Answers to RFRs 3.06.2026.pdf

RFR 554-26-101 Reslope Shower Floors in Bldg. H&K Patient Rooms

Question 1 about logistics: - Unit Access: Will unit access be coordinated in advance of the NTP for planning purposes (e.g., ensuring three units are available at one time during the period of performance, depending on the floor/area)?

Unit availability is highly dependent on patient census in the various wards and specifics may not be available in advance of NTP. The COR will be working closely with the wards and the Contractor to determine availability and scheduling. Please see posted amendment for additional room availability details.

Question 2- - Dumpsters: Are there approved staging areas for dumpsters?

The COR and Contractor will need to coordinate a dumpster location with the medical center dock manager. A dumpster will likely be co-located in the dock area.

Question 3- Storage: Where are the approved areas for storage containers?

The specifications included in the solicitation package provide details on material deliveries and waste management. Generally there is limited space available at the RMR VA for storage containers. The bathroom worksite may be a storage option (dependent on ward), a small storage area in a penthouse may also be available for a lockbox and/or material storage, and floorspace for 1-3 neatly stacked pallets may be available along the service level below the concourse.

Question 4 - Material Staging: What are the guidelines for the staging of materials within rooms or units?

See response to question 3.

Question 5- - Sanitation: Is there an approved area for a port-o-let?

Please refer to the Specifications attachment in the solicitation package.

Question 6 -Reference 01 45 00 3.4B & 01 45 00 3.1: Confirm if the Onsite Superintendent can cover the role of Quality Control Manager.

Yes, the Superintendent may also serve as QCM provided proper qualifications are met.

Question 7-Reference 01 35 26: Confirm that Onsite Superintendent can cover safety role as long as qualifications are met.

Yes, the Superintendent may also serve as Safety provided proper qualifications are met.

Question 8-Reference : Spec 01 00 00, Confirm that main work can be completed during normal business hours. After hours work is limited to shutdowns and tie in work.

Please see Section 18 of the Statement of Work.

Question 9- Reference Phasing: Confirm how many rooms can be worked in at a given time and if there is any specific phasing requirements.

Please see amended solicitation package, Section 26 has been revised and should provide a little more clarity.

Question 10- Reference : Duration :

Please review new SOW period of performance revised to be 365 calendar days from NTP.

Question 11 Tax: Confirm if this project will be exempt of tax.

Yes, VA will provide certificate.

Question 12: Rooms 05-02-RAR1-03 AND 05-03-RHR1-03, shown on SOW Attachment A show the

Approximate Length in these rooms as 5’5” & 1’10” and 5’0”& 2’4” respectively; during the site visit we were NOT shown these rooms. Please provide a further explanation of the lengths provided.

See Attachment Drawings, sheet 15 zone C-4 & sheet 16 zone D-13. These two rooms have trench drains in two parts to accommodate structural beams.

Question 13:The new crack-suppression single component self-curing waterproofing membrane, see

Typical Details 4 and 8 on drawing sheet 04-GI-001, does not show this membrane to be applied on lower portion of the walls behind the cove base. The existing waterproof membrane is shown lining the lower portion of the wall. Does VA want the new membrane to be coated on any portion of the wall and if so to what extent?

No, the VA does not have an expectation of the membrane to coat up the wall. Some available waterproofing products appear to allow for the crack-suppression membrane to be installed to the edge of the cove base tile and overlap/underlap existing crack-suppression membrane as much as possible with the waterproof membrane coating the joint and continuing to the existing cove base tile edge.

Question 14:Typical Detail 6 on drawing sheet 04-GI-001, does not show a mortar base for the ceramic tile and new tile edging; should this show a mortar base, or will contractors be required to demo concrete flooring and possibly reinforcing to achieve the proper slope of the new floor?

Contractors should expect an existing mortar base ranging in thickness from ¼” to ¾”. Tile bathrooms will likely require some concrete demo to achieve proper slope. Resinous bathrooms will definitely require concrete demo to achieve proper slope.

Question 15:Typical Detail 6 on drawing sheet 04-GI-001, is the only detail showing reinforcement in the concrete floor what is the depth of any reinforcing in any of the concrete floors where work is required?

How many layers of reinforcing are there and what materials are is each layer made of?

See new Attachment D for floor detail.

Question 16: In ceramic tile areas when the cove base is removed and replaced it will likely be at a lower elevation, due to adjustments to the slope of the shower floors – how does VA want contractors to address this elevation change, especially where the trench drain is shown adjacent to the cove base?

Correction: the VA is not expecting cove base to be removed and replaced. That said, the elevation question is still applicable. Instances should be handled on a case-by-case basis but in a previous similar project the VA has seen minor elevation differences that could be managed by spacing the grout or angling the trench drain.

Question 17: We were told during the site visit that an amendment would be issued addressing a reduced performance period – from 730 calendar to approximately 365 calendar days. Given other constraints on this project – see paragraph 26.0 Period of Performance on page 16 or 128:

Please review the amended solicitation, Section 26.

Question 18: Period of performance including lead time for materials and submittals: 730 calendar days from NTP. The period of performance duration reflects the possible challenges of getting rooms available and the Contractor can anticipate having 1 to 4 rooms available for shower floor slope repair at any given time (one room each on H1, H2, H3, K2, and K3, depending on patient census). Site availability may prevent full-time hours and work may be variable and will dependent on project needs and timelines.

Please review the Final SOW with revised POP to 365 days.

Question 19: Will VA be able to release more than 1-4 rooms at a time, and will VA release more than 1 room per floor for work? Without knowing how many rooms will be made available at any one time and when it will be very difficult if not impossible to determine what will be required to complete the work within the performance period on the Project (the reasonableness of the performance period). Further, without knowing what rooms will be available and when -- no contractor will be able to comply with the requirements of Specification Section 01 32 16.15 Project Schedules. At the very least work schedules should be generated only after VA provides specific locations and dates when such areas will be made available to contractors. How much notice will contractors be given that specific shower rooms are available for work?

Please review the amended solicitation, SOW Section 26 and revised example schedule. The contractor can expect to have a minimum of three rooms available for construction effort once construction has started. The COR will be in continuous contact with the various wards to maintain the pace of available rooms for the contractor.

While it is true that a room-specific schedule is impossible for a Contractor to generate and strictly follow, a submitted schedule should provide the COR a wealth of information even if the specifics of the room number have not been determined. The example schedule provided in the solicitation is only an estimate for work-duration per bathroom, if the Contractor has a different timeline this schedule submission will communicate that. Furthermore the submitted schedule will provide information for Contractor intentions such as procurement timelines, submittal deadlines, work activities, cost loading, and contractor availability, to name a few.

Question 20:When patient rooms are released to contractors will the entire room be available as a work area for the contractor to stockpile product for that shower floor work and for tile cutting etc.?

Generally yes, though some areas, like H2, may necessitate turning over an entire quadrant/pod to the contractor to maintain security perimeters so in some specific instances/circumstances, the adjacent hallway may also be available. Utilizing a room for material stockpile is acceptable until the floor repair is completed and the room is turned back over to the medical center.

Question 21: Can you provide the thickness of the concrete floors in each building and each floor? Also please provide the thickness of the mortar base beneath the ceramic tile.

The mortar base is expected to vary from ¼” to ¾” thick. See new Attachment D for floor detail.