36C25519R0046-A0001002.pdf

657‐18‐116JC, Upgrade and Replace Electrical Distribution – RFI’S Solicitation Number: 36C25519R0046

1) For the infectious control barriers, please provide any design criteria for the following:

a. Door material; will the steel doors need to be fire rated and for what duration. Refer to ICRA detail on drawing E003, and all specifications and drawings concerning the ICRA requirements.

b. Lock set; will it need to be a common type with the hospital so maintenance can have access. Yes, lock set will need to be consistent with medical center core (Corbin Russwin). Successful bidder will be provided matching lock set requirements.

c. Is negative pressure ventilation required for all areas? If not, please specify conditions.

Refer to ICRA detail on drawing E003, and all specifications and drawings concerning the ICRA requirements.

d. Please specify preferred method for attachment to existing structures/walls.

Requirement is the attachment method needs to be maintained and existing structures/walls shall be repaired, painted and patched upon removal.

e. Please specify any required signage on the outside of the structure. Typical construction area and safety signage.

f. Will the containment area around the electrical panels located outside of the cafeteria (and/or kitchen) in the main corridor need to be removed daily or can it remain in place for the duration of the work in that area? Areas are not required to be taken down daily provided they meet drawing and specification requirements.

g. Some areas will require the existing door to be removed due to space limitations of the connected area, will this cause an issue with removing a potential fire door (the door leading from the stair well to the conduit basement might need to be removed to keep space in the stairwell landing available and still construct a barrier at the top of the ladder/stairs to the basement)? Doors leading to pipe basement should have ANTE rooms set up in pipe basement to prevent blocking stairwell corridor pathways. Refer to INCRA detail on drawing E003, Keyed notes 1 and 2 on drawing E003, and all specifications and drawings concerning the ICRA requirements.

2) Contractor Communications

a. Are there any requirements or regulations for equipment or frequencies to be used for non‐cellular radio equipment within the hospital, as standard FRS radios will not have enough power to work over multiple floors of the hospital? No special requirement other than FRS frequencies should us a different frequency or channel than is being used in the area.

b. Will the contractor need to furnish radios to the hospital maintenance group and or the site coordinator for the duration of the project? Hospital staff will not need a contractor radio.

3) Working space about the panels; please clarify the intent of panel replacement in areas where there is not enough working space (clear space) in front of, or around the electrical panels to meet current code requirements.

New work should be performed to meet the NEC working space requirements. It is known some closets do not currently meet the NEC working space requirements and typically will not after panelboard replacements, this project should not create new non‐compliant working space conditions. During construction, existing code violations should be brought to the VA intention for direction when discovered.

4) Will the following items be the responsibility of the contractor:

a. Arc Flash Study by licensed Missouri electrical engineer. YES

b. Breaker coordination study. YES

c. Seismic materials and restraint drawings by licensed Missouri structural engineer. YES

The Arc Flash Study and Circuit breaker coordination study needs to be submitted with or prior to submitting panelboards.

5) Labeling of equipment and J‐Boxes

a. Will all items required by the 2014 national electric code need to be labeled with the content as listed IE: panel name, feed from, main AIC rating, branch AIC rating, Voltage, color of phase conductors and ampacity? YES

b. What is the preferred material for the labels, printed vinyl or engraved two color hard plastic? When material type is not called out in specifications or drawings, provide printed vinyl.

6) Storage, materials and movement of:

a. As noted in the specifications, areas are limited due to space. Please provide a site detail which specifies the areas/locations materials can be located on site for day to day operations. Hospital access for materials will be at loading dock area and freight elevators. All construction materials shall be stored off site. Only deliver material that is intended to be used that day to the site shall use the loading dock area and freight elevators for delivery to construction area.

b. Please provide a site detail which shows the preferred exterior access point/door for materials, along with a preferred path through the hospital for transportation of materials/trash. Please include with this detail the location of the freight/maintenance elevator that will be available for use by the contractor. Preferred exterior access point will be the loading dock and then to freight elevator. All transportation of material to and from construction area shall follow ICRA requirements.

c. The plans indicate there is space for only one contractor material/trash dumpster on site, and that cost/use should be coordinated between contractors. Please provide a point of contact for the contractor currently providing a dumpster. Replace note 32 on drawing E001 with general construction requirement specifications. There are no dumpster locations available onsite. Haul all waste generated offsite daily. Contractor may at their expense acquire a permit to place a dumpster in the public right‐of‐way.

d. Will the contractor need to implement measures (walk off mats along the foot path) for dust management in corridors when transporting materials and tools? Yes, refer to drawings and specifications.

Please specify the available area location and size for the contractor trailer as listed in section 01 00 10 2.1 S. No onsite location will be provided. Any construction office required to will be obtained by contractor.

7) Protection of elevator finished surfaces; can protective barriers for the interior of the freight elevator remain in place for the duration of the project or will they need to be removed daily?

Throughout the project, protection shall be provided to prevent damage to VA property. Freight elevator protection needed by contractor to protect VA property shall be removed daily.

8) Existing conditions:

a. How will the condition of existing branch circuits, that cannot be known until the project is under way, be handled in regards to the following: shared neutrals, cracked aged conductors, overfilled conduits, box fill, phase color, and missing grounding conductors?

Existing code violations should be brought to the VA intention for direction when discovered.

b. What is the preferred method for extending existing branch circuits? Refer to drawing E001 for typical panelboard replacement detail. Extensions when needed should start in wireway or nearest junction box.

c. What is the preferred method for labeling of conductors? Printed tape for branch circuits. Refer to 26 05 19 3.5 for feeder conductors.

d. Is it safe to assume all panels schedules for existing panels are in place and accurate?

Provide typed updated panelboard schedules approved by the COR prior to installing new schedules in panelboards.

9) In the event the contractor will need to core drill a floor or wall, will we need to x‐ray the area to confirm there are no structural items incased in concrete through the path of the core? Yes.

10) Work Hours;

a. Specification Section 01 00 10 2.1.A.2 specifies that normal work hours on this project will be 730am to 4pm. General Note 26 indicates work in “Occupied Areas” of the Medical Center will be done at times other than normal work hours. We understand that all work requiring shutdowns will generally be conducted on weekends. Please provide additional details for what constitutes an occupied area (for example stairwells?) and what work will be allowed during normal working hours. Refer to phasing notes on drawings and specifications.

b. Please specify what work hours will be permitted during nights/weekends (for example during weekend work, will the government allow 12 hour shifts)? Refer to phasing notes on drawings and specifications.

11) Proposal Submittal; In our recent experience, compact disc compatibility with various operating systems is hit‐or‐miss (where files will open on contractor computers, but not on government computers). In lieu of providing a compact disc (CD) for the electronic versions of the proposal, would the government allow us to email copies of the proposal (as long as they are received prior to the deadline)? Hardcopy originals would still be provided. A compact disc must be provided. You can still email a proposal however we still must receive a hard copy and compact disc (CD).

12) During the site visit it was mentioned that there was some mechanical work related to the repair/replacement of a pump (or pump related equipment). In reviewing the plans, we are unable to locate any mechanical drawings related to the pump equipment. Please clarify this requirement from the site visit and/or provide mechanical drawings for the related work.

Drawing ME102.

13) On the plans where it is indicated to “program the elevator to skip the floor” – please confirm this will be coordinated by the contractor, but actual programing of the elevator will be accomplished by VA personnel. Drawing E080. Contractor is required to perform or subcontractor of the electrical contractor to perform this work per elevator state and local codes. This included reprogramming elevator back to normal operation.