Attachment F - RFI Responses 598-19-118 Rplc 21 AHUs n Chillers Final.pdf

Solicitation closes 9/8/2023 at 1pm CST.

RFIs for 36C25623R0081, Project 598-19-118, Replace 21 AHUs and Chiller for AHU 18 in Bldg. 170

1. Is this project currently funded?

A. Funding has been allocated but not obligated until award of contract.

2. Can the site superintendent serve as the site safety officer, and quality control manager?

A. No

3. The current listed duration is not possible due to lead times of AHUs being one year or greater.

On the 21 AHU and one chiller project we request a period of performance to be 912 days.

A. VA market research confirmed an approximate deliverable of 26-weeks related to AHUs.

Period of performance, as of this amendment, is hereby 300 calendar days.

4. What brand of DDC controls is currently in these buildings?

A. Siemens is our backbone system, but we are transitioning to Trane.

5. What brand of fire alarm is in these buildings?

A. Edwards

6. Are smoke dampers to be installed on units with a CFM of more than 15,000?

A. Smoke dampers shall be installed on units larger than 15,000 cfm to isolate system per NFPA

90A, 4.3.10.2 (unless serving only serving the same floor they are on). Outside source should limit fire/smoke into building 4.2.1.2.1.

7. How long can each AHU be down for during the replacement process?

A. Depending on the services that the AHU provides for.

8. How large of a lay down area for an office trailer and storage containers will be available for use on this project?

A. The contractor laydown is located in the contractor’s parking located at the north end of the west parking lot near Pulaski Tech.

9. How many AHUs can be replaced at a time?

A. No more than 2 at a time.

10. Per the statement of work, the duration is 210 days. The solicitation states 300 days. Due to the current lead times, we are experiencing around 365 days + or – for the AHUs and the Chiller. We are requesting the duration be extended on this project to 2.5 years or 912 days to allow sufficient time for all vendors and subcontractors to have ample time to meet the schedule.

A. Performance period is 300 calendar days. (See Q3)

11. Can ECM motors be used in the Air Handlers on this project?

A. No

12. Where is the point of entry for equipment both demo and new to the building?

A. South dock by the Chiller Plant.

13. Can the equipment and material be brought in through the main front entrance after hours?

A. No

14. Please provide a schedule for the temporary cooling.

A. The Contractor will need to provide this schedule depending on which AHUs are being replaced.

15. The project as solicited cannot be bid without more information and additional specifications.

The missing specifications are as follows: Division 1 general conditions, 2 demo, 3 concrete, 4 masonry, 5 steel, 6 rough carpentry, 7 firestopping, 8 doors frames and hardware, 9 acoustical ceilings, 13 seismic considerations, 28 low voltage fire alarm and security, and several more. Will the VA please scrub the drawings and provide all of the corresponding specifications necessary to bid this project.

A. The specification in the solicitation has all of the necessary sections required for this project.

Revisit specifications for clarity.

16. Is the contractor or CAVHS responsible for the HVAC & Controls commissioning of this project?

A. There is a Cx Agent already involved in this project for both the design and construction phases.

17. Will the VA please define where seismic requirements are to be considered.

A. Refer to Design Drawings.

18. If seismic requirements are associated with this project, will they be considered delegated design and the contractor’s responsibility?

A. Refer to Design Drawings.

19. Will the VA please extend the contract due date by three weeks to allot time to review the new specifications, and to address any seismic and delegated design requirements that may be required for this project.

A. Refer to Q3.

20. Trane is having significant issues with manufacturing, staying on schedule, and providing quality control of their products and services. This is creating problems with General Contractors and facilities across the State of Arkansas. Experience and history with Trane has proved that they do not expedite services, increase production, or provide any staffing or manpower preference for the VA or any other agency of the government. Will the VA allow manufacturers of non-Trane systems to install new AHUs at EJT?

A. Refer to the Specifications for Substitution Approval process.

21. Will the CAVHS allow Siemens control products, specifically allowing Powers of Arkansas, to work and install non-Trane systems at EJT?

A. Refer to the Specifications for Substitution Approval process.

22. Please advise if there is any Asbestos known to be present in the areas of work on this project, and if any project-specific site surveys have been completed for locating asbestos containing materials. If asbestos is unexpectedly encountered during the project on materials required for removal, please advise the procedure for bringing the issue to the VA’s attention and whether a modification will be issued to address abatement.

A. Current Asbestos Report will be provided with these technical questions.

23. After speaking with the Air Handling Unit manufacturers, we have learned the lead time for the AHUs is approximately 1 year (365 days). The period of performance specified for the project is 300 days. Please advise if the VA contracting will consider a delayed NTP, prior to the period of performance time, to allow the manufacturers to produce the Air Handling Units and other long lead time HVAC equipment.

A. See Q3.

24. Please advise if there are any phasing requirements or preferred sequencing by the VA for removing and replacing the Air Handing Units on this project.

A. Yes

25. Please clarify/confirm which AHUs are required to have temporary air while being replaced.

Please also advise if temporary spot coolers would be acceptable as temporary air for the areas served by the smaller AHUs.

A. Refer to mechanical drawings.

26. Please advise the name of Fire Alarm contractor servicing the VA.

A. Triple S Alarms

27. Please advise the name of the Access/Security controls contractor servicing the VA.

A. In House Personnel

28. Please confirm the location of the new SQD 15KW Mini Power Zone Units Sub Station. We are unable to locate where on floor plan EP105 the unit is to be installed.

A. MPZ1 is located in Room GK107-170 in Detail F2 on sheet EP105.

29. Note: Contractor has asked the following as it relates to this requirement: We’ve had a few HVAC contractors mention the need to get their project engineers back inside the building to see some of the concerns they had after the fact. These concerns came as a surprise and they were not expecting them prior to mobilizing for the site visit. They are telling me that without the opportunity to have their engineers examine some of the logistics behind the spacing of the air handlers inside their respective locations, they won’t be able to bid it. There’s too much risk involved for them otherwise. They are telling me that some of these air handlers will have to be broken down and reassembled onsite in the room, and that requires an engineer to be involved from the beginning.

Can you coordinate for another site visit so that we can go back in there this week? A second site visit benefits the VA as much as it does the contractors. The more HVAC subs we can get in there, the more competitive our pricing is going to be on bid day, which benefits the VA as much or more than any other.

A. Project is designated for one site visit. A second site visit is not currently warranted.