Sources Sought Notice

*= Required Field Sources Sought Notice

SUBJE

CT*

549-23-600 Construct Garland Energy Center | Design-Build (VA-26-00004158) Sources Sought 2

GENERAL INFORMATION

CONTRACTING OFFICE’S ZIP CODE* 76504

SOLICITATION NUMBER* 36C25726R0025

RESPONSE DATE/TIME/ZONE 06-05-2026 15:00 CENTRAL TIME, CHICAGO,

USA

ARCHIVE 60 DAYS AFTER THE RESPONSE DATE

RECOVERY ACT FUNDS N

SET-ASIDE SDVOSBC

PRODUCT SERVICE CODE* Y1NB

NAICS CODE* 237130

CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS Department of Veterans Affairs

Network Contracting Office (NCO) 17

Central Texas Veterans HCS

1901 Veterans Memorial Dr. Building #171

Temple TX 76504

POINT OF CONTACT* Senior Contract Specialist

Horacio Fernandez horacio.fernandez@va.gov

(254) 421-4096

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PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

ADDRESS Garland VA Medical Center

2300 Marie Curie Boulevard

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Garland TX

POSTAL CODE 75052

COUNTRY United States of America

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL https://www.va.gov/

URL DESCRIPTION Veterans Affairs

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS horacio.fernandez@va.gov

EMAIL DESCRIPTION Contracting Officer

DESCRIPTION

This is a Sources Sought announcement only. This is the second Sources Sought notice, issued due to insufficient responses to the first. This is not a request for proposals, quotations, or bids; nor is it a synopsis of a proposed contract action under Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) Subpart 5.2, and no contract shall be awarded from this notice. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this Sources Sought or any associated follow-up requests.

No solicitation is currently available, and all draft documents (SOW, Drawings, Specifications, etc.) are subject to change.

This notice is issued solely for market research to assess interest, capabilities, and qualifications among interested Small Business and Large Business firms.

Responses, and non-responses, may shape the VA’s acquisition strategy. Failure to respond does not preclude participation in any future solicitation. The VA will use information gathered for market research purposes only.

Veterans’ Health Administration, Regional Procurement Office West, Network Contracting Office 20, is conducting market research for a two-phase design-build selection under FAR 36.101-2.

Project Overview:

The Garland VA Medical Center, located at 2300 Marie Curie Boulevard, Garland, TX 75042, requires the construction of a new, fully operational energy center to replace its outdated, noncompliant, and insufficient existing boiler and utility systems. The new energy center will support all existing hospital buildings as well as the VA-owned outpatient building at 900 Shiloh. Supporting background materials—including the Central Utility Plant Study (March 2024) and associated as-builts—are included as SOW Attachments 01–06.

The new energy center will be a single-story, stand-alone high-rise structure housing major mechanical, electrical, steam, chilled water, fuel oil, bulk oxygen, and standby power generation components. A new walkable underground utility tunnel will connect the energy center to the main hospital.

Documents are in draft form; industry feedback is strongly encouraged.

Estimated Project Magnitude: Between $50,000,000 and $100,000,000.

NAICS Code: 237130 (Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction)

PSC: Y1NB (Construction of Heating and Cooling Plants) Size Standard: $45 million

Past Performance Requirement – Minimum $65M Project Value (Mandatory)

To accurately assess the market’s ability to support a design-build project of this scale and complexity, **all respondents—regardless of business size classification (Small or Large)—must provide past performance on at least one (1) completed project within the last five (5) years valued at no less than $65,000,000.

• Projects under $65M will not be reviewed as relevant or acceptable.

• This requirement applies equally to all business types: Small Business, Large Business, 8(a), SDVOSB, HUBZone, WOSB, etc.

• Projects must demonstrate complexity comparable to utility plants, central energy facilities, large-scale MEP infrastructure modernization, hospital utility systems, or campus-wide critical systems integrations.

This threshold ensures that responding firms have successfully executed projects of sufficient magnitude, technical scope, systems complexity, and risk—commensurate with the requirements set forth in the Statement of Work for the Garland Energy Center.

A simultaneous commissioning / peer-to-peer solicitation will also be issued for this requirement.

To be considered under this Sources Sought, you MUST submit past performance for at least one (1) completed project (within the last five years) with a total construction value of $65,000,000 or greater. If submitting as a joint venture, the qualifying project must clearly state the roles and contributions (management/technical/financial) of each partner with the $65M+ value attributable to your organization.

Responses without qualifying projects at or above $65,000,000 construction value will not be considered for this market research and will not be reviewed.

This minimum project value threshold is established to correspond to the anticipated magnitude, integrative technical requirements, schedule, and mission-critical nature of the Garland VA Medical Center Energy Center Project, as well as to mitigate project risk for the Government.

Please see the attached Statement of Work for further technical background and requirements.

Remaining Sections (unchanged except where modified)

After review of responses, if the Government elects to proceed, a separate pre-solicitation announcement will be published to SAM.gov. Responses to this Sources Sought are NOT responses to any future solicitation.

Responses shall include (10-page maximum):

1. Contact Information:

Name, address, SAM UEI, points of contact with email and phone.

