S06 - RFI Response A0001 Sep 3 2026.pdf

RFI # Question/Comment Response (VA - COR)

Specifications require that the SSHO must:

a. Must be a separate individual from the Superintendent.

B. Must be a separate individual from the Quality Control Manager.

c. No crossover of roles is permitted.

d. The SSHO must also satisfy the following requirements:

i. OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety Training within the last five years.

ii. PLUS one of the following:

iii. 7 years construction safety experience; OR

iv. Safety degree + 5 years’ experience; OR

v. Current CSP or CHST certification + 5 years’ experience.

vi. The SSHO is also required to hold a current professional safety certification and have at least 3 years of dedicated construction safety experience.

For a small business, this level of accreditation is typically found through consultation services.

Often those services require the on-site consultant be paid weekly or monthly regardless of delays and suspensions, since they are contracted for the specific project. During periods when field work is unable to proceed due to Government-directed suspension, pending RFI responses, pending design revisions, or pending Government-issued RFPs, does the Government expect these personnel to remain assigned full-time to the project during the entire period of inactivity?

Please identify under what circumstances these personnel may be temporarily reassigned during such periods. If none exist, what duration of Government administrative delay should bidders reasonably include in their pricing?

Yes, the SSHO must have the requirements stated in the specifications. Along with all accreditations. Any modifications to the contract must be justified and properly documented in accordance with FAR 52.243-4 (Changes). This regulation outlines the requirements for making changes to contract terms, including the necessity for clear written records. Government directed suspensions are negotiated as needed at the time of issuance.

None. Every situation and project is different.

The CQC System Manager must:

a. Be employed by the General Contractor.

B. Be onsite at all times during construction.

c. Have authority to stop nonconforming work.

d. Have authority over quality control matters.

e. Minimum qualifications:

i. Construction Management degree.

ii. Minimum 5 years’ experience on similar construction.

iii. Completion of the Corps of Engineers/NavFac Construction Quality Management (CQM) Course before work begins.

iv. An alternate CQC Manager with identical qualifications must also be designated.

For a small business, this level of accreditation is typically found through consultation services.

Often those services require the on-site consultant be paid weekly or monthly regardless of delays and suspensions, since they are contracted for the specific project. During periods when field work is unable to proceed due to Government-directed suspension, pending RFI responses, pending design revisions, or pending Government-issued RFPs, does the Government expect these personnel to remain assigned full-time to the project during the entire period of inactivity?

Please identify under what circumstances these personnel may be temporarily reassigned during such periods. If none exist, what duration of Government administrative delay should bidders reasonably include in their pricing?

Yes the CQC System Manger must have the requirements laid out in the specifications. Any modifications to the contract must be justified and properly documented in accordance with FAR 52.243-4 (Changes). This regulation outlines the requirements for making changes to contract terms, including the necessity for clear written records. Government directed suspensions are negotiated as needed at the time of issuance.

None. Every situation and project is different.

Project # 676‐22‐110 Upgrade Fire Alarm System Solicitation # 36C252-26-B-0014

Pre-Bid RFIs

S05 Pre-Bid RFIs 676-22-110 1 of 5

Please identify the Infection Control Risk Category (Low, Medium, High, or Highest Risk) applicable to each building and phase identified on Sheets GC104-GC106 for bidding purposes.

a. Please identify whether each project phase is to be performed under Class III or Class IV Infection Control requirements and provide a schedule correlating each phase to the required precaution level.

Please see ICRA spread sheet "Infection Control 676-22-110 Upgrade Fire Alarm" with Class level sheets for Low, Medium and High-Highest.

Is this project a design build? We will need to know if the quantities of devices on the plans are accurate for calculating the IC area requirements. The Project is not Design Build. All devices shown on the plans and one-lines are accurate for the required FA coverage.

IC Level IV is required to use hard barriers. The Level IV detail shows using steel studs, drywall, insulation and poly barrier. Are the Starc panels sufficient and acceptable for these “hard barriers”?

a. If steel stud and drywall barriers are required, what measures will be required from the contractor to keep these areas clean while the steel stud and drywall are being brought in, installed, taped and then removed?

B. Where Infection Control barriers occur in areas with lay-in ceilings, may the Contractor terminate barriers at the ceiling plane and utilize sealed 6-mil poly above the ceiling to maintain separation, or is the Contractor required to construct a continuous steel-stud and gypsum-board barrier through the interstitial space to the structure above?

Stark walls/Modular wall system with a 1 hr. fire rating is approved. With fire retardant poly to the floor of the above space. Particle counter on each ICRA barrier during working hours. Shall be provided if not vented to the exterior.

Follow ICRA plans for further information.

A. see response on modular barriers

B. A fire retardant poly barrier as seen in GC102 or modular wall system can be utilized in front entrances for night work purposes.

