36C25618B0674-0003008.pdf

Q/A for Upgrade of Chiller Plant – Jackson MS.

1. Please provide the system volume of the new condenser and chilled water system contained within this project’s scope of work.

A: The new condenser water pipe system volume is:

2. Please provide the make water line size, located, and point of connection.

A: 2”. Approximate location is indicated in attachments.

See Attachment documents for clarity.

3. Please confirm the glycol concentration requirements for the chilled water system.

A: 100% water.

4. Please confirm that E-mail or faxed proposals will be accepted for this solicitation with a hard copy of the bond due prior to bid time.

A: Email bids can be sent to the Renardo.hollowell@va.gov; Fax bids does not permit electronic download and are prohibited. Please disregard any reference to faxing bids. Hardcopy of bonding and acknowledgement of amendments is required prior to bid closing or bid may be rejected. The government shall not be liable for any electronic issues prohibiting timely arrival.

5. Sheet D0601 is incomplete and does not any indication as to the size of the equipment and pipe that is to be removed under this project. Please have the engineer provide detailed demolition drawings or at the very least chilled water plant as-builts with a scope of work.

A: As-builts are not available, however, there are some limited construction documents from past projects that will help. See attachments for clarity.

6. Are there any environmental concerns that the contract should be made aware of for this project such as ACM or lead?

A: Not anticipated.

7. What is the basis of design, or facility standard, for specified Resinous Urethane and Epoxy Mortar Flooring called out for installation on this project?

A: recommended product: Sikafloor Epo-Rok Trowel Mortar System, standard top coat with mortar thickness of 1/8”.

8. What is the make and model of the current HVAC DDC system?

A: Johnson Controls Metasys.

9. The specified 180-day duration period for this project isn’t realistic considering the magnitude, phasing, and equipment lead time. Please consider extending the project duration to at least 365 days or beyond.

A: The performance period should be adhered to. However, with regard to lead time, the NTP issuance can be adjusted based upon submittal approvals.

mailto:Renardo.hollowell@va.gov

10. Page 12 of the solicitation documents includes FAR 52.214-31 Facsimile Bids

(DEC 1989) but doesn’t include the facsimile number that bids are to be sent to.

Please provide the fax number. Also, would the government consider emailed price proposals with a hard copy of the executed bid bond sent in prior to the bid? A: *Disregard reference to Fax number, see Q4 above.

11. This project’s entire scope of work is comprised entirely of HVAC related work items with no general construction aspects. Please consider reclassifying this project’s NAICS code to NAICS Code 238220 – Plumbing, Heating, and Air- Conditioning Contractors and is defined as follows

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in installing and servicing plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning equipment. Contractors in this industry may provide both parts and labor when performing work. The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs.

A: *238220 added as an additional NAICS Code for this project.

12. What is the manufacturer and model of the existing fire protection system in the mechanical room?

A: Siemens Fire Finder

13. Is the lighting control panel shown on plan sheet EP0101 existing? If not, please provide complete lighting control diagrams.

A: No, it is a new relay panel, and there is a control schedule on sheet EP0301 that should answer question.

14. Is this project sales tax exempt? If the project is sales tax exempt can the government provide a sales tax exemption certificate? No, not sales exempt.

A: Project is not sales exempt. Additionally, the state of Mississippi assesses what could be a substantial General Contractors Tax. (See attachment 1)

15. Will the Government provide comprehensive written badging requirements for the project if badging is required?

A: See section 6 of SOW.

16. Based on feedback from mechanical contractors the time of performance will not be long enough for the submittals, lead time and work on site to be done in 180 Days or less. Will the VA review those issues?

A: *See item 9

17. Where will the designated laydown & parking area be for workers accessing the construction site?

A: Staging area will be in lot adjacent to Chiller Plant. Contractor parking to be first come in designated parking areas.

18. Will the government accept the use of the industry leading Procore Project

Management software as the primary submittal and data tracking tool for this project? The software is compatible with the VA’s networks and is currently in use at many VA locations.

A: Yes. Procore is preferred.

19. During construction in an area where the ceilings or fire suppression system will be disrupted, will NFPA 241 apply? Will the government require additional security measures beyond NFPA code such as fire watch, temporary fire alarms, adjustments to sprinkler heads, etc.

A: Yes, the VA follows all NFPA standards including NFPA 241. Use of temporary fire detection, fire watches during hot work, etc. will be required per contract requirements.

20. Does the Government have a fire alarm servicer that they currently work with?

What is the name and contact information of the person or persons that will need to be coordinated with for security and fire alarm and suppression systems work and/or disruptions?

A: Siemens

21. Has the work area been checked for asbestos?

A: ACM not anticipated. See item 6.

22. Due to current potentially significant tariffs being placed on the importation of building materials such as wood or steel by the current Presidential Executive Branch, if a tariff is placed after bid time and before award will the government consider a price escalation on a contract value for products such as steel or wood should the executive branch levee tariffs effecting such materials? Most of these materials would still have been Buy American compliant as the tariffs would increase pricing on all steel or wood materials, regardless of origin.

A: This is a firm-fixed price requirement.

23. Can the qualified Superintendent fill the roles of the SSHO and QCM on site?

A: The government will accept the a competent, qualified superintendent performing dual roles, as he/she maintains contract requirements.

24. Will the deductive alternates be additive or lump sums?

A: Deducts should reflect unit and total cost from Base Bid – See Schedule B.

25. The local JCI rep indicated that the lead time for the York Chiller is 21 weeks after EOR approval. As mentioned at the pre-bid, the best-case scenario for the Notice of award is 9/30/2018, and given the 60 day submittal period indicated in the specifications, the chillers would not be on site until late April 2019, long after the VA allotted specified chiller down time between the months of November and February. So, the 180 days as described in the solicitation is not realistic and so the most probable down time would be November 2019 to February 2020? Could the VA/EOR consider increasing the capacity of the temporary chiller to increase the November to February down time and allow for a more realistic working time?

A: See Q9.

26. Can we obtain historical load data based on outside temperature and humidity near past maximum loads. Compare with ASHRAE design specs. Equate that to required chiller size for temporary equipment during peak winter and peak summer loads. Usually design equipment sizes are based on a 98 percentile of historical weather data. Plans show 100 tons in winter and 2250 tons in summer. Please verify. Equipment sizes should have building “thermal mass” taken into account which are lower than sizes for instantaneous temperature/solar/humidity conditions.

A: Follow plans and specs.

27. Can load shedding or temperature set point reset be done on non-essential loads during peak load periods?

A: No. The loads stated on the drawings represent the minimum operational requirements to be met during the project. The VAMC already has trouble meeting setpoints in many areas driving the need for the project in the first place.

28. Can existing cooling towers be used for the temporary chiller equipment. Water cooled equipment is more efficient and allows larger sizes than air cooled A: This is a possibility. Can be revisited after award.

29. Can the 2 “future” chillers be used for temporary use and then provided to the job at completion as the additional future equipment set on the pads ready for future connection? This will provide backup or parts for a catastrophic event. Or could 2 of the 4 new chillers be used for temporary service and then installed at the end of the job

– weather permitting?

A: The two future chillers should not be used as temporary use. 2 of the 4 new chillers may be used for temporary use provided they are always installed and operating in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s operations and maintenance instructions so as to not void any warranty.

30. Use York for temporary equipment – whatever option is taken. This will align their interests with BEI’s and could help with presentation of options to the owner.

A: Thank you for this input.

31- Note 13 on Sheet D0601 calls for ‘Continuous Security’ for the duration of the project:

a. Are we correct that this means 24 hours a day? Yes

b. Does this mean a Security Guard, or any agent of our company that we could provide to make sure no one is tampering with, or entering our work areas?

A: VA approved agent of company

32- In regard to Retained Items related to Demolition:

a. Are there any Items to be Retained by the Government on this project?

A: Nothing anticipated.

b. If there are any where would we have to relocate said items to?

33- It is mentioned that we are to preform work according to local codes:

a. Are we correct that the VA is the Inspecting Agency on this job and that filing with local building code enforcement is not necessary?

A: VA is the inspecting agency

34- Drawing Details call for Concrete pads under Chillers and Pumps:

a. There are existing Pads under Present Equipment. Do they have to be Demolished and Removed prior to New Pad Installations, or can they be modified for New Equipment?

A: Existing pads may be modified to accommodate the new layout and equipment

b. If Existing Pads can be retained and modified, will the balance of Pads not being reused have to be removed? A: The balance of unused pads shall be demolished.

c. We are assuming that because the New Pumps are Inline and Elevated off the floor, that no Pads are required for these. Correct? A: No pads are required beneath the vertical inline pumps

35- Drawing M0201:

a. Note 4 Indicated on the Right Side of the Drawing indicated Valves for Future Use; what is the Size of these Valves? A: 14”

36- Specs Call for Schedule 40 Steel Piping:

a. Is Schedule Piping to be used on all sizes? (Normally over 12” is referred to as

Standard Weight, it is the same thickness of Schedule 40 in the sizes up to 12” and is typically used) A: Yes, “standard weight” is implied and expected to be used for piping over 12”.

37- On Drawing M0601. There are (2) 12” Valves indicated off the mains at the Chilled Water Pumps:

a. These Valves appear to be redundant and the Pump are just below the Mains. Are Two Valves required here?

A: The two valves shown on the plans and the valves shown on the pump detail are the same valves. There shall be two 12” valves total (one on inlet, one on discharge) on each pump set between the headers.

38- In regard to New Epoxy Flooring:

a. Is there an Existing Floor Finish? Existing floor is epoxy

b. If so, what Type of Finish might that be, Paint or Epoxy? See Q7.

39. Can we possibly have another short site visit? After getting into the project a bit more it has brought up a few thing that it would be very helpful to re-look at. In particular the configuration and locations of the Existing Equipment Pads.

A: Unfortunately, time does not permit a second site visit.

40. Would like to know the System Pressure in the Building. Hoses, Pumps, etc. are rate for 150# operating pressure, so it is an important issue to know if this is acceptable for this particular installation. This pressure is not given in the Temporary Equipment Schedule.

A: Adhere to the values specified on the drawings.

**NOTE: PLEASE ENSURE YOUR SUBMITTED BID DOES NOT EXCEED 25-PAGES.