2. Business Size / Classification:

As listed in the original notice. All firms (large and small) are encouraged to respond.

3. Capabilities Statement:

• Demonstrated capability to perform design-build work of similar scale and complexity

• Bonding capacity aligned with the project magnitude

• Compliance statements for VAAR 852.219-75 (SDVOSB/VOSB) or FAR 52.219-14 (all others)

• Note regarding Buy American compliance

4. Estimated Total Project Time (calendar days).

5. Product & Material Constraints:

Identification of material or equipment (if any) that may conflict with Buy American requirements, and long-lead items.

6. Past Performance / Experience:

Provide no more than three (3) projects, each:

• Completed within the past 5 years

• Minimum construction value: $65,000,000 (mandatory)

• Include title, location, scope summary, contract value, customer, role, and percentage performed (if subcontractor).

• Projects under the $65M threshold will not be evaluated.

Do not include proprietary or sensitive information.

Responses must be emailed to:

Horacio Fernandez, Contracting Officer horacio.fernandez@va.gov Responses due: June 5, 2026, 10:00 AM Central Time Fax and telephone responses will not be accepted.

STATEMENT OF WORK

549-23-600 CONSTRUCT GARLAND ENERGY CENTER

I. GENERAL SCOPE OF WORK

a. GENERAL INTENT

The Contractor shall provide design and construction services at the Garland VA Medical Center in accordance with this Statement of Work.

b. BACKGROUND & DESCRIPTION

The Garland VA Medical Center is located at 2300 Marie Curie Boulevard, Garland, TX 75042. The existing boiler plant and energy supply at the facility is outdated, noncompliant, and cannot support future energy demands. This project shall construct a new energy center that will support existing and future facility operations.

A Central Utility Plant Study for the facility was completed in March 2024, which contained a conceptual pre-design and analyzed current utility usage, desired utility capacity, potential energy center location, and plant equipment design options. This study is included as SOW Attachment #01. The utility as-builts obtained during this study are also included as SOW Attachments #02 - #06.

Revit files shall be provided to the Contractor post-award.

The Garland VAMC energy center shall be a new, single-story, stand-alone, high-rise building to house all heating, cooling, fuel oil, bulk oxygen, and electrical generation equipment and storage, located in the northwest parking lot and connected to the main building by a walkable utility tunnel. The energy center will serve the existing hospital as well as the outlying, VA-owned building, 900 Shiloh.

_________________________ End of Section I _________________________

II. STATEMENT OF PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The Contractor’s Architect-Engineer (A/E) design team shall provide all necessary architectural and engineering design services as required to prepare 100% design drawings, 100% design narrative, 100% specifications, peer-to-peer reviews, technical evaluations, reports, construction cost estimates, and construction period

549-23-600 Construct Garland VA Energy Center Design / Build SOW Garland VA Medical Center services defined herein as required by the Garland VAMC. The Contractor is responsible for providing all necessary personnel, material, and labor to complete the construction project per the design documents prepared by the A/E.

The A/E shall review all material furnished by the VA, including the Central Utility Plant Study, to ascertain the full requirements of the energy center design. The A/E shall be responsible for the professional quality and technical accuracy of the services provided under this contract. The Contractor shall be responsible for field verification of the A/E design prior to construction start. The design for all engineering disciplines listed herein shall comply with all current requirements, directives, standards, and codes relevant to the Statement of Work. The construction shall be performed in accordance with the architectural and engineering drawings’ scope defined herein:

a. ARCHITECTURAL

The A/E shall develop conceptual architectural layouts to incorporate all equipment areas and support spaces defined by the VA into a new, single-story, stand-alone, high-rise building. The building shall be designed and constructed for optimal space usage and to provide all required functional, aesthetic, environmental, and safety needs of the energy center. The building shall include, but is not limited to, the following areas: separate areas for electrical generation, cooling, and boilers; a central control area with clear viewing of all generators, boilers, and chillers; men and women’s locker rooms with toilets and showers;

two administrative offices; IT/EHRM space; housekeeping; storage; water chemistry area; an internal vestibule to ensure non-plant staff cannot access the energy center; bulk oxygen storage tank area within the secure grounds of the energy center; and a walkable, underground utility tunnel with a lift system to allow equipment to be placed into the tunnel.

The A/E shall provide roof and exterior wall designs in accordance with SOW Attachment #01. The A/E shall develop additional relevant architectural designs and specifications for construction, including but not limited to: separation requirements, hatches, vaults, roll-up doors with automatic and manual capability, blast-proof windows, insulation, weatherproofing, housekeeping pads, finishes, vertical clearances, horizontal clearances, means of egress, and accessibility.

b. STRUCTURAL

The A/E shall develop a structural design for the energy center to support the new building and tunnel construction, interior and exterior equipment, and all ancillary components. The A/E shall provide all structural requirements within the design to ensure full functionality and operational capacity of the energy center, to include but not limited to specifications for: concrete, metals, columns, beams, slabs, framing plan, foundation system, decking, vaults, hatches, joints, frame systems, connection details, member reinforcement, load calculations, material strengths, deformation and strains, and progressive collapse analysis.

