36C25619R0073-022.pdf

580-320 Construct Spinal Cord Injury Expansion - Clarifications

1. QUESTION: What is the time duration between phases?

ANSWER: Estimated to be 30-90 days.

2. QUESTION: Will the warrantee start on the installed materials and systems at the conclusion of each phase?

ANSWER: Yes, the warrantee will be based upon substantial completion of each phase.

3. QUESTION: On past projects, we priced Rauland Nurse Call Systems at the Houston VA, but those systems were currently being bid and the OEM might change. Can the VA respond with how we should proceed with these systems?

ANSWER: Basis of Design was Responder. Proceed with bidding per project design documents.

4. QUESTION: Is this project subject to sales tax?

ANSWER: Contractor shall follow FAR 29.303 State and Local Taxes guidelines.

5. QUESTION: What is the VA’s mandatory timeline (maximum time in days) for responding back to the contractor on submittals and RFI’s provided to the VA?

ANSWER: During the construction period, maximum response time is typically 14 calendar days.

Reviews may require additional time if the contractor submits large numbers of submittals in a small window of time.

6. QUESTION: Is the contractor required to participate in weekly safety inspections with the VA industrial hygienist or VA Safety POC?

ANSWER: The Construction Safety Team will inspect the construction site weekly. The contractor should be on site to be able correct any safety deficiencies found during the inspection.

7. QUESTION: On the door schedule it says any door with the number 1 in the comments is an ADO. However, each of those doors has hardware group 1N which in the hardware sets have manual door closers on it. This is for every TLTS1 room door. Can you please confirm if these doors are going to be receiving automatic door operators or are just going to be using manual door closers?

ANSWER: Scheduled Hardware Sets are selected from established hardware sets indicated in the VA Technical Information Library. Project specific modifications to the hardware sets are indicated in the Comments/Remarks. The intent is for the contractor to properly integrate the modification into the hardware set to obtain a properly functioning door. Specific to the RFI question, an automatic door operator is required on every TLTS1 room door and the manual closer indicated is to be deleted since it would not allow the door, with the operator to properly function.

8. QUESTION: Please confirm that general note 23 is correct on sheet GI-001 stating that the VA is responsible any testing or abatement that may be required for this project.

ANSWER: Correct in regards to Asbestos.

9. QUESTION: Please provide a location for connection to the VA electrical system to supply power to a construction trailer.

ANSWER: Location for trailer will be coordinated after award with VA.

10. QUESTION: Sheets ES-102, ES-202, ES-302, PL-106, PL-107, PL-108, TS-102 call out Bid deduct option #1 and states "under bid deduct option #1, delete all construction for locker room, toilet room, and respiratory therapy room". These rooms are not mentioned anywhere on the deductive items in the bid schedule. please clarify.

ANSWER: The sheets listed show the correct scope of work. If deducts are not exercised, the toilet room and respiratory therapy room are built within the footprint of the internet café.

Under Bid Deduct Option #1, the internet café space is “existing to remain” and these rooms are not built.

11. QUESTION: A general note on sheet GI-160 states that the electrical contractor is responsible for rerouting/relocating any electrical conduits and/or components located in the interstitial that is in the way of the new ductwork shown on this plan, it is not possible to bid relocated items without an extensive survey of affected areas. Please provide relocation plans for electrical items to be relocated.

ANSWER: In some cases, the contractor may route the duct around existing items (pipes, hangers, conduits, cable tray, etc.). The contractor determines the exact location of the new duct work that is to be installed. Thus, the contractor is responsible for relocating existing items as a result of the agreed upon location of new pipes and ducts. This project will require extensive pre-planning and coordination by the contractor and all of the sub-contractors to determine the optimal locations for the new items and relocations of existing.

12. QUESTION: Who is the specific manufacturer of the paver system currently installed in the courtyard?

ANSWER: The manufacturer of the existing paver system is not known. The intent is to salvage and reuse existing pavers. Available as-built information (selected excerpts) provided by the VA to the design team is provided on General Information sheet series GI-201, GI-202, GI-211, and GI-212. Additional as-built information for the courtyard is provided as part of this response.

13. QUESTION: Is the existing paver system a basic sand bed set type, or an adjustable pedestal type paver? The detail that is shown on AE-511 is not clear.

ANSWER: Available as-built information (selected excerpts) provided by the VA to the design team is provided on General Information sheet series GI-201, GI-202, GI-211, and GI-212.

Additional as-built information for the courtyard and sidewalk access is provided as part of this response.

