36C26118B0181-A00002001.pdf

RFI Answers for Fire Alarm Upgrade Bldg. 700, Project 612A4-17-114

RFI No. 1

Question: Please verify that the below reference is accurate on the time lines.

"THE SECONDARY POWER SUPPLY (BACK UP BATIERIES) SHALL AUTOMATICALLY

SUPPLY THE ENERGY TO THE SYSTEM, AND WITHOUT LOSS OF SIGNAL. THE

SECONDARY POWER SUPPLY SHALL HAVE SUFFICIENT CAPACITY TO OPERATE

SYSTEM FOR 24 HOURS UNDER MAXIMUM QUIESCENT LOAD AND SHALL BE

CAPABLE OF OPERATING ALL ALARM NOTIFICATION APPLIANCES USED FOR

EVACUATION FOR 30 MINUTES."

Answer: Yes. Specified time is correct.

RFI No. 2

Question: Will the PDF project plans be freely available in AutoCAD format for our use?

Answer: Yes, CAD files are available upon request after the contract is awarded.

RFI No. 3

Question: Will Central Station monitoring be required for this project? It appears that the intent is to have it report back to bldg. 650. Will 650 provide all monitoring? If we are to provide, will these fees be included in our proposal? If so for how long?

Answer: No. Central Station monitoring is not required for this project. Yes, the intent is to have it report back to building 650. Yes, Building 650 will provide all monitoring.

RFI No. 4

Question: Clarify on FA0.1 Approval Note I.A, the requirement for Fire Bells. Are we to install new bells per this project? If so, what is the quantity and location of the new bells that are required?

Answer: All exterior fire sprinkler system needs to be 24 VDC powered by FACP.

Contractor to verify and coordinate with VA COR in field.

RFI No. 5

Question: Is there an existing fire alarm device at every new location shown on the plans? Do you have a set of plans showing the existing fire alarm layout?

Answer: Yes. There is an existing fire alarm device at every new location shown on the plans. No, we do not have a set of plans showing the existing fire alarm layout.

RFI No. 6

Question: Please verify that the provided bid drawings are showing the devices required for this project and if any additional devices may be required, like fire alarm exterior bells as these will be a change to this project.

Answer: Contract drawings indicate minimum fire alarm devices required for this project. Contractor shall be responsible for any new additional fire alarm devices and equipment required to meet latest NFPA 72 requirement.

RFI No. 7

Question: Who’s responsibility will it be to provide access to the elevator areas?

COR or Engineering?

Answer: Contractor shall coordinate with VA COR for access to elevator area.

RFI No. 8

Question: Is the existing pathway Cable tray for the new fiber optic cable fully installed and completely accessible? What is the requirement of the new fiber cable for strand count and type?

Answer: Contractor shall include in their pricing to provide one new 4-strand single mode fiber cable, plenum rated for indoor/outdoor installation in 1” C with inner duct between FACP-1 in Building 700 and Main FACP in Building 650.

RFI No. 9

Question: Are any of the existing duct detectors equipped with an addressable interface and or compatible with the Secutron product?

Answer: All existing duct detectors shall be replaced with new Secutron duct smoke detector with addressable interface compatible with Secutron product.

RFI No. 10

Question: It is not clear whether we are to include test and inspections costs into our proposal for a period of 5 years. Please verify this is a 5 year warranty?

Typical is 1 year or what is recommended by the manufacturer. Will this be held against our retention for the period of 5 years?

Answer: Product warranty period shall be one (1) year after acceptance by owner.

RFI No. 11

Question: The specified Secutron 2220 panel is end of life and not readily available. Can you provide new part numbers for all equipment required?

Answer: Contractor shall coordinate with Secutron manufacturer for all new equipment part number.

RFI No. 12

Question: The specified Secutron 2220 panel is end of life and not readily available. Can you provide new part numbers for all equipment required?

Answer: Contractor shall coordinate with Secutron manufacturer for all new equipment part number.

RFI No. 13

Question: Is there a % of the overall scope that you’ve identified are within areas that will require “off- hour” or premium time work?

Answer: See project note #2 on drawing FA0.1: There are areas in existing

Building 700 that are 24/7 operation and construction in these areas can only occurred on scheduled premium time. Contractor shall coordinate with VA COR to schedule work under premium time (Evenings, Night shifts and weekends).

RFI No. 14

Question: Who will be providing the fire watch? General Contractor or the VA?

Answer: General Contractor is responsible to provide fire watch. Coordinate requirements with VA Safety Officer.

RFI No. 15

Question: Do all the duct detectors and remote test switches need to be replaced? What was mentioned at the site walk that they do need to be replaced since they are addressable and system type seems to contradict the specification.

Please clarify.

Answer: Per site walk direction, all duct detectors and remote test switches shall be replaced with new to be compatible with Secutron fire alarm system.

RFI No. 16

Question: During the site walk, the mechanical room seemed to have all Secutron pull station and possibly other up to date Secutron devices. There were existing panels not Secutron in that building. Is that building part of this scope of work?

