed by the contractor. This includes investigating existing conditions, purchase of all necessary material, and labor associated with complete installation and removal of the service (including restoring to existing conditions). temp water and sanitary sewer is not available.

12 Will this project be Sales Tax Exempt? No this is not a sales tax exempt project.

13 Can the site visit list please be provided. Site Visit Sign-in Sheet is included in Amendment A0001.

Please confirm whether one individual can ‘triple-hat’ and perform the duties of SSHO, CP and Superintendent roles, so long as they are qualified for each position and able to adequately perform responsibilities of all such roles; or if two individuals will be required to perform the duties of these three roles?

No. See response to Item #2.

15 Please provide rebar size and spacing for new equipment pad indicated on Drawing C501, Detail 8. #4 @ 9" O.C. each way at slab center.

16 Will the sign-in sheet from site visit be available in addendum? Site Visit Sign-in Sheet is included in Amendment A0001.

17 Please clarify if a superintendent can be a dual hat to cover the requirements of SSHO? No. See response to Item #2.

18 If no to the question above, will the SSHO need to be full-time for this project? Yes. See response to Item #2.

19 Please clarify if a superintendent can be a dual hat to cover the requirements of QA/QC? No. See response to Item #2.

20 If no to the question above, will the QA/QC need to be full time for this project? Yes. See response to Item #2.

21 Can a superintendent be a triple hat to cover the requirements of SSHO and QA/QC? No. See response to Item #2.

VHA Directive 1192.01 speaks to Health Care Personnel, Page 8(p) VA Contracting Officers: This section implies, “VA contracting officers responsible for on-site HCP contract will inform the contractors about this directive and its requirements.” However, this project is not an on-site contract for HCP.

Section C page 3, indicated that flu season is between Dec 1 through March 31, please validate that is not a mandatory requirement per page 4 of the solicitation titled COMPLIANCE WITH VHA DIRECTIVE 1192.01.

This is a requirement when working at a VA Health Care Facility even for the non Health Care Personnel.

Requires all contractor personnel to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccinations or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons.

23 Please consider updating the wages, it appears it changed on 6/27/2025, General Decision Number: WI20250011 06/27/2025. Please provide the latest wage determination for this project’s county.

Correct. Updated Wage Determination is included in Amendment A0001 and again in Amendment A0002.

24 Is the use of temporary plastic wall panels (such as STARC panels) acceptable to meet ICRA requirements? Per STARC product literature, the panels exceed ICRA Class IV requirements, which is acceptable.

25 Will shutdowns be required to be done during off hours or weekends? See Item #10.

26 Please advise if there is assumed asbestos? No asbestos is anticipated.

27 Will work areas be cleared of all VA items and stored debris prior to the contractor entering those areas? No.

28 Will a full-time fire watch be required during activities such as cutting and welding? How long after such activities are completed?

Fire Watch is required for automatic sprinkler impairments longer than 4 hours in 24 hours. Follow NFPA 51B Standard for Fire Prevention during Welding, Cutting and Other Hot Work and NFPA 241. All Hot Work Requires VA Fire department permit.

Solicitation # 36C252-25-B-0013

29 Please confirm the extent of any duct cleaning scope if required. See Item #6.

30 Please confirm the extent of duct leakage testing. Leakage testing is not required. Ductwork changes are low pressure branches.

31 Advise if contractor would be responsible for delegated structural design calculations associated with the new air handling equipment. No.

32 Is there a particular vendor or contractor currently servicing and maintaining the Building Automation System or Temperature Controls System? Johnson Controls, Inc. Madison Branch Office.

33 Is there a particular vendor or contractor currently servicing and maintaining the Fire Alarm System? J&K Security Solutions performs maintenance on Campus.

34 To allow sufficient time to review responses and prepare our bid we kindly request that you please extend the bid date. Due date will be extended.

Please confirm the NACIS code for this project is 238220, the SDVOSB labor participation % is 25% of the total labor on the project and not more than 75% of the total contract value can be paid by the Prime Contractor (or other qualified SDVOSB companies) to other companies?

NAICS: 238220 - Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning equipment - Small Business Size Standard of $19.0 Million.

VAAR 852.219-75 (a)(1)(iii) [X] Special trade construction contractors. In the case of a contract for special trade contractors, the contractor will not pay more than 75% of the amount paid by the government to it to firms that are not VIP-listed SDVOSBs as set forth in 852.219–73 or VOSBs as set forth in 852.219–74. Any work that a similarly situated subcontractor further subcontracts will count towards the 75% subcontract amount that cannot be exceeded. Cost of materials are excluded and not considered to be subcontracted.