14. QUESTION: AE-312 detail F1 shows a note pointing to the existing steel framing that states " sealant, backer rod and compressible filler". This note does not appear to be correct. Please clarify.

ANSWER: The note should indicate “Existing structural framing”.

15. QUESTION: What is the expected duration for the VA to vacate and decommission occupied areas between construction phases?

ANSWER: Expected duration is 30 days.

16. QUESTION: Will the VA provide a plan view of the planter and sidewalk access that is mentioned on AD-101 note 22? Please provide dimensions and elevations.

ANSWER: Available as-built information (selected excerpts) provided by the VA to the design team is provided on General Information sheet series GI-201, GI-202, GI-211, and GI-212.

Additional as-built information for the courtyard and sidewalk access is provided as part of this response.

17. QUESTION: What is the planter on AD-101 constructed of? Is it CMU with a cap stone?

ANSWER: Available as-built information (selected excerpts) provided by the VA to the design team is provided on General Information sheet series GI-201, GI-202, GI-211, and GI-212. The planter wall construction can be understood from this information. Additional as-built information for the courtyard and sidewalk access is provided as part of this response.

18. QUESTION: What is the load rating on the exterior concrete path outside of the Area 1B construction entrance?

ANSWER: The load rating for the concrete path designed and constructed with the original building is not known. As-built information, when available, has been included in the project documentation and herein with this addendum.

19. QUESTION: Will a laydown area be provided for a construction office and material storage?

Please indicate a specific location.

ANSWER: Location for laydown area will be coordinated after award with VA.

20. QUESTION: Will it be permissible for a project laydown area to be located on the parking lot to the East of the Spinal Cord Injury Unit?

ANSWER: Location for laydown area will be coordinated after award with VA.

21. QUESTION: To allow additional space for construction access, will it be permissible to Include room 1B-119D as part of the construction access area?

ANSWER: Yes, however the room will need to be built back once construction access is no longer needed.

22. QUESTION: Detail C1 on sheet AE-511 calls out exterior sheathing which appears to be left exposed, please confirm that the sheathing is covered with roofing membrane.

ANSWER: No. Note that Detail B8, Sheet AE-511 is referenced at the parapet cap. Per that detail, the roof membrane extends up the back side of the parapet and over the top prior to the installation of the parapet cap metal.

23. QUESTION: Please provide the color and pattern for finish code "HW" under wall finishes on sheet AE-621. The schedule only lists "TBD".

ANSWER: Beveled panel- honey nut 0535, revel inserts- Brushed silver 0604 and or Brushed Gold 0605.

24. QUESTION: It is assumed that the structural engineer has calculated the load placed on the existing slab and structure by the new infill. What additional loading on the existing slab and structure can be tolerated to facilitate installation of the new infill without shoring?

ANSWER: The load rating for the clinic addition in the courtyard construction was taken into account. The floor slab includes foam fill below to reduce the weight imposed on the structure by the new construction. Attached as part of this addendum is the floor loading diagram from the original building as-built drawings which does not reflect the clinic addition constructed as part of this project.

25. QUESTION: Please provide the structural as built drawings including engineering calculations for the existing structural components under the proposed infill.

ANSWER: The original building structural calculations are not available. The original as-built drawings comprise of two volumes of structural drawings.

26. QUESTION: Site Investigations - Please provide all site investigations performed for this solicitation.

ANSWER: The question is too broad to answer since information includes multiple volumes of as-built drawings and hundreds of gigabytes of photos. Available as-built information (selected excerpts) provided by the VA to the design team is provided on General Information sheet series GI-201, GI-202, GI-211, and GI-212. Additional as-built information for the courtyard and sidewalk access is provided as part of this response.

27. QUESTION: VA TRIRIGA - How many VA TRIRIGA CPMS user licenses will the contractor be required to purchase for use by VA personnel?

ANSWER: None

28. QUESTION: SSHO/Superintendent - Can the Superintendent also fulfill the roles of SSHO and CSHT if they meet the requirements of each?

ANSWER: Yes.

29. QUESTION: ICRA Requirements - Please clarify the ICRA Level for this solicitation.

ANSWER: Class III/IV

30. QUESTION: TB Screening - Is TB Screening a requirement of this solicitation?

31. QUESTION: Commissioning Agent - Specification section 01 91 00 1.8C "Members Appointed by VA" indicates that the Commissioning Agent will be appointed by the VA and engaged under a separate contract. Please confirm that the VA will engage the commissioning agent under a separate contract, and that the contractor is NOT required to carry the cost of General Commissioning.

