657-24-109JB_Technical Question Responses_2025 11 21_Final.pdf

36C25524AP3679 - 657-24-109JB

FCA - Replace Hot Water Generators in Buildings 53, 51 & 24– St. Louis (JB) VAMC

Technical Questions and VA Response Tracking Sheet

Item

NO.

Date

Question

Received

Date

Question

Answered

Question Government Response

1 10/23/2025

1. Spec section 01 00 00. Confirm that documentation for the attestation of COVID-19 vaccination is not required.

COR – Documentation of COVID-19 vaccination is not required.

2 10/23/2025

2. Please provide submittal information for all owner furnished equipment including weights and dimensions.

COR – Cemline SSH series water heater cut sheets and detail sheets will be attached to this document.

3 10/23/2025

3. Will the VA carry the warranty on owner furnished equipment?

COR – There is no existing manufacture warranty on the two owner-provided SSH series water heater units. The contractor is to provide a “labor only” warranty on the two owner-provided units.

4 10/23/2025

4. Is Commissioning required for this project?

Please provide a spec section if this is required.

Who will be responsible for hiring the

Commissioning Agent?

COR – Yes, commissioning is required.

The specifications will be revised to include commissioning. The following will be required: Construction contractor to hire a commissioning agent OR manufacture representative to come out to the site and train VA M&O pipe shop personnel on how to operate and maintenance the units. This individual is also to provide an O&M manual for each type of water heater installed, this shall be provided in physical form (binder) during the 4-hour session. A preventative maintenance (PM) schedule shall also be provided in physical form during the 4-hour session.

5 10/23/2025

5. Plan page 24-MH-201. Are any stream traps required other than shown in detail C6? Please provide proper sizing and model information for the steam traps shown in the detail. If any steam traps are required that are not shown in detail C6, please provide proper sizing and model information along with the location of the steam traps.

AE - Not required other steam traps. on outlet line 1-1/4 in Float and thermostatic steam trap with capacity of 5300 lbs/hr at

50 psi and on inlet 3/4 in with 700 lbs/hr at

50 psi.

6 10/23/2025

6. Plan page 51-MH-202. Where it is not already noted can you please provide the sizes of the existing piping that we are connecting into?

AE - Field verify.

7 10/23/2025

7. Plan page 51-MH-202. Are any stream traps required other than shown in the details on MG-

002? Please provide proper sizing and model information for the steam traps shown in the details. If any steam traps are required that are not shown in the details, please provide proper sizing and model information along with the location of the steam traps.

AE - No, steam traps provided with packaged unit provided by owner.

8 10/23/2025

8. Plan page 51-MH-202. Can a new steam isometric drawing be provided for this specific equipment and piping like the one provided on 24-

MH-201 in detail C6?

AE- No, See detail E7 on page 51-MH-

202.

9 10/23/2025

9. Please provide a specification for Testing, Adjusting and Balancing.

COR – There will not be a specification provided for TAB, the contractor will be expected to work with the a POC from the equipment manufacturer and the VA M&O pipe shop supervisor to ensure the units are operating at the correct steam and domestic hot water pressures required for the three buildings (B24, B51, and B53).

The contractor is to include this “final adjustment” service into their bid.

10 10/23/2025

10. Plan page 53-MH-103. Where it is not already existing piping to be removed?

AE- Field verify.

11 10/23/2025

11. Plan page 53-MH-203. Where it is not already existing piping that we are connecting into?

AE- Field verify.

12 10/23/2025

12. Plan page 53-MH-203. Are any stream traps required other than shown in the details on MG-

002? Please provide proper sizing and model information for the steam traps shown in the details. If any steam traps are required that are not shown in the details, please provide proper sizing and model information along with the location of the steam traps.

AE - No, steam traps provided with packaged unit provided by owner.

13 10/23/2025

13. Plan page 53-MH-203. Can a new steam isometric drawing be provided for this specific equipment and piping like the one provided on 24-

MH-201 in detail C6?

AE - No, See detail on page 53-MH-203.

14 10/23/2025

14. The new equipment in buildings 51 & 53 is installed in the location of the current equipment.

Will temporary hot water be required during this change out as nothing is shown in these locations on the plans. If so please provide specific information for this as shown for building 24 alternate.

COR:

Building 51: Both existing hot water generators are functional. No temporary hot water system is required, the contractor is to take one unit offline at a time in order to replace both units.

