S05 RFIs Questions Answers STX Generator Fisher House.pdf

RFIs/ Questions

671-22-139 | STX Electrical Generator Installation Fisher House

1. Are we to dispose/abate of any asbestos, lead, mold, or other hazardous material as part of this project? If so, provide appropriate hazardous material site survey reports.

There is no asbestos to dispose or abate on this project.

2. What will the ICRA level be for this project?

ICRA will not be required on this project.

3. Are there any required/proprietary subcontractors the general contractor is to hire associated with this project?

No. We expect anyone that will do the work be certified in their respective trades and have OSHA certifications.

4. Will all work associated with this project be able to be performed during regular working hours?

We expect all work to be performed during regular working hours, but if for any reason any activity needs to be performed outside of normal working hours, the contractor will coordinate with the COR.

5. There is no duct bank detail in the drawings, please provide duct bank requirements.

The conduit has already been run. All the contractor needs to do is to run the conductors/wires from the generator to the ATS and building via the existing conduits.

6. Can you provide the exact location of the planned generator Annunciator Panel?

The planned generator annunciator panel shall be installed in the manager office of

Fisher house 2 building.

7. Can you provide the location the as listed existing 600-amp main panel being used to feed new GDP Panel?

It is in the electrical room of Fisher House 2 and shown on sheet ES100, next to keynote

10.

8. Can you provide the proposed location of Emergency power off switch? As in ES100

Note 11.

It is on the side of the enclosure opposite the sidewalk. It is shown on sheet ES101, keynote 10

9. Ref. Attach 2 Appendix A: ES100 – The PB located near the ATS did not exist on the site walk. Please specify the size, type & rating of this PB location.

Near the ATS location there are (1) 2” and (1) 1” conduits stubbed up from the generator location (see note 5 on ES100) and (1) 2” and (1)1” conduit stubbed up from Fisher House 2 (see note 6 on ES100). Install (2) NEMA 3R, weather-proof, electrical enclosures, (1) for the 1” communication conduits and cables and (1) for the 2” power conduits and conductors. The pull boxes need to be large enough to pull the cable through or splice the cable if required.

10. Ref. Attach 2 Appendix A: ES101 / Note 5 – Please specify the size, type & rating of this PB location.

The Pull Box should be minimum 28”x28”x28” underground quazite enclosure, rated for 8,000 lbs

11. Ref. Attach 2 Appendix A: There are EPO Switch call-outs on [2] drawings, at different locations; which is correct?

a. ES100, located near ATS’s

b. ES101 / Note 10, located near Generator Enclosure (recommended)

The correct location is shown on ES100 Note 10

12. Bid documents state no parking for crews on the VA Campus. Will contractors be required to remote park/ shuttle in to work each day?

We will make few parking spaces available at the Fisher house.

13. Bid documents state no laydown area will be allowed for staging materials/ tools. Will contractors be required to mobilize/ demobilize the site each day?

We will designate some areas to stage materials and tools.

14. Utility power interruptions may be needed. Will these need to be scheduled/ performed on off hours or on weekends?

Scheduled on the weekend is preferred but as the project progresses, we’ll know more.

15. The generator will need to be crane set. Will this need to be done on off hours or a weekend?

Scheduled on the weekend is preferred but as the project progresses, we’ll know more.

16. Will the generator fuel tank need to be filled 100% prior to start-up/ testing?

No

17. Will the generator fuel tank need to be topped off / made full after testing?

Yes

18. Does the government intend to provide milestone payments?

Payment information can be found on page 65 and 66 of the solicitation.

19. Are there any Buy American Act (BAA) or NAFTA/USMCA requirements?

Yes, clause FAR 52.225-9 (page 44 and provision 52.225-10 (page 27) both can be found in the solicitation.

20. What is the size wire and ground rod for the generators supplementary grounding?

Ground Rod should be ½” diameter and at least 8’ long according to code. Follow current NEC code for ground electrode wire size.

21. How many wires and what size in the 1” com conduit between the generator and each ATS switch.

Consult the generator manufacturer’s specifications.

22. How many wires and what size in the 1” com conduit between each ATS and the Annunciator panel?

Consult the generator manufacturer’s specifications.

23. Are we installing and wiring the annunciator panel?

Yes. The contractor shall be installing and wiring the annunciator.

24. The pull box closest to the building will only house the 2-1” com conduit from each ATS and 2” power conduit for the new GDP panel, correct?

