Question RFI No. 4 - Asbestos Abatement Scope and Allowance.docx
DOCX document 21 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- 36C26126R0028
About this file
This is a Request for Information (RFI) response document addressing asbestos abatement scope and allowance for a chilled water infrastructure project at a Department of Veterans Affairs facility in Fresno, California. RFI No. 4, issued on June 10, 2026, pertains to Solicitation No. 36C26126R0028, Project No. 570-20-308. The contractor, Sergent Construction, raised concerns that Specification Section 02 82 11 (Traditional Asbestos Abatement) lacked sufficient definition of scope, including no extent of work, quantities of asbestos-containing materials (ACM), locations, or project-specific HAZMAT abatement plan necessary for competitive bidding. The contractor noted that the only available asbestos survey—the VA Fresno ACM Survey by Millennium Consulting Associates from October 2012—was from a different project on the same campus and could not reliably quantify asbestos abatement requirements for Building 1's chilled water work areas, though the age of the building and survey findings made asbestos presence reasonably certain, particularly in thermal system insulation on piping and equipment scheduled for demolition or modification.
In response dated June 17, 2026, the VA Project Manager Charee Harris established a fixed HAZMAT allowance approach to ensure equal pricing among bidders. Contractors are directed to assume $500,000.00 for asbestos abatement as a separate line item on the price breakdown sheet. Any unused portion of this allowance will be credited back to the VA, while any additional work required beyond the allowance amount will constitute a contract modification. This fixed allowance replaces the contractor's recommended $750,000.00 and resolves the scope quantification issue by establishing a standardized baseline for all bidders across the 915-day period of performance.
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Text version
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FORM
Contractor Name:
Address:
Phone and Email:
Send to: charee.harris@va.gov
RFI
| PROJECT NO.: |
| 570-20-308 |
| RFI NO.: |
| 4 |
| PROJECT NAME: |
| Chilled Water Infrastructure |
| DATE REQUESTED: |
| 6/10/26 |
| SOLICITATION NO.: |
| 36C26126R0028 |
| REFERENCE: |
| Hazardous Materials / Asbestos Abatement |
| DRAWING: |
| AD001 / M-Demo series |
| SPECIFICATION SECTION: |
02 82 11 – Traditional Asbestos Abatement
DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM OR INFORMATION BEING REQUESTED
The bid set includes Specification Section 02 82 11, Traditional Asbestos Abatement, which establishes the methods, standards, and contractor qualifications for abatement, but it does not define the asbestos/HAZMAT work to be performed on this project. The Contract Documents contain no Extent of Work, no quantities of asbestos-containing material (ACM), and no project-specific HAZMAT abatement plan. Without this information, the asbestos abatement scope cannot be reasonably or reliably quantified, and bidders cannot price it on a complete and equal basis.
The only asbestos survey furnished in the project file — the “VA Fresno ACM Survey, Asbestos Study” prepared by Millennium Consulting Associates (FSS Order No. VA261-12J-2620; Project No. 22015.2025; dated October 2012) — was obtained from a different Fresno VA project and was not prepared for this solicitation. Although it is for the same campus, it does not identify the materials, locations, or quantities within the actual Building 1 chilled water work areas covered by this contract (Project No. 570-20-308), and therefore cannot be used to define or quantify the abatement required here.
Based on the findings of that survey and the age of Building 1 (Main Hospital), asbestos-containing materials are reasonably certain to be present in the chilled water work areas — in particular thermal system insulation on existing piping, fittings, and associated equipment to be demolished or modified. Asbestos abatement will be a significant factor in the cost, means and methods, and schedule of this project, including the 915-day period of performance.
Sergent Construction respectfully requests that the VA either (1) provide a current, project-specific HAZMAT/asbestos survey that defines the abatement scope, quantities, and locations for the Building 1 chilled water work, or (2) in the absence of a defined scope, establish a fixed HAZMAT allowance to be carried by all bidders so the work is priced on an equal basis. Given that the scope cannot be reasonably quantified from the documents provided, and considering the age and construction of Building 1, Sergent Construction recommends that the VA assign a $750,000 allowance for the HAZMAT/asbestos abatement work. Please confirm how the VA wishes bidders to account for this work in their proposals.
PROJECT MANAGER’S RESPONSE
Response: Contractor shall assume $500,000.00 for asbestos abatement as a separate line item on price break down sheet. Any unused portion shall be credited back to the VA. Any additional required shall be a modification to the contract.
| TRACKING NO.: |
| AMENDMENT NO.: 001 |
VA PROJECT ENGINEER/MANAGER:
Charee Harris
DATE: 06/17/2026
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .