REQUEST FOR INFORMATION TO GOVERMENT 657-26-602 REVISED.pdf
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- Attached to
- 657-26-602 Create Observation Unit JC
- Solicitation number
- 36C25526R0162
About this file
This is a Request for Information (RFI) from potential offerors regarding federal contract Project 657-26-602, Create Observation Unit, at John Cochran VA Medical Center. The RFI identifies significant gaps and ambiguities in the solicitation documents and requests clarification from the Government prior to proposal submission.
The primary concerns center on missing specification sections—the bid set contains only thirteen drawing sheets with no written specifications, yet multiple solicitation requirements reference specifications that do not exist, including references to specification Section 28 05 00 for guarantee period services and requirements for price breakdowns by specification division. Offerors request the Government issue specifications by amendment and extend the proposal due date accordingly. Additional critical clarifications sought include: room finish, door, hardware, and equipment schedules; VAV terminal unit specifications and control sequences; building automation system manufacturer and version; medical gas main capacity confirmation; fire protection design-build scope and approval procedures; fire alarm system details; nurse call and staff emergency system specifications; telecommunications and data cabling requirements; structural details for wall termination conditions; scope of work above-ceiling on Floor 00; equipment furnished-versus-installed designations; ICRA barrier door hardware specifications; hazardous materials survey access, data, and risk allocation; electrical panel schedules and load calculations; and lighting fixture schedules. The RFI also requests a second question-and-answer period following Government responses to allow for follow-on clarifications before the proposal deadline, hazardous material site access for destructive sampling, and clarification of scope boundaries across four construction phases.
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Request for information to Government Project: 657-26-602 Create Observation Unit
1. The attachment titled "COMBINED SPECIFICATION AND DRAWINGS 657-26-602" contains thirteen
(13) drawing sheets and no specification sections. Will the Government issue the project specifications by amendment? Multiple solicitation requirements depend on specifications that do not appear in the bid set, including: the Statement of Work, which states the project "has a set of drawings and specifications" that "indicate the work to be performed" and which take precedence over the SOW; the Special Notice for Guarantee Period Services, which states those services are "listed in specification SECTION 28 05 00"; and Appendix 1, which requires a price breakdown "by specification division."
Reference: SOW, p.7–8; Special Notice Guarantee Period Services ¶A, p.6; Appendix 1, p.19; VAAR 852.236-71(e), p.68
2. If specifications are issued by amendment, will the Government extend the proposal due date to allow offerors and subcontractors adequate time to price the specified work? An extension is also requested to accommodate the pre-bid hazardous material survey addressed in Section B below.
Reference: PROPOSAL DUE DATE, p.10
3. Will the Government provide an additional question and answer period after its responses to these questions and after issuance of the specifications and any revised drawing package? Offerors will necessarily have follow-on questions on documents that have not yet been made available, and a second question period would allow those matters to be resolved before the proposal due date rather than after award.
Reference: Questions due 08/12/2026, p.10
4. Sheet 01-AE-211 is titled "Interior Elevations, Schedules, and Details" but contains two interior elevations and general notes only. Will the Government provide the room finish schedule, door schedule, door hardware schedule, and equipment schedule referenced by that title?
Reference: Dwg 01-AE-211
5. General Note 6 on Sheets 01-AE-111 and 01-AE-211 directs the contractor to "use VASTLHCS standard finishes and paint colors." Will the Government furnish the VA St. Louis standard finish and color schedule, identifying manufacturer, product, and model, so that all offerors price the same materials?
Reference: Dwg 01-AE-111 Gen. Note 6
6. Numerous drawing notes direct the contractor to "adhere to all requirements of the VA TIL," and to install medical gas and sprinklers "per VA TIL." Will the Government identify the specific PG-18-1 design manuals, PG-18-3 standard details, and VA master construction specifications that apply to this project?
Reference: Dwgs 01-AE-111, 01-ME-111, 01-PE-111, 01-EE-111 Gen. Notes
7. The drawings are dated 04/08/2026 and stamped "BIDDING DOCUMENTS," and all revision blocks are blank. Please confirm this is the complete and current bid set and that no revisions have been issued.
