Attachment A - 437-CSI-241 Site Prep Questions and Answers - 7 Pages.pdf

Questions and Answers Perform Site Prep For SPS Equipment

437-CSI-241

1. VA RESPONSE IN RED

2. Ref: Mobile Sterile Processing Trailer

a. Question: Drawing sheet AS101B shows the mobile sterile processing trailer and storage unit to be provided by the contractor but the Statement of Bid Items in the Spec section 010000, 1.4 indicates the trailer is VA provided.

Please clarify who is responsible for supplying the trailer and storage unit.

i. Contractor will be supplying the trailer and storage unit

3. Ref: Electrical – 500kw Generator & Transformer

a. Question: The electrical drawings show the generator as contactor provided but the SOW shows the Generator and Transformer as VA supplied. Please clarify who is responsible for supplying the 500kw Generator and Transformer.

i. Contractor will rent the transformer and generator. VA will NOT supply.

4. Will the contractor be responsible for providing any of the PPE required to enter the active SPS areas (gowns, booties, hair net, etc.), if so, what are the required PPE that will need to be provided to enter each specific SPS areas?

i. If you are going through Supply Chain for any reason to the SPS Clean or Dirty Side, you need to gown up. When construction starts in the SPS area, alternative entrances may be used. Such as through stairwell #13, BA-44 (locker room/anteroom for Dirty Side) or the BA-70 (with permission or access). We do want to keep traffic limited through Supply Chain since they are still an active department. All traction and dust must be mitigated and cleaned in all areas of entry and exit.

5. Construction Phasing General Note #13 on the “GC” drawings calls for a minimum of (4) weeks will be needed prior to the next phase beginning. Will a stop work order be issued for after each phase is completed until onsite work for this project can resume?

i. A stop work will not be issued after each phase, only if the CO deems it necessary.

6. Detail 1/GC102-A shows details for barriers called to be installed for Level III and Level IV ICRA Controls. There is not a detail of for the Level II controls, which is called for Phase 1: RO Water System. Please confirm that Level II containment system does not need to meet any NFPA requirements and is used primarily for access and dust containment (i.e. STARC containment system with lockable door)

i. Drawing GC100 on the top right of the drawings has the Control Measures. Follow all the control measures listed. Active means to control dust is necessary. In short, if a hard barrier is needed to control dust mitigation, then it would need to follow NFPA requirements.

7. Specification 01 00 00-1.6-B.4 states that the “VA reserves the right to close down or shut down the project site and order General Contractor’s employees off the premises in the event of a national emergency.” Please confirm that the Contracting Officer would issue a Stop Work Order in the event of a national emergency.

i. Correct, according to FAR 52.242-15 Stop-Work Order, the Contracting Officer (CO) would issue a written order to the General Contractor to stop all or any part of the work.

8. Specification 01 33 23-1.10-D states that the submittal review time is 15 business days, does this duration include the VA, A/E and any consultants?

i. This review time involves the VA and A/E and any consultants.

9. Specification 01 35 26-1.4 states that the most recent edition of USACE EM 385-

1-1 is to be complied with. Please confirm that USACE EM 385-1-1 safety requirements are to be incorporated and implemented as part of this contract.

i. Because these are in the specs, then requirements should follow.

10. Specification 01 35 26-1.9 states that the (1) full-time SSHO is to be onsite during construction activities with no other duties. Please confirm that the SSHO can not take on any other roles or duties.

a. The SSHO shall follow the definition from the specifications. They are expected to be on-site at all times performing their specific duty and no other.

11. The latest version of EM 385-1-1 defines three different level’s of SSHO. Please specify with level SSHO will be required for this project.

i. I do not see three different levels of SSHO. The SSHO shall follow the Specs and EM 385-1-1 section 01.A.17 and meet all requirements.

12. Will the SSHO have to be exclusively dedicated to just this project?

i. Yes, the SSHO will exclusively be dedicated to this project. This also pertains to the Superintendent and CQC.

13. Specification 01 35 26-1.12-C states monthly exposure hours are to be submitted. Will the submission of certified payrolls fulfill this requirement, if not please provide form that is to be filled out and submitted.

i. Certified payroll does not fulfill this requirement. Exposure hours would be similar to exposure data for manpower. This may be incorporated in a Construction Management Software/Daily Log.

14. Specification 01 45 00-3.1 states that the highest level manager for quality and production is the superintendent. Please confirm that the project’s superintendent can also serve as the contractor’s quality control (CQC) manager.

i. A dual hat – superintendent and CQC is acceptable.

15. Will the superintendent have to be exclusively dedicated to just this project?

i. A superintendent will have to be exclusively dedicated to just this project.

