2nd set of RFIs 36C25722B0021 Upgrade Fire Alarm System.docx

RFI’s 36C25722B0021 - Upgrade Fire Alarm System Olin Teague VAMC GREEN TEXT: Responses from LEO A DALY RED TEXT: Response from CBDG or needed from the VA BLUE TEXT: Needs verification/revisions

1. Duct Smoke Detectors for the Project.

a. Question: Do all In Duct Smokes for the project require Remote Test Switches to be installed?

Refer to specification 283100 paragraph 2.9.A.3.

2. Numerous In Duct Smoke Detectors for the Project are shown with no control relays:

a. Question: Do all In Duct Smoke Detectors require control relays?

Refer to specification 283100 paragraph 3.2.F.

i. If so, please provide Mechanical as built drawings in order to bid the project VA to provide as-builts.

b. Question: Do all In Duct Smoke Detectors shut down an auxiliary device with control relays?

Refer to specification 283100 paragraph 3.2.F.

i. If so, please provide Mechanical as built drawings in order to bid the project VA to provide as-builts.

3. As Site Visit on May 2nd only lasting 2 to 2.5 hours and the contractors were not granted access to the majority of the areas Buildings163, 202 and 204 of the project site. Per the VA’s RFI response to Question #19 making the successful contractor liable for a compete design to meet NFPA and VA Design Guidelines.

a. Question: Will the owner schedule another site visit of three to four 8 hour days that will encompass all areas of Building 163, 202 and 204 to allow the contractors to make a full and complete review of the existing project conditions?

VA: Will provide an additional site visit of 8 hours to the prospective bidders.

4. Numerous Corridor doors are found in buildings 163, 202 and 204 that do not show any interface to the Fire Alarm System on the provided plans. As these doors are not required to be tied into the Fire Alarm by NFPA 70 Code or VA Design Guidelines.

a. Question: Do these locations require photo electric smoke detectors at these locations?

b. Question: Do these locations require control relays for interface to fire alarm system:

c. Question: Do these locations have DCL Door Closures installed?

d. Question: Do these locations have DCH Door Holders installed?

Need to re-verify corridor doors in buildings 163, 202 and 204 and issue revisions as necessary.

Surface-mounted conduit is acceptable with design team. Does VA agree? See attached drawings

Please advise as to the following questions. We are asking for your help to make this a fair and equitable bid for the owner and the contractors.

Also not included in sheet index on GI001 but intended to be included in this amendment.

b. 163-FA101E - Building 163Fire Alarm Plan Level 1 Area E Also not included in sheet index on GI001 but intended to be included in this amendment.

c. Are these drawing part of the SOW for this project?

Yes, they are intended to be included.

Delete this reference.

b. Please provide referenced specification section?

CBDG to respond.

No. Only the fire alarm system is to be commissioned.

The extent of Commissioning of Fire Alarm system shall be as follows:

1. Submit all fire alarm shop drawings for review by commissioning agent.

2. Fire alarm system shall be tested by contractor in accordance with NFPA 70. After 30-day “burn-in” period, notify commissioning agent to attend and witness final functional tests.

4. In Specification 01 90 00 Paragraph 1.8C “Members Appointed by VA

a. Paragraph 1 states “The Contractor will obtain qualifications and fee proposals from three (3) Commissioning Agents and present them to the VA for consideration as CxA on this project. The VA will evaluate the proposals and select one (1) CxA for the Contractor to engage. Note that while the Contractor will hold the contract with the CxA, all other relationships and procedures outlined in the contract documents related to commissioning shall remain in effect.”

Delete this requirement. CxA will be provided by the design team.

b. Is the Contractor to include this cost in their proposal or will this be an increase to the contract sum after selection of the CxA?

Delete this requirement.

Also not included in sheet index on GI001 but intended to be included in this amendment.

b. 163-FA101E - Building 163Fire Alarm Plan Level 1 Area E Also not included in sheet index on GI001 but intended to be included in this amendment.

c. Are these drawing part of the SOW for this project and, if not please provide?

Yes, they are intended to be included.

6. On Drawing Sheet G1002 – Detail C5 “VA Temple – Campus Fire Alarm Riser Diagram”

a. Note states that “Buildings 200 and 201 are not in the alarm replacement scope of this project. These Buildings are monitored by the fire alarm control panel in building 204. These building will need to be monitored by the new alarm control panel and main control units.”

b. As this will require new interface devices in these buildings, should they not be listed as included in the project scope of work?

Need to verify panel types & locations in buildings 200 and 201 to include in revisions.

No, remove existing and provide new annunciator at 4J Clinic Reception.

Need to confirm with VA that the building 202 emergency plan is for general evacuation.

VA: Yes, the emergency plan is for general evacuation

Need to confirm with VA that the building 202 emergency plan is for general evacuation.

VA: Yes, the emergency plan is for general evacuation

10. On Drawing Sheet 163-FA102-CM

a. Shows a Sliding Door to be Replaced with Fire Rated Door on a Door Closer to adhere to VA design guide standards.

b. Please provide a specification for the new door and associated hardware.

See answer to 10.a and 10.b below.

