Responses RFI Upgrade Fire Alarm System Phase 2.docx

1. There was some confusion as to the location as to where the site visit meeting was to take place. Amendment 0001 stated “All interested Contactors shall meet at the building 163, 1901 Veterans Memorial Dr. Temple, TX 76504.” Several contractors waited for about 45 min.’s and we were not able to locate anyone involved with the Site Visit. We understand a meeting took place at a different location with a few other contractors. Can we please have another site visit scheduled?

VA: a SITE VISIT IS SCHEDULED

2. The specifications indicate the Phase 2 buildings new fire alarm is to interface with the fire alarm systems installation in Phase 1. Can we please have the submittal for the system (brand and model) installed under Phase 1 so we know what to interface with?

VA: Attached

3. Phase 1 was to be completed in 2022. Can we get the status of that project, is it complete?

VA: project is still underway, less than 50% complete.

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?

a. VA to provide facility fire plans.

5. Will existing fiber be used to connect to the fire alarm network (interface to Phase 1 systems).

VA: Yes

6. It was mentioned at the pre-bid that this phase would not start until the first phase is complete. When is the approximate start date for phase 2?

VA: TBD

7. Is patching and painting required where fire alarm devices are being removed, or are blank cover plates acceptable?

VA: Blank plates are acceptable.

8. Is the existing fire alarm network currently connected to all buildings/fire alarm systems that are included in this project?

VA: Yes.

9. Is the existing fiber fire alarm network to be utilized for connection of the new fire alarm systems?

VA: Yes

10. If the existing fiber fire alarm network is not to be utilized for connection of the new fire alarm systems, who will be providing the new fiber network?

VA: Existing

11. What manufacturer and model type are the fire alarm systems that are being installed in the current replacement projects?

See #2 above.

12. Will the fire alarm wire be required to be 100% conduit, even in drop ceiling areas? We recommend in hard ceiling and limited access areas utilizing plenum rated cable or red armored cable.

a. Yes, the VA Fire Protection Design Manual (VAFPDM) requires all wiring to be installed in raceways separate from all other systems and specifically does not allow armored cable or metal clad cable.

13. 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?

a. Refer to Addendum I documents for clarification, annunciators added at some exits and nurse stations.

14. Concerning Building 202. The Bedrooms do not reflect smoke detectors, nor notification devices for Hearing Impaired Individuals on the pre-engineered drawings. Will the smoke detectors be stand-alone 120v type detectors? If so, will they need to be monitored by the fire alarm system? If there are rooms to be required notification for Hearing Impaired Individuals, which rooms will that be?

a. Refer to Addendum I documents for clarification; smoke detection is not required in sleeping rooms in healthcare occupancies per NFPA 101. VA has been asked to identify any rooms designated for Hearing Impaired Individuals.

VA: No hearing impaired patient rooms at this facility.

15. Who will be the Authority Having Jurisdiction? Will a permit be required with the city of Temple? Will the Temple Fire Marshal’s office be involved?

a. VA: No permits needed.

16. What is Phase 1 fire alarm panel types and locations?

See #2 above.

17. If contract is awarded, once material is awarded, can it be billed?

VA: VA policy is to only pay for material that is installed, not just purchased.

18. What will the hours be for the technicians to work?

VA: Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm unless work would directly interfere with hospital services where weekend work would need to be schedule with the COR and hospital staff, three or two weeks in advance.

19. Will this fire alarm be design build per specification, or will the pre-engineered drawings be the template for the fire alarm system?

a. 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.

20. Can existing conduit pathways be reused?

No.

21. As the system must always remain active what is the procedure/allowable timeframe for removing a circuit and placing it active on the new panel? Will fire watch be required if the area is down for more than 8 hours?

VA: Some type of heat detection system will need to be in place during this activity.

22. The current system looks to be utilizing current hospital network for building-to-building communication. Do we utilize/reuse same network infrastructure?

VA: Yes

23. Will we be able to reuse existing Fire Alarm wire if tested and found to be in good condition?

VA: No

24. Question – It is our understanding that the Solicitation is a Sealed Bid (IFB) design-bid-build project with the Government’s AE being responsible for the design portion (providing a full and complete set of Specifications and Plans showing all initiating and annunciation devices to meet NFPA and the VA design manual) is this correct?

See #19 above.

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 of alarm on the floor plan graphic. A secondary Fire Alarm Control Unit including a new Digital Alarm Communication Transmitter to a listed central station for monitoring purposes will be provided in the Police Dispatch area of Building 204. The secondary unit need not include a system printer.”

a. 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?

b. 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?

