Amendment 2- Questions and Answers.pdf

36C25525R0049 - 657-23-108JC FCA - Repair Air Handler AC-1 Questions and Answers

May 21, 2025

Question 1 Please confirm which locations must be worked on an evening shift.

Answer: Refer to sheet 01-GI200, Construction General Notes, & sheets 01-GI204 & 01- GI205, Construction Guidelines for the full lists of restrictions and time of day constraints.

Question 2 Will FAR 52.216-4 Fixed Price Contract with Economic Price Adjustment and VAAR 852.216-71 Fixed Price Contract with Economic Price Adjustment of Contract Price Based on Price Index be added to this project due to current market conditions.

Answer:

No. FAR 52.216-4 and VAAR 852.216-71 are not mandatory and will not be included in this solicitation.

Question 3 On drawing 01-MP300 note 7 we need conformation that the existing values can be left in place and new ones installed after.

Answer: The existing valves may be left in place and new ones installed past that shut-off point following these conditions:

a. The existing valve does not leak when turned back on.

b. The VA HVAC Shop approves the condition of the existing valve.

c. There is not an existing shut off valve isolating about a 2,500-sf area or suite of offices.

The contractor is to put in their bid the removal of a minimum of 14 existing valves. If an existing valve is left in place and new valve is installed, the contractor is to place an identification label (metal plate, sticker, flyer) at each valve per the direction of the COR.

Question 4 Will the VA provide a space for lay down of materials and tools?

Answer: The VA will not provide lay down space for materials. The only space the contractor is allowed to have is within the approved ICRA containment barrier. There will not be designated parking, designated staging, or space for an office trailer on VA property. The contractor is free to contact the City of St. Louis to inquire about permits for such things on public right aways.

Question 5 Is there asbestos present on mechanical piping and ductwork?

Answer: Specification Section 01 99 99 Hazardous Materials Report contains a report on hazardous materials that pertain to this project.

Question 6 Will the contractor be responsible for the removal of VA furniture?

Answer: Specification Section 01 00 00 General Requirements, 1.6, E. lists the contractors’ responsibilities pertaining to VA furniture.

Question 7 Will the VA or contractor be responsible for commissioning?

Answer: The AE is responsible for commissioning agent services. The contractor is responsible for complying with performing commissioning tasks as required by the commissioning agent and specifications.

Question 8 Are there any temporary heating or cooling requirements?

Answer: No temporary conditioning required for temporarily removed terminal units.

Question 9 The mechanical portion of this job is the most vital part of this job and is most of the project, and it is assigned NAICS code 238220. Therefore, any reliance of the prime contractor on an ostensible subcontractor for the performance of the mechanical work would improperly avoid the set-aside requirements. According to the SBA, an ostensible subcontractor exists when the prime contractor is unusually reliant on the subcontractor or that subcontractor performs the primary and vital requirements of a contract. Shouldn’t the prime contractor’s experience be the foundation of past performance evaluation for Factor 4?

https://smallgovcon.com/service-disabled-veteran-owned-small-businesses/ostensibly-ok-sba- decision-on-ostensible-subcontractor-rule-gives-contractors-some-clear-guidelines/#:~:text=far%2Dreaching%20implications.-

,The%20Ostensible%20Subcontractor%20Rule,121.103(h)(3). (reference)

Answer: The plumbing, heating and air-conditioning work associated with this project is critical to the project’s success. The prime contractor’s technical qualifications and experience needed to meet the technical performance requirements of this project are evaluated under Factor 2. The information requested under Factor 4 relating to subcontractors performing such work, if any, is necessary to evaluate the experience of those companies. The information is not intended to evaluate self-performance requirements or ostensible contractor issues. It is intended solely to determine the qualifications and experience of subcontractors who are anticipated to perform this element of the contract. This is not an evaluation of past performance. It is an evaluation of subcontractor qualifications and experience. Note, however, that Factor 4 has been amended to further clarify information that must be submitted for evaluation of this factor. See, attached revised evaluation factors.