Building 53: Existing hot water generator

(west unit) is non-operational. Contractor to provide a temporary domestic hot water generation system and utilize existing “high pressure steam” and/or “make -up water” connections that are stubbed through the window of room GS13. A standard electrical connection is also present outside, near an unused equipment pad.

Contractor to provide all materials, piping, and temporary equipment to provide domestic hot water to the building before demolishing the existing hot water generator located at the east side of the room. Contractor to submit temporary hot water generation system submittal package to COR for approval.

Before starting work, contractor to assess the existing tie in locations and provide an adequately sized system with proper connections, for the duration of the building

53 replacement work. See attachment 1 within this document for site condition photos, which show the existing connections for the temp B53 tie-in.

15 10/23/2025

15. 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.

COR – Basis of design (Cemline) products are manufactured in the US and meet Buy

American Act requirements. Proof can be obtained by the contractor, which would have to be obtained through a local sales representative.

16 10/23/2025

16. Will the VA pay for the engineering and design submittals, as well as all applicable deposits required by various manufacturers to put equipment into design and/or production?

COR – No, any expenses associated with meeting submittal requirements per the project specification is to be included in the contractor’s bid, and will not result in any addition expense to the US government. It will be the contractor’s responsibility to put deposits on all equipment that is to be acquired for this project.

17 10/23/2025

17. Is the new VA memorandum on bolts for steam and hot water systems applicable to this

COR – Yes, the A307 bolt memorandum holds for this project.

project? To our understanding A307 bolts are no longer allowed.

18 10/23/2025

18. Tax Exemption: Is this project sales tax-exempt? If so, can the government provide a tax exemption certificate for materials purchased?

COR – NO, this project is not exempted from local, state, and federal taxes. The contractor’s bid is to include all taxes on all components of this project, including, but not limited to general materials and equipment.

19 10/23/2025

19. Notice to Proceed (NTP): How soon after a contract award is the NTP expected to be issued?

CO The Notice to Proceed (NTP) should be issued thirty (30) calendar days after the award date. (Note that there is no guarantee the Notice to Proceed will be issued within this timeframe.)

20 10/23/2025

20. Submittal Platform: Will the VA accept the use of Procore software or equivalent as the primary submittal platform?

COR – Yes, Procore is acceptable.

21 10/23/2025

21. Payment for Stored Materials: Will payment applications for materials stored onsite or in a bonded warehouse be approved?

COR – Yes, as long as COR is presented with proof the materials/equipment has been acquired.

22 10/23/2025

22. Economic Price Adjustment Clause: Will the government include an Economic Price

Adjustment Clause in the contract to address price fluctuations in materials?

COR – No, acquisition of all equipment and materials should be secured (prices locked in contractually between contractor and suppliers) by the contractor immediately after submittals have been approved.

23 10/23/2025

23. SSHO and Superintendent Roles: Can the

SSHO, QCM and superintendent positions be fulfilled by the same individual, provided qualifications are met?

COR – Yes, as long as there is no conflict of interest regarding roles. For example, the Superintendent cannot also fill the quality control role.

24 10/23/2025

24. Scheduling Consultant: Is an external scheduling consultant required, or can scheduling duties be handled in-house by a qualified team member?

COR – No external scheduling consultant for this project is required.

25 10/23/2025

25. Temporary Facilities: Are contractors required to provide a temporary site office or trailer, or will space be allocated within the existing facility?

COR – This cannot be answered until a full requirement list is sent over to the COR. If additional space is required for a job trailer, the 255 gravel lot will be the first location to be considered.

26 10/23/2025

26. Parking and Staging: Will there be designated parking and staging area for contractor personnel?

COR - This cannot be answered until a full requirement list is sent over to the COR. If additional space is required for a job trailer, the 255 gravel lot will be the first location to be considered.

27 10/23/2025

27. How many parking spaces will be provided if there is on-site parking?

COR – All contractor parking is to be contained within the 255 gravel lot. There will be no patient or employee parking spots assigned to contractor.

28 10/23/2025

28. Site Access and Badging: Will the government provide a detailed badging and access protocol for contractor personnel?

COR – Yes, but this may not be required for every contractor and subcontractor. No access to restricted IT areas is required for this project.

29 10/23/2025

29. 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?

