S02- 36C26025R0015_Amendment 2 Attachment 1- RFIs fully answered.docx

RFI questions for 648-20-117

1. SOW (solicitation attachment 1) directs “These routes whether access or egress, shall be isolated from the construction areas, by temporary partitions and have walking surfaces, lighting etc. to facilitate both patient and staff access” however there is nothing indicated on the drawings. Based on the above directions, please provide the following information.

· The number of entrances/access points the VA expects to have covered? See drawings for areas of access and egress.

· Are those expected to be installed in interior areas? Yes

· Where are those expected to be installed for ingress/egress doors? In areas where construction will occur near an access/egress point.

· Provide the length, height and width required for each covered area? Coordinate dimensions with COR.

· The source of power proximity for the requested lighting at each location? Source of power will be located within warehouse. Junction boxes and receptacles located within proximity of construction areas.

· The specifics for lighting expected to be installed. Lighting, if needed shall be adequate per life safety requirements.

· The specific requirements for walking surfaces? Generally existing walking surfaces can be used.

· Is it suitable to build a three-sided covered walkway and use the existing walkway? Yes, it is suitable to use existing walkway.

1. Please provide the height of the warehouse racks. 8FT

1. Please provide the height to deck of the laundry area. The roof deck over the laundry side of the warehouse varies from 19’-0” to 21’-0” above the finish floor. The roof drain wells are 17’-8” a.f.f.

1. Please provide the height to deck of the warehouse. The roof deck over the warehouse side of the warehouse varies from 19’-0” to 21’-0” above the finish floor. The roof drain wells are 17’-8” a.f.f.

1. Will a laydown area be provided? Yes

1. Is electrical and water service accessible from the lay down area? Electrical is available. Water is not available.

1. Please provide the location of the laydown area. Gravel area in front of Bldg. 3

1. What is the size of the laydown area, if provided? Approximately 40’ x 80’

1. Will dumpsters required to be in the laydown area? GC to coordinate dumpster location with COR.

1. Please provide the sign in sheet from the site visit. Sign in sheet was posted under previous amendment.

1. Is this federal project tax exempt? No

1. Will the site superintendent be allowed to triple hat for SSHO and QCM as well as Superintendent duties? Yes.

1. Will the VA accept the use of Procure Project Management software or equivalent as the primary submittal platform? Procore is accepted.

1. Will payment applications for materials be stored on site or in a bonded warehouse be approved? Payment applications for materials to be stored on site will be approved.

1. Can the SSHO, QCM, and superintendent positions be fulfilled by the same individual, provided qualifications are met? If not, can the superintendent double as the SSHO? Yes, refer to question #12.

1. Are contractors required to provide a temporary site office or trailer, or will space be allocated within the existing facility? Space within facility will not be allocated. Trailers are not required, but acceptable.

1. Will the govt allow the contractor to tap into the existing utility infrastructure for temporary utilities and allow the contractor to pay for metered usage? Contractor is allowed to tap into existing utility.

1. Will there be designated parking and staging area for contractor personnel? Yes.

1. Will on site storage containers or laydown areas be provided or must the contractor secure off site storage? Laydown area will be provided. Storage containers will not be provided. It is not required for contractor to secure off site storage.

1. Can the govt clarify the process for obtaining PIV badges including estimated processing times? Contractor to coordinate with FMS Admin staff for background check and fingerprinting. Processing times are approximately 1 month.

1. Please confirm the VA will be hiring the commissioning agent? It is the contractor’s responsibility to hire the commissioning agent.

1. Infection Control- please confirm modular walls (such as STARC) are allowed for IRCA. Modular walls are acceptable, but must maintain fire/smoke rating, and be floor-ceiling to maintain construction dust.

1. Please confirm the ICRA level of the mechanical room? Refer to spec 01 35 26.

1. Can the VA please provide the pre-job sign in sheet? Yes.

1. In the past it has been difficult to get PPQ's returned. Is it possible to use CPAR's in place of attachment #5? No, attachment 5 needs to be a PPQ.

