36C25719Q1325-0007001.pdf

Consolidated RFIs

Solicitation No. 36C25719Q1325

Verify, Trace and Label Electrical Systems (STX)

Project No. 671-18-119

1. When you say "circuit tracing", are we updating a one-line diagram or are we tracing the circuit all the way down to the device?

A: Refer to SOW Section III.

2. With respect to "tracing circuits", does it consist of normal power critical branch power emergency power

A: Yes. Refer to SOW Section III.

3. What is the time frame for this job to be completed?

A: 560 Total Days as per Schedule B.

4. Does the job require any "after hours" work?

A: All work shall be carried out Monday – Friday (8:00AM – 4:30PM) except for Federal Holidays. Work requirements in critical areas such as the OR’s, patient areas, GLA, etc., shall be coordinated 10 business days in advance through the Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Supervisor and the COR.

If a shutdown is required to verify a circuit, the work shall be completed in the evening or weekend and coordinated through the COR and M&O 10 business days in advance.

5. Infection Control: Please provide a project-specific Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) for this project.

Specific infection control measures that the VA will require the Contractor to implement must be stated. To simply state that this is (for example) an ICRA Class 3 or ICRA Class 4 project is not sufficient for bid purposes.

A: Please see attached ICRA.

6. Fire alarm: Does this project include any tracing of fire alarm wiring/connectivity?

A: No.

7. Wage Rate Determination: Is there an applicable wage rate determination for this project? If so, please provide.

A: This is a professional services requirement; therefore, the Service Contract Act and wage rate determination does not apply.

8. Bonding: Is a bid bond required for this project? Are Performance and Payment Bonds required for this project?

A: This is not a construction project it is a service contract; therefore, bonds are not required.

9. Superintendent: Since this is a service-type contract and no construction is being performed, a prime contractor superintendent would be of little to no use on a project of this nature. The addition of this person into the bid would be added cost that is unnecessary. If a representative for the general contractor can make all the meetings and coordination planning, can the foreman for the electrical contractor act as the project supervisor on this project?

A: Yes. Refer to SOW Section I. F.

10. Bid Options: Please state how the low bidder for award purposes will be determined in accordance with FAR

Clause 52.217-3 or FAR Clause 52.217-5. If the intent is to evaluate offers in accordance with FAR 52.217-5, the Bid Schedule needs to be amended to include a Total for all CLINS (0001-0006).

A: Evaluations are in accordance with FAR 52.212-2; award is based only on low price. A total for all CLINS is not applicable as the optional lines 0002 – 0006 may be awarded one or more at time of award or any time with 120 days of award.

11. Possible Bid Alternates: Are the additional line items (CLINS), 0002-0006, listed on the Bid Schedule intended to be 'options' or 'alternates'? If the intent is to allow the VA to pick and choose which CLINS it wants to award with the Base Bid (in whatever order), then CLINS 0002-0006 should be designated as 'alternates'. If

'alternates', please describe in detail how bids will be evaluated to determine the low bidder for award purposes.

A: This is a service contract not a construction contract; therefore, the items are optional line items and not alternates no matter what order they are awarded in.

12. Termination Point Labels: Is it the VA’s intent to have every receptacle and switch in every room labeled and documented? Is it the VA’s intent to have every J-box labeled and documented?

A: Yes. No.

13. As-Built Drawings: Will the contractor's red-line drawings for this project be acceptable for as-builts, or do they need to be done in AutoCAD? If AutoCAD is required, existing AutoCAD files will need to be sent to contractors after award.

A: They need to be done in AutoCAD, existing one-line drawings will be provided to the contractor in CAD format. But, it’s outdated and will be the contractor responsibility to verify and provide updated CAD drawings.

14. After-Hour/Weekend Work: Please designate the areas that will have to be surveyed and worked in after-hours or on weekends. This information is needed to account for overtime pay in contractors bids.

A: Alternate work hour requirements are not expected, but, in the event of alternate work hours, they will be coordinated through the COR and M&O shall be coordinated 10 business days in advance.

Work requirements in critical areas such as the OR’s, Mental Health, Animal Research Lab, Inpatient Care, patient areas, etc., shall be coordinated 10 business days in advance through the Maintenance and Operations

(M&O) Supervisor and the COR.

15. Solicitation Drawings: It is assumed that all of the drawings sent out in the solicitation are prior-job as-builts and the keyed notes describing work to be done is to be ignored. Please confirm.

