S05 - RFI Questions - Second Group - FHM VA ANSWERS_FE.docx

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

Lead Based Paint and Garage Upgrades Questions

Q&A No 1: Spec Section 02 83 33 1.7C.D indicates to require a CIH for air monitoring and testing. Past projects at Ft. Harrison have allowed contractors not to require a CIH. They are expensive and hard to retain. Please confirm this requirement.

Answer No.1: YES – Please follow the VA TIL requirements. As per the VA TIL:

Certified Industrial Hygienist: Certified as CIH by American Board of Industrial Hygiene in comprehensive practice and responsible for:

Certify Training.

Review and approve lead-based paint removal plan for conformance to applicable referenced standards.

Inspect lead-based paint removal work for conformance with approved plan.

Direct monitoring.

Ensure work is performed according to specifications.

Ensure personnel and environment hazardous exposures are adequately controlled.

Containment and disposal of all material must also follow all VA TIL and State / Federal EPA regulations for disposal and documentation. VA COR will be escalating the abatement-related RFI’s to the National Compliance Engineer for clarification which may take some time – please include the VA TIL requirements as part of your estimate.

Q&A No 2: Spec Section 02 83 33 1.6 indicates that constant air monitoring is required. Please confirm if this is a requirement and if so, is a CIH required to approve that task?

Answer No.2: Continuous air monitoring relates to the work environment for the personnel conducting the job. Appropriate PPE and air monitoring as per EPA and OSHA regulations need to be utilized.

0. DEFINITIONS

0. Area Monitoring: Sampling of lead concentrations within lead control area and inside physical boundaries which are representative of airborne lead concentrations which may reach breathing zone of personnel potentially exposed to lead.

Q&A No 3: Spec Section 02 83 33 1.6 E-3 – Is a ABIH CIH certification required for this project?

Answer No.3: Yes, please follow the VA TIL requirements when estimating the project.

Q&A No 4: Solicitation references assumptions of lead-based paint. Has there been any testing for asbestos? Please provide hazardous materials report?

Answer No.4: VA does not have a comprehensive HazMat report for the garage buildings. We can assume that materials typical of construction at the time the garages were built, such as asbestos glazing for the window sealants, is likely present (Bldgs. 144-145-146 were built in 1932; Bldg. 604 was built in 1942)

Q&A No 5: Scope of work indicates “Abatement and removal of exterior painted fascia, trim, and soffit material”. Siding is not called out to be removed. Please clarify.

Answer No.5: Yes, please remove the siding and replace it with the same style wood material. Paint it to match existing. We will not be installing metal for Bldg. 604 exterior due to SHPO requirements

Q&A No 6: Scope of Work indicates that new building trim to match existing style and configuration as required by the Montana State Historical Preservation Office and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Review of section 106 indicates that the Federal Agency to “identify and assess the effects of work on buildings”. Please confirm the VA has submitted the solicitation SOW to SHPO and has approval from SHPO. If not please confirm that any deviation/Change that SHPO makes to the SOW plan will be treated as a differing site condition/change order

Answer No.6: We are in the process of submitting to SHPO and are awaiting response

Q&A No 7: Scope of Work (Building 604) indicates to provide new gutters, soffits, and downspouts. Please provide specification for these materials? (i.e. size of d gutter, material composition, etc.)

Answer No.7: Use metal gutters of the same size as the existing gutters (they are similar to residential gutters)

Q&A No.8: Scope of Work (Building 604) indicates to replace Two (2) windows with fixed glazed windows. Rail, stile, and mullions are to match the existing lite size and elevation composition. What type of window is required? Wood, Aluminum, Vinyl? Are windows to be insulated? Please provide specification for window requirements.

Answer No.8: Replace with Aluminum windows that match the existing style. Windows should be sealed and insulated typical of modern construction

Q&A No 9: SOW for Buildings 144,145, and 146 indicates to remove components where wood decay or similar detritus is present. Due to the unknown extent or presence of wood decay “the low responsive bidder will provide an hourly time and material rate for remediation.”

a. Who determines the amount of material removal – General and Carpentry contractors with VA COR

b. Is this item to be provided at the time of bid or after award? There does not seem to be a location in bid documents for hourly rates. Please clarify.

Answer No.9: The SOW has been amended to remove that statement; We will treat any damage that is discovered as an unforeseen site condition.

Q&A No 10: SOW for Buildings 144,145, and 146 indicates that abatement and removal of all Fourteen (14) existing window system frames and associated lites, sills, glazing putty, sealants and paint around each opening. Dispose of with assumption of lead-based paint presence. Has there been asbestos testing completed on these windows (Specifically Asbestos Caulking)? Please provide hazardous materials report.

