Questions_Responses 1-46 657A4-22-309 Amendment 003 - Responses 8-12-25.pdf

1.

Abby Monroe’s email address appears differently in several places. Please verify the correct email address. abby.monroe2@va.gov

2.

What do all of the drawing references to “Refer to Bid Package 2” mean? Is that part of this project? No, bid package 2 is not part of this project and will be a separate project to be solicited after this one is completed.

3.

Please provide information regarding Bid Package 2 that affects this project. See above question 2, Bid Package 2 will not affect this project.

4.

Drawings CU100 (note 7) and CT111 (note 1): What is the EHRM Infrastructure Project? Is this a job that will be performed at the same time as this one? The EHRM Infrastructure project is currently substantially complete, and the contractor is working on final punch list items. This project should not affect 657A4-22-309 Fire Main and Water Storage Bid Package No. 1.

5.

Who is the general contractor for the EHRM Project? Please provide all relevant information for this project as to how it affects this project. We believe that it should be the COR for the VA that coordinates with the EHRM project and other projects listed on this. Please confirm that the COR will coordinate this with the various general contractors.

The COR will coordinate the closeout of the EHRM project as it is in its final phase of construction.

6.

Have the fire hydrants that were listed on the drawings to be replaced under a separate project been replaced? Yes

7.

Specification 01 00 00(1.17): Is a Resident Engineer’s Field Office required for this project?

If so, please provide drawings and identify the location for where this office is to be constructed. Please provide a civil and utility drawing for this?

Resident Engineer’s Field Office is not required.

8.

Specification 01 32 16.15 (1.1)(A)(1): Will the VA be using a Construction Period Services firm? If so, who is that?

Valhalla Engineering Group

9.

Please provide the Infection Control Risk Assessment applicable to this project.

The Infection Control Risk Assessment permit will be submitted to the contractor awarded the project and will be prepared at that time.

10.

Specification 33 40 00 contains many “Spec Writer Notes,” conflicting, and/or missing requirements

Corrected section 33 40 00 Storm Sewer Utilities attached

11.

What company services the existing irrigation system?

Irrigation system not in operation. No drawings of the existing irrigation system could be located. It is John J. Pershing Medical Center’s (JJPMC) understanding that all existing irrigation lines are no longer in use. If the contractor does encounter an old irrigation line that is still connected to the existing water main it will be the contractor’s responsibility to cap it on either side and abandon it in place until the existing water main is removed.

12.

Who is the water utility that owns the water main that will be tied onto? Please provide contact information for this utility company to the specific person who deals with this area and item. Poplar Bluff Municipal Utilities. 573-686-8650.

13.

Has the VA coordinated and paid the tap fees new water main connection? Additional service feeds in scope are to be turnkey and include all required fees. The contractor shall be responsible for all tapping fees for any new water main connections.

14.

Has the VA received the right of way permits for the new water line that is not on their property? Contractor is responsible for obtaining permits from AHJ(s) as required, with VA and A/E support for technical questions. The contractor shall be responsible for obtaining right-of-way permits.

15.

Will any type of water treatment system need to be installed on the domestic water tank to allow for prevention of legionella? Intent is to provide initial infrastructure only under this project without connecting to main system, filling, and operating.

16.

Is a mixing system required on the domestic water tank? Intent is to provide initial infrastructure only under this project without connecting to main system, filling, and operating.

17.

Please list out what specific items are required to be a delegated design. Drawings and specifications identify delegated design. Sheet VF101 indicates the existing conditions for the facility.

18.

Please provide as-builts of the site utilities for coordination and excavation estimation.

See sheet VF101 Existing Conditions Survey for As-built and utility locations

19.

Will the VA allow for roads on campus to be shut down while the contractor is digging under or through them? There will need to be several subphases within each listed phase shown on the plans. Constant coordination efforts between the VA COR and the contractor must be undertaken throughout the course of this project to ensure patient and staff ingress/egress is minimally affected, as well as ensuring that water service is not interrupted.

The contractor will not be able to completely fence off each phase that is shown on the plans. Efforts will be made to stage each phase/subphase to minimize facility impacts;

therefore, there will be different construction areas that will need to be fenced off within each phase. All construction areas will need to be coordinated with the VA COR prior to commencing construction.

20.

For the abandoned pipes, does the VA want the entire pipe filled with grout or just 15’ from each end of the pipe?

