RFI Responses.pdf

36C25724B0017 Dallas VAMC – Renovate B71 Mental Health

General RFI Questions

1) Is this a tax-exempt project? The solicitation section A.5 V.T.C.A. Tax Code §151.311 addresses tax exemptions for the State of Texas. No other tax exemptions are to be presumed. It is incumbent on a bidder to know of tax exemptions they qualify for.

2) If tax-exempt, will the government provide the prime contractor with a tax-exempt certificate for use by subcontractors and vendors? See response above. The Veterans Affairs (VA) specifically will not provide any tax-exempt forms. What the “Government” provides separate from the VA, is not the VA’s responsibility.

3) The Solicitation confirms the bid is emailed, but please confirm the bid bond shall also be emailed. A bid bond via email is acceptable if it meets the solicitation requirements. See FAR Provision FAR 52.228-1 Bid Guarantee contained within the solicitation.

4) If the bid and/or bid bond must be mailed, will the government consider extending the bid due time to no earlier than 11 a.m.? This request is made because 1030 a.m. is the earliest guaranteed time for overnight delivery, and anything before then risks not being.

guaranteed and potentially arriving after the current bid due time. Extending the bid’s due time would ensure that all bids are received on time and that the process is fair for all parties involved. Email is acceptable. The bidder is still ultimately responsible for ensuring all required bid documents are received timely. ‘Late is late’ as has been interpreted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Within a contracting officer’s email, if a bid is shown to be received after the bid closes, regardless of when the bid was sent, it will be considered late, and therefore nonresponsive. The only exception is if, the bid is proven to have been sent the day prior to bid closing, for which the GAO has ruled to be an exception to the ‘late is late’ rule.

5) Can the Superintendent be shared across multiple projects, or should they be dedicated full-time to this project only? Shall be solely dedicated to this project.

6) Can the Superintendent fulfill the Quality Control Manager (QCM) role? Yes.

7) Is the QCM required to be onsite full-time, or can they make site visits as required for inspections? QCM needs to be onsite full-time.

8) If the QCM is required to be onsite, should they be assigned to this project only, or can they be assigned to another project as well? Shall be solely dedicated to this project.

9) Can the QCM role be fulfilled by a subcontractor (i.e., Terracon or a similar testing firm)? No.

10) Can the Superintendent fulfill the Site Safety & Health (SSHO) role? No.

11) Our interpretation of 01 35 26, 1.7, D in its reference to FAR 52.236-6 is that the prime contractor will follow this section if we have a Superintendent on-site during construction, as FAR 52.236-6 does not require (or mention for that matter) an SSHO and explicitly covers the prime contractor's Superintendent only. In short, an onsite SSHO is not a requirement per FAR 52.236-6. This project also follows VHA master specification. An onsite (physically present) SSHO is required for this project.

12) Is the SSHO required to be on-site full-time, or can they be a home office employee (e.g., Safety Director) on the prime contractor's staff? On site full time and an employee of the prime contractor. not an employee of the sub-contractor.

13) If the SSHO is required to be onsite, should they be assigned to this project only, or can they be assigned to another project as well? Shall be solely dedicated to this project.

14) Can a subcontractor fulfill the SSHO role with periodic visits? No.

15) Does the VA require any scope of work in this project to be performed outside of regular work hours? The medical center must run 24/7 so a contractor shall expect that if the work they are performing will impact patient care, then they shall work outside of regular hours. Which part of the scope of work will be performed outside of regular hours shall be determined after project kick off.

16) For work scopes that must be performed off hours, what trades or scopes will be required to perform off-hour work? This shall be determined after project kick off.

17) What will the work hours and days be for scopes that require off-hours work?

This shall be determined after project kick off.

18) Please provide a copy of the Site Visit Attendance Sheet.

Site Visit Attendance Sheet uploaded on July 10 as part of Amendment 0001 of this solicitation. https://sam.gov/opp/b09bcdbe93964db2bdde5460a4bed43d/view

19) In the event of contract modifications, should contractors apply bond premiums to the individual modification or wait until the end of the job? The VA will issue a final modification to reimburse contractors for bond overruns. Generally, 3% bonds are applied to each specific modification where within scope changes that increase contract value are made.

20) Where is the designated contractors' and subcontractors' parking area? This shall be showed to the contractor after project kick off meeting.

https://sam.gov/opp/b09bcdbe93964db2bdde5460a4bed43d/view

21) Will the VA allow 2-3 spaces for the prime contractor and each subcontractor? The prime contractor and their subcontractor shall park in the contractors parking lot. This lot is a first come first serve basis.

22) Where shall these people park if the VA cannot make 2-3 spaces available for the prime contractor and each of the subs? The prime contractor and their subcontractor shall park in the contractors parking lot. This lot is a first come first serve basis.

23) How many hours should the prime contractor and subcontractors’ budget for on-site badging, safety training, orientation, etc.? Government is unable to say at this moment since this depends on the number of persons the prime contractor will be bringing on board.

24) Is TB Testing required before contractors can commence work onsite? Low-risk individuals are not required to be tested for tuberculosis. It is incumbent on the contractor to know whether an employee is low-risk, or high-risk.

25) Please confirm there are no ICRA requirements to safeguard Dental and Methadone clinics. The Contractor shall assume level 4 ICRA requirements. This is currently being coordinated among the AE designer of record and the contracting officer’s representative (COR). The contractor shall walk the work site with VA IPC team, before construction starts and after the project kick off meeting, to get the ICRA PCRA signed. The signed ICRA PCRA shall always be posted during construction.

26) Will the VA provide the point of contact information for the BMS integration contractor appears to be JCI per 23 09 23? The COR’s information who is over that contract, shall be provided after project kick off meeting.

27) Will the VA provide the point of contact information for the Fire Alarm integration contractor? The COR’s information who is over that contract, shall be provided after project kick off meeting.

28) Will the VA provide a space for the Prime Contractor’s Superintendent to set up, or should we add costs to our bid for a mobile office? VA shall not provide a space. Yes, contractor should add cost to bid.

29) Is temporary power available for contractors to connect to? No temporary power available.

30) If no temporary power is available, a generator will be required, which usually adds significant cost to rent and fuel. Please confirm this is necessary if no temporary power is available. No temporary power available.

31) What are the locations for temporary power? No temporary power available.

32) Are contractors required to set a pole and meter electric usage? No.

33) Is space available for a 10’ x 40’ temporary ground-level office near the temporary power source? The prime contractor and their subcontractor shall set up the office in the contractors parking lot. This lot is a first come first serve basis. No temporary power available.

34) Will the VA provide space for a 20-yard dumpster? Yes.

35) Where shall contractor dumpsters be located? This shall be showed to the contractor after project kick off meeting.

36) Please confirm contractors can utilize restrooms within the project space.

Contractors shall bring their own Porta Johns to use as restrooms and these porta johns will remain in the contractors parking lot.

37) Can Porta Johns be placed within a 100’ radius of the job site if required? No.

38) Can utility tie-ins be performed during regular hours? Yes, if there is no impact to patient care.

39) Will the VA fully pay for material/equipment if stored onsite? Material/equipment that is required to satisfy the project requirements shall be built into the bid. See Statement of Work Safety/Security Requirements 29.