ANSWER: Confirmed

32. QUESTION: Commissioning - Please confirm that this project does not require whole building commissioning and that the only systems to be commissioned are the ones listed in section 01 91 00 subsection 1.7.

33. QUESTION: Section 01 91 00 Video Training - Can demonstration and training recordings as referenced in section 01 91 00 3.9 C be performed by a member of the contractor's organization or will the recordings need to be made by a "Commercial Photographer?"

ANSWER: Demonstration and training recordings as referenced in section 01 91 00 3.9 C be performed by a member of the contractor's organization

34. QUESTION: Warranties - Please confirm that any warranty referenced in the specifications, even if it modifies FAR clause 52.246-21, beyond one year is intended to be a manufacturer's warranty for the product as referenced in the specification section.

35. QUESTION: Demolition keynote 8 on sheet AD-101 states that the contractor shall be responsible for the removal of existing furniture, equipment, including headwalls and accessories. Please confirm what furniture will remain after the VA has vacated the respective area.

ANSWER: Quantity will be on case per case basis per VA COR and Nursing Staff.

36. QUESTION: Will the VA provide storage space for headwalls until they are reinstalled?

ANSWER: Headwall storage will be contractor’s responsibility. Option was provided in plans for contractor to provide new headwalls at the contractor’s expense.

37. QUESTION: Please confirm that the VA will be responsible to remove, store and reinstall any office furnishings before and after phases. IE chairs, desks, computers, phones, personal items etc.

ANSWER: Per Demolition Keynote 8 on sheet AD-101, Contractor will be responsible to remove and salvage all existing furniture, equipment, including headwalls, and accessories. Store all items in a controlled environment. Coordinate with the VA COR prior to removal.

38. QUESTION: AD-102 keynote 13 calls to remove the existing pavers and substrate. What is the composition and thickness of the existing paver substrate?

ANSWER: Available as-built information (selected excerpts) provided by the VA to the design team is provided on General Information sheet series GI-201, GI-202, GI-211, and GI-212. The

39. QUESTION: What are the dimensions, types, manufacturer(s), weight, of the existing patient lifts to be removed by the contractor for VA- reinstallation?

ANSWER: Current patient lift system is Guldmann GH-2.

40. QUESTION: Once the existing patient lifts are removed and turned over to the VA, will the VA be responsible to relocate the lifts from the project area and become the property of the VA for storage?

ANSWER: Yes, the contractor will need to coordinate their work with the installation of the lifts (by others) at the lift column supports, electrical outlet locations and patient privacy curtains (curtain snaps/fasteners between curtain sections).

41. QUESTION: Please confirm that once removed, the existing patient lifts will be the responsibility of the VA provide storage space for the removed patient lifts.

42. QUESTION: Is there an existing warranty on the patient lifts? Will a specific vendor be required for removal? Please provide the contact information for the specific vendor.

ANSWER: No existing warranty on lifts. No specific vendor required for removal.

43. QUESTION: The accessory schedule on sheet AE-632 indicates that QTY 1 M7499 wall mounted exam light is required, however there are qty 5 shown on sheet AE-112. Please clarify the correct QTY.

ANSWER: The room types indicated on AE-632 Accessory Schedule series drawings lists quantities for each room of that type. The intent is one exam light per exam/treatment room.

Five exam/treatment rooms will require a total of 5 exam lights for the project.

44. QUESTION: Please provide a specifications section for M7499 wall mounted exam lights.

ANSWER: The Basis of Design for the exam light is indicated on Drawing Sheet AE-632, last sentence under Equipment Item M7499 for the Exam/Treatment rooms.

45. QUESTION: Please provide the manufacturer, and type of the existing headwalls.

ANSWER: The manufacturer of the existing headwall system is not known.

46. QUESTION: AE-214 keynote 42 lists a CFCI diaper station. Please provide a description and specifications.

ANSWER: An acceptable Basis of Design make and model is a Koala brand KB200-01 horizontal fold down baby changing station. The station and installation is required to be ADA/ABA compliant.

47. QUESTION: What is the composition of the existing waterproofing on the courtyard concrete deck substrate?

ANSWER: Available as-built information (selected excerpts) provided by the VA to the design team is provided on General Information sheet series GI-201, GI-202, GI-211, and GI-212. The

48. QUESTION: AE-411 keynote 2 calls to install R19 minimum insulation above curtain track pocket if not present.

ANSWER: The intent of the note is to provide batt insulation between the top of vision glass and the underside of the interstitial where it is missing.