Garland VA Medical Center

c. SITE & LANDSCAPING

The A/E shall develop a design and specifications for the construction of an underground, walkable utility tunnel, to include all site preparation, excavation, underpinning, filling, backfilling, grading, soil disposal, and cleanup. The A/E shall be responsible for all geologic investigations to confirm tunnel orientation, height, and depth; ground probing to determine ground characteristics, soil strength, faults, deformations, stresses, and water conditions; excavation methods, and dewatering methods. The utility tunnel shall be designed with an equipment access panel/hatch as well as a lift system to allow equipment to be lowered into the tunnel.

The A/E shall also provide design and specifications for landscaping, exterior aesthetics, sidewalks, parking areas, trailer turn-around area, and all site security requirements.

d. MECHANICAL & HVAC

The A/E shall develop a design for a new mechanical system to support the new energy center and to supply and support all new equipment, as well as a new mechanical system to support the new utility tunnel. The A/E shall include in the design all repairs, replacements, upgrades, and connections required for system integration and distribution to the main facility and 900 Shiloh.

The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning design shall include, but is not limited to: air handlers, compressors, fans, pumps, variable air volume (VAV) boxes, exhausts, returns, motors, hydronic piping, ductwork, filtration, economizers, smoke detectors, smoke dampers, fire dampers, louvers, panels, temperature control, direct digital controls (DDC) (Siemens Desigo), and main field panel for DDC on emergency power. The A/E shall perform all required analyses, including calculations for performance requirements, loads, humidity and pressure, temperature control, filtration, ventilation, energy conservation, and shall perform acoustic analysis and distribution analysis.

The steam generation and distribution system design shall be based upon SOW Attachment #01 pg. 24 “Option Y: Steam Heating”, to include, but is not limited to: steam boilers, burners, feedwater deaerators, pumps, feed pump systems, condensate storage tank and return pumps, stream traps, vent lines, coils, flowmeters, fuel tanks, blow-down tanks, piping, breeching, stack supports and anchors, distribution systems, metering and submetering systems, steam pressure reducing stations, heat recovery system, make-up domestic water feed, make-up water treatment, emergency power supply, safeties and alarms, controls, instrumentation, and stress analysis. The A/E shall include design for below-grade fuel oil tanks, each with its own pumping system and polishing system, including required seals and monitorable leak detection system. The A/E shall evaluate ideal location, height, and diameter of boiler stacks, compliant with all federal, state, and local regulations and compatible with chosen steam boilers.

Garland VA Medical Center

The chilled water system design shall include, but is not limited to: cooling towers, chillers, condenser water pumps, glycol storage and mixing operations, metering and submetering systems, refrigerant monitoring and refrigerant evacuation systems, make-up domestic water feed, coils, filtration, valves, evaporators, collection system, drainage, thermal energy storage, emergency power supply, safeties and alarms, controls, and instrumentation.

All mechanical systems and subsystems designed by the A/E for construction by the Contractor shall abide by all federal, state, and local codes for compliance, capacity, and life safety. The A/E shall make every effort possible to comply with desired equipment brands specified by the VA.

e. ELECTRICAL

The A/E shall develop a design for a new electrical system to support the new energy center and to supply and support all new equipment, as well as a new electrical system to support the new utility tunnel. The A/E shall include in the design all repairs, replacements, upgrades, and connections required for system integration and distribution to the main facility and 900 Shiloh.

The electrical system design shall provide all necessary elements for production, distribution, and utilization of the electrical system, including but not limited to: all primary and secondary distribution requirements, medium voltage switchgear, transformers, secondary connection cabinets, standby generators for backup power, emergency generators, automatic transfer switches, duct banks, cable pathways, raceways, conduit, wiring, outlet boxes, normal and emergency power, conductors, wiring devices, cover plates, receptacles, panelboards, switchboards, lighting, metering systems, arc flash analysis, and load calculations. The design shall include all requirements for functionality of other engineering systems, including mechanical, plumbing, telecommunications, life safety, and physical security.

All electrical systems and subsystems designed by the A/E for construction by the Contractor shall abide by all federal, state, and local codes for compliance, capacity, and life safety. Emergency power, essential electrical systems, and uninterruptible power systems (UPS) shall comply with all NFPA requirements, as well as all relevant federal, state, and local codes, for the quantity and configuration of alternate and emergency power sources and ancillary equipment.

f. PLUMBING

The A/E shall develop and design a new electrical system to support the new energy center and to supply and support all new equipment, as well as a new electrical system to support the new utility tunnel. The A/E shall include in the design all repairs, replacements, upgrades, and connections required for system integration and distribution to the main facility and 900 Shiloh.

Garland VA Medical Center

The plumbing systems to be designed by the A/E include but are not limited to:

domestic hot and cold-water supply and return, potable hot and cold-water supply and return, sewer/vent/waste/sanitary, water treatment, storm water, hot water generation, drainage systems, and supply connections for mechanical equipment. The design shall include all applicable plumbing lines to support the new energy center equipment and to adequately distribute utilities to the main facility, to include, but not limited to all: piping, insulation, valves, pumps, traps, gauges, sensors, aerators, shutoffs, bypasses, cross connections, backflow preventers, filters, drains, tanks, metering, and plumbing fixtures.