A: The solicitation as-built drawings keyed notes are to be used as reference only. The contractor shall field verify everything as changes occurred that are not reflected in the provided drawings.

16. Labels: There are some generic labeling requirements in the SOW describing ‘printed labels.’ What exactly does the VA expect with regard to printed labels?

A: All labeling shall be completed in accordance with NFPA 70E. Review SOW Section III. B. and C.

17. Performance Period: The performance period for the base bid and some of the other line items is not enough time to complete the work. Please allow for 240 days for the CLIN 0001, 300 days for CLIN 0002, 120 days for CLIN 0003, 90 days for CLIN 0004, 180 for CLIN 0005, and 120 days for CLIN 0006.

A: This adds up to almost 3 years of work. The performance period allocated to this project is 560 days.

18. Work Restrictions: Please describe any work and/or access restrictions that need to be accounted for in our cost estimate.

A: Work requirements in critical areas such as the OR’s, Mental Health, Animal Research Lab, Inpatient Care, patient areas, etc., shall be coordinated 10 business days in advance through the Maintenance and Operations

(M&O) Supervisor and the COR.

19. Project Scope: The Solicitation states that this is an “effort to trace and label electrical distribution systems throughout the Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital”. The Solicitation describes the scope as “from the service entrance to the branch circuit panels and to each load or device”. The Solicitation, the SOW and the

Schedule of Prices refer to areas of the hospital to be covered within a particular duration. Using only the as-built drawings that have been provided thus far, it is nearly impossible to tell exactly how many distribution panels and circuits are involved with each of these areas. What type and how many actual panels should be assumed for each of these Bid Items that are proposed? Are all panels lighting and receptacle branch circuit panels or, are some of these distribution panels or switchboards?

A: Refer to response to question # 20 below.

20. Incomplete Drawings: Without a complete one-line diagram of the existing electrical distribution system, we cannot determine the total number of panels involved in each of the areas of the hospital. If there are more panels than what are shown on the provided as-built drawings, how will this be handled?

A: We currently do not have a complete one-line drawings of the existing electrical distribution system, hence the need for this project. The contractor shall develop a complete one-line drawing for this project.

The drawings provided are for reference only and are to give the contractor an idea of the existing electrical distribution system.

21. Missing Areas: The as-built drawings provided as part of the solicitation do not appear to include all areas of the hospital. We also do not see the complete “One-Line Diagrams” referenced in part II.A of the SOW.

Please provide the complete one-line diagram.

A: Refer to response to question # 20 above.

22. Designer Requirements: Are the services of an Architect or Engineer required for any aspect of this solicitation?

A: It shall be the responsibility of a contractor to assemble a team that can successfully deliver the project.

See SOW I (F).

23. Abnormal Working Hours: Although the work hours of the hospital are called out in the solicitation, what are the days and hours that will be allowed for the contractor to carry out the work? If some work of this solicitation is be done after normal working hours Monday-Friday, or on weekends, please provide quantity or list of panels that will have to be done during alternate hours and what hours these will need to be.

A: All work shall be carried out Monday – Friday (8:00AM – 4:30PM) except for Federal Holidays. Work requirements in critical areas such as the OR’s, patient areas, GLA, etc., shall be coordinated 10 business days in advance through the Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Supervisor and the COR.

Alternate work hour requirements are not expected, but, in the event of alternate work hours, they will be coordinated through the COR and M&O.

POLICY MEMORANDUM 007-18-56

INFECTION CONTROL RISK ASSESSMENT (ICRA) (ATTACHMENT 2)

PROJECT TITLE

SERVICE CHIEF PHONE NUMBER

CONTRACT OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE

PHONE NUMBER EST. DATES OF CONSTRUCTION

PROJECT # BUILDGING # FLOOR

AFFECTED SERVICE(S)

NOTE: References reverse side for Definitions and IC Construction Activity Matrix Circle the appropriate class of this project.

