36C25819B0033-0002004.pdf

36C25819B0033 664-19-320

Request for Information (RFI) Log

OR Flooring and Wall Repairs Construction 23 August 2019

San Diego, California VA Health Care System (664)

RFI

Number Date Question Answer

001 8/8/2019 Is there mastic under the sheet vinyl?

No.

Special Requirements C.i states “Optional: resinous material may have crack isolation membrane incorporated into the flooring system.” Please clarify if the crack isolation option is to be included in pricing.

It is not to be included in the pricing.

It has been removed from the scope of work. Please see updated Scope of Work.

Verify wall tile replacement only needs to match existing size, not color.

Tile replacement does need to match existing size. Tile replacement does not need to match color. Preferred color for replacement tile is white, light blue, or light green. The Scope of Work has been updated to reflect this.

Provide size of existing wall tiles.

4 inches by 4 inches.

The Stonhard Stonres RTZ (basis of design) is a urethane base. The specification provided for the flooring can be either an epoxy or urethane

Urethane terrazzo. The scope of work and RES-5 Specifications have been updated to reflect the changes.

base. The Specific Requirements – C. Flooring references “epoxy flooring”. Please clarify if flooring is to be an epoxy terrazzo or urethane terrazzo.

Verify Stonhard’s epoxy mortar is acceptable for the flash cove.

Stonhard’s epoxy mortar is acceptable for the flash cove.

Is the Stonhard Stonglaze VSR considered an equal to the Saniglaze ChomaGlaze+?

No. The Saniglaze ChromaGlaze+ is a process that would not require mechanical preparation of the wall tile. The Stonhard Stonglaze VSR requires mechanical preparation.

Due to the OR tile being painted and having a smoother finish than a level 5 drywall finish, mechanical preparation would be required to ensure adhesion for the Stonhard Stonglaze VSR product.

After the walls are coated is the intent to eliminate the appearance of the grout lines or to allow them to telegraph through.

The intent is to provide a uniform color to the OR’s because currently there are three or more tile colors that do not make an attractive appearance. Grout lines are okay.

Please provide the two color pattern for the terrazzo flooring

The colors to be chosen by VA Interior Designer. Custom color to be determined after awarded contract.

The wall coating system will take 3 days to complete and the flooring will take 6 days to complete. That is 9 of the 10 calendar days allowed to complete the work. Contractor still requires time to set-up containment, demo flooring, select demo of wall tiles, and install new wall tiles. Will VA consider extending the time to complete each OR from 10 calendar days to 14?

No due to OR needs; 10 days is the maximum allowed time. Close coordination with the wall coating system will be required to achieve the schedule.

requesting that the VA review the RFP because we find conflicting data that needs to be clarified and we are submitting a product prior to bid as is frequently required to get is approved as an “equal” substitution to the basis of design (StoneHard RTZ).

The VA has reviewed the Scope of Work and the RES-5 Specification of the RFP.

Yes, the basis of design system is Stonhard RTZ.

The intent is to verify if they are an “equal” to the basis of design Stonehard RTZ, I first started by reviewing the StoneHard RTZ product data sheets and then the “project” specification. In reviewing the “project” specifications I ran into some trouble validating both the basis of design product and a product that has been submitted to me as an “equal”. When I look at “Project” specification section “RES 5 09 67 23.50.E Physical Properties”, the first thing I see is that there appears to be contradiction/edits and additions in the physical properties table “09 67 23.50.E.3” when comparing the “project” specification to the VA’s Master Specifications. In this physical property table found in the “project” there is property called “Hardness” and ‘Surface Hardness” Hardness is saying that it must comply with ASTM D-2240, Shore A, Surface Hardness says it must comply with ASTM D- 2240, Shore D. Shore Hardness A & D are two

The requirement of this scope of work is ASTM D-2240, Shore A. The RES-5 Specification has been updated to reflect the change.

ASTM D-2240, Shore A is for the testing of soft vulcanized rubber, natural rubber, nitriles, thermoplastic elastomers, flexible polyacrylics and thermosets, wax, felt, and leathers.

ASTM D-2240, Shore D is for the testing of materials testing of hard rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, harder plastics, and rigid thermoplastics.

different testing standards, that represent the same measurable. The measurable is “how hard does the floor feel to your feet”. This is important to the medical staff.

In section B of the RFP, paragraph B.4 Specifications it says “the Master Construction Specifications must be used as the basis for project designs” I followed the link in paragraph B.4 and went to the VA’s TIL and the master specification for 09 67 23.50. In the master specification there are several properties that have different values then those in the project specifications and the project specification has several properties that are not in the master specification. See below for a comparison of the two different tables, I put an arrow next to items that are different in the “project” spec table and the master TIL specification. The first table is from this project specification, the second one is from the TIL Master specifications.

VA has updated the RES-5 Specification to clarify requirements.

The Master Specification is a template that the VA specifications writer must modify per project. For example, if you follow the website as you have done, and downloaded the Specification for 09 67 23.50 (RES-5) the top of the first page reads:

“SPEC WRITER NOTES: 1. Delete // ____// if not applicable to project.

Also delete any other item or paragraph not applicable in the section and renumber the paragraphs.”

