S05 - RFIs and Responses.pdf

Project: 666-20-110 Building 28 Upgrade

1). The specs call out 5/4 x 4” plank for the front porch. Would you consider 5/4 x 6” as it does not have a long lead time?

Yes

2). Currently the windows have a wood infill at the top where the arch is. Is the wood infilling to remain and be painted?

or are the windows to be arched themselves? Or are the infills staying and to be painted? Can we put aluminum over the infills to match the windows? Put an aluminum skin over the infills that will match the windows.

3). Can you confirm the VA will provide the first utility locates and the contractor is responsible to maintain them? All locates are now the responsibility of the contractor. The VA will not provide locates.

4) Treks does not offer a stair tread, will two 5.5” plank per step be acceptable? Yes

5) Are we replacing the screen doors? Will the additional door need a screen door as well? Yes to both.

6) In the basement it calls for one sheet of plywood to divide the basement in halve. You don’t want the entire doorway framed out is that correct? Yes, that is correct. The divide between needs to be easily removed for maintenance, but not by occupants, as the east side has limited access for appliance deliveries.

7) Basement floor is in poor condition chunks of concrete missing paint flaking and chipping, you are calling for the floors to be painted with epoxy paint, how do you want the floor prepped for the paint? Are we to sand the floor to remove chipping paint, patch all holes and skim coat the floor? Remove the basement floor epoxy painting from the contract, just clean the floors.

8) if we are just painting over lead base paint, are you requiring it to be abated first? Inside the home: a full abatement is not required, only the areas disturbed need to be abated. Not the entire home.

9) Was the front porch abated in the past? Yes Will an abatement company be needed to remove the deck planks if we are not making it friable? No

10) there are 3 existing doors are they all to be replaced? For a total of 4 doors? Yes

11) Does the porch off the NE corner get flooring? No.

12) The floor in Kitchen A and Kitchen B have a lot of humps and dips. I don't think a traditional click lock Floating floor will hold

up. I would recommend an underlay and full spread glue a vinyl plank floor down. Change the flooring to a Glue Down Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring, with 12 mil wear layer, Phthalate Free, Stain Resistant, waterproof. Use 1/5” hardwood plywood underlayment or the underlayment recommended by the flooring manufacturer. The flooring to be an equivalent product to the Denali 7 in. W Wheat Waterproof Glue Down Luxury Vinyl Plank Shaw Flooring. Submittals required.

13) The steps from the 1st floor to 2nd have a painted return with spindles and rail set into them. The only way to do the re-finish would be to remove the rail and spindles. Also, if there is lead in the paint on the open end of the tread who sands off the lead paint? Remove the carpet and the glue down rubber mat, fill holes and level. Paint with a standard floor paint. Paint spindles and rails.

14) There are steps going from the 2nd floor to the attic, do those get re-finished as well? No

15) Are we to match the existing door as close as possible? Yes, try and match as close as possible. Can you confirm that these doors do not have to meet any historical standard? Yes, it doesn’t have to meet historical standards. Also, can we match the hardware as close as possible and are not held to historical standards? Yes, the desire is to maintain similar looking historic elements as long as they are fully functional. The interiors have been exempted by SHPO as they have undergone multiple renovations over the years. However, the desire of the VA is to keep as much of the historic character as possible but within realistic cost limits so historical restoration is not wanted. The desire is to have a door that uses modern components such as insulated glass, weather proofing, but keep a similar historical look using products that are available on the market.

16) The plans state that we are to paint the lattice under the front porch, the condition of the lattice is poor. Should we price it for new lattice? Yes

17) To avoid jacking up the columns on the front porch will you accept removing the trim around the columns cut the existing wood flush with the columns install new plank and re-install the trim around the columns? Yes, this is a means and method that would be acceptable. Investigate the existing condition of the roof to see if the roof has settled prior to using this approach. If the roofline hasn’t failed, the VA would accept that approach.

18) Are dampers going to be required on the outside air system in order to be able to regulate make up air during cold/hot weather in add alternate 2? Yes.