See answer to question 9. There will be (2) electrical enclosures, one for 2” power conduits/wire and one for 1” communication conduits/wire.

25. Will the Government provide VA badges/PIV cards for contractors working on-site for this project?

Yes. The government shall provide badges for contractor that will be working on-site for this project. As soon as the contract is awarded, we will start the badging process.

Please note that it is the responsibility of the contractor and their subcontractors to actively monitor their e-mail traffic and promptly respond to all requests related to the badging process. This includes completing and submitting required forms providing necessary documentation and attending scheduled appointments. Timely action on these requests is essential to ensure that the badging process is not delayed as any delays could impact the ability of personnel to begin work on site and potentially affect the overall project schedule.

26. Will the Government accept the use of Procore Project Management software as the primary submittal and data tracking tool for this project?

No. The contractor may use Procore as a supplementary tool for submittals and data tracking. However, Procore is not an official VA recognized system, and all submittals must also be sent via e-mail and PDF format to the designated point of contact for official record keeping. Contractors may use Procore to track responses and upload government feedback for their internal records, but official government actions and decisions will be communicated through VA approved channels such as e-mail.

27. Will the VA allow a single individual to act as the Quality Control Manager (QCM), Site

Safety & Health Officer (SSHO), and on-site Superintendent (Super) for the prime contractor on this project? If, not can superintendent have a dual role such as also being the SSHO?

Refer to the TIL. MASTER CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS (PG-18-1) - Office of Construction & Facilities Management (va.gov) 01 35 26 Safety Requirements, https://www.cfm.va.gov/til/spec.asp

1.9 “SITE SAFETY AND HEALTH OFFICER” (SSHO) and “COMPETENT PERSON”

(CP):

C. These Competent Persons can have collateral duties as the subcontractor’s superintendent and/or work crew lead persons as well as fill more than one specialized CP role (i.e. Asbestos, Electrical, Cranes, & Derricks, Demolition, Fall Protection, Fire Safety/Life Safety, Ladder, Rigging, Scaffolds, and Trenches/Excavations). However, the SSHO has btxe a separate qualified individual from the Prime Contractor’s Superintendent and/or Quality Control Manager with duties only as the SSHO.

28. Will there be a designated parking area be for workers accessing the construction site?

We will make a few parking spots available at the Fisher house.

https://www.cfm.va.gov/til/spec.asp#01 https://www.cfm.va.gov/til/spec.asp#01

29. Will the VA provide a location to store materials on-site prior to the start of work, and will this location be available for the full length of the project?

We will designate some area for staging materials for the project and will be available for the duration of the project.

30. Is this a tax exempt project? If the project is sales tax exempt can the government provide a sales tax exemption certificate?

Regarding FAR 52.229-3: Federal, State and Local Taxes:

Offerors are hereby notified that in accordance with V.T.C.A., Tax Code § 151.311, the purchase of tangible personal property for use in the performance of a contract for an organization exempted under Section 151.309 or 151.310 of this code is exempt if the tangible personal property is incorporated into realty In the performance of the contract.

Additionally, the purchase of tangible personal property, other than machinery or equipment and its accessories and repair and replacement parts, for use in the performance of a contract for an improvement to realty for an organization exempted under Section 151.309 or 151.310 of the code is exempt if the tangible personal property is necessary and essential for the performance of the contract and completely consumed on the job. The VA is an exempt organization.

Therefore, the contractor's purchase of such building and construction materials within the State of Texas to be incorporated into the real property belonging to the U.S.

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or completely used in the performance of the contract is subject to exemption from Texas Sales and Use taxes under the code. To take advantage of the tax exemption the successful offeror under this solicitation must complete a Texas Sales and Use Tax Exemption Certificate when it purchases construction materials for this contract.

Notwithstanding FAR 52.229-3, all bids received in response to this solicitation are presumed to reflect this tax exemption, and therefore should not include Texas' Sales or Use Taxes on sales of materials for incorporation into VA real estate under this contract or used in the performance of this contract.

Awardee can request a blank certificate if needed.

31. Recent deliveries of generators of this size took approximately 9 months which is greater than the performance period for this project. Please revise the performance period to 365 days.

The government will issue an Administrative Notice to Proceed for submittals and to purchase materials and will issue a separate Notice to Proceed for onsite work.

32. On E-001 Light Fixture Schedule, the catalog number for fixture type A indicates they are all to be equipped with an integral button photocell control and battery backup.