COR – Fire watch responsibilities apply to contractor employees working in the vicinity as well as VA employees in the vicinity.

30 10/23/2025

30. Environmental Protection Plan: Are there specific templates or guidelines required for the

Environmental Protection Plan, or is a contractor-developed plan sufficient?

COR – Contractor-developed plan is sufficient.

31 10/23/2025

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

COR – Answered via question 4

32 10/23/2025

32. Infection Control: Please confirm modular walls (such as STARC) are allowed for ICRA.

COR – Steel stud and drywall walls are sufficient if level 3 ICRA containments are to be required for this project.

33 10/23/2025

33. As-Built Drawings: Are as-built drawings available for existing conditions, or will the contractor need to verify all dimensions on-site?

COR – Contractor to verify all dimensions on-site. If any “as-built” information is provided by the COR or the AE, it is for informational purposes only. The VA cannot guarantee any accurate “as-builts” can be provided for this project.

34 10/23/2025

34. Will contractors be permitted to place dumpsters on-site for debris removal and disposal?

COR – No guarantees can be provided.

This is to be coordinated by building between the contractor and the COR after the NTP is issued. The 255 gravel lot may be considered for this.

35 10/23/2025

35. Will a temporary storage space be provided on site?

COR – No guarantees can be provided.

This is to be coordinated by building between the contractor and the COR after the NTP is issued. The 255 gravel lot may be considered for this.

36 10/23/2025

36. Please confirm that the NAICS code for this solicitation is 238220 (Plumbing, Heating, and Air-

Conditioning Contractors) and that the corresponding small business size standard is

$19 million in average annual receipts.

CO This is correct

37 10/23/2025

37. Are there any asbestos contained materials on the mechanical or plumbing piping?

COR – Per AE firm’s VPIH destructive testing & non-destructive testing report, no hazardous materials are to be disturbed within the scope of this project.

Per a Castle Hill survey report dated June

19, 2024:

Findings per Castle Hill inspectors (Brett

Brumbaugh & Doug Ell):

• There are no asbestos containing materials present on the components to be disturbed as part of the scope of work

• No Lead-based paint is present on the components to be removed or disturbed as part of the scope of work

38 10/23/2025

38. Are there any lead painted hangers or supports for this project?

COR – Answered via question 37

39 10/23/2025

39. Who is the incumbent controls contractor at the facility?

COR – The controls contractor is Johnson

Controls (JCI)

40 10/23/2025

40. What is Low Pressure Steam, MPS, HPS operating pressures?

AE- Reference steam inlet pressure at domestic water heater.

41 10/23/2025

41. What is the domestic hot water operating pressure?

AE -40 psig

42 10/23/2025

42. Will 3rd party testing be required for the concrete placement or rebar placement for the equipment pads?

AE- 4000 psi concrete pad no testing necessary, data sheet required.

43 10/23/2025

43. Is hyperchlorination of the equipment required?

AE -Yes, See specification section 221100, E1229-2008: Standard Specification for

Calcium Hypochlorite and 2.7

STERILIZATION CHEMICALS A.

Hypochlorite: ASTM E1229.

44 10/23/2025

44. Will the government allow other brands of

Domestic Water Heaters to be provided if they meet or exceed the basis of design?

AE – See spec section 22 35 00 for water heater salient characteristics and must meet or exceed these.

45 10/23/2025

45. In Building 51, will each new domestic water heater need to have their own equipment pads?

AE- Yes. (Sheet 51-MH-202, note 12)

46 10/23/2025 46. The controls table on plan sheet MG-004 does not have an associated specifications section. Will a specifications section be provided to supplement the building automation controls requirement for this project?

AE- Modify existing Johnson Controls

Metasys System, controls to match/include list points on page MG-004. Also see •

Section 23 09 23 – BAS Modifications

• Section 23 09 93 – Sequences of

Operation

47 Refer to Sheet MG-004 “Points List Schedule for

Engineering Controls Center”. Please verify that the “Engineering Controls Center” is referring to the Johnson Controls Metasys System serving the campus and that any necessary hardware and wiring required to accomplish the monitoring and control is part of this project.

AE - Yes, Johnson Controls Metasys.

48 Please confirm the two (2) VA provided hot water generators will only require “labor only” warranties.

COR – Answered via question 3

Attachment 1: (Related to question 14)

The following photos show site conditions inside/outside room GS13