36C25724R0005 RFI Responses Part 1.pdf

36C25724R0005 RFI Questions and Answers

Please note that questions determined to be repeat questions or answered under another question may be answered once. Further, questions are anonymized by changing the original wording of the question from an interested vendor. This RFI response is not to be considered the final version and is subject to updates. Questions are kept in the format as presented to the maximum extent practicable.

Contracting-related Questions:

1.Q. Is there a site sign in sheet?

1.A. A site visit attendance sheet was posted with Amendment 0003 of the solicitation.

An additional site visit attendance sheet will be uploaded with a future amendment after the June 27, 2024, site visit.

2.Q. Are there any other plans and specifications not listed on SAM.gov?

2.A. There are not any additional plans and specifications to be provided. All documents will be uploaded to SAM.gov. Note that SAM.gov functionality requires manual uploads which may take additional updates to automated SAM.gov postings.

3.Q. Will there be economic price adjustments to the contract if material and labor prices rise due to inflation?

3.A. This is a firm-fixed price contract, where economic price adjustments are not applicable. An offeror/contractor is to account for projected inflation in their offers.

4.Q. Will the Government consider changing the 180 calendar days under 13.d. of the solicitation?

4.A. 13.d. of the solicitation is now changed to 60 calendar days.

A/E / Engineering-specific questions:

1. Page 1 of 5 of the VHA PCRA states “site visits of construction area are required weekly by member of multi-disciplinary team. Site visits will be documented on standard checklist. Can the VA provide a copy of the standard checklist?

We don’t have a standardized checklist. This is generated on a project-to-project basis and will be provided to the Contractor before work start.

2. Will the VA be responsible for operating valves, switches, etc. to execute LOTO and isolate utility systems in preparation for construction activities?

The Contractor is responsible for LOTO execution, but the VA will put their lock on afterwards for verification.

3. Page 2 of 5 of the VHA PCRA states Where construction, Renovation and maintenance are done in an accredited facility, and ILSM assessment is required to be done and ILSMs put into place in accordance with TJC LS.01.02.01 and the local facility policy including Fire watch if necessary. Staff is trained and the ILSM is verified regularly. Is this work being conducted in an accredited facility and is an ILSM assessment required?

All construction projects are required to have an ILSM assessment performed.

4. Page 3 of the VHA ICRA has section showing Table 2 of the Affected Area Assessment where GC is required to identify activity area, area above, area below, and all adjacent areas. Page 4 shows Table 3 – Patient Risk Category which assigns risk levels to building areas. Can the VA categorize each room on the plans so a risk category can be assigned? Does this project contain any Level III or Level IV ICRA areas?

Since 8C-400 unit shall remain operational throughout construction, this area is adjacent to patient care. Because of the complexity and duration of this renovation, please assume the project is entirely Level IV ICRA area.

5. Page 10 of 90 in the solicitation says, “wearing a facemask at all times within the campus”. Are all contractor personnel still always required to always wear a facemask because of COVID-19 pandemic? What are the COVID-19 protocols for this project?

No. Those COVID protocols are outdated and no longer necessary.

6. Page 10 of 90 in the solicitation says contractor is responsible for relocation of any piece of art, TV, or sign in the work area. Does the VA have an inventory of what needs to be moved for pricing purposes? Is there an inventory of furniture and equipment that needs to be moved for the project? Is there on-site storage or should we plan to use an offsite storage facility?

VA will remove any signage, artwork, and equipment desired for storage. After VA does this sweep, everything left behind shall be disposed of by the Contractor.

7. Are there any lead-based paint test reports for the project site? Is lead based paint abatement expected for the project scope?

There are no lead-based paint test reports for the project site. If any lead-based paint is discovered during this construction project, immediately reach out to the COR and CO for further direction.

8. Is there a designated location for GC to stage materials?

This location shall be agreed upon by the Contractor and VA prior to work start, as the original staging area is currently occupied by a Major construction contractor.

9. Is there a designated location where contractors can drop material for transport to the work area?

Please refer to sheet 2-GI-1.3 for the designated laydown area.