https://smallgovcon.com/service-disabled-veteran-owned-small-businesses/ostensibly-ok-sba-decision-on-ostensible-subcontractor-rule-gives-contractors-some-clear-guidelines/#%3A%7E%3Atext%3Dfar%2Dreaching%20implications.-%2CThe%20Ostensible%20Subcontractor%20Rule%2C121.103(h)(3) https://smallgovcon.com/service-disabled-veteran-owned-small-businesses/ostensibly-ok-sba-decision-on-ostensible-subcontractor-rule-gives-contractors-some-clear-guidelines/#%3A%7E%3Atext%3Dfar%2Dreaching%20implications.-%2CThe%20Ostensible%20Subcontractor%20Rule%2C121.103(h)(3) https://smallgovcon.com/service-disabled-veteran-owned-small-businesses/ostensibly-ok-sba-decision-on-ostensible-subcontractor-rule-gives-contractors-some-clear-guidelines/#%3A%7E%3Atext%3Dfar%2Dreaching%20implications.-%2CThe%20Ostensible%20Subcontractor%20Rule%2C121.103(h)(3) https://smallgovcon.com/service-disabled-veteran-owned-small-businesses/ostensibly-ok-sba-decision-on-ostensible-subcontractor-rule-gives-contractors-some-clear-guidelines/#%3A%7E%3Atext%3Dfar%2Dreaching%20implications.-%2CThe%20Ostensible%20Subcontractor%20Rule%2C121.103(h)(3) https://smallgovcon.com/service-disabled-veteran-owned-small-businesses/ostensibly-ok-sba-decision-on-ostensible-subcontractor-rule-gives-contractors-some-clear-guidelines/#%3A%7E%3Atext%3Dfar%2Dreaching%20implications.-%2CThe%20Ostensible%20Subcontractor%20Rule%2C121.103(h)(3)

Question 10 Factor 4 requires “Approval of contractor’s equipment will be contingent upon having frequent and satisfactory maintenance records. Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning contractor shall submit names and addresses of authorized service departments which will render service to this installation.” This requirement as part of the technical proposal does not make sense. This work can be performed by any qualified mechanical contractor. Are you requesting the Prime Contractor to send in maintenance records from other clients?

Answer: Factor 4 has been revised and no longer contains this requirement. See the revised Factor 4.

Question 11 Factor 4 appears to require the contractor to make equipment and installer employee selections prior to project award only related to the mechanical work. The design of this project is specified in the plans and documents, are you requesting the mechanical contractor deviate from what is required in the plans and documents and propose alternate equipment?

Answer: Factor 4 is intended to ascertain that the subcontractors used for work on this project meet acceptable levels of qualifications and experience. It is the Government’s expectation that the anticipated subcontractor’s at the time of proposal carry over to post award work. As for proposing alternate equipment, the Government is not sure where you would come up with the impression that you are being requested to deviate from the plans and documents. That is not the case. Alternate equipment or other deviations are not being requested.

Question 12 Please provide all of the high and low pressure duct sizes of the VAV’s.

Answer: Duct sizes are noted on duct plans and on single duct air terminal unit schedule.

Question 13 Spec Section 21 13 13 Wet Pipe Sprinklers is missing from the manual. Please provide.

Answer: Fire sprinkler modification scope is not intended for this project. Disregard this section.

Question 14 01-MD220E and 01-MP120E. Please provide pipe sizes for the VAV piping.

Answer: Pipe sizes are noted on pipe plans and on single duct air terminal unit schedule.

Question 15 01-P-100. Where the existing natural gas and medical gas piping is shown to be capped, will any new piping need to be put back in place or rerouted?

Answer: No new pipe is required.

Question 16 SSHO and Superintendent Roles: Can the SSHO, QCM and superintendent positions be fulfilled by the same individual, provided qualifications are met? If not, can the superintendent double as the SSHO?

Answer: See revised Factor 4.

Question 17 Will there be a designated parking and staging area for contractor personnel? Will space be made available for an office trailer?

Answer: The VA will not provide lay down space for materials. The only space the contractor is allowed to have is within the approved ICRA containment barrier. There will not be designated parking, designated staging, or space for an office trailer on VA property. The contractor is free to contact the City of St. Louis to inquire about permits for such things on public right aways.

Question 18 Please locate and provide proper sizing information for all steam traps required, including end-of- main drip traps.

Answer: Select steam traps per specifications, at scheduled the scheduled capacity for steam humidifier and end of main trap.

End of Questions and Answers