AS06_Solicitation Questions and Answers_10 Pages.pdf

Solicitation Questions and Answers

# SOW

Reference

Question Answer

1. Will the Government confirm that shower pull cords required to be

Waterproof IP68

(ANSI/IEC 60529) ‐ rated sealed pullcord stations?

Pullcords in showers and other wet location areas shall be IP68 rated minimum. Pullcords with audio at toilet locations, not in wet areas, are not required to be IP68.

WPE-MS-2024-08-19

2. Can the government confirm that ALL Nurse Call Network devices shall be UL-1069 listed including all Gateways, Staff Consoles, Annunciator Stations, Workflow Terminals, Data Switches, Patient Stations, Staff Stations, Room Controllers, Dome Lights, Zone Lights, Peripheral Stations, Pillow Speakers, and Call Cords?

Refer to paragraphs 1.1H.; 1.1J.; 2.2E.; 2.6A.; and 2.6A.5.

of Specification 275223 for UL-1069 requirements.

3. Will the operating system and database application installed on the nurse call servers be required to be OI&T One ‐VA Technical Reference Model (TRM) (www.va.gov/trm) approved for installation within the Government?

Yes, per paragraph 2.1A. of Specification 275223: The manufacturer and products provided for the Nurse Call and Code Blue system must have been evaluated by the VA and must be currently listed on VA Technical Reference Model (TRM)on the VA website as a viable supplier and product:

https://www.oit.va.gov/Services/TRM/SearchPage.aspx.

This includes operating system and database applications.

4. Section 27-52-23 2.5 Nurse Call Controller states CAT 5e wiring is to be used. Can the Government confirm that CAT 6A is acceptable based on

CAT 5e is called out in the specifications and meets operational requirements. Using higher grade cabling such as CAT 6A is also acceptable. If the contractor chooses to use CAT 6A they will need to confirm existing and new raceways are capable of appropriate fill ratios.

Contractor at their own expense will be required replace any existing conduit that does not meet fill ratios if they use CAT 6A cable. Much of this conduit is within walls current VA TIL requirements?

that will require demolition, patch and repair. WPE-MS- 2024-08-19

5. Will the Government confirm that it is required that the nurse call Patient stations and Staff stations be hot swappable and not require a system shutdown to replace?

Yes, system is to be hot swappable and not require system shutdown to replace. WPE-MS-2024-08-19

6. Will the Government confirm that it is required for nurse call system to allow a single patient room to be taken out of service without impacting any other patient rooms or require system shutdown?

Yes, this is the intent. WPE-MS-2024-08-19

7. Can the Government please confirm what type of wall will be constructed for the new electrical closet located on floor 1 of building 12?

The wall is a non-rated 5/8" gypsum, 3 5/8" MTL Stud, 5/8" gypsum wall. FourFront Design 2024-08-19

8. Is the surface mounted EMT conduit required for use on walls that are constructed of stone/concrete?

Surface mounted conduit is not allowed except within Electrical Closets, IT Closets, Mechanical Rooms and the new Nurse Call Equipment room. Wire mold is also not acceptable as noted on the plans. WPE-MS-2024-08-19

9. In the SOW in Section

5. Specific Mandatory Tasks and Associated Deliverables 5.4 Task Two it states: Repair various roofs according to the construction documents, specifications, and

Reference to roofs in the scope of work was an error and should be removed from the scope of work.

drawings. There was no mention of roofs during the site visit. Can the government confirm if this is included in the scope of this project?

10. Will the Government confirm that Nurse Call Consoles must be able to continue to operate in the event the subnet is lost?

Yes, each console should be able to operate the local devices connected to them regardless if it looses connection to the headend and other consoles.

11. Is the Nurse Call system required to be 100% FIPS 140-2 Compliant?

The System will only be allowed to connect to the personal wireless communications system, pass text data and provide a 2-way communication between the Telephone Interface and the personal wireless communicator as long as it is not a FCC Part 15 listed device(s), meets or exceeds UL 60950-1/2, meets OCIS Guide Lines for FIPS 140-2 certification and the using staff shows an extensive training program along with recertification(s) according to the Facility Emergency Plan concerning HIPA requirements. WPE-MS-2024-08-

12. Will the VA consider

Nurse Call solutions with a release date before March 2012?

The Nurse Call and Code Blue system must have been evaluated by the VA and must be currently listed on VA

Technical Reference Model (TRM) on the VA website as a viable supplier and product:

https://www.oit.va.gov/Services/TRM/SearchPage.aspx.

WPE‐MS‐2024‐08‐19

13. Where are IT closets for

Public Address and Nurse Call located?

The plans identify the existing locations of existing headend equipment and identify the reuse of these spaces for the new equipment. WPE-MS-2024-08-19

14. What surface is in the bathrooms/showers where Nurse Call hardware will be mounted (tile, acrylic, other)?

Varies by location. WPE-MS-2024-08-19

15. Are the bathroom stations mounted inside the showers or on the wall next to them?

Varies by location. WPE-MS-2024-08-19

16. What kind of cabling does the existing Public Address system use?

We do not know. The existing cabling is being removed.

17. Will the gov confirm whether on-site support for 2-years is required?

That is what specifications 275116 and s75223 state, so that is the requirement for both systems. WPE-MS-2024- 08-19

18. Will the Government require written evidence that all project product/material is readily available to ship within 30-days of the VA approving shipment of the material?

No

19. Will the Government re-confirm bidders must include the nurse call FDA 510k device certification in accordance with the October 2023 VA memorandum?

Devices need to rated FDA Class 1 as specified. WPE-

MS-2024-08-19

20. Is the nurse call system required include high availability disaster recovery so that the system can recover from server failure automatically without any need for user intervention as described in the newest TIL spec document just released by the VA earlier this year?