Reference: All sheets, title block
8. The General Note on Sheet 01-HA-111 requires the general contractor to provide, as part of its bid, "a full hazardous material NESHAP report for the areas that will be disturbed during construction" and to submit it with the bid, and states the contractor will be allowed to survey the existing area during the bidding process including "material sampling, minor destructive testing, and above ceiling inspections." The single site visit was held August 5, 2026. Will the Government provide additional escorted access before the proposal due date for destructive sampling and above-ceiling inspection, and if so, on what dates and under what infection control and escort requirements in an operating Emergency Department?
Reference: Dwg 01-HA-111 Gen. Note; Site Visit, p.9
9. Does the Government possess existing asbestos, lead, or other hazardous material survey data for the affected areas of Building 1, Floor 01? If so, will it be furnished to offerors?
Reference: Dwg 01-HA-111
10. Is the NESHAP report a pass/fail submittal for purposes of technical acceptability, or is it a deliverable required only of the successful offeror? Sheet 01-HA-111 requires submission "with their bid," but the report is not listed among the documents to submit in the Proposal Submittal Instructions.
Reference: Dwg 01-HA-111; Proposal Submittal Instructions ¶2, p.11
11. Sheet 01-HA-111 states that "any additional hazardous material found during construction will be responsibility of the contractor at no additional cost to the Government." FAR 52.236-2, Differing Site Conditions (Deviation Nov 2025), is incorporated into this solicitation. Please reconcile these provisions, or alternatively establish a hazardous material allowance or unit prices so that all offerors carry comparable risk.
Reference: Dwg 01-HA-111 Gen. Note; 52.236-2 (DEVIATION), p.24
12. Sheet 01-ME-111 identifies seventeen VAV terminal units (1-VAV-5 through 1-VAV-17) but no equipment schedule is provided. Will the Government furnish a VAV schedule identifying airflow, box size, reheat coil capacity, and control sequences, and confirm which units are new and which are existing to remain?
Reference: Dwg 01-ME-111
13. Please identify the manufacturer and version of the existing building automation system at John Cochran, and confirm whether a specific controls contractor is required for front-end integration and graphics.
Reference: Dwg 01-ME-111 Gen. Notes 2–3
14. Will the Government provide the required air change rates, room pressure relationships, and filtration requirements for the observation rooms and renovated triage rooms? Please also confirm whether independent testing, adjusting, and balancing and/or third-party commissioning is required.
Reference: Dwg 01-ME-111
15. Sheet 01-EE-111 provides a floor plan but no panel schedules, one-line diagram, or load calculations. Will the Government identify the panels serving this area, confirm that existing capacity is adequate for the new loads, and provide panel schedules?
Reference: Dwg 01-EE-111
16. Sheets 01-AE-111 and 01-PE-111 show medical gas outlets (O2-MA-VAC, six per bay) at the observation bays. Please confirm that existing medical gas mains have adequate capacity for the added outlets, or identify the extent of main extension or upsizing required. Please also confirm whether a third-party ASSE 6030 verifier is required in addition to the ASSE 6010 installer certification.
Reference: Dwgs 01-AE-111, 01-PE-111 Gen. Note 6
17. Sheet 01-PE-111 General Note 7 requires the contractor to install sprinklers per VA TIL, but no fire protection drawings or head layout are provided. Please confirm this is a delegated design-build scope, and identify the submittal, review, and authority having jurisdiction approval path.
Reference: Dwg 01-PE-111 Gen. Note 7
18. No fire alarm drawings are included. Please confirm the extent of fire alarm device relocation or addition required, and identify the existing fire alarm system manufacturer and model.
Reference: Drawing Index, Dwg 01-GI-001
19. The drawings show pull cords at each observation bay. Please identify the existing nurse call / staff emergency call system manufacturer and model to be matched, and confirm whether head-end programming is within the contractor's scope.
Reference: Dwgs 01-AE-111, 01-A4-111
20. Sheet 01-EE-111 General Note 5 references data locations and other low voltage items, but no telecommunications drawings or cabling requirements are provided. Please identify the required cable type, pathway, termination, and labeling standards, and confirm whether VA OIT will self-perform any portion of this work.