36 Please confirm if sales / use taxes are to be included in the bid? Yes taxes need to be included. This is not a sales tax exempt project.

Please confirm that there must be (2) full-time people on site while work is ongoing to fulfill the following on site duties - SSHO, Superintendent and Quality Control Manager Duties?

Yes. See response to Item #2.

38 Per Safety section 01 35 26 1.9.A., please confirm the SSHO must be a separate person from the Superintendent / Quality Control Manager. Yes. See response to Item #2.

39 Please confirm the Superintendent can also be the Quality Control Manager. See response to Item #2.

Per specification section 01 45 00 3.4.B., please confirm the CQC system Manger is Required to be present at the site at all times during construction and is Required to have an undergraduate degree in construction management with a minimum of 5 years construction experience on construction similar to the scope of this contract.

Correct as stated in 01 45 00, 3.4, B.

41 Please confirm that both the Superintendent/CQC Mgr. and the SSHO must remain on the project FULL TIME on site until substantial completion. Correct, both on-site full time.

42 What is the anticipated award date for this project? Anticipated award is to be within 120 days of the bid due date.

43 When is the “Notice to Proceed” anticipated to be issued? Anticipate Notice to Proceed about ten days after award and once insurance and bonds are received.

44 When is the anticipated “Start of Construction” for this project? Start of construction is dependent upon product leadtimes and the Contractors Critical Path Schedule.

Solicitation # 36C252-25-B-0013

Current economic conditions have resulted in extended lead times on some materials. How will these extended lead times on necessary materials be accounted for in the contract?

The VA plans to start the period of performance at Notice to Proceed for submission of documents and ordering of materials. Contractor shall determine long lead time material items specific to the contract. Long lead time would be anything that would not be available for use at the time expected per the Contractors Critical Path Schedule because of procurement delays outside the Contractors influence (for example, HVAC air handling units, specific electrical equipment, circuit boards/chips, or other custom materials that may be experiencing global production and delivery issues). The potential exists for the contract to be suspended because of long lead time delays at the discretion of the Contracting Officer once these items are identified and submitted.

Specifications 01 00 00 1.6.J. calls for a 7’ High Temporary Construction fence, and detail 1 on sheet C501 shows a 7’ high Construction fence. Would the VA accept a 6’ tall (standard height) construction fence?

6' tall fence panel is acceptable

How many hard copies does the VA require of the completed O&M? Do the manuals require delivery when the equipment arrives or at substantial completion?

2 hard copies and one electronic

Per the Bid Schedule item 002 – Deductive Bid Alternate #1, should this be a deductive number from Item 001 or should this be the total amount of the base bid minus the work in B455?

Total amount of the base bid minus the work in B455

Reference Spec. section 01 00 00 1.6.H. – Phasing, please confirm all new equipment must be on the Tomah’s VA Campus at least 5 working days in advance of an approved, scheduled outage.

Before any shutdown may start all materials must be on Campus 5 working days before the scheduled shutdown.

Reference Spec. section 01 32 16.15.1.2. Contractors Representative – The Contractor shall designate an authorized outside scheduling consultant responsible for the Project Schedule including preparation, review and progress reporting with and to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

Does the project scheduler have to be a 3rd party or would the VA allow the Prime Contractor to fulfill these duties?

Prime contractor (The GC) is responsible for the 3rd party scheduler.

Reference Specification Section 01 35 26.1.16 and IC General Note 2. on sheet GC101, is Tuberculosis Screening required on this project? Would the Department of Health Services Wisconsin risk assessment TB questionnaire, satisfy this requirement for this project?

TB Screening standard requirement for VA Tomah projects. Check with CO and COR for questionnaire.

Please reference specification Section 01 00 00 part 1.2, subpart D. This states the VA will retain a testing agent and the GC shall coordinate tests with the VA testing Agent. Specification Section 01 45 29, Part 1.1 says the testing services are to be retained by the General Contractor. Please confirm and/or clarify who is responsible to hire the testing agency.

GC will be doing testing but VA will have a Commission Agent on contract for this project.

Solicitation # 36C252-25-B-0013

In Specification Section 01 45 29, Section 3 there are certain items that are called out as “NOT Used”, including section 3.18 which typically calls out the qty of test to be assumed. Please review and confirm what is listed in the Specification is what is required.