16. Specification 01 45 00-3.2-C is for design-build projects, please confirm that all of this section and subsections are not required for this project.

i. Confirmed, disregard 01 45 0 – 3.2-C section and its subsections

17. Specification 07 40 00 Siding Panels states: Basis of Design: AEP Span, a

Division of ASC Profiles, LLC. PBR Panel; Color, “LIGHT STONE”. The AEP Span panels does not meet all of the performance requirements called out in this specification. What performance requirements are to be meet for the siding panels, the ones called out in the specifications or the performance requirements equal or better to the basis of design?

i. See reissued specification.

18. Specification 07 60 00-2.1-C calls out the performance requirements of the

Elastomeric Sheeting. The thickness, 0.056 in (56 mils), called for is common for roofing applications but not as part of a wall system. Details 2 and 3 shown on AS501 that call for elastomeric sheeting to be installed as part of a wall system.

Can a basis of design be provided for the elastomeric sheeting that is to be used as part of a wall system, or can a product that is compatible and recommended to be used the weather barrier manufacturer be used instead?

i. Add:

1. Self-adhered water resistive air barrier having the following properties:

a. 40 mils (0.040 in) thick membrane consisting of 5 mil polymersheet laminated to a modified asphalt adhesive.

- Provide this material in locations noted above (details 2 & 3/AS501) at vertical applications from wall-to-wall connections.

19. Section 07 84 00 Firestopping Section 1.5.B. Is the firestopping installer required to be FM Global 4991 approved?

i. Specification section 07 84 00 1.5.B states “Installer Qualifications: A firm that has been approved by FM Global according to FM Global 4991 or been evaluated by UL and found to comply with UL’s “Qualified Firestop Contractor Program Requirements.” Submit qualification data.

20. Section 07 84 00 Firestopping Section 1.5.C. Is the inspector to be contracted by the prime contractor?

i. Specification Section 07 84 00 1.5.C states “Inspector Qualifications: Contractor to engage a qualified inspector to perform inspections and final reports. The inspector to meet the criteria contained in ASTM E699 for agencies involved in quality assurance and to have a minimum of two years’ experience in construction field inspections of firestopping systems, products, and assemblies. The inspector to be completely independent of, and divested from, the Contractor, the installer, the manufacturer, and the supplier of material or item being inspected. Submit inspector qualifications.”

21. Specification 08 71 13 calls for Besam as the basis of design for the door operators. Will any of the following be allowed as a prior approved equal:

DORMA Americas; Horton Automatics: a division of Overhead Door Corporation;

Hunter Automatics Inc.; LCN: an Allegion brand; NABCO Entrances, Inc.;

SARGENT Manufacturing Company: ASSA ABLOY; Stanley Access Technologies?

i. If other manufacturers meet specifications, they may be used

22. “Section 09 06 00, SCHEDULE FOR FINISHES” is reference several times throughout the specifications (07 54 19, 08 71 00, 09 65 16, 10 28 00). Can this specification section be provided?

i. No spec section 09 06 00 was issued with this project. Delete references to specification section 09 06 00 from all specification sections.

23. Specification 09 29 00-2.1 calls out (3) different types of boards and/or panels to be used however an acoustically enhanced gypsum board is not one of ones included. Will any acoustically enhanced gypsum board be required on this project?

i. All information to determine gypsum board types is contained in the drawings and specifications.

24. Drawing AS601 calls for several wall types to be Fire Rated or STC rated, can a UL Design number be provided for each of these wall types?

i. Specification section 09 29 00 1.4.C.2, 3, & 4. SHOP DRAWINGS.

Typical sound rated assembly, typical shaft wall assembly, & typical fire rated assembly are to be submitted as part of the shop drawings.

1. Contractor is responsible for determining the correct assembly and providing the necessary shop drawings.

25. On Drawing AS601 both wall types E3c and E6c do not call for any insulation in the wall cavity, please confirm that these two-hour rated assembly walls cavities shall not require any insulation to be installed.

i. Provide partitions as detailed and noted on sheet AS601.

26. There is a two-hour rated wall, call to be wall type E6c, that is to be built in front of existing exterior wall, shown at Column line #1 on Section 2/AS301. Two layers of gypsum board, as called for in wall type E6c, are not able to be installed and finished as required for a rated wall assembly as currently shown due to the walls proximity to the existing exterior wall. Should this wall be moved further away for the exterior wall or could a revised wall type be provided, such as a shaft wall type assembly, for this location?

i. See reissued drawings and specifications.

27. The drawings only show (1) wall type callout, located in Engineering BD-50, with a wall type subscript. Please confirm that all other wall that are to be install on the project will be full height from floor to deck as called out to be “No Subscript” per details shown in the bottom right corner of Drawing AS601.

i. All information to determine partition heights is contained in the drawings and specifications.

28. Please confirm that there will not be any delegated design requirements needed for this project.

i. All information on delegated design requirements are provided in the plans and specifications.

29. Please confirm that there is not any Physical Security Life Safety Protection, such as blast design and anti-ram devices, required on this project.

i. Please reference the drawings and specs or PSRDM for temporary.