VA will require a copy of the system software in final configuration that will be used in the event of a disaster to ensure quick recovery.

21. The following are listed in the demo plans but not in the Scope of Work or specifications.

Is this included in the project scope?

•CONTRACTOR TO

REMOVE EXISTING

FINNED TUBE

RADIATION AND

ASSOCIATED

EXPOSED PIPING.

CAP AND ABANDON

PIPING BELOW

FLOOR OR WITHIN

WALLS

•CONTRACTOR TO

RELOCATE

EXISTING RETURN

AIR REGISTER TO

NEW LOCATION

SHOWN. PROVIDE

EXTENSION FROM

EXISTING RETURN

DUCT TO NEW

RETURN AIR

REGISTER

LOCATION USING

MATCHING

MATERIALS

CURRENTLY

INSTALLED.

•CONTRACTOR TO

REVISE THE

EXISTING FIRE

SPRINKLER SYSTEM

WITHIN THIS AREA

AS REQUIRED DUE

TO MODIFICATIONS

TO WALLS,

CEILINGS, ETC.

MODIFY SPRINKLER

HEADS AND

ASSOCIATED PIPING

1.) All of this work is identified with the contract documents and is there for part of the project scope.

TO PROVIDE

COVERAGE

CONSISTENT WITH

AN ORDINARY

HAZARD

CLASSIFICATION

FOR EQUIPMENT

ROOM PER NFPA 13

FOR THE NEW IT

SPACE. MATERIALS

TO MATCH

EXISTING FIRE

SPRINKLER SYSTEM.

22. Will the Government confirm that the RFI responses will become a part of the specification requirements for this solicitation?

RFI responses are not part of the specifications but are intended as clarification to contract requirements.

23. General •Can the Superintendent triple hat as the SSHO and QCM?

•Do the spec’d locations for the for electrical equipment have the proper cooling capabilities?

Yes

Yes

24. Nurse Call

•Page 404- Requests that we can (if asked) produce a Certificate of completion of network certificates i.e Cisco or Microsoft. Who is the VA expecting to produce it?

•Page 407- Asks to provide “necessary” spare parts after commissioning the system. Is the VA

We don’t anticipate requesting the certificate of completion of network certificates.

looking for a percentage or total volume? Please advise.

•Page 408- The nurse call cabling is required in conduit. They are requesting that our drawings have all of that drawn out. Is the VA to provide or Contractor?

•Page 414- SA/CB stations “shall” be water resistant. They are not.

Silicone can be used on them on our end for safety measures, but it’s requested that they are from the get go. Can we remove the verbiage “water resistant”?

•Page 416- We are to provide 1 push button call cord and 1 air pressure call cord for every bed station as well as a pillow speaker.

That seems highly unnecessary so could we maybe get this to be a percentage of pillow speakers so they have them on hand?

•Page 423- Wire nuts, electrical tape or “Scotch Lock” connections are not acceptable for any application. We use Scotch Locks for TV, Light and Smoke integration. Can we get this reworded, removed?

Otherwise, please advise

Contractor will provide drawings showing final routing of conduit in as-built condition. WPE-MS-2024-08-19

Staff Assist/Code Blue stations will not be required to be water resistant. WPE-MS-2024-08-19

Contractor to provide as specified with exception of air pressure call cord. Contractor shall provide 30 air pressure call cords. WPE-MS-2024-08-19

Contractor to use crimped connections as noted in the specifications. WPE-MS-2024-08-19 what is expected to do for that integration.

•Page 424- They are stating that it shall be our responsibility to patch and paint any wall or surface that has been disturbed by the execution of this work.

Seems simple enough but if our stations are smaller that the older ones there could be a large problem with esthetics, and we don’t have the skill set to get those cleaned up. What are their thoughts on this or will they be sub-contracting a painter for the project as well?

It will be the responsibility of the contractor to patch and paint any wall surface that has been disturbed by the execution of this work.

25. PA • Is the VA or Contractor responsible for demo of old Dukane PA system. Equipment, Cabling, Speakers?

•Is Biamp Vocia an acceptable solution for the PA system? Please advise?

•Page 368- States to provide minimum of 2 hour UPS battery backup for Headend

The miscellaneous notes on the demolition plans state:

A. THE EXISTING PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM IS

TO BE REMOVED AND REPLACED. THIS

INCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS, CABLES, AND

FRONTEND EQUIPMENT. THE SYSTEM WILL BE

REPLACED WITH NEW EQUIPMENT AS

SPECIFIED. EACH EXISTING SPEAKER WILL BE

REPLACED WITH A NEW SPEAKER AS DEFINED

IN THE SPECIFICATIONS OF SIMILAR

MOUNTING STYLE AT THE SAME LOCATION. It is intended that the contractor will remove these items.

This system is listed on VA TRM list as approved. As long as that status remains unchanged then Biamp Vocia is acceptable. WPE-MS-2024-08-19

UPS battery backup shall be a minimum of 4 hours for headend equipment and a minimum of 30 minutes for other system components.

equipment and 30 minute for other system components. Please confirm this correct.

•Page 375- States to provide minimum of 4 hour UPS battery backup for Headend equipment. Does VA need UPS backup for 2 or 4 hrs?

4 hour battery backup for headend equipment.

26. We are looking for clarification regarding the statement on the Building 12 drawings:

"Contractors working in Building 12 will be required to have spotters as defined in Specification 01 35 26 Safety Requirements"

In reviewing the specifications, we are finding NO mention of the word 'spotter' anywhere in the document, and not in section 01 35 26. Can you clarify?

Also is there an attendee list of the participants in the walk through of the

Reference to spotters is deleted.

The site visit sheet is attached to this amendment.

Hot Springs facility on August 1?

27.

28.

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30.