Answer to 10.a and 10.b:

Remove existing door and frame. Provide new 2” wide hollow metal frame and new flush wood door with 1 hour fire rated core.

Hardware shall be set HW-6A as follows:

HW-6A

Each Door to Have: RATED

Question on 4: Under Part 1 – General, Item C.2 list the other buildings to notify all occupants in the respective building to evacuate. Is the intent that when one of the buildings in Phase 2 activates (alarms) that the alarm also sounds in those separate buildings?

VA: Alarm is not to sound in adjacent buildings Question on 14: No annunciators or additional panels are shown on the pre-engineered drawings at the nurse stations. Are these required or do we design per the pre-engineered drawings?

Need to re-verify annunciator locations in buildings 163, 202 and 204 and issue revisions as necessary.

Question on 15: Who will be the Authority Having Jurisdiction on the project? Will a permit be required with the City of Temple? Will the City of Temple Fire Marshal’s office be involved?

VA: No, Federal Property is outside of the city’s jurisdiction.

Question on 19: Will this fire alarm be design build per specification, or will the for construction drawings from the design team be the template for the fire alarm system?

1. The design team was not granted access to ALL areas of the Medical Center during the site investigation surveys. Neither did the design team receive any existing drawings for use during the design process. This prevented the design team from having full knowledge of the existing devices, wiring, etc. of the fire alarm system being replaced under this project. As a result, the drawings and specifications were specifically developed by the design team to require the Contractor to design and install the replacement system to fully comply with NFPA 72.

Specifically, the following notes and references were included in the construction documents and are a part of the contractor’s requirements:

Specification Section 28 31 00 FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM Paragraph 1.1.B Fire alarm systems shall comply with requirements of the most recent VA FIRE PROTECTION DESIGN MANUAL and NFPA 72….

Paragraph 1.2.A A fully addressable fire alarm system shall be designed and installed in accordance with the specifications and drawings. Device location and wiring runs shown on the drawings are for reference only unless specifically dimensioned. Actual locations shall be in accordance with NFPA 72 and this specification.

Paragraph. 1.4.B.2 Floor plans: Provide locations of all devices (with device number at each addressable device corresponding to control unit programming), appliances, panels, equipment, junction/terminal cabinets/boxes, risers, electrical power connections, individual circuits and raceway routing, system zoning; number, size, and type of raceways and conductors in each raceway; conduit fill calculations with cross section area percent fill for each type and size of conductor and raceway. Drawings 163‐FA001, 202‐FA001 and 204‐FA001each contain the following notes:

Note 5: ALL EXISTING INTERFACING DEVICES (TAMPERS, FLOWS, PRESSURE SWITCHES, ETC) WILL BE CONNECTED TO THE NEW FA SYSTEM AND REPORT TO THE MAIN GRAPHIC ANNUNCIATORS IN BUILDINGS 58, AND 204. INTERFACING DEVICES ARE SHOWN WHEN LOCATIONS ARE KNOWN, HOWEVER THE DRAWINGS SHOULD NOT BE USED AS AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST.

Note 7: IT IS NOTED THAT THE DRAWINGS ARE DIAGRAMMATIC… Note 9: ADDITIONAL DEVICES MAY BE REQUIRED. DO NOT USE THESE DRAWINGS FOR DEVICE COUNTS.

Therefore, it is the responsibility of the contractor to comply with the requirements of the specifications and drawings as illustrated above, to design and install a system fully compliant with NFPA 72. Prior to submitting bids, contractors are strongly advised to calculate the total quantity of each type of device that will be required to comply with NFPA 72 (whether shown on the drawings or not) and base their bids on that calculation. Failure to do so shall be at the contractor’s risk and shall not result in additional compensation (after contract award) for devices that are required under NFPA 72 but are not shown on the drawings.

#1 above is a previous RFI response

2. Is this project a Design Build Project?

No, see specification 283100 paragraph 1.2.A referenced above.

Question on 25: Fire Alarm Systems (Page 5) – “A new campus Fire Alarm Control Unit including computer terminal with touch screen, system printer and manual voice messaging microphone and controls will be provided in Building 58. Graphics and devices will be programmed to zoom in show the location on of alarm on the floor plan graphic. A secondary Fire Alarm Control Unit including a new Digital Alarm Communication on Transmitter to a listed central station on for monitoring purposes will be provided in the Police Dispatch area of Building 204. The secondary unit need not include a system printer.”

1. Question – Shall the new Campus Fire Alarm Control Unit have the ability to voice message and control all buildings listed in the Design Narrative and Project Specifications for both Phase 1 & 2?

Yes.

2. Question – Since the new Campus Fire Alarm Control Unit is for the entire ‘Campus” must it have the capability to program and zoom in and show the location of an alarm on the floor plan graphic for both Phase 1 & 2 buildings?

Yes.

Yes.

Question 42: There are no post indicator valves shown on the contract drawings for building #163, #202 and #204, where are the locations and quantity of “post indicator valves in this contract?

1. VA: two per building.

a. Where are the locations of “post indicator valves?”

Need to identify PIV locations for buildings 163, 202 and 204 and revise to include.

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