A0001_Attch A_RFIs with Responses 36C25625R0055_04.04.25.pdf

RFIs and Responses to RFP 36C25625R0055

598-22-1235 Repair/Replace Fire Alarm Systems-NLR/JLM

1. 3.4 (A) - Will the 30 day burn in requirement be mandatory before another panel/building can be started?

RESPONSE: Per specification section 28 31 00, there are two testing periods. Section 3.3B describes the Initial “When the systems have been completed and prior to the scheduling of the final inspection, furnish testing equipment and perform the following tests in the presence of the COR. When any defects are detected, make repairs or install replacement components, and repeat the tests until such time that the complete fire alarm systems meet all contract requirements. After the system has passed the initial test and been approved by the COR, the contractor may request a final inspection.” Section 3.4A describes the final burn-in period “Prior to final acceptance a minimum 30 day "burn-in" period shall be provided. The purpose shall be to allow equipment to stabilize and potential installation and software problems and equipment malfunctions to be identified and corrected.” The initial will be performed at each panel prior to starting the next panel, and the final burn-in period will be performed after the entire campus is completed.

2. The period of performance 365-day requirement. Is this for each campus, or for both of them to be completed in this time frame?

RESPONSE: The 365-day Period-of-Performance is for both campuses to be completed in this timeframe: North Little Rock (Eugene J. Towbin VA Campus) and Little Rock (John L. McClellan VA Campus).

3. Are there any inspection reports that can be provided so that the new panels can be properly built for fire alarm?

RESPONSE: Consolidated inspection reports do not exist for both JLM & NLR campuses that associate all devices to individual panels.

4. Will smoke detectors be required above remote annunciator panels?

RESPONSE: Smoke detectors are not required above FAAP according to NFPA 72.

5. What (if any) type of fiber connections are between panels? Multi-Mode or Single Mode?

RESPONSE: Eugene J. Towbin campus has 62.5 micron multi-mode cables and John L.

McClellan campus copper cables.

6. Will each FireWorks station area require a new server? Need clarification if there is one server at each location and then remote client software on the other Fireworks computers, or a server at each Fireworks computer.

RESPONSE: One computer shall be provided, configured, and installed at each location. Computers shall be UL listed server-based computers.

7. Will the existing cable for the security system be reused or will new cable need to be pulled for all new devices?

RESPONSE: Provide new cabling for devices as indicated on the contract drawings.

8. The Security/Intrusion layout on drawing T601 (NLR) shows the following cabinets but no listing of equipment in these areas. Bldg 41 (CAB 9 - Basement), Bldg 26 (CAB8 - RM122), Bldg 2 (CAB 16 - Lobby), Bldg 39 (CAB13 - Electrical Room), Bldg 15 (CAB2 - Room 103B). Can this be shown or is there no equipment needed in these areas?

RESPONSE: Bldg 2 CAB 16 is required. Bldg 26 CAB 8, Bldg 39 CAB 13, Bldg 41 CAB 9, and Bldg 115 CAB 2 are no longer required.

9. Can the DMP description of cabinets be coordinated with the list of equipment per room?

Need to know what devices go to what cabinets. This will determine the size of the DMP panel needed for each area. This would be needed for both Little Rock and North Little Rock locations.

RESPONSE: For NLR, the equipment should go to the cabinet that is located closest geographically and in the same building. For JLM, the equipment should go to the cabinet that is located closest geographically. Ground floor through 3rd floor should go to the cabinet on the first floor and 4th through 7th floors should go to the cabinet on the 5th floor. For a list of equipment per room, please see “VA NLR INTRUSION DEVICES” and “VA JLM INTRUSION DEVICES” on sheets T-601 and T-602 respectively.

10. What type of fiber backbone is going between panels currently? Is this single mode or multi-mode fiber?

RESPONSE: Eugene J. Towbin campus has 62.5 micron multi-mode fiber and John L.

McClellan campus has copper.

11. Please confirm a proposal cover, cover letter, table of contents, and divider pages don't count toward any page limits in Volume I thru Volume IV.

RESPONSE: Proposal cover, cover letter, table of contents, and divider pages don’t count toward page limits in Volume 1-4.

12. Will the IDS system need to be in complete conduit?

RESPONSE: No. Conduit in walls, J-hooks above ceiling.

13. RFI: On page 13 of 76 of the solicitation, it says Subfactor 1: Provide documentation of specific related work. Please confirm what is meant by documentation (Example do we provide the table of contents of the specifications from previous projects, or do we provide the title sheet of the drawings from previous projects), or will providing contract information (Example Project Title, Contract Number) meet the RFP requirements for Subfactor 1: Provide documentation of specific related work?

RESPONSE: The documentation shall be presented in Subfactor 2, which encompasses the details of Subfactor 1.

