S06 Late Questions and Responses - Solicitation 36C26325B0011 - 3 pages.pdf

Solicitation Number: 36C26325B0011 Project Number: 636A8-23-101 Update Signage & Wayfinding

Responses to Late Questions/RFI/Clarifications

Q: Signage Scope & Specs:

• Can you provide documentation including PDFs, photographs, specifications, and diagrams with comprehensive details on the signage?

A: Drawings and specifications are available on SAM.gov.

• What are the weight and dimensions of the heavier exterior signage?

A: To be determined by the manufacturer.

• Will mechanical lifting equipment (e.g., forklifts or cranes) be needed for exterior sign installation?

A: To be determined by the contractor.

Q: Logistics & Responsibility:

• Will signage be stored on-site in a designated storage unit or container?

A: VA will provide limited storage in designated areas.

• Who will be responsible for inventorying the signage?

A: Contractor is responsible for the complete installation of the signage package as designed.

• Who is responsible for receiving and unloading delivered signage?

A: Contractor is responsible for the complete installation of the signage package as designed.

Q: Installation Requirements:

• Can you provide detailed concrete specifications for mounting/anchoring applicable signs?

A: See specification section 32 05 23.

• Who will be supplying the anchors required for installation?

A: Contractor is responsible for the complete installation of the signage package as designed.

• Are the existing posts scheduled for demolition filled with concrete?

A: Depends on the location and sign type, some are and some are not. Install signs as detailed.

• Are electrical disconnections required before exterior signage demolition?

A: No signs on this project, existing or new, are electrified.

• Are there any electrical requirements for new signage installations?

A: No electrical requirements.

Q: Parking Structure Considerations:

• Are there anchor specs for drilling into and attaching signage to concrete ceilings?

A: Anchorage requirements are called out in signage details in drawings.

• Are there any embedded or surface-mounted lines/conduits in the ceiling we should be aware of?

A: Surface-mounted items are to be determined by the contractor. Embedded items will be documented by the contractor during x-ray scanning.

• Will subsurface scanning be required to detect underground utilities prior to excavation?

A: The parking garage is a post-tension structure. The intent of the x-rays is to ensure that the post-tension tendons are not damaged by this work. If the walls are not part of the post-tension structure, x-rays should not be necessary. X-ray work must be done in off-hours. Utility locator is required if digging is required.

Q: Additional Details:

• What is the estimated square footage for patching and painting screw holes after demolition of interior signage?

A: To be determined by the contractor. Contractor is responsible for the complete installation of the signage package as designed.

• Can you share any current photos or a Matterport scan of the parking structure for reference?

A: See responses to other questions for information regarding the parking structure and other site conditions.

• Is there a discounted lodging rate available for this government project?

A: This question was received late. Per the Pre-Bid Site Visit Agenda, the Government reserves the right to not answer any RFIs/questions after the stated due date/time and will do so only if considered a significant impact to the project.

• Will this be a tax-exempt project?

A: See “Special Notes regarding FAR 52.229-3: Federal, State and Local Taxes” on page 50 of the solicitation.

• Does this project require any other positions other than a dedicated superintendent? If so can they be dual/triple hatted with the right qualifications A: The SSHO is a separate qualified individual and separate from the Prime Contractor’s Superintendent and/or Quality Control manager. The CQC System Manager has duties as project superintendent in addition to quality control.

• Is there a missing 6th floor plan for Building 1 that should be included?

A: 6th floor excluded from project.

Q: Will any kind, if any, of temporary signage be required for interior signage that is being removed, updated and replaced?

A: Current signage should not be removed until new signage is ready to be installed. Contractor needs to sequence the work in such a way that there are no gaps in the signage and wayfinding created by this work.

Q: What is the expectation of an elapsed time between demo and installation of new signage for the site signage?

A: There should be no elapsed time between installation and demolition. The work sequence should be remove and replace at once.

Q: Interior signage - The existing signage is modular with a chassis that allows for sign panels to be easily removed and replaced. Additionally, the window signs have a replaceable lens. Is the intent to remove the entire sign and reinstall the entire sign? Given the existing signage is by our company, we know the panel attached to the wall could stay, unless the replacement sign is of different size or will be moved from its original location. What makes this difficult is there are only keynotes of removal on the demo plans, there is no information on the existing sign.

A: No, the sign panels cannot be reused. Per the detail drawings, the new directional signs will be the color VA Light Tones 657C (VA Signage Design Manual PG 18-10).

Q: There are keynotes of DE1 on demo plans for which there isn’t a marker on the floor plans for the reinstall. Should one assume the signage plans contain every sign needed?

A: Some signs are simply being removed and not replaced. The intent of this project is to clean up and organize and simplify the wayfinding within the building.

Q: Our firm is a new firm and has not yet been awarded any projects, so we have not executed an Insurance Policy yet.

Per the Solicitation documents it notes that we must provide a letter from the NCCI indicating that is has assigned Bidder/Offeror a Unity Rating of 1.0, but being that we don’t have insurance history, the NCCI will not provide the below requested letter. The only way we can get a letter from the NCCI is if we execute an insurance policy. Which would happen right after award.

We can easily submit a letter indicating lack of insurance history from our insurance carrier furnished on the insurance carrier’s letterhead, but without executing a policy the NCCI will not provide the letter noted below.

Per the “S02 Atch E Safety or Environmental Violations and EMR Information - 2 pages” document:

• If the NCCI cannot issue an EMR because the Bidder/Offeror lacks insurance history, Bidder/Offeror shall submit a letter indicating so from its insurance carrier furnished on the insurance carrier’s letterhead and include a letter from the NCCI indicating that is has assigned Bidder/Offeror a Unity Rating of 1.0.

We are wanting to make sure this is noted correctly in the solicitation, or if only a letter from the Insurance Carrier on their letterhead is enough to meet the VA’s acceptance.

A: Please see Item 3. on the solicitation attachment titled, “S02 Atch E Safety or Environmental Violations and EMR Information - 2 pages”. Contractors that cannot provide their EMR rating on insurance letterhead must obtain a rating from the National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc.

(NCCI) by completing/submitting form ERM-6 and providing the rating on letterhead from NCCI.