LATE QUESTIONS – May or may not be answered as determined necessary by the site:

1. Can the Superintendent, SSHO, QC be double or triple hatted by any of these staff members?

a. Does the staff person have to “dedicated” to this project only?

2. Staff has to be “gowned up” to enter the sanitation areas, is there additional requirements for the tools and equipment they bring? Do these have to be cleaned our inspected ahead of time?

i. Anyone entering SPS/Supply Chain must be gowned up.

3. Is there a VA sign in sheet for staff and/or equipment brought into these sensitive sanitation rooms to ensure inventory is managed and not left?

4. Does the current Period of Performance account for submittals and lead time?

Particularly for the SPS Trailer and other critical equipment

5. Will the current projects effecting the SPS Trailer space be forced to vacate the space if they are still under construction?

i. There will be no projects allowed in that space once this project begins.

6. Will ay site storage in the hospital, or other areas on the VA’s campus be available for contractor use?

i. Will need to be coordinated with the VA

7. Is there any for certain scopes or installations that will have to be performed after hours, weekends?

i. Must be coordinated with the VA weekdays, off hours, or weekends.

8. Will staff be required to attend any mandatory VA training for working in the SPS and sanitization areas?

i. There is no training required

9. Will STARC walls be acceptable for construction barriers?

i. Yes. They must meet the requirements of the ICRA, specifications and

NFPA codes.

LATE LATE QUESTIONS –

1. Will the sign-in sheet from site visit be available in addendum?

2. Please clarify if a superintendent can be a dual hat to cover the requirements of

SSHO?

3. If no to the question above, will the SSHO need to be full-time for this project?

4. Please clarify if a superintendent can be a dual hat to cover the requirements of

QA/QC?

5. If no to the question above, will the QA/QC need to be full time for this project?

6. Can a superintendent be a triple hat to cover the requirements of SSHO and

QA/QC?

7. Please confirm if tax should be included in our proposal?

8. Please confirm the latest wage determination for this project’s county.

9. Who is responsible for contracting the commissioning agent, if applicable?

i. Specification 01 91 00 1.8.B.1 states, Members appointed by the Contractor: 1. Commissioning Agent: The designated person, company, or entity that plans, schedules, and coordinates the commissioning team to implement the commissioning process.

The GC must engage the CxA. The CxA must be completely independent of, and divested from, the Contractor, the installer, the manufacturer, and the supplier of material or item being inspected. Submit inspector qualifications.

10. Is the use of temporary plastic wall panels (such as STARC panels) acceptable to meet ICRA requirements?

11. Will shutdowns be required to be done during off hours or weekends?

12. Will hydrostatic testing be sufficient on all pipe welds or will x-ray be required?

13. If X-ray is required, what percentage of welds and who will be responsible for the cost of testing?

14. Can discharge water from hydrostatic testing be allowed to go into sewer drains or will the contractor need to provide a frac tank?

15. Please confirm if there is assumed asbestos on any piping that is to be removed whether underground or within manholes or buildings?

16. Will work area be cleared of all stored VA items prior to the contractor entering those areas?

i. This needs to be coordinated with the VA

17. Please confirm the extent of any duct cleaning scope, if required.

i. Specification section 23 40 00 3.2.A states “Clean and vacuum air handling units and plenums prior to starting air handling systems.”

Specification section 23 31 00 3.1.L states “ Protection and Cleaning: Adequately protect equipment and materials against physical damage. Place equipment in first class operating condition or return to source of supply for repair or replacement, as determined by COR. Protect equipment and ducts during construction against entry of foreign matter to the inside and clean both inside and outside before operation and painting. When new ducts are connected to existing ductwork, clean both new and existing ductwork by mopping and vacuum cleaning inside and outside before operation.”

18. Who is the vendor or contractor currently servicing and maintaining the Building Automation System or Temperature Controls System?

19. Who is the vendor or contractor currently servicing and maintaining the Telecommunications System?

20. Who is the vendor or contractor currently servicing and maintaining the Fire Alarm System?

21. After backfilling, topsoil and seed have been applied who is responsible for watering? If the contractor is responsible will water be provided by the facility?

22. Please confirm if excavated material is acceptable for re-use as backfill?

23. Please confirm if there is a separate staging area onsite for fill material to be stockpiled for re-use?

24. Please confirm if an onsite arborist is required for any tree removal or tree protection?

25. Please advise if the site contains any contaminated soil that needs to be removed.

26. Please confirm if we will be allowed to keep a locked storage container or conex box within the grounds.

27. Plans indicate to remove existing temporary fencing. Please confirm there is no other temporary equipment or utilities that need to be removed or coordinated with inside of the proposed work area.

28. To allow sufficient time to review responses and prepare our bid we kindly request that you please extend the bid date.