10. How are contractors gain access to the 8th floor? Is this method capable of handling material loads up to the 8th floor?

a. Can Contractors utilize existing elevators?

The contractors may utilize facility service elevators. Contractors MAY NOT utilize patient elevators.

11. The specifications have estimated asbestos quantities for informational purposes only. Is there an existing asbestos report the VA can provide? Per spec section 02 82

11 “Nothing in this section may be interpreted as limiting the extent of work otherwise required by this contract and related documents” …We cannot effectively provide an accurate bid for this scope of work without knowing the full extent of abatement required. Please confirm if it is acceptable to the VA to provide pricing for the estimated quantities but include unit pricing for any asbestos that might be uncovered during demolition and was an unforeseen site condition?

The COR will provide the most recent asbestos report to the CO along with these RFI responses. The VA will not provide a pricing estimate, but the contractor may utilize the report to generate an abatement cost estimate.

12. Is Microsoft Projects software acceptable for construction schedule submissions to the VA?

Yes.

QUESTIONS / COMMENTS VA Response

Please advise who the existing manufacturers and systems of the Fire Alarm, DDC Controls, CCTV, Access Controls, Nurse Call and Medical Gas Certification.

Fire Alarm: Firetrol; Onyx server DDC Controls: Apogee (Siemens) CCTV: Avigilon Access Controls: Indentiv Velocity Nurse Call: Hillrom Med Gas Cert: TBC American Enterprise Inc.

Please confirm there are enough licenses available for the Access Control additions.

Yes.

Please confirm there are enough licenses available for the CCTV additions

Contractor will need to purchase additional licenses for every new camera.

Please confirm there is enough space on the existing nurse call server for new design.

The COR is awaiting verification of server space from VA Biomedical Engineering.

Please advise who is responsible for terminal cleaning.

This service is contracted out by the VA. The COR will provide the vendor information to the Contractor.

On Sheet 2-AI-2.7B, on the Specialty Equipment Schedules for Areas 100 and 300, please clarify Owner Furnished and Installed (OFOI) and Contractor Furnished and Installed (CFCI) on each item of each schedule.

The AE intention is that all items are Contractor Furnished and Contractor Installed unless specified otherwise.

On Sheet 2-AI-4.5, on the Toilet Accessories Schedule, please clarify Owner Furnished and Installed (OFOI) and Contractor Furnished and Installed (CFCI) on each item of the schedule.

The AE intention is that all items are Contractor Furnished and Contractor Installed unless specified otherwise.

On Sheet 2-AI-2.2, in Rooms 8C-121 & 8C- 216, there is a note that calls for us to provide an access door. Please specify the size and the rating of the access door along with the material specifications. Please provide the mounting height for these doors.

Are there other access doors to be provided?

Please refer to specification 08 31 13 and VA Technical Information Library. Access doors should be provided per the construction documents and specifications.

Per Detail #2 on Sheet 2-AI-2.8, please confirm that the Patient Lift system will be Owner Furnished and Owner Installed along with all above ceiling support structure including anchoring and threaded rods.

Contractor is responsible for infrastructure necessary to structurally support patient lifts and for coordination with the 3rd party patient lift system installer as described in the construction drawings. The patient lift system itself shall be Owner Furnished and Owner Installed.

Please provide the Patient Lift manufacturer's name and contact information along with product data and drawings, if available so the Bidding Contractors can we coordinate with other impacted subcontractors such as Electrical.

Guldmann Inc. is the patient lift manufacturer. Coordination with the vendor will be through VA Safety Service. Additional information including drawings will be provided to the Contractor.

On Sheet 2-AI-5.1, under the General Ceiling Plan Notes (Note "E") states to coordinate all Access Panel locations, sizes, and finishes with Architect. The schedule of finishes does not specify the access panels. Please provide information on all access panel sizes, locations, and finishes.

Coordinate and verify as needed to properly service the equipment. Verify with COR.