The A/E shall design all unions, connections, valves, fittings, insulation, jackets, anchors, brackets, alignment guides, frames, and traps required to support the piping in the utility tunnel and energy center. The A/E shall also include interior and exterior tunnel drainage systems as necessary.

All plumbing systems and subsystems designed by the A/E for construction by the Contractor shall abide by all federal, state, and local codes for compliance, capacity, and life safety.

g. INTERIOR WORK

The A/E shall develop a concept layout for the energy center interior that will meet VA Model Design requirements. The A/E shall incorporate the Dallas VA Signage and Finish Standards as recommended by the VA Interior Designer, with whom all interior finishes and signage shall be coordinated with and approved by. The design shall include all finishes for floors, walls, drop ceilings, millwork, lighting, window treatment, signage, and furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E). The A/E shall provide physical samples of all finishes to the VA Interior Designer for review prior to construction. After the final design is approved, the A/E shall provide the VA Interior Designer with a complete floor plan in Revit as well as a furniture plan in Revit and AutoCAD.

h. LIFE SAFETY

The A/E shall include basic life safety requirements within the design, including but not limited to: fire protection; fire suppression dry-pipe sprinkler system;

compartmentation; a centralized fire alarm system with all required initiation, annunciation, and notification; fire extinguishers, doors, and partitions; smoke barriers; means of egress; egress lighting; emergency lighting and emergency power; exit signage; and travel distance. The A/E shall provide a life safety plan within the construction documents that details all fire-rated wall assemblies, fire doors, and smoke barriers, as well as mechanical drawings with fire and smoke dampers, electrical drawings with fire alarm system, and plumbing drawings with fire sprinkler system. Extent of life safety requirements shall be determined and verified by the A/E using all applicable state, local, and federal standards and codes.

A/E shall specify the following life safety requirements for construction:

Garland VA Medical Center

- Use of safety barricades, devices, and equipment to protect the site from damage to personnel and property and to limit interference with patient care.

- Planning for Interim Life Safety Measures (ILSMs), for the safety of Contractor personnel, VA personnel, patients, visitors, and Government property.

- Coordination between the Contractor and the Garland VAMC Maintenance and Operations personnel for Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO) procedures. LOTO shall be provided by the Contractor and shall be confirmed and approved by VA staff prior to work start.

i. PHYSICAL SECURITY

The A/E shall include on their team an expert on physical security. The A/E shall review the VA Physical Security Design Manual and shall perform a physical security assessment of the site to determine the features required in the design and deficiencies or challenges that may be difficult to achieve. The A/E shall provide a summary report and technical support for any necessary waivers or equivalencies that may need to be obtained.

Access control to the energy center’s mission-critical equipment is essential. The A/E shall develop a design for internal and external security that promotes hazard mitigation, infrastructure viability, and workplace safety. The A/E shall include in the physical security design any applicable standoff distances, security systems, security doors, controlled access, cameras and CCTV, perimeter barriers and fencing, blast protection, site lighting, and signage.

Reference: Telecommunications and Special Telecommunications Systems Design Manual, https://www.cfm.va.gov/til/dManual/dmTelecomm.pdf.

Provide an electronic Security Management System (SMS) with a Physical Access Control System (PACS).

All doors to the energy center, both exterior and interior entry, shall be access controlled and monitored. Doors shall include a mechanical spring loaded “deadlocking feature” (not separate “deadbolt” lock), PACS associate electronic Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card access device with keypad, electric strike and digital Closed Caption Television (CCTV) color camera routed to and directly controlled by the facility SMS.

Telecommunication Room security system shall be connected to a UPS or emergency backup power system.

Facility programmable door controllers shall be fully functional in a standalone status if connection to the SMS is lost. Once the connection is restored, the local door control system will update the SMS, regarding all operations that occurred after the connection was interrupted. Then, the SMS shall update the local door control units to current operational function.

Garland VA Medical Center

The PACS and SMS shall be fully compliant with VA’s PII, PIV "Smart" ID Card and at a minimum, FIPS 201-1 and NRTL (i.e. UL) listed and labeled.

j. COMMUNICATIONS

The A/E shall design a communication network to integrate into the current VA facility infrastructure (LAN) that supports the new Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) system in accordance with VA OEHRM Site Infrastructure Requirements (provided by VHA). Each data drop shall consist of two Category 6A cables installed based on the VA Technical Information Library (TIL) available at http://www.cfm.va.gov/til/index.asp.

In accordance with “Telecommunications and Special Telecommunications Systems Design Manual,” February 2016, found at https://www.cfm.va.gov/til/dManual/dmTelecomm.pdf, Paragraph 1.2(d): telecommunications design must be performed and stamped by a BICSI Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD) for all projects.

