36C25718B0689-00001002.pdf

RFIs for 36C257-18-B-0689 Upgrade Fire Alarm System- Kerrville

Q1. What would be the proposed work hours for this project?

A1. Normal business hours Monday-Friday 0800-1630

Q2. The project has a performance period of one hundred twenty (120) days. After the Government approves the submittals (which can take anywhere from 14 to 21 days), we estimate that the project will require a minimum of forty-five (45) days to order and receive parts after notice to proceed, ninety (90) days for installation and fifteen (15) days for testing the fire alarm system, which exceeds the performance period. We recommend the performance period to be extended to one hundred eighty (180) days.

Will the project performance period be extended to one hundred eighty (180) days?

A2. There should be no submittals as the parts are dictated by the SOW, 45-day lead time for parts is excessive, I would recommend 150 days.

Q3. NICET Certified and Gamewell-FCI Factory Trained Technician: The Statement of Work (SOW) requires the 'contractor' to be a state licensed, NICET certified and Gamewell-FCI factory trained technician. Provided a SDVOSB General Contractor has the stated NAICS code, can it contract a specialty subcontractor that is a state licensed, NICET certified and Gamewell- FCI factory trained technician to perform certain elements of the work?

A3. Yes, a subcontractor can perform that work as long as the prime contractor is in compliance with the Limitations on Subcontracting clause, FAR 52.219-14.

Q4. Infection Control: Please provide a project-specific Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) for the different areas of this project. Specific infection control measures that the VA will require the Contractor to implement must be stated. To simply state that the project will require 'no less' than ICRA Level II procedures is not sufficient for bid purposes. There was discussion at a previous site visit about full containment in patient areas. In those areas, will hard construction barriers be required or would a Zip-Wall barrier suffice given the work required? Is negative air required? Is it necessary for workers to wear tyvek overalls and shoe covers, etc? If the project is ultimately designated an ICRA Class 4, please identify the ante room locations and where the negative air duct will have to be routed to exhaust the air. In short, the infection control requirements that will be imposed must be specifically stated so we know what to bid.

A4. This “no less then ICRA II” was done because the areas in this contract are so varied it is impossible to tell if any of the areas require the cutting of dry wall (producing dust) or not. For the most part devices to be replaced can be simply swapped out using the same “foot print” as the old devices. The “worst case” scenario would be Level II and offeror should formulate bid with that information.

Q5. Work Restrictions: Other than government holidays and normal business hours, are there any other work restrictions? For example, will any night or weekend work be required?

A5. The government does not foresee the need for any work required on weekends or after normal business hours. However, the government is not prohibiting work on weekends or after normal business hours. If contractor of record wishes to make a request for a work period outside of normal business hours he/she must make appropriate notifications (5 business days) in writing and get approval by local engineering supervision and provided any additional cost associated with such work.

Q6. System Training: Will the required 'training by manufacturer' be conducted at the Kerrville VA Medical Center?

A6. This will be at the contractor discretion. However, it should be noted that this training is to be conducted by the FACP manufacture’s personnel with all training aids/stations that are used during all other training sessions.

Q7. Fire Watches: Please detail the requirement for fire watches during fire alarm panel replacement.

A7. From the SOW “Fire Alarms can be down in any given building for 8 hours with negligible impact on VA operations, providing the outage is during normal business hours (0800-1630) and the 2-day notification has been approved. Anything outside those hours the contractor shall need to submit an Interim Life Safety Measure (ILSM) to VA Engineering and the VA safety office (VA will help contractor with submittal of paper work). The contractor shall be responsible for any cost associated with the ILSM to include fire watch if deemed necessary. Approval of the ILSM will be made by VA Engineering and VA Safety offices. Emergency outages will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Emergency status will be determined by the VA Engineering personnel.”

For Fire Watch standards the offeror should consult the appropriate and current NFPA standards.

Q8. Fire Alarm Outages: The Statement of Work allows the fire alarm system to be down in any given building for 8 hours with negligible impact on VA operations. Anything outside those hours requires an approved ILSM. The SOW goes on to state the contractor shall be responsible for any cost associated with the ILSM to include fire watch if deemed necessary. We acknowledge the fire watch requirement, but we need to know for bid purposes what other costs are associated with an ILSM. Please elaborate.

A8. The government is not going to dictating how the contractor preforms/implements the contract or if an ILSM will even be needed, therefore the government cannot be responsible or give an expectation of any cost incurred. If the offeror believes that a Fire Watch will be needed or other cost due to an ILSM will be incurred he/she should include this in their calculations.

Q9. Intelligibility/Audibility Testing: We understand the system will not allow intelligibility/audibility testing without further system upgrades. Please confirm intelligibility/audibility testing is not required.

A9. This is not required in the SOW.

Q10. Strobe Synchronization: We understand the system will not allow strobe synchronization with further system upgrades. Please confirm strobe synchronization is not required.

A10. This is not required in the SOW.