For the abandoned pipes, does the VA want the entire pipe filled with grout or just 15’ from each end of the pipe? The VA would prefer to fill the entire abandoned lines with grout and cap each end with concrete.

21.

Please confirm that and all Basis of Design items and materials that the VA has satisfied all Buy American Waivers, if applicable, and sole source requirements as needed. Please provide us any Buy American Act Waivers that would be provided under this contract. This is not currently in the plans, documents, or specifications. No waivers to be provided.

Compliance with Buy American required. Contractor shall confirm Buy America compliance prior to bid, including for listed bases of design, as sources of origin may have changed.

22.

Will the VA pay under construction progress payments for the engineering and design submittals, as well as all applicable deposits required by various manufacturers to put equipment into design and/or production? This will be several million dollars for the tanks to be released once submittals are approved by the VA. Also, there will be engineering and design fees to create the submittals and drawings for the tanks. Will the VA handle these under construction progress payments?

No, the VA will not provide advance payments for equipment or fees to create submittals and drawings.

23.

Can the prime contractor bill for a the deposit payments required to get the tanks into the manufacturing process and through production? No, the VA will not provide advance payments.

24.

Please confirm how the new domestic water tank will comply with VA legionella mitigation directives. Intent is to provide initial infrastructure only under this project without connecting to main system, filling, and operating. For pump house, provide underground piping as indicated and stub out of foundation for piping connections and pumps under separate bid package.

25.

Has the Storm water pollution prevention plan been reviewed and approved by all authorities having jurisdiction for all areas of work? GC to coordinate and finalize SWPPP for submission to AHJ(s) as required.

26.

Is the new VA memorandum on bolts for steam and hot water systems applicable to this project? To our understanding A307 bolts are no longer allowed. No steam or hydronic hot water is anticipated to be affected in this project. Any new steam or hydronic hot water piping will require ASTM A193 bolts for flanges.

27.

Tax Exemption: Is this project sales tax-exempt? If so, can the government provide a tax exemption certificate for materials purchased? No, as stated in the solicitation on page one, “Special Note regarding FAR 52.229-3: Federal, State and Local Taxes: Offerors are hereby notified that all state and local sales or use taxes for construction materials must be included in their bid or proposal price. It is solely the responsibility of the offeror to include all other applicable taxes in their bid or proposal price as well. The Government has determined that for this acquisition it cannot take advantage of any sales or use tax exemptions that may be available to it under applicable state law. Under no circumstances will any Contractor be designated as an agent of the Government for purposes of any tax exemption, nor will the Government authorize any Contractor’s use of any tax exemption directly applicable to the Government under this procurement. A price change request upon award relating to the inclusion of state and local sales or use taxes will not be accepted.

28.

Notice to Proceed (NTP): How soon after a contract award is the NTP expected to be issued? It is anticipated a NTP will be issued within 14 days, but no more than 30 days after award.

29.

Submittal Platform: Will the VA accept the use of Procore software or equivalent as the primary submittal platform? Specification section 013323 1.6 E identifies Procore as an acceptable platform. Approved equal to be coordinated with VA for compatibility.

30.

Payment for Stored Materials: Will payment applications for materials stored on-site or in a bonded warehouse be approved? Payment of materials stored on-site or in a bonded warehouse will be approved upon verification of the COR that materials are stored in an approved area. The contractor will be responsible for travel expenses for the COR to verify material stored off-site within the bonded warehouse.

31.

Bid Hold Period: Will the government consider reducing the bid hold period to 60 days due to current inflation risks? VA to respond

32.

Economic Price Adjustment Clause: Will the government include an Economic Price Adjustment Clause in the contract to address price fluctuations in materials?

No, it is necessary to keep the acceptance at 120 days after bid due date.

33.

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? As indicated in the solicitation, “No one individual can perform more than two (2) of the staffing positions.” There is no SSHO stated in the solicitation. The superintendent may serve as the safety officer, but not project manager or quality control manager. The project manager can be the same individual as the quality control manager.

34.

Scheduling Consultant: Is an external scheduling consultant required, or can scheduling duties be handled in-house by a qualified team member? Per the specifications, Section 1.2: The Contractor shall designate an authorized representative responsible for the Project Schedule including preparation, review and progress reporting with and to the Contracting Officer's Representative.

35.