Local Area Network (LAN):

References: Telecommunications and Special Telecommunications Systems Design Manual, https://www.cfm.va.gov/til/dManual/dmTelecomm.pdf and Infrastructure Standard for Telecommunications Spaces https://www.cfm.va.gov/til/dguide/OIT-InfrastrucStdTelecomSpaces.pdf.

Horizontal cabling shall be Category 6A.

Telecommunications outlets/connectors and the horizontal cross-connects (patch panels) shall be of equal or greater Category to connected horizontal cable.

Installation shall be compliant with the BICSI standards (ANSI /NECA/BICSI

568, Standard for Installing Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling and ANSI/TIA-1179-A Healthcare Facility Telecommunications Infrastructure for new installations).

New cable installations additionally shall be compliant with TIA 568.2-D, TIA TSB-184-A, and NFPA-70 Section 725.144 to prevent PoE heat accumulation.

Alternatively, new UTP cabling shall carry a UL listed "LP" (Limited Power) rating.

Cat6A cable shall be terminated to a CAT6A RJ-45 patch panel in IT closet and CAT6A RJ-45 jack at wall plate and labeled at both ends.

Use a cable analyzer to determine cable length (max cable length 90M/295 linear feet) and certify that cable meets or exceeds TIA-EIA-568-C.2.

Cables shall be installed in continuous lengths from origin to destination, no splices with a 1’ service loop.

All new cable installation shall be tested and certified that cable meets or exceeds TIA-EIA-568-C.2. Provide the certification report to COR.

All patch cables shall be Category 6A for copper, OM4 for multi-mode fiber or OS2 level for single mode fiber.

Garland VA Medical Center

Cable management shall be implemented for all patch cables in accordance with Infrastructure Standard for Telecommunications Spaces, Version 3.0, ensuring proper bend radius, bundling, airflow, support and labeling.

1 GbE connectivity to desktops, and other EUD.

End-to-End latency from the user desktop to Cerner Data Center of equal to or less than 90ms for Citrix connection.

Provide additional data drops and network ports in Telecommunication Rooms

(TR) to support required network printers and medical devices per Cerner Current State Review (CSR). If the CSR is not provided as an attachment to this document, an additional Supplemental Lease Agreement may be required.

Copper structured cabling shall be certified as meeting or exceeding TIA-EIA- 568.1-D (max fixed cable length 90M/295 linear feet) independent of media type.

k. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

During site investigation, A/E and Contractor personnel may encounter hazardous materials such as asbestos and mold. The A/E shall include all specifications, provisions, and procedures for abatement and remediation of hazardous materials in the construction documents, utilizing the VA’s third-party industrial hygiene consultant to perform surveys as necessary. If hazardous materials are encountered during site investigation where demolition and/or construction would be impacted, the A/E shall immediately notify the VA COR so the third-party consultant can determine hazard type and quantity and develop a formal protocol. The A/E shall exercise caution and wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE) in any areas where hazardous materials are suspected. The 2019 reports for asbestos, limited mold, and lead-based paint for the Garland VAMC shall be included herein as SOW Attachments #02, #03, and #04. Additional information regarding recent asbestos and mold conditions can be provided to the A/E from VA’s third-party industrial hygiene consultant.

l. ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION RESPONSIBILITIES

The Contractor shall:

o Submit pictures biweekly to visualize construction progress.

o Ensure value engineering is included in the project to maintain the approved budget.

o Submit revised project schedules along with each invoice.

o Use environmentally friendly products whenever possible.

o Use only products suitable for the job conditions. Manufacturers’ instructions and recommendations shall be followed for all products used.

o Adhere to all safety control measures while performing the work.

o Provide all necessary barricades and signage where needed.

o Provide any interim life safety measure (ILSMs) required to ensure the safety of patients, staff, and Contractor personnel.

o Comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

o Maintain free and unobstructed access to facility emergency services and for fire, police, and other emergency response forces in accordance with NFPA 241.

Garland VA Medical Center o Ensure performance while protecting material, equipment, and supplies from damage and loss.

o Ensure employees have the proper PPE for the job.

o Be responsible for maintaining and upkeeping their staging area.

o Repair any damage caused by their work or any subcontractor’s work.

o Provide their own dumpster and dispose of all damaged items, removed items, and debris created from the construction and demolition in every aspect of this project.

o Submit to the COR a report for each shipment of construction debris, the weight by type, shipment date, destination, and whether the debris is to be recycled/reclaimed or disposed of.

o Provide daily reports as defined in Section III Subsection f.

Contractor employees performing services under this order will be controlled, directed, and always supervised by management personnel of the Contractor. Contractor management will ensure that employees properly comply with the performance work standards outlined in the SOW. Contractor employees will perform their duties independent of, and without the supervision of, any Government official. The tasks, duties, and responsibilities set forth in the contract may not be interpreted or implemented in any manner that results in any Contractor employee creating or modifying Federal policy, obligating the appropriated funds of the United States Government, overseeing the work of Federal employees, providing direct personal services to any Federal employee, or otherwise violating the prohibitions set forth in Parts 7.5 and 37.1 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). The Government will control access to the facility and will perform the inspection and acceptance of the completed work.