The Schedule for Finishes (section 09 06 00) appears to be incomplete. Please provided a fully detailed Schedule for Finishes. It appears that most of the finishes were selected and identified on Sheet 2-AI-2.9 (Finish and Materials Legend). Please confirm that these selections are correct.

All finishes are included in the construction documents, drawings, and specifications.

The Contractor may ask further questions regarding finishes that can be answered by the VA Interior Designer.

Please advise if the interior signage is to be provided by the Contractor. If so, please a fully detailed Signage Plan with detailed locations and elevations.

The Contractor is responsible for signage as directed by VA Technical Information Library and VA Signage Manual. The Contractor will coordinate signage with VA Interior Designer for accuracy.

Please provide the travel path routing for material debris removal out of the building and to the assigned Contractor laydown area that would be for the Contractor's trailer, Storage trailer and Dumpster.

The path from the 8th floor service elevator to the laydown/dumpster area can be walked during 2nd site visit.

Please confirm that all exterior walls will receive new metal studs and drywall. If this is the case, please provide a partition wall type for clarity.

Please refer to sheet 2-AI-4.1 Standard Partition Types and Notes.

Please provide the floor service valve locations for Medical Gas. The condition of the existing valves needs to be verified since depending on the age, they could leak and/or not hold the necessary pressure. If these valves are needed to be replaced, we would need to know where the shut-off valve of the riser is located if the valves need to be replaced so that this shut-off and replacement would not impact the entire building.

The plumbing as-built documents will be provided to the Contractor.

Please advise on the floor to deck height. Please clarify.

Please advise on floor construction type and thickness.

Please refer to specifications Division 09 and VA Technical Information Library.

Please provide a complete set of as-builts for the work areas along with the 7th and 9th floors.

The as-builts for 7th, 8th, and 9th floors will be provided to the contractor.

Please provide an exterior wall infill detail for the radiator locations that are to be removed.

Please see sheet 2-AI-3.1 Infill Detail at Window and 2-AI-2.7 Roof Plan.

Architectural as builts will be provided to Contractor.

Please advise on the architectural finishes (ceilings, floors, and walls) on the 7th and 9th floor areas that might be impacted with tie-in's when constructing the 8th floor work.

The Contractor is required to leave the area in its original function/condition prior to Contractor work.

Please verify if there will be a middle panel as stated in the typical headwall elevation (Detail 19/2-AI-4.4) or when it just has a drywall finish in the middle.

Yes, the middle panel is required.

Please clarify if the underside of the existing deck has spray fireproofing applied to it.

Detail #2 on Sheet 2-AI-2.8 seems to indicate it.

Fireproofing is on the members, not the concrete.

Per Note A1 on Sheet 2-AI-2.6, please confirm that the only two rooms to get lead lining are 8C-119 and 8C-218. In addition, please clarify the materials to be used in the lead lining of these rooms.

Correct, those are the only rooms indicated to be lead-lined. Please refer to specifications Division 08 and VA Technical Information Library for material information.

Per Note A1 on Sheet 2-AI-2.6, please confirm that the Toilet/Shower entry doors to rooms 8C-219 and 8C-120 will need to be lead lined doors. If so, please update the specification and door schedule.

These doors will need to be lead lined.

Per Note A1 on Sheet 2-AI-2.6, please confirm that the four (4) existing windows in rooms 8C-119 and 8C-218 are lead lined frames and glass. If not, please provide the new specification for these windows to be replaced and update the window schedule.

These are not currently lead lined. Please refer to the VA Technical Information Library for lead lining requirements.

Please provide a mounting detail for the televisions.

Please refer to sheet 2-AI-4.1 for Typical Wall Backing Details.

Per Detail #2 on Sheet 2-GI-1.3, please confirm the areas denoted for Contractor Building Access and the area for the Dumpsters and Lay-Down area are currently available and will remain accessible for the duration of the project.

Yes, as of 06/21/2024, the building access and laydown/dumpster location are available.

We do not foresee a change in these areas.

Per Detail #2 on Sheet 2-GI-1.3, please confirm the area designated for Contractor Parking & Staging areas are currently available and will remain accessible for the duration of the project.