Section 3.18 is not called out as "NOT USED", but the quantities of the listed tests are missing. Provide as follows:

Concrete:

Making and Curing Concrete Test Cylinders: 6 Compressive Strength, Test Cylinders: 6

Concrete Slump Test: 2 Concrete Air Content Test: 2

Aggregate, Normal Weight: Gradation: 2 Flatness and Levelness Readings (number of days): 1

Reinforcing Steel:

Tensile Test: 1

Bend Test: 1 Mechanical Splice: 1 Welded Splice Test: 1

Inspection:

Technical Personnel (Man-days): 2

Specification Section 01 33 23 (Submittals), section 1.6.E states that the contractor is responsible for the file sharing site? Please confirm this is the case or if it is the expectation of the VA that the contractor purchase/provide a submittal exchange type system. Please clarify what the contractor is to include in their bid.

See 01 00 00, 1.34 electronic submittal exchange service required and provided by the prime contractor throughout the entire duration of the project (award through close out)

55 Reference 01 81 13, is sustainable construction required on this project? Yes.

56 Will crane picks for the rigging of any equipment and materials be restricted to federal holidays and/or weekends only? No but coordination & notification is required

Reference 01 91 00 1.2.A. – Contractual Relationships – Please confirm the third-party independent Commissioning Agent will be contracted and paid for by the VA.

That is correct the VA will hire the Commissioning Agent.

58 What are the contractor’s responsibilities pertaining to commissioning?

01 91 00 describes the requirements for all parties involved. A more specific question may provide a more direct response.

59 Do the MEPF contractors need to include a specific number of hours for training? If so please advise the number of hours required? Training hours are defined in individual sections. See each requirement.

Pertaining to Section 01 45 00 section 3.6 - Please confirm all three phases of control are required for each definable feature of work as outlined under sections ABC&D.

Yes, all are required for each definable feature of work.

How will existing penetrations in Fire Rates Walls be remediated? Will the VA shops repair / remediate any existing penetrations that are not properly sealed?

23 31 00, 3.1, F. require fire rated partitions get fire rated stop by contractor. VA will not repair. Contractor to notify if a penetration not related to the project is improperly sealed.

If or when above ceiling conflicts or needed demolition are found with existing MEP’s that are not shown on the drawing and not able to be investigated at the walk thru, how are these to be handled?

Unforeseen conditions requiring additional work by the contractor shall be handled through RFP.

63 Drawings show the top and bottom rail to be 2”, standard for all of the jobs we do is a 1 5/8” top and bottom rail if they have it. IS this Acceptable? Sizes verified in specification section 32 31 13.

Drawings show 4” posts, which is overkill for the size of this fence and the protection from the building. This could easily go down to 2.5” or 3”, is this acceptable?

Sizes verified in specification section 32 31 13.

65 Calls for schedule 40, which is much more expensive than SS40. SS40 is a much stronger post material as well. Can we use SS40 instead? Sizes verified in specification section 32 31 13.

Solicitation # 36C252-25-B-0013

In the specs, it calls for green coated fence material, but only talks about green slats in the detail. If they want green, we have been hearing lead times of 9 months or longer. If they want something other than the typical galvanized, we can get black coated which looks much better, but at a better price and quicker lead time. Please advise on color choice.

Color verified in specification section 32 31 13, and through submittal process.

For the temp fence, can we just use temp fence panels? This would be much easier and still block off the area. Then the temp panels can also double as gates so we don’t have to build gates for the temp fence.

As long as the temp fence panels meet whats identified in the drawings and specs (and items responded to in the pre-bid RFI's). See detail 1 on drawing C501 for temp fence panel requirements. Details 6 & 7 on the referenced sheet depict permanent fence panel details.

Drawing/Detail # E602 & M601 The Electrical and Mechanical Equipment schedules do not match. E602 Electrical plan calls out for (3) 406-ACCU-1 50 amp feeds. M601 Mechanical plan calls for (1) 50 amp feed. How should this be bid?

Bid for (3) 50 amp panel feeds.

In the event that the existing steam valves do not hold when tie-ins need to occur, will contractors be able to shut off steam to the entire building? In past experience, some of the existing valves in the building did not function properly and would not hold when trying to isolate or shut off portions of the system.

Whole building steam isolation can be accommodated if necessary and shall be performed off normal working hours.