_________________________ End of Section II _________________________

III. STATEMENT OF TASKS

a. A/E KEY PERSONNEL

The A/E shall provide a competent, accurate, and complete design and construction period service utilizing individuals who are adequately knowledgeable of the various design principles required by this Statement of Work.

The A/E shall utilize Engineering professionals in all relevant disciplines with proven experience with energy center designs greater than $20,000,000 and proven VA experience. The A/E and Engineering professionals should process knowledge of locality, including climatic, topographic, and geological conditions that may affect the design. The A/E should have the capacity, capability, and expertise necessary to provide the tasks identified herein.

Credentials of Engineering professional designers shall be provided to and verified by the VA. The A/E shall employ the following professional personnel to perform under this contract:

- Principal-in-Charge

Garland VA Medical Center

- Overall Project Manager

- Architect (LEED certified)

- Civil Engineer

- Structural Engineer

- Mechanical Engineer

- Electrical Engineer

- Plumbing Engineer

- Environmental Engineer

- Texas Licensed Fire Protection Engineer

- Physical Security Specialist

- CADD Technician

- Industrial Hygienist

- Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD)

- Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) Manager

- Cost Estimator

- Interior Designer

Changes to the personnel from those proposed in negotiations, interviews, solicitation, kickoff meeting, or A/E submission forms must be approved in writing by the COR, and the COR must be provided with verifiable credentials.

b. CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL

The Contractor shall be responsible for employing qualified personnel to perform the work specified in the Statement of Work. The Contractor shall ensure that subcontractors and employees have proper documentation to authorize them to work in the United States of America.

The work history of each Contractor employee must contain experience directly related to the functions he/she is intended to perform under this contract in relation to construction. The Government reserves the right to, during the life of the resulting contract, to request work histories on any Contractor employee for the purposes of verifying compliance with the requirements herein. The Government reserves the right to review resumes of Contractor personnel proposed to be assigned to the construction project. Personnel assigned to, or utilized by, the Contractor shall be fully capable of completing the requirements of this Statement of Work and the resulting A/E documents in an efficient, reliable, and professional manner.

The Contractor shall maintain the personnel, organization, and administrative control necessary to ensure that the work delivered meets the contract specifications and requirements.

The Contractor shall provide a supervisor who always speaks English on-site.

Appropriate safety equipment shall be furnished by the Contractor to Contractor and subcontractor employees, and safety equipment shall be used as prescribed by OSHA standards.

Contractor and all Contractor employees must have taken the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Certified 30/ 10-hour construction

Garland VA Medical Center safety course and show documented proof. The Contractor shall designate a “competent person” in accordance with 29 CFR 1926. 32(f) which states, “One who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous or dangerous to employees and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them”. The Contractor shall instruct each of his employees in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to this work environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury.

c. MEETINGS

During the design phase, the A/E will be required to attend:

1) One (1) design kickoff meeting,

2) Site investigations as required by the A/E to ascertain the full extent of existing conditions,

3) Four (4) design review meetings: 35%, 65%, 95%, and 100%, and

4) Biweekly meetings (every second week) to update the VA on project status, schedule adherence, discussing and tracking RFIs, engaging relevant stakeholders and engineering staff, and issue resolution.

The A/E shall provide meeting minutes for all meetings and conference calls in PDF format and shall post all minutes in a shared document/project management software between the VA and A/E, such as SharePoint, Procore, Viewpoint, Centerline, or similar.

During the construction phase, the Contractor’s project manager will be required to attend biweekly meetings to update the VA on project status, schedule adherence, discussing and tracking RFIs, and issue resolution. The Contractor shall provide meeting minutes for all meetings in PDF format and shall post all minutes in a shared document/project management software between the VA and A/E, such as SharePoint, Procore, Viewpoint, Centerline, or similar.

d. SITE INVESTIGATION

The A/E shall perform a thorough site survey of the facility to verify existing conditions of all structural, civil, environmental, architectural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing elements. All site visits shall be coordinated by the A/E with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), and the A/E shall abide by all notification and security measures outlined within this Statement of Work. All A/E personnel are required to wear VA-issued identification badges while they are on-site, which shall be issued by Engineering admin at the request of the

COR.

Utility system verification shall include but is not limited to: the necessary testing, adjusting, and balancing of systems to ascertain the existing condition, operational capacity, and performance that may impact the design process and subsequent construction process. If not already furnished by the VA, the A/E

Garland VA Medical Center shall be responsible for arranging and overseeing any required topographic surveys, geotechnical surveys, test borings, test pits, soil tests, and subsurface exploration.

Investigation of existing field conditions shall be performed in a competent, professional manner, in accordance with the Architectural Design Manual PG-18-

10. The Garland VAMC is an operational medical facility, and investigation of existing conditions involving invasive and/or destructive measures or utility shutdown must be coordinated with and approved in writing by the COR at minimum one week in advance.

The results of the site investigation and utility system verification shall be reflected in the design documents, which shall include the current system capacities, deficiency corrections, additions, repairs, renovations, upgrades, replacements, and the necessary work required for integration of new systems into the existing facility systems, as required to provide a fully functional, operational, and compliant energy center.

