36C26319B0002-0003001.pdf

Contractor Questions Iowa City VA - Expand Specialty Care Addition

ITEM

NO.

DATE

QUESTION

RECEIVED

DATE

QUESTION

ANSWERED

QUESTION

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

1. 3-20-2019 3-26-2019 Does this project contain any Commissioning requirements?

Commissioning is not required on this project.

2. 3-20-2019 3-26-2019 Is a full-time superintendent required for this project? In accordance with FAR 52.236-6, at all times during the performance of this contract and until work is completed and accepted, the Contractor shall provide a full time Superintendent who shall exclusively be dedicated to the supervision of this project. The Superintendent must meet all construction competency requirements, including

OSHA credentialing, and have satisfactory performance as determined by the Certifying

Officer. (OSHA 10 is required for any workman on a construction site and OSHA 30 is required for any Superintendent.)

3. 3-20-2019 3-26-2019 Are there any requirements for the As-Built

Drawings/Safety Data Sheets and Security Plan?

The Superintendent shall maintain two full size sets of as-built drawings which will be kept current during construction of the project, to include all contract changes, modifications and clarifications. The Superintendent is required to have SDS’s of all hazardous materials on site.

The Superintendent is required to maintain a Safety and Security plan. Plans need to be specific to the current project – No Generic Plans

4. 3-21-2019 3-26-2019 What are the quality assurance requirements?

It is your superintendent’s responsibility to assure your subs are installing per the construction documents. Throughout the specifications it talks about Quality Assurance – provide a QA plan.

Quality Assurance also includes coordinating the site with your subs and scheduling them to do work, i.e., if your sprinkler sub puts his pipe where the VAV is supposed to go and makes it inaccessible for maintenance. To the VA, this is a coordination and quality assurance issue on the prime. Also, provide coordination drawings, to include elevations, sizes of duct work, pipes, conduits, VAV’s, FCU’s etc.

5. 3-20-2109 2-26-2019 Are there are any unique Infection Control requirements at Iowa City?

This should be part of your superintendents daily

Quality Assurance Plan.

- Neg Air Hepa Filters need to be cleaned once a week, if not more.

- Paths of egress need to be clear at all times.

- Sweep inside your construction site daily with sweeping compound.

- Insure sticky matts are available and changed regularly throughout the day.

- Contain construction waste before transport in a tightly covered container.

Draping a cloth over the container is not acceptable - it must be secured to the cart.

- Insure that the outside of your construction site is free of dust and debris. This includes, to and from your construction site; i.e. the Freight Elevator, Corridors, Loading Dock and Dumpsters.

6. 3-21-2019 3-26-2019 What are the requirements for daily logs and payrolls?

See VAAR 852.236-79 Daily Report of Workers and Materials for requirement of daily logs. See

FAR 52.222-8 -- Payrolls and Basic Records and

VAAR 852.236-85 Supplementary Labor Standards

Provisions for requirements for payroll.

7. 3-21-2019 3-26-2019 Will more than one set of keys be provided for this project?

COR will issue one set of keys only to the Full

Time Superintendent. Plan on using combination locks that accept a Best 7 pin Core.

Combinations cannot be written anywhere on the outside of the construction area.

8. 3-21-2019 3-26-2019 Please confirm if winter conditions are required for this project?

The Cast-In-Place Specification (03 30 00) requires

ACI 306 for cold weather conditions. Work will need to be continuous thru the winter your bid must include winter conditions and must be included into your schedule of values as a separate line item.

9. 3-22-2019 3-26-2019 What is required for GEMS documentation? See 01 74 19 Construction Waste Management

Section. Payments can be withheld if proper documentation is not submitted. See the attached

GEMS Training for Contractors (3 pages).

Dumpster privileges shall be taken away if not separating materials or placing cardboard in them.

Note: We have security cameras looking at our dumpsters and your superintendent will be responsible to dumpster dive and separate correctly.

10. 3-22-2019 3-26-2019 Can the proposals be emailed to you on due date, or do they have to be delivered? From reading the solicitation it seems to me that they can be emailed to you.

Refer to FAR 52.215-5 Submission of Bids. Bids submitted by electronic commerce are not specifically stipulated or permitted by the solicitation; therefore, they will NOT be considered.

11. 3-22-2019 3-26-2019 Is a construction fence required? Yes. A 6' construction fence is required around the complete perimeter of the project and must be kept locked during off hours.

12. 3-22-2019 3-26-2019 Will the first floor and basement be occupied during construction?

Currently we do not plan to occupy the first floor but all areas of the existing building are off limits except for required construction work. Contractor will be expected to protect all existing furniture & equipment and clean up completely after any construction work.