In “Part 2 – Products” The SPEC WRITER NOTES include:

“1. Verify specifics of system with manufacturer”

The basis of design is Stonhard RTZ. If a proposed system can match the spec, requirements, and scope of work then it is equivalent.

I compared the basis of design product date sheet to the “project” specifications and I found that many of the properties listed in the both of specification have not been tested by Stonehard or at least I could not find any published data to verify that the StoneHard RTZ meets the specifications. I also

It has been verified by the VA that the updated RES-5 Specification can be met by the basis of design system (Stonhard RTZ).

compared the Stonehard product data sheet to the master specification and found that the Stonehard product does not meet all of the values listed in the master specifications. As an example The StoneHard product has not been tested to the shore hardness D standard, therefore it cannot be proven that it meets that standard..

Considering the basis of design product does not have published data on all of the properties in the specifications, and does not meet all of the property values in either the “master” specification or the “project” specifications, and considering the sections of the “project” specifications that differ from the master specification appear to have been edited to match exactly what the Stonehard data sheet shows, will the VA just tell us what the “salient characteristics” that the VA will insist on achieving in order to meet their definition of an “equal” product? Or will the VA issue a Brand Name Justification so that everyone knows that they can only use the Stonehard product. Or will the VA approve the Sherwin Williams SoftTop product as a product that can be used for this project? Without one of these action there will be unequal competition.

We fully understand that the VA wants to only use

It has been verified by the VA that the updated RES-5 Specification can be met by the basis of design system (Stonhard RTZ).

The salient characteristics have been updated in the RES-5 Specification.

In the Scope of Work, B.5.

Specification Requirements subsection C Flooring subpart e (B.5.C.e):

“Package materials in factory pre-weighed and in single, easy to manage batches sized for ease of handling and mixing proportions from entire package or packages. No on site weighing or volumetric measurements are allowed.”

Currently, available product information for the Sherwin Williams SoftTop product implies outside of factory weighing and volumetric measurements throughout the installation. That would not meet the requirement for “No on site weighing or volumetric measurements are allowed.”

The requirement to limit on site weighing and measurements are due to the many projects currently going

Stonehard and the local staff will fight tooth and nail to reject any other product, but because this is a competitive bid, we have to ensure fair consideration/competition of all products. Technically there is no product that meets the specification.

on in the San Diego VA Medical Center. There is very limited room to store and mix material on site.

Please refer to the Scope of Work Paragraph B.5.A.m:

“Project site and overall medical campus has very limited laydown areas. Project should be executed with close coordination and delivery of materials. Materials stored to be limited to the amount needed for the active work during the current phase.”

On a separate note, please see Attachment RES-5 Specification:

“1.4 Quality Assurance:”

“A. Manufacture shall certify that a particular resinous flooring system has been in use for a minimum of five years.”

“B. 1 Contractor shall have completed at least 10 projects of similar size and complexity. Include list of at least 5 projects. List must include owner (purchaser); address of installation, contact information at installation project site; and date of installation”

Physical Properties table taken RES5 Specification issued with the RFP:

Physical Properties table taken VA Master Specification

This value is different then in the master spec

This value has been changed from Shore Hardness D to A

These Value are not in the master spec

This value is different than the master spec

This has been changed from the master spec

These value are not in the master spec

016 8/15/19

Can you please provide ACM report

Attachment E – Comprehensive Hazardous Materials Survey has been updated to include ACM findings related to the fifth floor.

017 8/16/2019 solicitation calls for a copy of a state-issued contractor's license for construction work. We are registered with the State of NY as a foreign entity, licensed / registered to conduct business, while operating within the state. However, because we have only been pursuing projects at VA facilities (federal domain), we have not been required or do not currently hold a specific general contractor license with any one state, in particular.

IFB Instructions to all bidders states: c. Contractor’s License - All Bidders shall submit, issued to the SDVOSB Prime, a current copy of their General Contractor’s License, or for those States that do not issue a General Contractor’s License, a State issued construction license that pertains to the remodeling or renovation of a building structure.

The instructions state that the Prime SDVOSB contractor has to have the general contractors license. Please also see clause 52.236-7.

Does this disqualify us from bidding on this project, or perhaps if our teaming partners (or subcontractor) were able to provide all necessary licensure, would that suffice?

provide a detail for the transition from new OR flooring to existing flooring in halllways/core, its appears to transition to, sheet vinyl or VCT.

No transition strip required. There is to be no interference of the flooring on the door. The new resinous flooring will need to be constructed up to the existing corridor flooring seamlessly.

how many layers of flooring are in place, and is it haz-mat.

A single vinyl sheet tile system is in place. Please refer to RFI 001; it is not haz-mat.

can the entry doors to the OR under construction, be temporarily removed, so new epoxy flooring can get under door, with out interference.

Removal of the doors is at the discretion of the contractor as they see fit as part of their means and methods to execute the intent of this scope of work. The doors are lead lined due to the protection required during X-ray imaging performed in the ORs. The doors are hinged into the base of the concrete.

Negative air must exhaust to the exterior-is this possible.

Yes. The negative air may be piped out of the OR under construction through the fifth floor interstitial and out the building.