Temporary Facilities: Are contractors required to provide a temporary site office or trailer, or will space be allocated within the existing facility? Sheet GI002 illustrates the contractor’s staging area. Space will not be allotted to the Contractor within the existing buildings.

Please refer to the specification Section 01 00 00, subsection 1.6 (B).

36.

Parking and Staging: Will there be designated parking and staging area for contractor personnel? Sheet GI002 illustrates the contractor’s staging area.

37.

How many parking spaces will be provided if there is on-site parking? Sheet GI002 illustrates the contractor’s staging area.

38.

Site Access and Badging: Will the government provide a detailed badging and access protocol for contractor personnel? Contractors that will be on site for more than 14 consecutive days will be required to obtain Personal Identity Verification. The COR will be able to coordinate with the Contractor to obtain access.

39.

Fire Watch: If impairments to fire alarm systems exceed four hours, will the VA provide support for fire watch personnel, or is the contractor solely responsible? The VA will provide the appropriate coverage as necessary to complete the project. Please refer to the specifications for items that are the Contractor’s responsivities. GC to provide fire watch if necessary.

40.

Environmental Protection Plan: Are there specific templates or guidelines required for the Environmental Protection Plan, or is a contractor-developed plan sufficient? See specification 015719 for requirements, VA will not dictate means and methods. It is the responsibility of the Contractor to determine the accurate construction methods to meet all required guidelines listed within the specification.

41.

Testing and Commissioning: Please confirm the VA will be hiring the commissioning agent.

Refer to specification 01 91 00, The VA currently intends to engage a Commissioning Agent for this project. However, please note that the VA reserves the right to proceed without hiring a Commissioning Agent if it so chooses.

42.

Infection Control: Please confirm modular walls (such as STARC) are allowed for ICRA. No work under this contract is anticipated to require ICRA barriers, The VA will not dictate means and methods of construction. It is the responsibility of the Contractor to determine the accurate construction methods.

43.

As-Built Drawings: Are as-built drawings available for existing conditions, or will the contractor need to verify all dimensions on-site? See response to question 18 above. This does not relieve GC of responsibility for verification of existing conditions. See sheet

VF101.

44.

Specification Section 01 83 16.01 Blast Performance Requirements paragraph 1.6 Quality Assurance requires the blast engineer have at least 5 years of experience performing similar scope of work. Please confirm the blast engineer and the structural engineer for connections may be two (2) separate firms working in conjunction with one another to prepare the structural steel delegated-design package for the steel fabricator. Separate firms are acceptable.

45.

1. Specification Section 01 83 16.01 Blast Performance Requirements paragraph 1.3 Design Procedures section A states all systems herein shall be designed to resist the blast loads specified in this section.

a. Please provide a singular list each and every system required to resist the blast loads as there appears to be a bit of inconsistency between systems in this section and systems referenced elsewhere and described below in the next question. See below.

b. Please provide the blast loads referenced in this section. Refer to chapter 6 and 7 of the VA Physical Security and Resiliency Design Manual (PSRDM) for minimum blast loads for mission critical buildings along with process for requesting blast data definitions from VA CFM.

46.

2. Specification Section 01 83 16.01 Blast Performance Requirements paragraph 1.4 Blast Performance Requirements states that each of these systems designs shall comply with all blast requirements. Please confirm if each system will require the applicable contractor to provide a full delegated-design stamped by a Professional Engineer, i.e., Exterior Glass and Window Systems, Exterior Curtainwall and Storefront Window System, Exterior Doors, Connection Design, Exterior Cold Formed Metal Framing, Non-glazed Façade Elements, Exterior Canopy Systems, Sunshades and Louvers. Confirmed these systems require stamped delegated design submission indicating blast load compliance. In addition, Specification Section 01 83 16.01 Blast Performance Requirements paragraph 1.1 Related Documents section B Related Requirements indicates the following specifications, not referenced above in this questions, also relate to blast requirements.

• 033000 (Cast in Place Concrete) Yes

• 042000 (Structural Reinforced Concrete Unit Masonry) Yes

• 053100 (Steel Decking) Yes

But, none of individual Specification Section, 033053, 042000 and 053100, referenced above, indicate the means to comply with blast requirements. Please advise if each of these systems shall include a full delegated-design stamped by a Professional Engineer with blast design experience. Assemblies including these components are required to meet blast requirements given the material property inputs of these components as selected by the contractor’s blast engineer.