19) There are windows in the attic that do not get replaced. If the VA decides to cover the wood infills in the arch of the windows being replaced with aluminum, would you like the exterior wood of the attic windows covered in aluminum as well? No, just remove loose paint, fill surface defects and paint.

20) Is there a plumbing fixture schedule? Yes, plumbing fixtures are called out in Specification 09 06 00, FINSHES AND PRODUCTS, 2.15 Division 22 – Plumbing.

ELECTRICAL

21) Are the new devices intended to be recessed in the existing brick/concrete walls, surface mount, or will walls be furred out? New devices are to be recessed into the existing plaster walls. This has been done elsewhere in the building.

22) Some of the existing circuitry appears to be an older style cloth insulated romex but we cannot tell the extent of it. Does this need to be replaced with conduit? The existing circuitry is in conduit without a ground. Some of the electrical devices thought to be Romex by those attending the walk through have been pulled and there is a conduit system. See pictures.

The older style cloth is on the conductor within the conduits and is not Romex. Pull out the old conductors and install new 12-gauge power, natural and ground wire where drawings call out for devices to be replaced. In instances where conduits can’t be found, then it will be an unforeseen condition and will be handle as such as per the contract documents.

23) Laundry 3 has existing heat pipes against the walls. Does the electrical still stay as shown? Location doesn’t have to be exact but needs to be in an area that washers and dryers can be installed with out extension cords. The heat pipes in question are well insulated and will not damage electrical wiring.

24) Can the main electrical panel be moved to the other side of the meter to avoid moving the meter? (E-1 note 12). Yes, if the electrical panel can be kept at a service height and the installation can meet the NEC, then the meter doesn’t have to be moved.

25) Is the basement area (walls and ceilings) intended to be surface mounted conduit or does note 4 sheet E-1 apply everywhere? Does this apply to any of the existing surface mounted items? The basement is an unfinished area and therefore surface mount can be used. The 1st and 2nd floors are finished areas, therefore new installations and those items called out by drawing for correction are to be recessed.

26) Is there a fixture schedule for the new lights and fans? Yes, electrical fixtures are called out in Specification 09 06 00, FINSHES AND PRODUCTS, 2.16 Division 26 – Electrical.

27) Just a general note that upon completion some of the circuits will serve devices in both apartments. This could cause problems depending on use. We agree. Label circuit breaks so that it is known which apartment they service. There is only one existing circuit that the VA found that services both apartments. It is circuit #15. Split this circuit so that both apartments are separated. Any new circuits that are shared should be split so that both apartments are separated.

28) If new Arc fault breakers do not hold due to existing wiring will the troubleshooting and repair be seen as a time and material change order? The VA expects troubleshooting and repair to be done by the subcontractor as most of the circuitry is being replaced. If there is a problem that couldn’t be foreseen, then it will be an unforeseen condition and will be handle as such as per the contract documents.

29) Will the VA deenergize the existing meter to facilitate the new work? No, the deenergizing of the system is the responsibility of the Contractor.

30) ) On the plans they have a circle with an L/F. L or F sates new light fixtures, who is supposed to supply these fixtures?

Can you provide a schedule for the fixtures if we are to supply? L or F are new light fixtures and to be provided by the contractor and not the VA. Electrical fixtures are called out in Specification 09 06 00, FINSHES AND PRODUCTS, 2.16

Division 26 – Electrical. There is one fan unit that is supposed to be supplied by the VA for room 203. Change this to Contractor supplied and remove old light fixture and install a new light. The new light is to be “Fixture 3” as described in Specification 09 06 00, FINSHES AND PRODUCTS, 2.16 Division 26 – Electrical.

31) Are the track lights in the ceiling of Kitchen 100 to be reused? No, the track lighting is to be taken down. Reuse the same lighting circuit but replace the track lighting with two LED troffer lights and install them in the suspended ceiling as follows: Install two white integrated LED flat Panel Troffer Light Fixture at 4000 lumens or better, 2 ft x 4 ft, Commercial grade, selectable color temperature, dimmable. Replace light switch with a dimmable wall switch. Submittals required.