13. 3-22-2019 3-26-19 Will existing furnishings and equipment be removed before construction?

No, Contractor will be responsible to relocate and reinstall or protect any equipment or furniture currently in the existing space.

14. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 It will be very difficult to keep the building completely watertight until the new roof is on and it is fully enclosed. Should the contractor provide a temporary roof after tear off during construction and add temporary roof drains to control the ponding water since the concrete slab under the tapered roof to be removed will not provide positive drainage?

The existing area must be kept dry, means and methods to achieve that are the contractors responsibility. Any water damage will be the contractor’s responsibility.

15. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Does the current AHU have enough capacity to provide for the new 11,000 SF expansion?

Yes

16. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Does the unexposed above ceiling fire piping need to be painted?

No

17. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Does any other mechanical piping or ductwork require painting that is above ceiling / not exposed?

No

18. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Can the government provide a site map for the proposed lay down areas?

Yes, refer to attached 636-803 Expand Specialty

Care Addition Addendum 3 (23 pages), page 4, Drawing 50-L1 Landscape and Site Restoration

Plan.

19. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 What are we to do with the existing sod and

Vegetation that will be in the way of the construction activity?

In accordance with FAR 52.236-9, the contractor is to preserve and protect all structures, equipment, and vegetation on or adjacent to the work site, which are not to be removed. If it needs to be removed or is damaged in construction, the

Contractor shall repair any damage, including those that are the property of a third party.

20. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Can we reuse the existing roof ballast on the new roof?

Yes- must be stored by the contractor.

21. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Spec. 01 00 00 General Requirements, 1.6, F. States:

F. Execute work so as to interfere as little as possible with normal functioning of Medical Center as a whole. Use of equipment and tools that transmit vibrations and noises through the building structure, are not permitted in buildings that are occupied, during construction, jointly by patients or medical personnel, and Contractor's personnel, except as permitted by Project Manager where required by limited working space. Much of the work will involve equipment, hammer drills, drywall track shot, etc. that will cause noise & vibrations to adjacent occupied areas. Will this be acceptable during regular work hours or is the project to be completed during off hours & nighttime?

Regular hours.

22. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Will this Building 50 be occupied at all during construction?

No

23. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 What entrance will be used for access if it is to be occupied?

None

24. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 This will require a temp scaffolding tunnel to be erected to protect pedestrians entering the building?

No

25. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Please refer to specification SECTION 07 27 27

FLUID-APPLIED MEMBRANE AIR BARRIERS,

VAPOR RETARDING is fluid applied air barrier required or is just a paper air barrier product required as indicated on the drawings?

No references to “Paper Air Barriers appear on drawings. Drawings indicate “AIR BARRIER”.

Fluid-Applied Membrane Air Barrier, Vapor

Retarding, as described in Section 07 27 27 is required on the project.

26.

3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Please refer to the solicitation section with the following excerpt; “TAXES: Tax exempt certificates will NOT be issued; however, awardee will be required to submit sales tax information in order for the Department of Veterans to be reimbursed. “ Will the Contractor be required to pay sales taxes? Should the Contractor include the cost of state sales taxes in their proposal or is there a way to be reimbursed that is absolute?

In accordance with FAR 52.229-3, all applicable

Federal, State, and local taxes and duties that the taxing authority is imposing and collecting on the transactions or property shall be included and covered by this contract. The Contractor is required and responsible for paying all applicable taxes. This project is tax exempt; however, the State of Iowa’s

Tax Exemption Certificate(s) will not be issued.

Upon completion of the contract and prior to approving the final invoice, the contractor will be required to provide the Iowa Department of

Revenue’s Iowa Contractor’s Statement form inclusive of all required and appropriate information in order for the Government to be reimbursed from the State of Iowa for taxes that are applicable under the exemption status. See attached Iowa

Contractor’s Statement (2 pages).

27. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Regarding the existing roof concrete can it be verified that the existing slab under the roofing is a smooth finish or does the contractor need to add cost for total floor prep for acceptance of new finish flooring?

It is smooth.

28. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Is there existing Mech. equipment pads in the lower level that are adequately sized for new water heaters, hot water pumps & all other added equipment? If not what pads will the contractor be required to provide?

Yes.

29. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Will there be new pads required for the newly installed elevator power equipment in the lower level?

Yes, provide as required by elevator contractor.

30. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Please verify that there is no new work on sheet 50-

S3 as this is "existing"?

50-S3 is provided for reference of existing conditions. Modifications and connections to the existing conditions at level are required as part of the project scope as identified in the documents.

31. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Please verity that all vertical steel tie-ins for the new above 14’-0” elevation steel have existing plates that are embedded at the top of the 2nd FL existing slab

14’-0” level to weld per 12/50-S-10?

Yes. Plates were provided.

32. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Is there any steel work below the 14'-0" building elevation?

No

33. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 For work that needs to be completed in the building

50 1st FL level do ICRA containments, negative air need to be used?

No, but contractor is required to clean the entire existing building to existing conditions after work is completed.

34. 3-26-2019 Detail 13/50-S9 shows a 3/4" recess, however 50-S3 note 5 indicates 1 1/2" slab recess. Please confirm what is existing at the 2nd FL concrete level and what will be required at the new 3rd FL roof deck level recesses shown?

¾” is required. ¾” is provided on L2 and ¾” shall be provided on L3.

35. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Do we need to fire proof any of the existing steel or concrete on metal deck at the 1st FL refer to Detail

13/50-S9?

No, however, any damaged during construction activities for this project shall be patched/repaired.

36. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Does all of the new steel we will be installing for the

2nd to 3rd FL deck need to be fire proofed & if so will spray on fire proofing be allowed?

Refer to the table “FIRE RESISTANCE RATING for ELEMENTS OF THE STRUCTURE” on the

Code Summary Drawing 50-GVO for areas requiring fireproofing. All structural framing members are required to be fireproofed. Spray on fire proofing is allowed and specified in Spec

Section 07 81 00 Applied Fireproofing.

37. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Does any of the concrete on metal deck need to be fire proofed at the 3rd FL deck we are constructing?

No, composite deck is not required to be fireproofed. All structural framing members are required to be fireproofed.

38. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Please verify there is no new work at existing connecting link, rather the contractor needs to provide protection of the link & roof during construction?

Drawings indicate where new construction interfaces with the existing connecting link. It is the

Contractors responsibility, as indicated in Spec

Section 01 00 00 General Requirements, to patch, repair, reinstall, or replace, any existing construction affected by new construction.

39. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Steel Column Schedule on sheet 50-S6 does not show new vs. existing columns required. Can the

Contractor assume there is no new steel work below

14'-0”?

Yes.

40. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Question Re detail 1/50-S-11 has two detail references to 7/50-S20 called out, however this detail or and the entire sheet S20 is not included in the drawings. Can this detail be provided?

Detail reference callout text is to state detail 3/50-

S11, provided on this sheet.

41. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Where is galvanized metal grating locate within the project as shown on 50-A20?

Refer to the detail indicator 10/50-A20 inside the

Mechanical Shaft 224 on Drawing 50-A3 Floor Plan

– Level 2.

42. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Please verify there is no finish carpentry required.

PL1 Wilasonart - 7971K-12 Uptown Walnut none shown on 50-I1 finish schedule, but is not indicated for any room on the schedule?

The finish schedules on 50-I1 are room finish schedules. PL 1 Uptown Walnut used for the cabinetry shown on drawings 50-A12 and 50-A29.

43. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Regarding Bid Item II: (Alternate Deduct 1) 335

Calendar Days, The scopes that are being deleted do not necessarily shorten the critical path of the schedule. Is it the intent of this deductive alternate to cause acceleration to the schedule that would cost more, or would the VA consider allowing a 365 day duration if this bid alternate is accepted?

No costs for acceleration are allowed so to not have to any reason to accelerate the schedule, the period of performance will remain 365 calendar days for all bid items. See attached Revised Bid Item

Schedule 636-803 Expand Specialty Care Addition

(1 page).

44. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Regarding Bid Item II: (Alternate Deduct 1) “1.

Eliminate Landscaping indicated on Drawing 50-L1.

Document and restore/replace existing site conditions to pre-construction condition. “There does not seem to be any new landscaping being added per Drawing

50-L1, rather only tree protection and the mandatory replacement of the “asphalt repair and replace” indicated area. All damaged asphalt, sidewalks & sod areas will need to be repaired and replaced if it is damaged by the contractor as per the division 1 general requirements regardless of if the deductive alternate is taken. Additionally, the contractor will be

The existing 3” deep wood mulch adjacent to the building is being replaced with 8” deep wood mulch.

required to provide the chain link fence with slats as shown on this drawing and as stated in spec 01 000

00 “Contractor shall provide a chain link construction fence, 2.1m (seven feet) minimum height, around the construction area indicated on the drawings.” What items specifically should be included in the alternate deduct 1 as the damaged asphalt & sod will have to be replaced regardless?

45. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Regarding Bid Item II: (Alternate Deduct 1)

“Eliminate all the mechanical work shown in the

Lower Level: domestic water heater WH-2, hydronic heating pump 50-HWP-B2, hydronic heat exchanger

50-HX-B2, demolition of steam piping and associated new piping.” Please confirm eliminate “all” the mechanical work shown in the lower level refers to only the listed items “domestic water heater WH-2, hydronic heating pump 50-HWP-B2, hydronic heat exchanger 50-HX-B2, demolition of steam piping and associated new piping and does not include the plumbing piping to support the new 1st FL bathrooms or other required items?

Correct, the work associated with Level 1 bathrooms is not included in Bid Item II (Alternate

1).

46. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Regarding Bid Item II: (Alternate Deduct 1)

“Eliminate Elevator S-2”. Will the jack for the S-2 elevator be required to be installed as shown on 50-

A14 if this alternate is taken to avoid having additional work to fit the jack into the building in the future?

Yes, provide jack for Elevator S-2 as indicated on drawings if Alternate Deduct 1 is taken.

47. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Regarding Bid Item II: (Alternate Deduct 1) as stated on page 3 of the solicitation Eliminate Furniture and

Signage on Level 2. Please confirm if the Contractor is to provide any furniture for the project? All furniture appears to be Government Furnished

Government Installed (GFGI) as per the drawings, is this correct?

Furniture by VA. Signage by contractor see

Addendum 3 for schedule.

48. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Regarding Bid Item II: (Alternate Deduct 1) as stated on page 3 of the solicitation Eliminate Signage on

Signage is required as shown in Addendum 3.

Level 2. Please confirm if the Contractor is to provide any signage for the project as there is no mention of it in the drawings, however there is a specification 10 14 00 Signage included.

50. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Is the contractor to include interior signs for each room, directional signs and code required signs? Can the quantity and location of these signs be given?

Refer to Addendum 3.

51. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 What is deductive alternate #4 as indicated per detail

5/50-S8?

Eliminate reference to Alternate 4. There is no

Alternate 4.

52. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Bid Item III: (Alternate Deduct 2) 305 Calendar

Days, The scopes that are being deleted do not necessarily shorten the critical path of the schedule.

Is it the intent of this deductive alternate to cause acceleration to the schedule that would cost more, or would the VA consider allowing a 365 day duration if this bid alternate is accepted?

No costs for acceleration are allowed so to not have to any reason to accelerate the schedule, the period of performance will remain 365 calendar days for all bid items. See attached Revised Bid Item

Schedule 636-803 Expand Specialty Care Addition

(1 page).

53. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Regarding Bid Item III: (Alternate Deduct 2) “1.

Eliminate Staff Toilet 120 and 220, and Patient

Toilets 121 and 221: At Room 122 leave single space in existing finished condition. At Room 222 provide single room, omitting demising wall between toilet rooms and provide gyp. bd. and paint on remaining walls. Provide single door storage room function hardware set 05SR. Provide mechanical, plumbing, and electrical as shown for this Bid Item 1 on the

Drawings. Provide fire protection as shown on the base bid except with upright sprinklers.” How are the lights to be installed without ACT? Are we to just suspend all electrical lighting and related electrical work, fire alarm speakers, nurse call, occupancy sensors, PA speakers, etc. temporarily?" Or should some of the electrical items be eliminated as part of this deductive alternate?

Suspend all components temporarily in their respective positions within the future acoustical tile ceiling location.

54. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 As per deductive alternate 2, item 1 rooms are we to provide plumbing rough-in only with-out plumbing fixtures?

Plumbing rough-in only. No plumbing fixtures.

56. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Is any fire proofing required at the lower level or 1st

FL that we will need to provide with this project?

Any Lower level or Level 1 areas of existing fireproofing that are disturbed during construction are to be re-fireproofed as part of the project scope.

The existing Lower Level and Level 1 were constructed with the same fire resistance ratings as indicated on the Fire Resistance Rating table on drawing 50-GV0.

57. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Do we need to perform spray on fire proofing repairs of all of the existing 1st FL or Lower Level areas that are disturbed during the installation of mechanical and electrical hangers & supports?

Yes.

58. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Is there any mission critical / blast criteria for new windows or curtain wall installations for this building?

Windows, curtain wall, and glazing is to be designed per the requirements indicated in their respective Specification sections.

59. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Will the contractor need to provide self-contained power water blasting of the existing slab for flooring to adhere to it as specified in 09 30 14 3.3 SURFACE

PREPARATION A.2. Use self-contained power blast cleaning systems to remove curing compounds and steel trowel finish from concrete slabs where ceramic tile will be installed directly on concrete surface with thin-set materials?