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES BASED ON CLASS

CLASS 1

Date

Initials

1. Execute work by methods to minimize raising dust.

2. Immediately replace any ceiling tile displaced for visual inspection.

CLASS 2

Date

Initials

1. Provide active means to prevent airborne dust from dispensing into atmosphere.

2. Water mist work surfaces to control dust while cutting.

3. Seal unused doors with duct tape.

4. Block off and seal air vents.

5. Contain and transport waste in covered containers.

6. Wet mop and/or vacuum with High-efficiency particulate absorption (HEPA) filtered vacuum before leaving area.

7. Place dust mat at entrance and exit of work area.

8. Remove or isolate HVAC system in areas where work is being performed.

9. Post sign cautioning about spread of dust.

CLASS 3

Date

Initials

1. Notify IC for approval before construction begins.

2. Remove or isolate HVAC system.

3. Complete all barriers before construction begins. Dust barriers must be constructed of fire retardant material from ceiling to decking at interstitial level. Dust barriers constructed at floor level must have a one hour fire rating. NOTE: Nonrated walls and opening protectives shall be permitted when an approved automatic sprinkler system is installed.

4. Do not remove barriers until completed project is thoroughly cleaned.

5. Vacuum work with HEPA filter vacuum as required.

6. Wet mop with disinfectant.

7. Remove barrier materials carefully to minimized spreading of dirt and debris.

8. Contain and transport waste in covered containers.

9. Post sign cautioning about spread of dust.

10. Maintain negative pressure with HEPA filtration, exhaust must be routed to main ventilation or outside of building.

CLASS 4

Date

Initials

11. Seal holes, pipes, conduits, and punctures appropriately.

12. Construct anteroom and require all personnel to pass through this room so they can be vacuumed using a HEPA vacuum cleaner before leaving work or their coveralls can be removed each time they leave the work site.

13. All personnel entering work site are required to wear shoe covers.

SIGNATURE OF INFECTION CONTROL REQUIRED FOR CLASS 3 & 4

Comments:

thru

Date Printed Name & Title

Signature

1-10 SAME as Class 3

POLICY MEMORANDUM 007-18-56

INFECTION CONTROL RISK ASSESSMENT (ICRA) continued (ATTACHMENT 2)

INFECTION CONTROL CLASS INDENTIFICATION (I-IV)

TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY → Type “A” Type “B” Type “C” Type “D”

RISK LEVEL ∇

GROUP 1 I II II III

GROUP 2 I II III III

GROUP 3 I III III IV

GROUP 4 III III/IV III/IV IV

Use this matrix to determine Class of construction activity. Class is determined based on two factors:

(1) type based on complexity of construction with Type A – being the least complex and Type D having the greatest complexity, and (2) risk level of construction area defined by group 1-4, low to high risk, respectively. Use the Class to determine preventive construction activities as identified on IC Construction Permit (See reverse side of form).

DEFINITION OF TYPES

(1) Type A: Inspection and non-invasive activities including but not limited to removal of ceiling tiles for visual inspection limited to 1 tile per 50 square feet, painting (not sanding) wall covering, electrical trim work, minor plumbing; and other activities which do NOT generate dust or require cutting of walls or access to ceilings.

(2) Type B: Small scale, short duration activities, which create minimal dust. Includes but not limited to installation of telephone and computer cabling, access to chase spaces, cutting of walls or ceiling where dust migration can be controlled.

(3) Type C: Any work, which generates a moderate to high level of dust or requires demolition or removal of any fixed building components or assemblies. Includes but is not limited to sanding of wall for paint or wall-covering, removal of floor covering, ceiling tiles and casework, new wall construction, minor ductwork or electrical work above ceilings, major cabling activities, and any activity which cannot be completed within a single work shift.

(4) Type D: Major demolition and construction projects. Includes but is not limited to activities which require consecutive work shifts, heavy demolition or removal fo a complete ceiling system and new construction.

DEFINITION OF IC RISK GROUP

GROUP 1

Lowest

GROUP 2

Medium

GROUP 3

Medium High

GROUP 4

Highest

1. Office areas

2. Non-clinical areas

1. Patient care areas where no invasive procedures are performed.

1. Urgent care

2. Radiology/MRI

3. Post Anesthesia

4. Day Surgery

5. Intensive Care Units

6. Nuclear Medicine

7. Cafeteria

8. EP Labs

9. Laboratories

10. Inpatient Units

1. Bone Marrow Transplant Unit

2. Operating Rooms

3. Sterile Processing

4. Cardiac Cath and Special Procedures

5. Dialysis Unit

6. Oncology/Aphaeresis

7. Anesthesia and Pump Area

8. All Endoscopy Areas

9. Pharmacy Admixture