Please identify, by building and phase, where the 1-hour steel-stud drywall barrier detail on GC102 is required and where the 6-mil poly critical barrier detail may be utilized.

Generally, at every building entry or main access drawing there is a KEYED NOTE 2 on the DEMOLITION drawings, and KEYED NOTE 12 or 13 on the NEW WORK drawings which states, "ICB-1 BARRIER" as part of the requirements for DEMOLITION and NEW WORK. The design and intention for this ICB barrier is installed and removed every day. This would required the 6 Mil Poly Critical Barrier in the AE's opinion. However, if the entry way, which always is an emergency exit path, can remain clear by a minimum of 44" and the exit door path remains clear, then a 1-Hour hard wall ICB may be installed if it is more convenient for the contractor. The contractor must meet the infection controls requirements in the specifications.

These are the know locations a 1-hour barrier should be installed:

1. B400 Waiting - 1080B.

2. 401 Lobby

3. B402 Lobby - 2C14 - do not block door in anyway.

4. B403 Lobby - 3C14.

5. B404 Vestibule - 10440.

6. B405 Vestibule

7. B406 Lobby - 101.

8. B407 in Office 1714 for the new and existing head end transition and installation.

9. B409 and B410 - Garage.

10. B411, B412, B455 - Vestibules.

11. B415 and B416 at each FCP location.

12. B32, B36, and B40 at each FCP location. In B36 for the new and existing head end transition and installation.

13. B425 - Entry off of the Tramway.

S05 Pre-Bid RFIs 676-22-110 2 of 5

There are several areas listed that will require work, all areas are required to be Class III or Class IV IC.

a. There are 19 different buildings on Sheet GC103 that are known to be either abandoned, sparsely occupied, used primarily for storage, or otherwise classified as non-patient care areas. Is it completely necessary for all these areas to require Class III

IC?

B. The Attic and Crawl Spaces of many of the buildings are also scheduled for work. Given the numerous existing penetrations present within the attic and crawl spaces of these buildings, establishing and maintaining negative air in these spaces will be labor intensive.

Will these areas be required to be kept under constant negative air and thereby in Type III IC?

i. If so, where should the machines exhaust the filtered air to, since there are no windows in the attics or crawl spaces?

Please see ICRA spread sheet "Infection Control 676-22-110 Upgrade Fire Alarm" with Class levels.

Are there any areas that will require any IC barriers to be set up at the beginning of the shift and removed at the end of the shift?

a. If so, what would be the plan regarding removing and replacing the exterior window that will be required to obtain negative air in these spaces?

B. Will exhaust air routing plans be added to these bid documents?

Due to the size and requirements for this project it is not possible to provide this many outlets for negative air machines.

If HEPA Carts are used HEPA Cart/mobile ICRA operates it per manufacture and ICRA recommendations.

GC104 specifically permits use of Hepa Carts for many occupied-floor activities and notes that buildings where Hepa Carts are not feasible shall use ICRA barriers. Please clarify whether ceiling-access work performed entirely from approved Hepa Carts eliminates the requirement for floor to-deck temporary infection-control wall construction.

Yes, mobile ICRA carts are authorized for use, follow specifications and ICRA requirements.

The plans indicate using Hepa Carts. Since these do not exhaust to the exterior of the building, will they be allowed for use?

a. If so, are there any areas that require barriers that can be vented to the adjacent space after being filtered through Hepa filtration?

Yes so long as the employee using the HEPA Cart/mobile ICRA operates it per manufacture and ICRA recommendations. With internal negative air machines in operation. Ensure wiring is not a trip hazard while in use.

A. spread sheet "Infection Control 676-22-110 Upgrade Fire Alarm" with Class levels.

B404 and B406 are shown in the drawings as receiving new FA devices / system. The third floor of 406 and all of 404 were recently renovated or are under renovation and the fire alarm devices are relatively new. Please confirm whether those devices are also to be replaced under this contract.

Yes, they need to be replaced with this project.

Specification Section 01 00 00, Paragraph 1.3.A requires the existing fire alarm system to remain active until the new system is installed and operational. Paragraph 1.3.B (Alternate No. 1) requires reuse of existing conduits in place. Please clarify the intended means and method for reusing existing conduits where those conduits currently contain operational fire alarm conductors that must remain in service until completion and acceptance of the new fire alarm system. How does the Government intend for the Contractor to install new conductors in these conduits while maintaining operation of the existing system?

Bid alternative is not being utilized in this solicitation provide pricing on base bid only.

If Alternate No. 1 is selected, is the Contractor expected to provide temporary fire alarm wiring, temporary raceways, or temporary fire alarm system infrastructure to maintain operation of the existing fire alarm system while existing conductors are removed and replaced in reused conduits?

If so, please identify the required scope and basis of design for such temporary systems.