ES101, Detail 1, Keyed Note 7 indicates all type A fixtures are to be controlled by a single weatherproof On-Off switch. What are the intended operational requirements for the toggle switch, photocell and battery backup? Is the battery backup supposed to be enabled only when the 120V lighting circuit is disabled and there is loss of power to each individual fixture, even when the toggle switch is in the Off position? What is the operation of the photocell when the toggle switch and battery backup are also in the circuit? Please provide a schematic showing the intended operation of all three of these items for these fixtures.

The light fixtures should operate with the switch. The photocell on the fixture can be removed. The back up battery is only used when the utility power or generator power are not operational and there to provide lighting to fix the generator.

33. A. Refer to ES100, Detail 1, Keyed Note 6 describing the existing underground conduits that are installed. Are the 2” conduit for Power and the 1” conduit for Communication currently stubbed up into the pull box that is shown near the two existing ATSs, and are they also already extended from that pull box directly into and included in the existing underground ductbank described and shown as Keyed Note 5 in the same drawing.

See Question 9

B. What type is the existing pull box and what are the dimensions of it? Is it flush with the ground or located above ground? Depending on the depths of existing conduits, above ground pull boxes may be required.

See Question 9

34. A. Refer to ES100, Detail 1, Keyed Note 3 showing the location of the remote annunciator. Is there already an existing remote annunciator located in the room designated by this Keyed Note? Or, is this intended to show the location of a newly added annunciator?

There is no existing annunciator in the room, it is intended to show the location of a new annunciator that will be added.

B. Is the annunciator panel to be flush or surface mounted?

Surface mounted would be ok.

C. Is there a 1” conduit already continuously installed from the location of the pull box in Keyed Note 10 to the remote annunciator location, or is the conduit still required to be installed and fished inside both walls and routed above the existing ceiling?

The 1” conduit is installed from the ATS location to the electrical room in Fisher house 2.

It is stubbed up into to exterior wall with an access hatch.

D. If a new annunciator panel is required, can it be mounted in the office on the shared common wall with the electrical room to avoid costly patching of office gypsum board ceilings and walls and vinyl wall covering, thereby reducing downtime for the VA office staff?

Yes, it should be mounted on the shared wall with the electrical room. Coordinate exact location with Fisher House manager and COR.

35. A. Refer to ES100, Detail 1, Keyed Note 10. Is the existing 2” conduit for Power located at the pull box, already installed continuous into the main panel and ready for installation of conductors? Is this pull box a correctly sized pull box, or only an access panel to the inside of the existing wall?

See answer to question 34.C.

B. Provide the manufacturer, type and AIC interrupting rating of the main panel, or provide an accurate complete catalog number for the new 60A 3P circuit breaker to be installed in the main panel to serve new panel “GDP”, as indicated by E-500, Detail 2, Keyed Note 6.

60A breaker should match what is currently installed in GDP.

36. A. Refer to E-500, Detail 2, Keyed Note 2. Are the 1” conduits that are indicated by this Keyed Note already completely installed and routed from each ATS to the existing pull box shown near the ATSs, and are the conduits completely ready for the control and start wiring to be installed from the new generator to both of the ATSs?

The 1” conduit is stubbed up near the ATS’s, but not into each ATS. Install a pullbox to intercept both 1” conduits (one from the fisher house and one from the generator) and install conduit to each ATS in order to install the control/communication cables. See question 9.

B. Photographs available do not appear to show these conduits stubbed into the bottoms of the ATSs. If they do not exist, where are they presently located and what will be required to route them into each ATS?

See question 9.

C. Refer to ES100, Detail 1, Keyed Note 11 and E-500, Detail 2, Keyed Note 3. One generator Emergency Off button is shown on ES101, Detail 1, Keyed Note 10 to be installed on the outside of the new generator enclosure. Does the other generator Emergency Off button indicated to be mounted on the electrical fence already have a conduit installed underground from the fence location to one or both of the ATSs? Or, will this conduit need to be installed into the sides of the ATSs above ground and on top of the existing concrete pad? On what side of the electrical fence is the button to be installed?

Only the Emergency Power Off button on the generator enclosure should be installed.

No Emergency power off switch by the ATS enclosure is needed.

37. Provide electrical as-built drawings including the underground electric between Fisher House, ATS and Generator and the electrical drawings for Fisher House #2 Elec Room.

We shall provide you the electrical drawing we have available.

38. Who pays for the diesel in the generator tank?

Contractor pays for the diesel and should be included in the bid.