S05 - QNA (Replace Electrical Panels).pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS VHA Network Contracting Office 19 Rocky Mountain Acquisition Center 6162 South Willow Drive, Suite 300

Greenwood Village, CO 80111

CONTRACTOR Q&A’s

Replace Electrical Panels

Q&A No 1: It refers in the scope of work that the electrical engineer will evaluate Arch flash study and provide for considerations for this application and submit remediation requirements as needed. Whose scope should the arch flash study be under the EC or the GC?

Answer No.1: General Contractor

Q&A No 2: Will the hired electrical engineer under the CG by confirming the circuits and a balanced load per this scope of work?

Answer No.2: YES

Q&A No 3: In order to change out the existing panel from 30 space panels to 42 space panels the whole back can will need to be replaced. Can the GC cover the removing the entire sheet rock face from that wall to expose both those panels and the conduits that are feeding out of them?

Answer No.3: YES

Q&A No 4: I will need additional pictures or information about the motor control spare parts needed for this project. Can I get another walk through to visually get the information needed to replace these parts?

Answer No.4: See response for Q&A No. 6.

Q&A No.5: Advanced utility metering questions:

• What type of monitoring is needed? Amperage? voltage? Phase monitoring?

• Where do you want the monitoring located?

• Should it be in the new panel or the existing feed breaker location?

• Does it need a monitor at the new panel location?

• What is the existing building automation?

• What type of digital signal does the existing building automation need?

• Is the intent of the advanced utility metering system to meter all circuits on all new panels, or to meter the main panel DEE that serves all new panels?

• Will the new meter(s) be required to be pulled into the existing BMS system or will a new

Schneider Electric Power Monitoring Expert server need to be provided as a part of this scope?

• What measurements will the meter(s) need to capture? (ie. any power quality data)

• Will the data need to be trended?

• Where is the BAS cabinet located for tying in the advanced utility metering system?

Answer No.5: This is a project that requires an electrical engineer. Therefore, the Electrical Engineer makes project decisions and chooses the approach for this project. Once these decisions are made the Electrical Engineer sends submittals regarding the issues listed above to the COR for approval.

Q&A No 6: Confirmation of correct wire size feeding the panels as well as branch circuit wire sizes. This can be done during the panel change out, but the cost will need to be evaluated at that time and cannot be estimated at bid time because we have no idea of how many wires need to be changed out and the location of the equipment. Please provide any information regarding the wire size feeding panels as well as branch circuit sizes.

Answer No.6: Additional walk through may be required which will be coordinated after award during the pre-construction meeting.

Q&A No 7: Removal of all cloth covered wiring circuits. This cannot be estimated at bid time because we have no idea of how many wires need to be changed out and the location of the equipment. Is this a question we should ask or just figure worst case scenario?

Answer No.7: See the response for Q&A No.31.

Q&A No.8: Please confirm all work will need to be completed after hours or weekends? needs to be done in the affected area will need to be done at night or weekends due to the disruption needed to do the work and to trace the circuitry.

Answer No.8: Confirmed, night work and weekend work are required for this project.

Q&A No.9: The period of performance of 90 days from notice to proceed will not give us enough time to procure the materials needed for the job. Can this time frame be negotiated? Being this is buy American this will slow the process more.

Answer No.9: The Period of Performance starts when the performance notice to proceed (NTP) has been issued. Thus, all lead time related issues on materials will be discussed after award during the pre-construction meeting for appropriate administrative lead time required, and the admin NTP will be issued accordingly.

Q&A No.10: Alternate 1 panel change out is in a room without the correct working clearances for an electrical panel. How do we maintain the proper working clearances for this panel?

Answer No.10: See response for Q&A No.20, and 34.

Q&A No.11: Commissioning of the electronic grounding. Metering, bonding, and backup generator of the system when completed. Please confirm this is required given the feed breakers are not being changed.

Since we are not changing out the feed breakers just providing spare parts is this testing necessary?

Answer No.11: See response for Q&A No.27 (i.e., The breakers are being changed therefore the Commissioning of the electronic grounding. Metering, bonding, and backup generator of the system when completed).

Q&A No.12: Do you want me to carry a performance bond on this work?

Answer No.12: Payment & Performance bonds are required. Refer to Solicitation page 1 of the SF1442, section 12.a. Additionally, refer to Solicitation, Section 4.7, Clause 52.228-15.

Q&A No.13: Will specialty retail wallboard be provided and installed by the contractor?

Answer No.13: YES

Q&A No.14: Will we need the following trades: steel stud framing, drywall, tape and plaster, paint, doors and frames, lockset, and electrical?

Answer No.14: YES

Q&A No.15: Can the existing lighting remain?

Answer No.15: NO, new LED lights on a switch near the doorway needs to be included in the bid proposal.

Q&A No.16: Will there be specs for the mechanical closet? (Concern, make up air for space)

Answer No.16: NO

Q&A No.17: Will there be FA requirements for this space, if so, is there room on the existing FA panel?

Answer No.17: The Electrical Engineer will make this determination.

Q&A No.18: If needed, can there be scheduled times when the power is turned off during the day?

Answer No.18: NO

Q&A No.19: Please provide light specification in the new electrical room?

Answer No.19: Litetronics 2’ x 2’ LED RF Panel, 36W, 4000K. Item #1747409

Q&A No.20: The existing panel called out in alternate one does not have the correct working clearances by code. Please provide proposed layout per code.

Answer No.20: Use existing working clearances to set the new panel.

Q&A No.21: Will an updated bid schedule be provided to show the base bid and alternate 1? Is the alternate deductive or add?

Answer No.21: The panel in the kitchen is neither a deduct or add alternate. . The panel in the kitchen is part of the base bid. Thus, the SOW has been corrected and the word “alternate” has been removed and replaced with “kitchen”.

Q&A No.22: Can one person employed by the GC be the SSHO and QCM?

Answer No.22: YES, with the proper qualifications for each position.

Q&A No.23: Please indicate if design submissions are required (50%, 100%, etc.). Recommend no design submissions; work to be completed off SOW only (prepared by licensed electrical engineer).

Electrical engineer to provide CAD as-builts upon completion.

Answer No.23: Design submissions are not required. The SOW clearly states that as-builts will be required, Refer to SOW, AS-Built Drawings section.

Q&A No.24: SOW pg.7 states “change orders will not be issued for increases to contract price.” Please confirm that if there is an unforeseen condition, out of scope requirement, or owners request, that a change order will be issued.

Answer No.24: The sentence stating that change orders will not be issued for increases to contract price has been removed and the SOW has been updated. Change orders are done in accordance with the changes clauses 52.243-4, and 852.243-70.

Q&A No.25: Please provide ICRA.

Answer No.25: Please reference attachment (i.e., ICRA 2.0 – template approved by CSC March 2022.Patriot Store Panel Replacement (002).pdf)

Q&A No.26: Has a fault current/coordination study/Arc flash study been conducted for the facility? If so, does the study include the panels that are part of scope for this project. Is the SKM model available

Answer No.26: There isn’t a current completed Arc/Flash study for the facility. The newest study is due to be complete the Spring of 2023.

Q&A No.27: Appendix F of the scope of work lists commissioning of the grounding and backup generator power upon completion. Please confirm that commissioning of these systems is part of the scope for this project. If included, please provide commissioning requirements

Answer No.27: Per the Statement of Work, Appendix F, last bullet point, commissioning is required.

Please reference S02 – SPECS (ELECTRICAL PANELS) 436-24-101, Section 26 08 00 “Commissioning of Electrical Systems”. Please reference the Electrical Design Manual Section 4.3 Commissioning.

Q&A No.28: SOW Appendix F states that contractor is to provide (3) spare motor control breakers.

Appendix E shows a picture of the spare motor control breakers but is blurry (make & model cannot be determined). Please specify make and model of spare motor control breakers to be provided.

Answer No.28:

This project requires an electrical engineer for this purpose, the Electrical Engineer makes decisions and chooses the approach for this project.

Q&A No.29: SOW calls for contractor to provide (3) spare motor control breakers. Is any other spare equipment required as part of this project?

Answer No.29: NO

Q&A No.30: SOW Appendix F states “Confirmation of the correct wire size feeding the panels as well as branch circuit wire sizes”. Wire sizes cannot be determined per solicitation documents without intrusive investigation prior to bid. Recommend VA provide allowance for all bidders to carry for wire replacement or treat as unforeseen site condition. This will allow each contractor to bid the same scope.

Answer No.30: Refer to Q&A No.6. Additionally, the Contractor is responsible to quote as accurately as possible if there are unforeseen wiring issues after award this will fall under unforeseen site conditions.

Q&A No.31: SOW Appendix F calls for demolition/replacement of any cloth covered wires. There is no way to determine which wires are cloth covered per solicitation documents without intrusive investigation prior to bid. Recommend VA provide allowance for all bidders to carry for wire replacement or treat as an unforeseen site condition. This will allow each contractor to bid the same scope.

Answer No.31: Refer to Q&A No.7, Additionally, the Contractor is responsible to quote as accurately as possible if there are unforeseen wiring issues after award this will fall under unforeseen site conditions

Q&A No.32: SOW states “working nights and/or weekends may be necessary to facilitate the continuous operation of services throughout the project”. Please confirm that all work must be completed during nights or weekends.

Answer No.32: Refer to Q&A No.8. Confirmed

Q&A No.33: 90-day POP will likely be insufficient considering current lead times on material. Will VA issue admin NTP for procurement of panels?

Answer No.33: Refer to Q&A No.9 (i.e., Administrative NTP by the contracting officer).

Q&A No.34: Panel 106-A (alternate 1) currently does not have proper working clearances. Please confirm that it is acceptable to replace panel without meeting proper working clearance requirements.

Answer No.34: Refer to Q&A No.20. Confirmed

Q&A No.35: Can another site visit be setup?

Answer No.35: No

Q&A No.36: Please specify existing camera system vendor.

Answer No.36: Security cameras are in the process of being bid out at this time, therefore we don’t have a particular vendors name. The task is not complex so that any vendor should be able to provide pricing to relocate one camera to another location inside the Patriot store.

Q&A No.37: Please indicate if authorized vendor is required to work on existing camera system.

Answer No.37: Security cameras are in the process of being bid out at this time. The vendor is not known at this time.

Q&A No.38: SOW calls for “relocation/replacement of a camera”. Please clarify. Is a new camera required, or does the existing camera only need to be relocated?

Answer No.38: The camera will need to be relocated across the room inside the Patriot store.