36C26024R0074 AE 663-24-102_Questions and Answers.docx

Pre-solicitation Notice Questions and Answers:

1.

Q: Scope of work section 4.a states “All existing patient and support spaces will need to be completely remodeled to comply with PACT requirements”. Please provide additional information about the scope of the remodel. Is this limited to the areas referenced in the scope of work section 1, totaling 700 square feet, or are there additional spaces?

A: The statement is limited to the areas referenced in the scope of work section 1. Part of the intended engineering work will be determining the exact extent of the required remodel, however, it is known that the current reverse osmosis machine and chemical storage rooms will require extensive remodeling. There will be some work in the interstitial spaces and each patient bay in order to replace the sterile water loop.

2.

Q: Scope of work section 4.d states “The A/E shall be responsible for coordination and cost required to have a field service engineer/commissioning agent from the reverse-osmosis system vendor present during the commissioning of the new reverse osmosis system.” Is it the intent of this solicitation for the A/E firm to carry out the contract to supply the reverse osmosis system? Is the A/E firm supposed to manage the contract for the field engineer / commissioning agent supplied by the equipment vender? Or is the intent just for the A/E to coordinate the representative being there?

A: The intention is for the supply of the reverse osmosis system to ultimately be the responsibility of the construction contractor. The intent at large is for the A/E to assist somewhat in selection of a reverse osmosis system vendor and subsequently ensure the generated designs are adequate for the needs of said system, in this case also ensuring that a representative of the system vendor is there at the time of commissioning.

3.

Q: Scope of work section 5 references including civil engineering, however based on the scope description there does not appear to be a need for Civil Engineering. Please clarify.

A: This language was generally meant as a boiler plate to mean “all engineering necessary for the generation of a complete set of construction plans”. If it is the determination of the A/E that no civil engineering will be required for these remodels, then you are free to ignore it.

4.

Q: Scope of work section 6 references asbestos drawings and requires that the A/E firm fully coordinate drawings for all asbestos abatement and related restoration work. Has the building completed a hazardous building material survey (HBMS)? If so, can it be provided?

A: We do have a hazardous material survey maintained by our industrial hygiene group. The last survey was fully completed in 2010 with an updated materials survey expected sometime roughly before the end of this fiscal year. We should be able to share such survey data with the contracted A/E firm.

5.

Q: Scope of work item 12 references completing the work in Autodesk Revit. Do any existing Revit models of the building exist that can be provided? If not Revit, do any existing CAD or PDF drawings of the building exist?

A: The Seattle VA maintains active PDF and DWG files of each of its buildings. We should be able to share said files as part of the design process. While we try to maintain the files to the best of our accuracy and ability, please bear in mind that it remains the responsibility of the A/E contractor to verify the accuracy of any measurements or contents necessary for their design.

6.

Q: Scope of work section 13 references having a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) or Physical Security Professional (PSP) on the A/E team with demonstrated knowledge and experience applying security strategies, such as the application of CPTED ballistic and forced entry requirements, and electronic security system design. Please provide additional information regarding the need for a CPP/PSP on the project team. Please provide expected scope of work for the CPP/PSP.

A: The expected scope of work for a CPP/PSP is largely regarding secure access door controls. In this case, we expect the remodeled spaces to house not only sensitive equipment (the reverse osmosis system) but also hazardous chemicals (acidic/basic solutions necessary to the generation of sterile water/dialysis treatment) and as such we will require at least doors and access controls aimed at preventing patients and unauthorized personnel from gaining access to these rooms.

7.

Q: Submission requirements state that all joint ventures must be SBA certified. Do all subconsultants contracted to the awarded A/E firm need to be SBA certified? If so, is there a threshold where that is no longer required such as for the smaller scope?

A: The prime contractor must adhere to selection criteria 1, specifically that that the SDVOSB prime contractor will not pay more than 50% of the amount paid by the government to the prime for contract performance to firms that are not certified SDVOSBs by the Small Business Association's Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) in compliance of VA Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) 852.219-75." Once those changes are made its good to post.