Prior to construction, the Contractor shall field verify all aspects of the construction documents produced by the A/E, to ensure accuracy.

While on-site at the Garland VAMC, A/E and Contractor personnel must not be allowed access to any VA personnel or VA patient’s personal health information (PHI), personally identifiable information (PII), or VA sensitive information in the performance of this contract. A/E and Contractor personnel must not connect A/E/Contractor-owned IT devices (laptop computer or remote connection from an A/E system) to a VA internal trusted (i.e. non-public) network. Computer certification and accreditation requirements do not apply, and a security accreditation package is not required. A/E and Contractor personnel are subject to the same Federal laws, regulations, standards, and VA Directives as VA and VA personnel regarding information and information system security.

e. DEMOLITION OF EXISTING STRUCTURES & EQUIPMENT

The A/E shall be responsible for investigating the condition of all existing mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and steam generation systems within the existing facility, and the A/E shall provide their professional recommendation on the decommissioning of equipment and systems. The A/E shall include in the design any infrastructure or equipment demolition, removal, replacement, or decommissioning.

The Contractor shall perform demolition activities in accordance with the A/E drawings and specifications.

f. COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES

All daily communication during the design phase shall be between the A/E PM and the VA COR, via email or telephone. Site investigation dates shall be coordinated in writing between the A/E and the COR, post-award. The A/E shall

Garland VA Medical Center provide the COR and CO with frequent updates on design status; status update meetings between the A/E and VA teams shall occur biweekly via Microsoft Teams. Meetings may also be called to order by either the A/E or the VA in the event of an emergent discussion. The CO shall be invited to all meetings.

All daily communication during the construction phase shall be between the Contractor on-site supervisor, Contractor PM, and VA COR, via email or telephone. The Contractor shall provide the COR and CO with frequent updates on construction status, to include submittal of daily logs with man hours, sign-in sheets, pictures, and description of work performed each day.

The CO is the only person authorized to make commitments on behalf of the Government and to approve and issue changes to the requirements herein that will affect price, scope, quantity, or quality of performance. Questions or concerns pertaining to contract administration shall be between the A/E and the CO. All changes to the contract shall be issued via written correspondence from the CO and the A/E.

_________________________ End of Section III _________________________

IV. BASIS FOR DESIGN

a. CODES & STANDARDS

The A/E must adhere to all standards, VA program guides, design manuals, and master specifications in preparing the design for this project. Failure to adhere to these all standards, regulations, directives, and codes listed herein will result in redesign by the A/E at no additional cost to the Government. Should the A/E determine that a deviation from such standards and specifications is necessary or beneficial to the integrity of the design and to the Government, the A/E must promptly submit a request in writing to the CO for permission to make the deviation. The request must include an explanation with specific reasons for the desired change, potential risks, and expected benefits.

Where conflicts exist between VA adopted codes and standards and documents within the TIL, the A/E must alert the VA. The resolution of the conflict must be made by the VA’s authority-having jurisdiction to ensure consistency department-wide. Where series standards are not available or are incomplete for a specific function or space, the A/E shall apply the standards or guidelines of another series for that specific function or a similar function, at the approval of the VA.

The VA Technical Information Library (TIL) is managed by the VA Office of Construction and Facility Management and is the master repository for all VA Numbered Standards for Construction, to include design and construction specifications, procedures, standard details, BIM/CAD standards, equipment guides, space planning, design manuals, and design guides. The documents within the TIL are the minimum design criteria for all VA projects performed in the construction of new facilities and in the alteration, addition, improvement, or modernization of the Government’s real property.

Garland VA Medical Center

All design documents must be developed in accordance with NFPA, JCAHO, NEC, UPC, UMC, ASME, ASHRAE, IBC, EPA, OSHA, and the VA TIL, including but not limited to, the following listed Department of Veterans Affairs references:

1. VA Design Manuals (PG-18-10)

2. VA Design Guides (PG-18-12)

3. Design and Construction Procedures (PG-18-3)

4. Master Construction Specifications (PG-18-1)

5. Standard Details and CAD Standards (PG-18-4)

6. VA BIM & CAD Standards (PG-18-13)

7. Equipment Guide List (PG-18-5)

8. Barrier Free Design Guide (PG-18-13)

9. Room Finishes, Door, and Hardware Schedule (PG-18-14)

10. A/E Submissions and Review (PG-18-15)

11. Environmental Compliance Manual (PG-18-17)

12. VA Cultural Resource Management Procedures (H-7545)

13. Site Design Manual

14. Steam, Hot Water, and Outside Distribution of Systems Design Manual

15. Physical Security and Resiliency Design Manual

16. NFPA and Fire Protection Design Manual

17. Technical Summaries (HVAC)

18. Space Planning Criteria for VA Facilities (PG-18-9)

19. VA A/E Quality Alerts

20. VA Design Review Checklists

21. Seismic Design Requirements (H-18-8)

22. OIT Infrastructure Standard for Telecommunications Spaces

23. Sustainable Design and Energy Reduction

a. Sustainable Design and Energy Reduction Manual

b. Texas State Energy Code

c. VA Energy Guidelines

d. VA Master Specification 01 81 00

e. Whole Building Commissioning Process Manual

24. Accessibility Standards

a. Architectural Barriers Act and Accessibility Standard

b. VA Barrier Free Design Guide (PG-18-13)

25. Signage Design Manual

All projects and project designs shall contain language that addresses all applicable EOSH requirements.