A new location shall be agreed upon by the Contractor and VA during kickoff, as the original staging area is currently occupied by a Major construction contractor.

Per Detail #2 on Sheet 2-GI-1.3, please confirm that the service elevator will be available for Contractor use as indicated and please identify any limitations on hours of use and/or access.

Yes, the Contractor is permitted to use the service elevator. Since weekend/night work is currently not called for in the SOW, access is limited to standard working hours, M-F 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM excluding Federal holidays.

Please provide a 1st Floor Plan showing the route from the point of entry into the building for Contractor access and the Service Elevator available for construction use.

The path from point of entry into Building 2 to the service elevator can be walked during 2nd site visit.

Per Note D under Partition Notes on Sheet 2-AI-4.1, please specify the insulation type and related R value for the interior wall partitions.

Please refer to VA Technical Information Library.

Please specify the manufacturer of the existing electrical distribution equipment.

We have multiple manufacturers. Square D for the 8th floor Building 2. Additional information can be provided on other manufacturers if necessary.

Please specify the manufacturer for the structured cabling.

There is no preferred data cabling manufacturer, but all cabling must be compatible with EHRM (i.e., CAT 6A; OM 4 multi or OS 2 single for fiber).

Please specify the manufacturer for the telecommunication equipment

Please specify which telecommunication equipment.

Please provide photos of Level 8 & 9 roof areas where new exhaust fans and AHU-12 are to be installed as these areas were not visited during the site visit.

These areas can be visited during 2nd site visit.

Please provide photos of points of access to Level 8 & 9 roof areas where new exhaust fans and AHU-12 are to be installed as these areas were not visited during the site visit.

These areas can be visited during 2nd site visit.

Please provide photos of the roof of the Duct shaft on the south end suite 200 as these areas were not visited during the site visit.

These areas can be visited during 2nd site visit.

Please provide photos and identify points of entry into the Duct shaft on the south end suite 200 as no access was visible during the site visit.

These areas can be visited during 2nd site visit.

Please provide Architectural Roof plans and details for the installation of all rooftop equipment and duct/pipe/conduit penetrations.

Architectural as-builts will be provided to the Contractor. If specific information is missing from the Architectural drawings regarding rooftop equipment, please submit additional question.

Please provide a Mechanical Demolition plan for the removal of existing rooftop equipment above the existing Mechanical room in Suite 200 as depicted in attached photo.

Please refer to 2-MD-1.1 Mechanical Demo Plan. Mechanical as-builts will be provided to the Contractor.

Please provide photos of the existing office space to be converted to Mechanical room 8C-302 as this area was not available for survey during the site visit.

These areas can be visited during 2nd site visit.

Please provide UL rated wall assemblies where new fire or smoke rated walls are required.

Please refer to sheet 2-AI-4.4 Partition Types Plan Graphics for required UL assemblies for each partition type that is rated.

Per Keynote #11 on Sheet 2-MD-1.1, please provide the Architectural wall infill detail where louvers are to be removed as referenced.

Please refer to sheet 2-MD-1.1 Infill Detail at Window and sheet 2-AI-2.7 Roof Plan.

Please advise if any special floor/wall/structure cleaning, preparation, or sealants are required where the existing Mechanical room in Suite 200 is being converted to patient care areas.

Please refer to specifications and VA Technical Information Library for any cleaning requirements.

Please identify any Phasing requirements and/or limitations for access to spaces on the 7th floor below the area of work for the purpose of performing the necessary plumbing demolition and new work installation as the Phasing plan provided (Sheet 2-GI-1.3) does not address the 7th floor.

The 7th floor will remain operational throughout construction. Access to this area will be limited and must be coordinated in advance with the COR.

Please identify any demolition and/or restoration work required on the 7th floor below the area of work for the purpose of performing the necessary plumbing demolition and new work installation along with any other utilities.

The Contractor is required to leave the area in its original function/condition prior to Contractor work.