What is the requirement for that existing equipment in that building? Can you identify the building as being either 701 &/or 702? In the bid document specifications the two building are referenced as BUILDING 654 MECHANICAL

ENERGY CENTER and BUILDING 656 ELECTRICAL ENERGY CENTER and not 701 &

701 in the Scope of work.

Answer: Amendment no. 1 addressed this. Work in Bldgs. 701 and 702 (654 and

656 which were incorrectly called out) is no longer in the contract.

RFI No. 17

Question: In the drawings FA2.6, a number of heat detectors in the Level 6 -

Penthouse/Roof Plan are shown in light gray and in background coloring. Are these supposed to be replaced?

Answer: Yes. They are to be replaced.

RFI No. 18

Question: Can you provide the number of delayed egress and other egress doors other than “magnetic door holds” , not already identified in the drawings that require connection to the FACP in the event of an Alarm since the requirement is for a module close to each door?

Answer: Contractor shall include in their pricing a total of 60 egress doors in this project.

RFI No. 19

Question: In Drawing FA2.1, can you please confirm that only one(1) NEW

Secutron annunciator will be needed and the others are either removed or relocated?

Answer: Yes. Confirmed.

RFI No. 20

Question: In Drawing FA0.2, there is a provision for the electrical contractor to provide two telephone lines. Are there not two phone lines into the FACP room(s) already? How do the current Gamewell FACP’s communicate to central station?

Answer: Contractor shall include in their pricing to provide two new telephone lines.

RFI No. 21

Question: Will all three(3) new Secutron FACPs communicate and be networked with other existing networked Secutron panels on campus and dial out via the

“Main FACP” in building 650?

Answer: Yes. All new Secutron FACPs shall communicate and network with other existing network Secutron panels on campus and dial out via the “Main FACP” in

Building 650.

RFI No. 22

Question: Would it be correct to conclude that this is not a design-build project and that the locations and the number of all devices shown in the drawing are in accordance to NFPA regulations and no additional detection and or notification devices are needed as part of this project?

Answer: No. Contractor shall be responsible to provide documents as indicated under “Approval Note” on drawing FA0.1. Contract drawings indicate minimum fire alarm devices required for this project. Contractor shall be responsible for any new additional fire alarm devices and equipment required to meet latest NFPA 72 requirement.

RFI No. 23

Question: Is there a printer currently in use for the FACP, if so what model/brand and will a new printer be required as part of this project?

Answer: No. A new printer will need to be provided in this project.

RFI No. 24

Question: Are the devices in the boundary area in the drawing outside the scope of this project? Should the pricing exclude this section?

Answer: No. Work within the boundary area must be included in the pricing for this project.

RFI No. 25

Question: In Drawing FA3.1 it says “4.Provide new fire alarm wiring and conduit for each new device location. Can you please clarify since in other locations it has been stated that the existing conduit is to be used.

Answer: Contractor may reuse existing conduit for new wiring installation wherever practical. Contractor shall provide new conduit for new wiring installation for all new added devices and where existing conduit can‘t be reused.

RFI No. 26

Question: The drawing (Riser Diagram) shows the Mechanical building FACP having a DACT. Will this FACP communicate directly to central station via phone lines or will it be interconnected with other FACPs for communication via the

“Main FACP” in building 650? Is the Mechanical building already equipped with two phone lines for the existing FACP?

Answer: The drawing is incorrectly shown. The DACT is new and should be connected to the building 700 FACP-1 instead of mechanical FACP-MECH. The building 700 FACP-1 will communicate directly to the central station via new phone lines.

RFI No. 27

Question: For interfacing and connecting to existing Secutron main panel identified as “Main FACP” in building 650, would we be required to hire any existing vendor at the VA for access and or programming?

Answer: Yes. Contractor shall be responsible to hire Secutron technician for site campus fire alarm system programming and re-programming.

RFI No. 28

Question: For the purpose of programming out devices that get decommissioned, are we required to use VA’s Gamewell vendor to program or disable removed devices?

Answer: It is recommended that contractor shall engage VA’s existing building fire alarm vendor to program and/or disable removed fire alarm devices.

RFI No. 29

Question: Will the sign in list at the walkthrough be provided?

Answer: The VA will not provide a copy of the sign in list.

RFI No. 30

Question: In section 28 31 00 – 2, section E states “Existing reused equipment shall be covered as new equipment under the Warranty specified herein.”. Does that mean existing flow and tamper switches, duct detectors, door holds, and bells will be covered under the same warranty terms past acceptance?

Answer: Yes.

RFI No. 31

Question: In section 28 31 00 – 6 1.05 required warranty period is 5 years.

Secutron’s manufacturer warranty ends 3 years after shipment. Additionally, in the scope of work section E.1 52.246-21 WARRANTY OF CONSTRUCTION (MAR

1994) ALTERNATE I (APR 1984) states the warranty period to be 1 year. Can you please clarify?

Answer: The fire alarm system warranty period shall be one (1) year after acceptance by owner.

RFI No. 32

Question: Does the General Contractor need to have a state contractor’s license for California?

Answer: No, the VA will accept documentation from any location, within the

United States, that documents the contractor is qualified to do the work as required by the statement of work, drawings, and specifications.