1. Regulatory Compliance- EOSH requirements for work performed at the above location can be found in:

a. Volume 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1910- Occupational Safety for General Industry.

b. Volume 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1926- Occupational Safety for the Construction Industry.

c. Volume 40 of Code of Federal Regulations, Protecting of the Environment.

Volume 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 397- Transportation of Hazardous Materials

Garland VA Medical Center

The VA Master Construction Specification contains work procedures and material requirements designed to meet regulatory compliance requirements. Whenever possible, the Master Construction Specification must be used as the basis for the project designs.

All work performed under this contract will be in accordance with Safety and Health During Construction Activities Policy 138-80-16. The Contractor shall provide a written certified statement indicating that the construction project meets the life safety code requirements. The VA Construction Safety Officer and the COR shall have full authority to see that the Contractor obeys all safety rules and regulations relative to the fulfillment of this contract.

The following laws, regulations, policies, and procedures in effect on date of contract issuance and all subsequent changes or updates apply:

a. Federal Acquisition Regulation

b. Veterans Administration Acquisition Regulation

c. Service Contract Act (SCA) Directory of Occupations (Fifth Edition) http://www.dol.gov/whd/contracts/sca.htm

d. ANSI: https://pdflakekxng.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/ansi-z133-safety-standard-pdf.pdf

e. VA Directive 0058- VA Green Purchasing Program

f. VA Directive 0057- VA Environmental Program

b. DESIGN WITHIN FUNDING LIMITATIONS

The A/E shall prepare a design that permits the award of a construction contract, using Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) procedures for the construction of facilities, at a cost that does not exceed the project’s estimated construction, which will be included in the Request for Proposal (RFP) issued. The A/E shall develop a design for a total construction budget of $53,000,000.

The A/E shall review FAR 52.236-22 “ Design Within Funding Limitations”.

The A/E shall provide a fee for the requirements discussed within this Statement of Work using the format applicable to the RFP document issued by the Government CO, VA Form 10-6298. Within the RFP response, the A/E shall describe how they will structure a team, their approach to manage and accomplish the work, list the professional experience of team members, and provide a Project Management Plan. Designs will stay within the statutory limitation of 10% of the indicated construction budget, with the inclusion of bid alternate items where necessary, to ensure full utilization of the project’s provided budget.

c. ENERGY MANAGEMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

The A/E must incorporate green building and sustainable design practices and elements into the project design to the greatest extent practicable for all systems and subsystems, as per the VA Sustainable Design and Energy Reduction Manual. Project designs must meet guiding principles, and all energy, water, and environmental requirements established by EPACT, EISA, Executive Orders, VA Directives, and all other applicable federal, state, and local requirements. All new

Garland VA Medical Center construction and major renovations will require energy modeling, energy feasibility study, and analysis during planning to achieve the energy budgets required in the above laws, to include a Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA).

d. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

The A/E must assist the VA with completion of a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) assessment as required by the Garland VAMC. If the NEPA assessment results in potential environmental impacts, the A/E must be responsible for completing any auxiliary documentation required by VA TIL PG- 18-17 NEPA Interim Guidance for Projects. The NEPA analysis and concluding documentation must be completed by the final Construction Documents submittal.

e. COMMISSIONING

The A/E shall develop a full building commissioning plan via the VA Commissioning Process Manual as applicable for the new energy center to assist the third-party Commissioning Agent. The third-party Commissioning Agent shall establish clear and measurable criteria and defined methodology for substantial completion and acceptance of the new energy center and utility tunnel. The A/E and the third-party Commissioning Agent shall work cooperatively to determine if all systems, subsystems, components, and interfaces between systems, function in accordance with the design objectives identified within this Statement of Work and within the construction documents.

f. PHASING

Construction shall be phased in a manner to protect Government property, patients, and staff at the Garland VAMC, while minimizing disruption to patient care and facility operations.

g. QUALITY ASSURANCE & QUALITY CONTROL

The A/E shall implement and maintain a quality-control program assuring that all services, designs, drawings, and specifications required by this Statement of Work are performed and provided in a manner that meets professional architectural and engineering quality standards adopted and utilized by the VA.

Prior to submittal to the VA, all deliverables shall be systematically and thoroughly reviewed by the A/E for compliance with project requirements and applicable codes, standards, and directives. The A/E shall be held responsible for ensuring that all A/E employees and subconsultants comply with the design requirements.

Garland VA Medical Center

_________________________ End of Section IV _________________________

V. DETAILED SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Design submittals shall follow the requirements of VA TIL Program Guide PG-18-15, Volume C – A/E Submission Instructions for Minor and NRM Construction Program.

Submittal documents shall be prominently marked…