49. QUESTION: Please clarify for bidding purposes if the insulation is present or not.

ANSWER: The insulation is existing. However, insulation that may have become dislodged, fallen out of place over the years, and/or inadvertently removed as part of demolition is to be replaced. If fallen out and not thrown away, the insulation is to be reinstalled into its proper place.

50. QUESTION: Please confirm that the lockers are owner furnished contractor installed as listed in the accessory schedule shown on sheet AE-633.

ANSWER: The Accessory Schedule indicates the lockers are Owner Furnished, Contractor Installed. The VA Technical Information Library indicates the lockers are provided by the VA.

51. QUESTION: What make and model products are currently in use for the following specified scopes of work listed below and does the VA require the exact same products be furnished and installed by the awarded contractor?

a. 27 15 00 Communications Horizontal Cabling

b. 27 41 31 Master Antenna Television Equipment and Systems

c. 27 51 16 Public Address and Mass Notification Systems

d. 27 52 23 Nurse Call and Code Blue Systems

e. 28 13 00 Physical Access Control System

f. 28 23 00 Video Surveillance

g. 28 26 00 Electronic Personal Protection System

h. 28 31 00 Fire Detection and Alarm

ANSWER: a. Exact make and model not known

b. Blonder Tongue

c. Make and model not known

d. Rauland Responder 4

e. Schneider Electric Continuum

f. Schneider Electric, exact product not known

g. Notifier

VA does not require exact product, but equivalent product would need to be compatible and work with existing systems.

52. QUESTION: In the Modern Wood there are 3 sizes listed. Is there a pattern to this or do they want a random installation?

ANSWER: LVT 1 is modern wood, pattern is Vestige , color is Kumera Size: 9 x 36 – installed as a random plank The pattern drawn in the patient room is NOT the desired design.

The accent LVT 2 is Classic Stone, pattern is Event, color is cordovan sandstone Size: 12 x 18 Please refer to the picture and NOTE the WIDTH of the curve is note single pencil line.

The VA is NOT going to use LVT 3

53. QUESTION: For the pattern on the Modern Wood, can the designer be more specific in what they want? Three sizes are chosen here too. Can they explain why?

ANSWER: see attachments: NOTE: LVT size as noted

54. QUESTION: Is the Modern Stone to be cut like a ribbon twisting randomly or just set randomly?

ANSWER: Cut to form a ribbon twisting randomly. Prior to installation, verify with VA-COR the criteria of the ribbons (how much twisting, width, etc.). The patterns shown on the drawings is only intended to provide the locations where the twisting ribbons are required, the intent that they are to be continuous between rooms where adjacent rooms are scheduled the same, and the general “feel” intended.

55. QUESTION: If so, and they go with sheet vinyl, is this to be welded?

56. QUESTION: It appears the that the nurse call project that is currently being solicited includes the design and replacement of the nurse call system that is located in the Construct Spinal Cord Injury Expansion project area with the exception of the new courtyard infill. This would be an overlap of the nurse call system in this area. For bidding purposes, would the VA like us to continue to bid per the provided plans and specifications for the Construct Spinal Cord Injury Expansion or the nurse call project?

ANSWER: Continue to bid per the provided plans and specifications for the Construct Spinal Cord Injury Expansion.

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PROJECT: VA Houston – SCI

Area: Waiting / Corridors Product: Yara Modular Tile Color: Gilded Linen / Caspian Sea Size: 24 x 24 Backing: Ethos W/ OmniCoat Manufacturer: Tandus Centiva Rep: Karen Perucki 832-367-5109

Area: Offices Product: Geoknit / Colorknit Color: Sateen Size: 18x36 Backing: Ethos w/ Omnicoat Manufacturer: Tandus Centiva Rep: Karen Perucki 832-367-5109

Area: Waiting / Corridors Product: Regalia Modular Tile Color: Gilded Linen / Caspian Sea Size: 24 x 24 Backing: Ethos W/ Omnicoat Manufacturer: Tandus Centiva Rep: Karen Perucki 832-367-5109

Area: SCI In-Patient Rooms Product: LVT – Vestige / Contour Color(s): Kumera / Cordovan Sandstone Vestige – CVE #1012 (9x36) Contour – ECL # 7112 (12x18) Backing: 32 Mil wear layer Manufacturer: Tandus Centiva Rep: Karen Perucki 832-367-5109

Area: Admin Area Product: LVT – Vestige Color: Kumera Vestige – CVE #1012 (9x36) Backing: 32 Mil wear layer Manufacturer: Tandus Centiva Rep: Karen Perucki 832-367-5109