Yes. The contractor needs to comply with Spec.

Section 09 30 13 Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Part

3.3 Surface Preparation A.2, as well as 3.3.A.3

which states: “3. Steam cleaning or the use of acids and solvents for cleaning will not be permitted.”

60. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 The equipment schedule shown throughout the architectural drawings has item “E0947 CART, COMPUTER, MOBILE, (WOW) GFCI” - What is contractor to install regarding this contractor installed item?

This piece of equipment is revised to be GFGI.

61. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Bumper guards are required on all walls in 204 conf.

room per 50-I1, what type of bumper guards are to be installed here? Is this the only location that bumper guards are required?

Bumper guards are identified in Detail 15/50-29 and in Spec Section 10 26 00.2.1 Wall Guards.

Conference Room 204 is the only location where these are required. Corner guard locations are identified on drawing 50-I3

62. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 There is significant piping work shown on 50-P004 & piping demo shown on 50-P05 above the existing 1st

FL ceiling to support waste piping for the new 2nd

FL. For all existing building locations that we are required to perform work in for the new project will the Contractor be required to provide ICRA installations including negative air and hard wall barriers?

No, building will not be occupied but all spaces must be cleaned to existing conditions.

63. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Approximately half the 1st FL areas may need to be shut down so work can proceed. If the building is occupied, will the end user allow for this or does the work need to be phased? If it needs to be phased what is the plan and how many rooms will be allowed to be affected?

Will not be occupied

64. 3-26-2019 3-29-2019 Please confirm that sheet 50-F1 –Fire Protection Plan

Lower Level is included for reference only for connections to the new risers we are providing for the

2nd FL addition and stairwells and that no new heads will be required besides the elevator pit?

It is not anticipated there will be any work at the

Lower Level, however, the contractor should confirm with his subcontractors and include whatever modifications may be needed due to the work of other trades.

65. 3-12-2019 3-29-2019 Can you tell me how we could get hardcopies of the plans and specs?

The solicitation is posting on Federal Business

Opportunities website, www.fbo.gov. This solicitation and all bidding materials must be obtained from the Federal Business Opportunities website located at www.fbo.gov. No specifications or drawings will be sent from the Department of

Veterans Affairs. The contractor is responsible for printing their own specifications, drawings and contract forms.

66. 3-28-2019 3-29-2019 Several inquiries regarding product/manufacturer substitution requests.

• Rigid Board Insulation

• Automatic Door Operator

• Flooring

• Controls

• Lighting

Substitution requests are not approved prior to bid opening. After award, the contractor can submit a product via the submittal process, so it can be reviewed for conformance of the requirements of the specifications.

Please watch for the award notice so you will know who was awarded the contract and so you can submit your product to them as a proposed substitution.

67. 3-11-2019 3-29-2019 Will furnishings be coming out to bid? This specific requirement does not include furnishing.

68. 2-20-2019 3-29-2019 This project will vertically expand the newly constructed Specialty Clinics Addition by one level for additional specialty care services. Some first-floor items such as elevators and room finishes that were not completed in the previous project will also be completed in this project.

• Is the VA satisfied with the job done by the contractor who built the new Specialty Clinics

Addition?

• Who is the contractor who built the new

Specialty Clinics Addition?

• Is this contractor a SDVOSB?

Yes; AWG Services; Yes

69. 3-18-2019 3-29-2019 The attached sole source justification references project number 636-809. The solicitation for this project appears as 636-803. Please clarify

All Justification and Approval attachments/documents should reflect Project

Number 636-803. Please see attached Revised 636-

803 Expand Specialty Care Addition Justification for Single Source Items (8 pages). Please note that the Yale J&A has been updated and can be found in

636-803 Expand Specialty Care Addition

Additional Redacted Justification for Single Source

Items (10 pages) attachment.

70. Ref specification 08 71 00: The attached sole source justification requires the locks, PB Locks, Closers and Exits to be from Yale. Within spec section 08 71

00, 2.3 acceptable manufacturers for the closers only list LCN. The Exit devices only lists Von Duprin.

Locks are written in as Yale but the push button locks are written in as Schlage electronics. Please advise what manufacture is needed.

1. Locks shall be Yale.

2. Exit devices shall be Von Duprin.

3. Closers shall be LCN.

4. Operators and accessories shall be Stanley.

5. Push buttons shall be Schalge.

See attached 636-803 Expand Specialty Care

Addition Additional Redacted Justification for

Single Source Items (10 pages).

71. 1. What type of metal wall panels were used on the existing building?

See attached Metal Wall Panel (3 pages).