Does VA what 1 large file for the final proposal that includes all the "Submission Package Contents" from a) through p)? Or do you want it broken up into sections such as General Information / Technical / Pricing? Please follow the guidance written in the solicitation. Have the submissions clearly marked so that we can distinguish the information properly. Recommended to send in more manageable file sizes to ensure that they do not go over file size capacity when being sent.

1. Does VA want attachment 7 returned separately as it is now in excel format, or can it be converted to PDF to be inserted into the final submittal? Have the attachments you fill out and return, clearly marked with the appropriate information and attachment number, while ensuring it is sent over in the same format it was originally posted as.

1. What is the largest file we can email with our proposal submittal? Recommended sending multiple file sizes instead of large ones to alleviate possibility of it not sending over successfully. Please confirm attachments are received when you submit.

1. Will the site require Pedestrian Control for the work in corridors? Construction barriers and signage will be needed.

1. Is mech contractor responsible for running ddc lines from nearest point NAC station to units, or will this be performed by the existing VA DDC team? Contractor is responsible.

1. Will the VA clarify if the Contractor’s Site Superintendent, if duly qualified, may also serve in the roles of SSHO and CQC, or will a separate individual be required for either of these two rolls? If so, how much time per week is each required to be on site during construction? See question #12.

1. Will VA please clarify how much time the QC personnel need to be on site? QC personnel is not required full time on site. However, site superintendent is required to be on site while work is being performed.

1. Will the VA confirm that most of this project will be performed during normal working hours and what those hours will be? In the laundry facility, contractor working hours will be from 1700 – 0500. In the warehouse, contractor working hours will be normal business hours, 0630 – 1600, but need minimum 3 weeks’ notice prior to work commencing.

1. Will X-rays be required before saw cutting or coring? A form of utility locating will be required.

1. Confirm that the VA will be responsible for moving out all existing FFE furniture and Equipment in all areas prior to construction? VA will be responsible for moving out any office FFE. Contractor to coordinate with COR in advance.

1. We have been getting laydown areas on opposite side of campus lately and is causing extra time and $$$. Can VA tell us if the anticipated laydown is at least close to the project building location? See question #7.

1. Will the contractors and workers be allowed to use the restrooms inside of the building? Will the workers be allowed to use the VA cafeteria during breaks? No, contractors will not be allowed to use restrooms inside of the building. Contractor can use VA cafeteria.

1. Does VA have a preferred or roofing vendor they are already using as incumbent? If so, can you please provide their information? No.

1. Does VA have a preferred HVAC / Mechanical vendor they are already using as an incumbent? If so, can you please provide their information? No.

1. Who is currently providing / servicing the HVAC controls at the site - Can you please provide their information? Ainsworth

1. Does low voltage cabling need to be in conduit, or can plenum rated cable be used for low voltage wiring? Low voltage cabling needs to be in conduit.

1. Provide any and all as-builts for the building and surrounding site, including structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing. As-builts have been incorporated into Construction Documents.

1. Provide the firm and point of contact for the mechanical controls, fire, alarm, access control and cctv. Ainsworth, convergent, schneider

1. Verify that the Owner will be responsible for removing ALL equipment, unbolted furniture, personal effects, etc from the building prior to construction? VA will move furniture and personal effects in areas prior to construction.

1. Since this is a warehouse will ICRA be required? If so, has the facilities ICRA team assigned classifications to the affected and adjacent spaces? Yes, an ICRA is required. Refer to spec 01 35 26.

1. Will the warehouse be shut down during construction, and if not, what is the plan to keep the work moving while still receiving deliveries? No. Contractor to coordinate with COR minimum 3 weeks prior to work commencing.

1. Due to circumstances beyond our control, the construction industry continues to experience significant volatility, resulting in material lead time delays and unforeseen costs of materials in nearly all commodities. How is the VA going to accommodate this if this trend continues? The VA cannot answer this question as it presents a what if scenario. Based on the requirement, we look at each situation, as they are occurring, resulting in a case-by-case basis when market trends are concerned.