Reference: Dwg 01-EE-111 Gen. Note 5
21. The Wall Construction Types detail on Sheet 00-GJ-001 shows Type B extending to "roof metal decking."
The work is located on Floor 01 of a multi-story building with floors and elevators above. Please clarify the intended termination of Type B walls and provide the deck or structure condition above Floor 01, together with any required attachment, bracing, or structural details. No structural sheets are included in the drawing index.
Reference: Dwg 00-GJ-001, Wall Const. Types; Drawing Index
22. The Phase 1 through Phase 4 sheets each include a plan titled "Floor Plan — Building 01 — Floor 00 Above Ceiling," depicting sterile processing, decontamination, scope processing, locker, and shower spaces. Please confirm whether any work is required above the ceiling on Floor 00, and if so, define the scope, the infection control requirements applicable to sterile processing areas, and the access windows available.
Reference: Dwgs 01-A1-111, 01-A2-111, 01-A3-111, 01-A4-111, detail 4
23. The General Notes on Sheet 01-A1-111 read in part "NEW DOOR. NEW CEILING LIGHTS DIFFUSERS.
NEW FLOOR?" Please confirm the extent of new flooring, ceiling, lighting, and doors required in each of the four phases.
Reference: Dwg 01-A1-111 Gen. Notes
24. The drawings depict equipment and furnishings including emergency department beds, workstations, files, refrigerator, microwave, printer, label maker, and family chairs. Please identify which items are contractor-furnished and installed, which are Government-furnished contractor-installed, and which are Government-furnished Government-installed.
Reference: Dwgs 01-AE-111, 01-A3-111, 01-AE-211
25. Sheet 00-GJ-002 requires ICRA barrier doors to have a latch and lock compatible with the VA key core, specifying CL3357 NZD 626 RH CT6 (LFIC less construction core), and notes keys are issued to the COR.
Please confirm whether the Government will furnish the interchangeable cores and keys, or whether they are contractor-furnished.
Reference: Dwg 00-GJ-002, ICRA Barrier Additional Notes
26. Please advise on room finishes or provide a finish schedule?
27. Sheet 01-HA-111 hazardous material assessment floor plans is provided but does not indicate location of hazardous materials. Please indicate quantities and area of hazardous materials.
28. Please provide details and materials for casework at rooms C111 and C110A-AOD.
29. Please provide a door and hardware schedule.
30. Do we trim the wall and handrail at corridor H126 or do we install all new handrail and guardrail at C114B and C114A phase 1?
31. Will there be a new automatic door opener at double door at corridor H127A leading to waiting room phase 2 work.
32. Please indicate phase 2 acoustical ceiling limits.
33. Please indicate phase 2 LVT flooring limits.
34. Phase 3 waiting south wall, is this wall similar to the wait room check in elevation with half height drywall partition and small aluminum framed glass window?
35. Please indicate demo limits for phase 3?
36. Please indicate new exterior wall make up for the new transport wheelchair space. Possible section view?
37. Please provide a Light fixture schedule
38. What is the scope of work for Nurse call?
39. What is the scope of work for Lighting controls?
40. What is the scope of work for Fire alarm?
41. What is the scope of work for PASS security card readers?
42. What is the scope of work for Paging?
43 Is there Power and data in the waiting offices?
Or there any new VAV boxes?
44. Factor 4 ask for us to submit technical the experience of our “Electronic Key Manufacturer” subcontractor.
This project does not require an electronic key manufacturer/supplier/installation subcontractor.
45. Please revise Factor 4 to state what will need to be submitted under this contract.
46. Will specifications be provided for this project.
47. Can we get a Hazardous Materials drawing/assessment for bidding purposes?
48. Please provide a reflective ceiling plan for each area depicting new lighting/diffusers/sprinklers/etc.
49. The drawings indicate multiple sinks/medical gases throughout the project.
50. Please provide notes to indicate what sinks/medical gases are: existing to remain, existing to be removed, or new.
51. Please provide a door schedule to reflect all hardware necessary for each door.
Note: If you do not see your questions posted, please contact Gislaine Dorvil at gislaine.dorvil@va.gov.
See Amendment 0001
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .