S05 - RFIs and Responses.pdf

Project: 554-21-704 EHRM NextGen Wi-Fi

RFIs and Responses

1. Will a site visit be offered?

A: Yes, a site visit was held on 12/12/2023 @ 10 AM MT.

2. Is conduit required the entire length (WAP location to IT closet) of the newly installed cable runs?

A: Yes, the entire length must be installed in a raceway – either conduit or cable tray

3. Is there a specific cable/jack color to be utilized?

A: No white will work

4. Is there existing rack space in the IT closets for patch panels as needed?

A: Yes, space within a rack is available and the successful offeror will be provided direction as to which rack and space to install the patch panels.

5. Do you require horizontal management to be added for the addition of patch panels?

A: Yes, cables must be installed and managed / finished / into the cable tray or conduit within the Telecom Rooms the Wi-Fi Access Points (WAP) are required to connect to.

6. Are Cable to be plenum rated?

A: Yes, all cable must be plenum rated.

7. Will the VA clarify terms required for bonding as there is conflicting information in the SF1442?

In Box 10 of the SF1442 it mentions the need to deliver a hard copy of the bond, however in Box 12a No is selected for if the contractor must furnish a bond. Even further, Box 12b states that the contractor must deliver the bond within 10 days despite Box 12a stating one is not needed?

A: Yes, there is a discrepancy on purpose. If your proposal exceeds $150,000.00 include appropriate bonds.

8. Are conduit paths expected to be ran to each AP location?

A: Yes, a raceway is required full length of new cable runs unless existing pathway is available.

See response to Question above regarding conduit / cable tray / raceway required full path from WAP to Telecom Room.

9. Is contractor expected to connect to existing conduit to route paths to AP locations?

A: Where existing conduit has capacity for additional cable contractor is expected to install the wire within existing conduit. See plans for locations that have a conduit or cable tray pathway.

10. What will AP’s mount to?

A: Mounting varies from underside of slabs to modular ceiling grid depending on location.

11. Will Conduit be mounted to the wall or Ceiling?

A: Conduit may be surface mounted to the wall or ceiling in back of house spaces such as Penthouse locations. Surface mount is not permitted in clinical, office, hallway, and other spaces where patients or clinical staff and office spaces exist.

12. Is the Ceiling Hard lid, concrete or T grid?

A: Ceilings in Penthouse locations are the underside of roof slabs. Ceilings in all other spaces are modular ceiling tile.

13. Given the date compression from the site visit, to questions due, Q&A watch, and the proposal due date almost immediately after holiday travel, will the Government please provide an extension of at least 3 business days?

A: An extension has been granted and proposals will now be due at 10:00 AM MT on January 2, 2024.

14. Can the government provide the as-built drawings that show the existing conduit runs?

A: Government is providing 8 drawings showing all the available as-built conditions we have.

15. Can the government provide the cutsheets for the AP’s?

A: The existing APs are Cisco AIR-AP2802I-B-K9

16. Can the government confirm is all wall or ceiling brackets are being provided by the government?

A: Government is NOT providing wall or ceiling brackets. These shall be the responsibility of the contractor to provide.

17. Can the government confirm if new CAT-6A patch panels will need to be installed or will the vendor be utilizing existing CAT-6A panels?

A: CAT-6A patch panels do not exist within the existing Telecom Rooms the WAPs are required to connect to. New CAT-6A patch panels are to be provided by the Contractor. See question above regarding rack space for the new patch panels.

18. The SOW provided with the Solicitation indicates that the “Access Points will be provided by the VA…” No information concerning the brand, size, weight, installation instructions, etc. was included in the Solicitation. Please provide the Product Data Sheets and Installation Instructions for the VA provided Access Points.

A: See above for cut sheets for the WAPs.

19. The SOW provided with the Solicitation indicates that the “Access Points will be provided by the VA, however biscuit jacks, jumpers, and mounting brackets/hardware to be provided by contractor.” The “mounting brackets/hardware” usually comes in the box with the Access Points.

Please confirm the mounting brackets and hardware will be supplied with the VA provided Access Points.

A: Mounting brackets and hardware will be supplied by the Contractor and are not necessarily provided in the box with the WAPs.

20. During the Site Walk, it was pointed out that the AP locations had been marked with “stickers”, however several of these stickers could not be located. Please confirm the AP locations on the drawings can be used for accurate cable length take-off.