Bid alternative is not being utilized in this solicitation provide pricing on base bid only.

For Alternate No. 1, may the Contractor assume that all existing conduits possess sufficient spare capacity to accommodate both the existing operational conductors and the proposed replacement conductors during phased installation and cutover?

If not, please identify the intended installation method for locations where conduit fill will not permit simultaneous occupancy.

Bid alternative is not being utilized in this solicitation provide pricing on base bid only.

S05 Pre-Bid RFIs 676-22-110 3 of 5

Please provide the intended sequence of work for Alternate No. 1. Specifically, is the Contractor expected to:

a. Maintain existing conductors in service until final cutover;

B. Remove existing conductors prior to installation of replacement conductors; or

c. Utilize another phasing approach?

Clarification is requested regarding the intended cutover methodology necessary to comply with the requirement that the existing fire alarm system remain operational until the new system is fully functional.

Bid alternative is not being utilized in this solicitation provide pricing on base bid only.

For Alternate No. 1, may the Contractor assume that all existing conduits intended for reuse are continuous, serviceable, code-compliant, adequately sized, and suitable for installation of the new fire alarm system wiring without repair, replacement, cleaning, or reconditioning?

If not, please clarify how deficiencies discovered in existing conduits will be handled for bidding purposes.

Bid alternative is not being utilized in this solicitation provide pricing on base bid only.

Please confirm that the intent of Alternate No. 1 is to establish a credit for eliminating new conduit installation only. If confirmed, please clarify the assumptions bidders should utilize regarding:

a. Conduit verification and testing;

B. Removal of existing conductors;

c. Temporary systems required for phased cutover;

d. Repairs to damaged or obstructed existing conduits; and

e. Additional labor associated with conductor replacement in existing raceways.

Bid alternative is not being utilized in this solicitation provide pricing on base bid only.

For campus-wide underground conduit systems, please clarify whether Alternate No. 1 requires reuse of all existing conduits regardless of condition, accessibility, and available capacity, or whether conduit replacement remains permissible where reuse would prevent compliance with the requirement to maintain continuous fire alarm system operation during construction.

Bid alternative is not being utilized in this solicitation provide pricing on base bid only.

Alternates 2 through 6 progressively delete individual buildings from the project scope. Please clarify whether deletion of a building includes all fire alarm devices, associated branch circuits, feeders, backbone network cabling, fiber optic cabling, underground duct banks, radio infrastructure, pathway infrastructure, programming, testing, and commissioning associated with that building.

Bid alternative is not being utilized in this solicitation provide pricing on base bid only.

Can head-end equipment be downsized?

a. The specification requires:

i. New command center consoles at Buildings 36 and 407.

ii. Server installation in Building 32.

iii. Capacity for future expansion.

iv. Spare SLC capacity, NAC capacity, amplifier capacity, battery capacity, and panel capacity.

B. If half the campus is removed through alternates, can the system be smaller?

i. If Alternates 2-6 are exercised, may bidders reduce:

1. Server requirements;

2. RF infrastructure;

3. Command center equipment;

4. Amplifier capacity;

5. Battery capacity;

6. Panel capacities; and

7. Spare capacity requirements

8. to reflect the reduced building count, or shall all equipment remain sized for the Base Bid campus-wide system?

No, provide Head-end equipment as required in the specifications and Drawings.

S05 Pre-Bid RFIs 676-22-110 4 of 5

For buildings removed under Alternates 2-6, are those buildings to:

a. Remain on the existing fire alarm system;

B. Be disconnected entirely from campus monitoring;

c. Be partially integrated into the new campus-wide system; or

d. Be prepared for future migration to the new system?

Please clarify the required final operational condition of each deleted building.

Bid alternative is not being utilized in this solicitation provide pricing on base bid only.

The specification requires:

a. New command center consoles at Buildings 36 and 407.

B. Server installation in Building 32.

c. Capacity for future expansion.

d. Spare SLC capacity, NAC capacity, amplifier capacity, battery capacity, and panel capacity.

e. If Alternates 2-6 are exercised, may bidders reduce:

I. Server requirements;

ii. RF infrastructure;

iii. Command center equipment;

iv. Amplifier capacity;

v. Battery capacity;

vi. Panel capacities; and

vii. Spare capacity requirements to reflect the reduced building count, or shall all equipment remain sized for the Base Bid campus-wide system?

Bid alternative is not being utilized in this solicitation provide pricing on base bid only.

Section 28 31 00 states: "All existing accessible fire alarm conduit not reused shall be removed."

This becomes important under Alternate 1. If Alternate 1 is awarded and existing conduits are reused where feasible, is the Contractor still required to remove all remaining existing accessible fire alarm conduits not incorporated into the new system?

Bid alternative is not being utilized in this solicitation provide pricing on base bid only.

S05 Pre-Bid RFIs 676-22-110 5 of 5