1. Will the contractor be allowed to reuse existing straps and hangers for lights, ceiling grid, ducting etc. where applicable? No.

1. We see DURO-LAST called out on roof details. Do we have to use DURO-LAST, or will substitutions be accepted? Suitable substitution will be accepted.

1. To clarify- attachment 8 of the solicitation is the ICRA form. Your question is do you need to fill out the form? Yes, we are wanting to know if we need to fill out the form and include it with the bid. No. VA will complete the form prior to construction.

1. In the subfactors section, where it says experience: there is a bullet point on page 10 that states: A reference (Point of Contract (POC) as well as one alternate POC: Name, job title, address, telephone number, and email address). The POC shall be familiar with the construction project but have no direct affiliation with the contractor (i.e. CO, Contracting Officer Representative of Project). Can we get clarification on that? Are we supposed to use the CO or COR as a reference or not use them? And if we are not to use them, who would we use?

Please reread the section regarding POC. It states what people may be contacted to be a POC if needed. The COR would be acceptable. If the POC does not have direct affiliation with the contractor, they can be considered a POC.

51. On page 46 of the solicitation, it states “The contractor represents that it is ___ or is not___ a small business concern under NAICS Code ___ assigned to contract number ___. What do we fill in there? The NAICS code for the solicitation and the solicitation number? The information is written out clearly, please fill it out appropriately, using the NAICS code for this solicitation.

52. Refer to Spec Section HVAC Water Treatment (23-35-00). What is the amount (estimate) of gallons in the closed loop? The approximate volume of water in the closed loop is 350 Gallons.

53. In reference to Air Handler 2-AH 3. On drawing A130 it states to “cut new hole(s) in roof decking (between joists and beams) for duct from relocated AHU…” We notice these Glulams are 8’ on center, which gives us approximately 7’6” of clearance to bring in the new AHU 2-AH3. The sizing of that AHU per drawing M-504 Detail 3 shows the dimensions of the lower sections at 7’10 ½” and 8’ 1 ½” wide. Even if we tipped that unit sideways, we are looking at dimensions with the base rail of 7’10” and 7’9” (switching lug lifting points, which would need to be approved by manufacturer engineer). What would be the solution to get this equipment inside the building? Please advise.

NOTE: We are reaching out to unit manufacturers to see if they can make the unit into smaller pieces. We just wanted to get this question out there because we won’t have the answer back before the question period deadline.

Air Handler 2-AH-3 is a fully custom air handling unit that shall be field assembled inside the mechanical room. Access to the mechanical room for the replacement air handler is via an existing 6’ wide by 7’ tall set of double doors. All air handler components shall fit through those doors for assembly in the mechanical room.

54. On Drawing A130 it’s showing new support curbs spanning 40’ in length. 4 total locations. We want to confirm this is meant to be the case or not. We are guessing it is for roof load/structural purposes but don’t want to assume since that unit is much smaller than 40’ long (roughly 12’). Please confirm you want the new curbs to be 40’ long. The curbs are shown spanning 4 joist bays. At 8’ each that is 32’ long. Please construct them per the drawings.

55. The preconstruction documents are showing a Class IV ICRA for the entire project. We understand the laundry side will need to be ICRA Class IV. Will the warehouse side of the building also be an ICRA Class IV? Refer to spec 01 35 26.

56. On the site visit, there appeared to be a lot of the piping that was painted tan to match the understructure of the building in the common areas (i.e. Main Warehouse Floor (General Storage A100) & Main Laundry Floor (B100 Finish Area)). Will any piping or insulation need to be painted tan to match existing? If so, please advise those locations where it is necessary. Refer to Division 23 specs for painting information. It is not required to be painted tan.

57. Will any of the new duct or duct insulation need to be painted in the main exposed areas (i.e. Main Warehouse Floor (General Storage A100) & Main Laundry Floor (B100 Finish Area))? If so, please advise those locations where it is necessary. Refer to Division 23 specs for painting information.

58. Does the contractor need to fill out the ICRA form? No.