Please confirm the primary patient lift rails to be provide by the VA will be installed in a separate mobilization to be coordinated with the General Contractor prior to the installation of ceilings and a second mobilization will be provided for the installation of traverse rails and patient lift motors after ceiling finishes are completed

The Contractor is only responsible for infrastructure necessary to structurally support patient lifts as specified in the construction documents and for coordination with the 3rd party patient lift system installer as described in the construction drawings.

The patient life vendor POC will be provided to the Contractor before work start for coordination purposes.

Please identify any additional structural steel framing that may be required for the installation of the patient lifts

Additional structural infrastructure besides what has been identified in the construction documents is not anticipated, but Contractor and COR will verify with vendor.

Please provide wind and other design loads as referenced in specification 07 40 00, sub-section 2.1.B and 2.2A. for the metal roof and wall panels to be installed on the rooftop Pump enclosure.

Please refer to sheet 2-S-1.1.

Please provide structural as-builts for all areas to affected by this scope of work.

Structural as-builts will be provided to Contractor.

Please provide plans and identify locations where new electrical switchgear is to be fed from distribution panels outside of the immediate area of work for this project.

Please refer to sheet 2-EP-6.5.

Please identify any Special Systems other than Communications and Nurse Call that may be required to support the new Inpatient Unit.

Please include all systems indicated by the construction documents.

Please provide plans and identify locations where new special systems are to be fed from services located outside of the immediate area of work for this project as generally referenced in the Key Notes on Sheet 2-ET-1.1C.

The locations will require coordination with Contractor, VA Engineering Electrical Mechanic Shop, VA Network Infrastructure team - among others. These locations will be discussed and verified with the Contractor.

Per Sheet 2-E-1.1, can the VA provide more detail on the electrical items that need to be demolished including counts since it states, "all electrical and auxiliary will be demolished unless noted otherwise in key notes." Any additional information would be helpful in providing a complete bid.

Electrical as builts will be provided to the Contractor.

Please provide the manufacturer and system for the lighting control system.

Lighting control: Encelium.

1. Where is laydown/dumpster location to be?

Laydown/dumpster location shall be where indicated on sheet 2-GI-1.3.

2. What elevators will be used for removal of demolition/asbestos debris and are there any restrictions on their use (i.e., are there hours of the day we will not be allowed to utilize them)?

The service elevator shall be available for usage by the Contractor throughout the construction project. Since weekend/night work is not indicated, the Contractor may use the service elevator during normal working hours: M-F 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, excluding Federal holidays.

The Contractor shall use the service elevator ONLY.

3. Scope calls out 2,700 LF of steam pipe with friable asbestos containing insulation and mastic. Will this steam pipe also be removed, or will it remain to be reused?

Please refer to the mechanical and plumbing construction documents. The steam pipe itself shall not be removed unless specified.

What kind of material do the lockers need to be?

The lockers need to be metal. Any additional advisement (i.e., past vendors used) can be provided to the Contractor through the VA Interior Designer.

1. Sheet 2-EP-6.5 shows emergency feeders to three ATSs to be removed, is anything going back?

ATS7, ATS8 and ATSLS feed all of building 2 and cannot be altered. AE to clarify.

2. Need distant from EMERGENCY DISTRIBUTION SWITCHGEAR to ATS7, ATS8 and ATSLS.

Approximately 500 feet from B74 generator paralleling gear plus Vertical Riser distance for North, South, and East bus duct.

3. Sheet 2-EP-6.5 what needs to be done in EMERGENCY DISTRIBUTION SWITCHGEAR at neutral and ground bus bars?

Unknown issue. Refer to AE.

4. Sheet 2-EP-6.5 where is Panel D8ML located, that feeds Panel 8ML (2 section) and where is Panel 8ML located?

Electrical rooms planned for south side 8 and 9 floors were not built and do not exist. Rid=ser ends on 7th floor.

5. Sheet 2-ED-1.1 Key Note #11 need Panel 8PA’s location, size, voltage, ampere rating and were fed from?

8PA is in the mechanical room on the south wing. It is Federal Pacific and cannot be utilized as-is. It is powered through external vertical shaft from distribution board in shaft on 2nd floor.