A: Yes, contractor may rely on locations in the drawings for take-off of required cable length, with appropriate allowance for slack and waste, and for maximum 300-meter length of cable.

21. During the Site Walk, it was discussed that in some areas the structural decking above could not be safely accessed because of the existing ductwork, piping, conduit, etc. Please confirm that wall mounting the APs below the existing obstructions will be acceptable.

A: Where the VA COR concurs, the space is congested and roof / ceiling mount is impractical. In such locations, where wall mount is practical, wall mount will be approved. This is not indicated in the drawings and will be addressed during construction on a case-by-case basis by mutual agreement between the Contractor and the Government.

22. What is the preferred manufacturer for cabling? Current system appears to be AMP. Would Uniprise be acceptable?

A: CAT 6A cable meeting all requirements of CAT 6A and the specifications will be accepted.

The brand name to be supplied is not a requirement of the Government.

23. Who is responsible for providing and installing patch cords?

A: All cable including patch cords is to be provided and installed by the Contractor.

24. If the contractor is responsible for providing and installing patch cords, what lengths and quantities are required?

A: Contractor is required to identify required lengths and quantities, and to install patch cords meeting the Specifications and the CAT 6A standards, sufficient to provide full connectivity of the new WAPs with the existing VA network.

25. It was discussed on the walk that the cable should be in basket tray in the interstitial space and conduit outside of the interstitial space. Is this a true statement?

A: Cable must be in a raceway either conduit or cable tray. If existing conduit or cable tray is indicated on the drawings, the Contractor may rely on the pathway being present either in conduit or cable tray. If it is not indicated, Contractor is to provide. Existing pathways may occur in spaces in addition to the interstitial and may not be available on the required path and limited length of cable, within all the interstitial spaces. Contractor may rely on the drawings as to where the existing raceway exists.

26. It was discussed on the walk that cable tray drawings and the most recent as-builts could be provided to assist pricing. Please provide the as-built drawings, depicting the cable tray locations.

A: See above response. 8 drawings showing all available as-built information regarding cable tray are being provided.

27. Can it be confirmed that the cabling is to be a single category 6A cable to each WAP?

A: Confirming a single CAT 6A cable is sufficient for the data connection to each WAP.

28. What kind of WAP mounts are included with the device?

A: There may be WAP mounts in the boxes provided with the WAP but that is not guaranteed.

Contractors are to assume they provide mounts capable of supporting the WAP, attaching to the required substrate (either wall or ceiling or under-slab), and meeting the requirements to provide secure mounting of the WAPs.

29. Will 24-port panels be acceptable in the Telecom rooms for the new cabling, or would 48-port panels be preferred?

A: 24 port is acceptable

30. Will the contractor need to provide wire management for the new panels?

A: Wire management between new patch panels and cable tray or other raceway is required to be provided by the contractor.

31. It was discussed on the walk that some areas may need ICRA level 1 or 2. What kind of containment does the VA require at these levels?

A: ICRA containment is spelled out in detail in the draft ICRA permit provided with the solicitation.

32. What is the badging process at the VA?

A: See attached for the VA badging process.

33. It was mentioned that new sleeves may be required entering the closets. Is it known where these sleeves would be required?

A: There may be locations where existing pathways into the Telecom Rooms are full or at capacity. In such cases new sleeves will be required to be provided by the Contractor. The contractor may assume that at least 50% of the existing Telecom Rooms do not require new sleeves.

34. Box 13b of the Solicitation indicates that a “Offer Guarantee” is not required. Box 10 has a note “bid bond (if > $150,000)”? Please confirm, no Bid Bond is required.

A: Please refer to question 7.

35. Will new WAP’s be cabled to an existing patch panel, or will new patch panels need to be provided?

A: New patch panels meeting requirements of the CAT 6A data standard are required to be provided, installed, connected, and tested by the contractor.

36. Will there be 1 or 2 cables required to be provided per WAP?

A: See question above – one data cable is required.

37. Can they provide mounting specs per their specific WAP?

A: Manufacturer cut sheet was provided in response to a question above. Contractor is required to meet the manufacturer’s installation requirements for specification and mounting requirements.

38. Will all WAP’s be surface mounted on a wall?

A:No, some are wall mount, and some are ceiling grid mount and some are mounted in the under slab of the ceiling slab. See above questions and responses as well as the plans and specs regarding mounting requirements at various locations.