14. Solicitation: Will the government accept CPARS instead of a Past Performance Questionnaire (Exhibit B), so long as the CPARS is accompanied by a completed Performance Relevancy Survey (Exhibit A)?

RESPONSE: The government will review CPARS including the Performance Relevancy Survey, in addition to contractor efforts to provide PPQs.

15. Solicitation: How many key personnel does the government want as separate roles on this project?

a. Are the PM, Supt and QC key personnel w/single responsibility or dual and if so?

RESPONSE: The Superintendent and SSHO are completely separate people and roles.

b. Can the site superintendent fulfill the SSHO role?

RESPONSE: No.

c. Can the site superintendent fulfill the QA/ QC role?

RESPONSE: Yes.

d. Can the site superintendent fulfill multiple roles in an effort to save the government money (i.e. superintendent fulfilling SSHO and QA/QC roles)?

RESPONSE: The Superintendent and SSHO are completely separate people and roles.

e. Does the government allow the QA/QC role to fulfill other roles on this project or on other projects within the facility?

RESPONSE: Yes.

16. Solicitation, Schedule of Offer Items:

a. Are CLIN’s 0002 and 0003 intended to be bid options?

RESPONSE: Are not bid options, and proactively establishes contractor’s daily project performance rate.

b. Are CLIN’s 0002 and 0003 intended to be added to the base bid value in order to create the value of the “TOTAL COST” on the Schedule of Offer Items?

RESPONSE: Project Daily Rate is informational. This cost should be captured in contractor’s base bid and reflected in any contract modification proposal that increase or decrease contract cost.

c. Are CLIN’s 0002 and 0003 intended to be utilized only if the original Period of Performance is exceeded?

RESPONSE: Extended performance does not equate to additional cost.

d. What is the Project Daily Rate supposed to include? Or is this supposed to be the Project Management Daily Rate?

RESPONSE: Contractor daily rate is determined by the contractor.

17. SOW 1.04 Description of Work, subparagraph A.4: Will the government confirm that contractors are responsible for moving and storing VA furnishings and equipment?

RESPONSE: No equipment will need to be removed. However, the contractor is responsible for moving and storing VA furnishing and equipment, if needed.

a. Will all electronic devices, such as computers or any other data devices, be moved by the VA in advance of the contractor taking the space?

RESPONSE: No equipment will need to be removed. However, the contractor is responsible for moving and storing VA furnishing and equipment, if needed. Any electronic devices, computers, and other data devices will not be moved in advance of the contractor taking the space.

18. SOW 1.27 Tests, subparagraph B.1: Is the offeror to include the commissioning agent within our bid or is the commissioning agent provided by the VA?

RESPONSE: Commissioning to be provided under this scope of work. VA will not be providing the commissioning agent.

19. SOW 1.38, subparagraph A: Will the A&E team be responsible for attending these mandatory weekly meetings, so as to ensure timely discussions and progress on submittal and RFI discussions that need to occur?

RESPONSE: The A/E team will be in attendance for OAC meetings.

20. Specification: Table of Contents lists Specification section 01 32 16.01 as included, but section 01 32 16.15 was in-fact included in the specification manual. Will the government please confirm the correct specification section has been included in the specification manual?

RESPONSE: Spec 01 32 16.15 is to be used as included in the specification manual.

21. Specification: Table of Contents lists Specification section 02 41 00 as included in the specification manual, however section 02 41 19 was included in the specification manual.

Will the government please confirm the correct specification section has been included in the specification manual?

RESPONSE: Specification 02 41 19 is to be used as included in the specification manual.

22. Specification: Does the government require a specific project management software and/ or submittal exchange software to be utilized on this project?

RESPONSE: The VA requirement for project management software and/or submittal exchange software is that the system must be accessible to the VA. A/E would recommend Autodesk Construction Cloud.

23. Could we get a copy of the latest fire alarm test report so we can see the number of devices that will need to be tested after migrating the existing circuits to the new panels?

RESPONSE: The fire alarm test reports are not in an easily transferable format. There are 4,432 fire alarm devices total; however, contractor shall verify all quantities.

24. Is the fiber network loop existing at each fire alarm control panel?

RESPONSE: See Q5 response above.

25. Will we be allowed to work on two buildings at a time?

RESPONSE: Contractor shall be authorized to perform work on two fire panels at a time if two full teams are working simultaneously in parallel on each panel. Shared staff among fire panel work is not authorized.

26. Does the new intrusion detection cable need to be installed in conduit?

RESPONSE: See Q12 response above.

27. Does the 5-year guarantee period only apply to the new panels being installed? If this applies to existing devices, we will need to know the quantity of existing initiating and notification devices.

RESPONSE: The 5-year guarantee period applies only to new equipment, components, and workmanship.

28. Does the 5-year emergency call back service apply to existing fire alarm devices?

RESPONSE: See Q27 response above.