FACU is part of Phase I. Refer to Addendum I documents for clarification.

26. Page 6 – “Existing two-way phones for firefighting purposes will continue to be provided.

a. Question – There are no two-way firefighting phones shown on contract drawings does the Phase 2 Project include new fire fighter phone systems?

Refer to Addendum I documents for clarification.

b. Question – If the above answer is yes, what are the locations and quantity to be provided?

Refer to Addendum I documents for clarification.

c. Question – Since no two-way firefighting phones are shown on the drawings will the existing be reused?

Refer to Addendum I documents for clarification. Existing devices may be reused if compatible with new system.

27. Interfaces: The new fire alarm system will interface with existing equipment and systems as required by NFPA 72, NFPA 101 and the VAFPDM. Examples of existing equipment and systems included but are not limited to:

a. Fire Sprinkler – are the correct quantity of flow switches, tamper switches and fire pump switches shown on the drawings accurate?

b. Kitchen Hood extinguishing system, Question - None shown on contract drawings, what is the location and quantity to be provided?

c. Smoke and Fire Dampers, Question – None shown on contract drawings, what is the location and quantity to be provided?

d. Air handling units, Question – None shown on contract drawings what is the location and quantity to be provided?

e. Door locks, Question – None shown on contract drawings what is the location and quantity to be provided?

f. Fire Doors,

g. Elevators, Question – Are all Elevator Machine Rooms identified correctly on contract drawings?

h. Fire Water Storage Tanks, Question – None shown on contract drawings what is the location and quantity to be provided?

i. Emergency generators, Question – None shown on contract drawings what is the location and quantity to be provided?

Refer to Addendum I documents for clarifications.

28. Per page 5 of the Design Guide (Carbon monoxide detection will be provided where required by NFPA 101 and installed per NFPA 72).

Question – No Carbon monoxide detectors are shown on the contract drawings. Which buildings have gas fired heat units to be monitored by Carbon Monoxide detection and total quantities per building.

Refer to Addendum I documents for clarification.

29. Section J. All Building(s) under this contract will be occupied during performance of work; but immediate areas of alterations will be vacated.

1. Question – Will the immediate areas of alterations be vacated on a daily basis or for the duration of work performed?

VA: Daily basis. Will need to be coordinated with VA COR

30. General 1.1 Safety Requirements Safety Requirements for safety and infection control.

1. Per Section J work areas will be vacated while work is being performed, what will be the level of infectious control required for Building #163 in the construction areas?

1. Per Section J work areas will be vacated while work is being performed, what will be the level of infectious control required for Building #202 in the construction areas?

1. Per Section J work areas will be vacated while work is being performed, what will be the level of infectious control required for Building #204 in the construction areas?

VA: Level 4

31. Part 1 – 1.1 Description – Item D “Alarm signals (by device), supervisory signals (by device) and system trouble signals (by device not reporting) shall be distinctly transmitted to the main fire alarm system control unit located in the Boiler Plant Building 58 and Police Building 214.”

a. Question – What are the actual building numbers where the two Fire Alarm System Control Units will be installed?

Refer to Addendum I documents for clarification.

32. Section 2.4 – Standby Power – Item B.2 – Batteries – “Battery shall have sufficient capacity to power the fire alarm system for not less than 24 hours plus 5 minutes of alarm to an end voltage of 1.14 volts per cell, upon a normal AC power failure.”

a. Question – Will the owner approve 24-hour battery standby with 5 minutes of alarm for this project if NFPA 72 requires a different alarm duration?

Specification is a minimum, provide the more stringent duration.

33. Section 2.6 Voice Communication System (VCS) A. General: #1 An emergency voice communication system shall be installed throughout all occupied buildings on campus.

a. Question – Is the Voice Communication System (VCS) being installed under Phase 2 contract to communicate will all campus buildings under Phase 1 & 2 contract?

Yes.

34. Section 2.6 Voice Communication System (VCS) An emergency voice communication system shall be installed throughout all occupied buildings on campus. B. Speaker Circuit Control Unit: (8). Remote microphones shall be provided in the Boiler Plant building 58 and Police Building 214 for manual “all call” messages to each individual building and throughout all buildings on campus as directed by the VA and by individual facility fire plans.

a. Question – Will the VCS being installed have the ability to communicate to the entire “Campus” meaning all buildings in Phase 1 and Phase 2?

Yes.