Answer No.10: VA does not have a comprehensive HazMat report for the garage buildings. We can assume that materials typical of construction at the time the garages were built, such as asbestos glazing for the window sealants, is likely present (Bldgs. 144-145-146 were built in 1932; Bldg. 604 was built in 1942)

Q&A No 11: Please confirm that VA wants to salvage hardware.

Answer No.11: Yes please salvage hardware and provide to the VA COR

Q&A No 12: SOW for Buildings 144, 145, and 146 indicates Installation of new sectional and insulated metal garage doors and associated hardware. Garage doors must have individual locking mechanisms that can accept BEST 7-pin core. Please provide specification for garage doors.

Answer No.12: Updated SOW – replace with sectional metal doors and paint to match existing aesthetic

Q&A No 13: SOW for Buildings 144,145, and 146 indicates “removal of existing roofing, and replacement with standing seam metal roofing that closely matches existing aesthetic” Currently there is rolled roofing on existing structures.

a. What are we matching? SEE BELOW

b. Please provide standing seam roofing specification. SEE BELOW

c. Please confirm the existing roof has enough slope for a standing seam roof. If not please provide a detail to increase the roof slope. SEE BELOW

Answer No.13: SEE AMENDED SOW – Replace roofing with the same system and material as the existing roofing

Q&A No 14: Are there any ICRA requirements for the project?

Answer No.14: No – stated in PCRA

Q&A No 15: Reference the SOW for B604 and Garages 144, 145, 146. “Containment and removal of all contaminated soil and/or hazardous material from the site, and documentation of the disposal destination and method as required by US DEC, EPA, and/or Montana DEQ. With out hazardous material report and recommendations there is no way to accurately price this requirement. Please provide the quantity of contaminated soil removal for each building.

Answer No.15: Will need to be determined by soil sampling – standard is 6 inches deep x 6 feet from perimeter

Q&A No 16: Building 604 scope is calling for (6) receptacles to be installed using existing panel. Do breaker(s) need to be provided by contractor?

Answer No.16: Yes

Q&A No 17: Please clarify number of circuits to be used to power receptacles and lighting for building 604.

Answer No.17: This depends on the number of unused circuits in the existing panel; dedicate each circuit if space allows

Q&A No 18: Building 604 Scope calls for “installation of a single exterior LED outdoor light fixture” and then goes on to say, “supply circuit switch to be located near the inside of each garage door”. Please clarify if a single fixture is to be mounted on the front of building 604, controlled by a three-way switch, or if the intent is to have a fixture above each door (2 total) controlled by individual single pole switches.

Answer No.18: Place a fixture above each door with single pole switches for each (2 total). Locate the switch box on the wall between the doors

Q&A No 19: Building 144, 145, and 146 Scope is calling for “receptacles on each side of the garage exterior (1 front, 1 rear, 28 total)”. Should the total of exterior receptacles be 6, or does the VA intend to put a receptacle on the front and back of each bay vs. each building?

Answer No.19: The SOW calls for receptacle INSIDE each bay, one in the front, one in the back

Q&A No 20: If the intent is to install an outdoor receptacle front and back of each bay, building 144 will have (28) added receptacles and (35) added light fixtures. Please clarify number of circuits intended to be used to power receptacles and lights for buildings 144, 145, and 146

Answer No.20: This will need to be determined by the awarded contractor’s electrical subcontractor

Q&A No 21: Do exterior fixtures need to meet any requirements of the Historic Preservation Act? If so, please provide spec of fixture to be used for building 144, 145, and 146.

Answer No.21: Submitting this for review with SHPO – please provide estimate that includes the fixtures, and if not approved, it will be descoped. It is not expected to be an issue, particularly due to Safety & Security concerns near the area of Freedom’s Path

Q&A No 22: Will mounting of a fixture and drilling through fascia above garage doors violate any part of the Historic Preservation Act for building 144, 145, and 146?

Answer No.22: Submitting this for review with SHPO – please provide estimate that includes fixtures and if not approved, it will be descoped. It is not expected to be an issue due to Safety & Security concerns near the area of Freedom’s Path

Q&A No 23: If quantity of desired circuits is not available in existing panels, should a sub panel be added or should circuits be combined to distribute existing and added loads across existing and available circuits?

Answer No.23: Subpanels should be added to handle expected electrical loads (20 A single pole 115 VAC)