35. Section Part 1 General C Fire Alarm Signals #2 Building (s) 44E, 44W, 45E, 46, 53, 55, 58, 62, 64, 99, 146,147, 158, 171, 205, 206, 220, 221, 222 shall have a general evacuation fire alarm signal in accordance with ASA S3.41 to notify all occupants in the respective building to evacuate.

a. Question – Does the owner want the automatic digitized voice fire alarm signal messaging system installed for Phase 2 to have voice override to notify buildings listed above using the FACP speaker system installed in Phase 1?

VA: Yes

36. Section 2.5 Annunciation 6. Annunciators shall display information for all buildings connected to the system.

a. Question – Does the term above (ALL) mean all buildings in Phase 2 and Phase 1?

Yes.

b. Question – During the site visit we noticed Fire Alarm Annunciator Panels at many exit locations, there are “none shown in building #163 and #204 on the contract drawing at the exits and only 2 shown at the exits in building #202. Is contractor only to install remote annunciator in locations shown on contract drawings?

Refer to Addendum I documents for clarification.

c. Question – If above answer is “NO” provide the locations and quantities of remote annunciators needed for this contract in each building?

Refer to Addendum I documents for clarification.

37. Section Part 4.2 Digitized Voice Message- A. Digitized voice messages shall be provided for each smoke zone of all Buildings on Campus included in the scope of work for this design.

Question – There are no smoke zones shown on the contract drawings or specifications, only Alarm Zones shall Alarm Zones be considered to be Smoke Zones?

Yes.

Sheet 202-FA101-EE Mechanical E1-176 shows a note one existing water flow switch and two new water flow switches to be installed.

Fire suppression related equipment is existing and shown for fire alarm system integration.

1. Question – Are the two new water flow switches to be installed on the same riser piping as the existing? VA: Yes

1. Question – Are the two new water flow switches to be installed on new riser installed by others? VA: They shall be installed by the winning general contractor

1. Question – Are the two new water flow switches to be installed on existing riser without water flow switches presently. VA: Yes

1. Question – Are two new water flow switches to be installed in existing flow switch locations to replace defective flow switches. VA: Yes

38. Sheet 163-FA102-CM shows a note to replace sliding door with a fire rated door on a door closer to adhere to VA Design Guide Standards.

1. Question – In order to provide the government with the accurate and most competitive pricing please provide the contractor with a specification and design requirements.

All VA standards are located on the VA TIL website. Technical Information Library (TIL) - Office of Construction & Facilities Management (va.gov)

1. Question – Will new door frame be needed to accomplish the government's specification?

Yes.

39. Sheet 202-FA001 Riser Diagram shows (Campus Main FACP located in Building 203-Energy Plant).

1. Question – Is this supposed to be labeled Building #58 Boiler Plant?

VA: Main FACP is located in building 204

1. Question – Buildings, 209, 214 and 215 shown on riser should these buildings be labeled 165, 166 and 167?

Refer to Addendum I documents for clarification.

VA Buildings 209, 214, and 215 are scheduled for demolition and should not be in the scope of this project.

40. Specification section 02 41 00 – Demolition, Articles 1.2.E and 1.2.F refer to asbestos removal and lead paint; Is any asbestos abatement or lead paint abatement expected as a part of this project?

VA: No abatement should be present in this project

41. In order to provide accurate and competitive pricing, can the Government please confirm which areas have hard/drywall ceilings & which areas have ACT ceilings?

VA: Most areas will consist of ACT ceilings

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

VA: two per building.

43. Question – During the site visit we noticed remote annunciators in various locations, building #163 has no remote annunciators shown on contract drawings. Where are the locations and quantity of remote annunciators needed for this contract in Building #163?

Refer to Addendum I documents for clarification.

44. Specification Section 01 35 26, Section 1.7.C states that the SSHO has to be a separate qualified individual from the Site Superintendent. If we provide an individual who satisfies all requirements and can successfully complete the duties for both positions, can that one individual satisfy the requirements for the Site Superintendent, SSHO and the CQC roles?

VA: Yes

45. Question – What is the manufacturer of the equipment being installed under Phase 1 Fire Alarm Construction?

See #2 above.

46. Question - Is there an existing fiber optic system connecting the existing fire alarm control panels and if so, can this existing fiber optic system be reused?

VA: Yes

47. Question – Is this project a design/build project?

See #19 above.

48. Question - Since the Site drawings or specifications do not say what the existing communication network is. Is the Existing communication network Copper or Fiber?

VA: Fiber image1.emf