Questions Answers and Clarifications - 7 pages.pdf

Questions/Answers & Clarifications Amendment P0002 to Solicitation# 36C26326B0015

PN: 568-24-106, Upgrade Fire Alarm System VA Black Hills Heath Care System (VABHHCS), Fort Meade Campus

Clarification(s):

1. The HOUR & DATE for Receipt of Offers is EXTENDED to: 5/1/2026 10:00 AM CENTRAL TIME. Also see Block 11 of the Standard Form 30.

Questions and Answers:

Q1: Prints state that in unfinished spaces, that conduit will be surface mounted and painted red. Will it be acceptable to use red conduit from the factory in lieu of painting conduit.

A1: Yes.

Q2: Sheet 40-AE-101 doesn’t show a smoke detector above the fire alarm panel. Please verify that a smoke detector isn’t needed.

A2: There is a heat detector that is shown on sheet 40-FA-201 and 40-AE-101 that is required to be installed over the panel.

Q3: Will manual pull stations need to be lowered in all areas to meet ADA standards? If so, will pull station relocation kits be acceptable in finished areas?

A3: We need devices at ADA height, and we do not want to see any additional projections (no relocation kits). Follow 28 31 00 Paragraph 3.1.B

Q4: Some buildings do not show a notification device on the exterior. Will exterior notification be required on all buildings?

A4: This is not required for all buildings. Exterior notification is provided only where notification is provided above a Fire Department Connection is a building with an automatic suppression system.

Q5: Specifications call for all exposed conduit to be painted. Is painted conduit required in mechanical rooms, storage buildings, etc.?

A5: The spec is correct.

Q6: In Building 72, does the apartment side of the building contain any existing fire alarm devices? If so, how will these devices continue to operate?

A6: The apartment is on locally wired devices and not attached to the B85 panel. The apartment has its own separate electrical panel.

Q7: It was noted that there was an increase in number of occupants in building 53, will there be additional devices added for multi-person offices?

A7: Yes, drawings included in addendum 1.

Q8: Are any building network cards required to be updated if not in replacement areas?

A8: Yes, the “cards” for B148, B145, B55 shall be upgraded to support the ES network.

Q9: Do buildings 154 and buildings 155 need FACP panels and fire alarm devices?

A9: No, Building 154 and 155 have been removed with the Addendum 1 clarification.

Q10: 3 Hat, 2 Hat or Single Hat Prime Supervision. Will the project require one individual for the Super/QC position? Additionally, will a separate SSHO person be required as well?

Please clarify the number and roles of individuals required for this project.

A10: Per the spec there shall be at minimum 1 SSHO and 1 superintendent. A CQC system manager is required. The CQC system manager can be both a superintendent and a CQC system manager. If workload or technical ability is unable meet the spec by contractor staff the VA will request additional staff or replacement of staff.

Q11: Who is responsible for a fire watch while the fire alarm system is down?

A11: Please refer to sheet FA001.

Q12: What are the normal working hours?

A12: The normal working hours are located on sheet GC101. Each building with specific working hours has the hours listed on the architectural drawing sheets. All work performed under the contract to be completed within those hours and constraints.

Q13: If the existing conduit is reused, will it need to be painted red?

A13: Bid as new conduit or repaint as required by the area (red or match wall/ceiling).

Q14: For new devices on the wall, will Wiremold be acceptable, or will we need to channel the wall, patch, and paint?

A14: No Wiremold. Contract documents specify where concealed conduit is required.

Q15: Will innerduct be required for the fiber in the duct bank?

A15: For fiber pulls innerduct is required for fiber physical protection. See Sheet FA003 for existing interconnection pathways.

Q16: The specified fiber in division 28 and note #5 on drawing FA003 is multi-mode. Due to the distances, we would recommend single-mode indoor/outdoor fiber optic cable. We have had issues in the past pulling multi-mode for the backbone cabling on fire alarm systems.

A16: Refer to FA003, Single mode may be used per General Interconnection note #5. Spec Section has been updated to include the use of single mode where necessary.

Q17: Please specify which buildings would house a TSW computer. On walk through it was indicated that the fire hall, the boiler plant and the police department were the locations, please confirm.

A17: These are three locations that should TSW computers and the TSW to be on windows 11 operating system.

Q18: Do the TSW computer require control, or will this just be an annunciation point?

A18: All three locations require annunciation and control. Required card updates to the existing network panels shall be provided as required to have a complete working system.

Boiler plant FACP to be located at old locations.

Q19: Is the fiber that needs to be installed multi-mode or single mode? What is currently installed?

A19: Multi-mode is currently installed. Only the fiber to the boiler plant is single mode. The line from building 55 to the BP was replaced by 12 CT OM3 multimode fiber per the quote.

The preference from the VA would be single mod due to distances and ES network requirements. Contractor to provide “converter ends” as required to enable existing panels to function.

Q20: Does the fiber to be installed stop at the demark point of each building or does it continue to the panel inside the building? The drawings indicate that it stops at the building.

A20: See Sheet FA002, the connection between nodes and the indicated network does not terminate at demarcated points, rather the network is established as necessary for complete interconnection of the nodes to the network points. Fewer splices will provide less attenuation of the signals and fewer potential failure points. The line going into building 113 shall extend to the panel in room B14b in the basement of building 113. Fiber box located in B25 of B113. The line going into B145 shall extend into the panel in room 114.

Q21: For existing devices to be removed and the backbox is not reused, is a blank cover plate acceptable?

A21: No.

Q22: Do the fire panel screens need to be upgraded to touch screen per the specs that indicate requiring more than 2 lines of 40 characters?

A22: Fire panels can be a touch screen see section 28 31 2.3C for minimum requirements.

Q23: Do you require addressable notification devices throughout buildings that are getting new panels?

A23: Yes

Q24: Buildings with recently updated fire panels will keep the panels and use conventional notification devices and get new addressable initiation devices. Please confirm.

A24: Buildings 96, 103, and 109, should get new addressable devices in a 1:1 replacement (initiation and notification). For these three buildings only, devices need to be swapped out.

Q25: Does contractor need to provide breaker locks for all new panels?

A25: Contractor to provide breaker lock for all breakers to include existing ones as well.

Q26: Are we to replace the Wheelock devices in buildings such as fire hall where there is simplex notification for the fire alarm and Wheelock devices for the other signals. The Wheelock devices would be replaced with simplex devices with different color lenses or covers and different tone (sound), whichever you prefer.

A26: AHJ preference is for different color and tone simplex devices be provided.

Q27: Please indicate on all drawings where the CO detectors should be installed. All rooms with gas powered appliances are required to have a CO detector.

A27: Per AHJ only specific occupancies require CO detection. The buildings that require CO detectors to be installed are: B65, B72, B85, B90, T144, and T296. See Addundum 1 drawings.

Q28: Since we will not be running 2 parallel systems is it ok to reuse conduit and add to it where needed to add in new device locations?

A28: Bid as new conduit or repaint as required by the area (red or match wall/ceiling). All concealed conduits (in wall or above ceiling) at the time of bid shall be replaced.

Regardless of the existing network capabilities protected premise will be receiving new panels. Existing systems are not to be demolished until the new systems are approved and operational. See outage notes on FA001 with exception on indicated building demolition notes.

Q29: Please confirm that all circuits are required to receive new wiring.

A29: Yes.

Q30: Please confirm that any additional devices that are not on the drawings but needed to bring the building to code should be included in the quote.

A30: Yes, drawings are diagrammatical per contract notes on sheet FA001.

Q31: Do you require 520Mhz LF Sounder bases in sleeping rooms or standard sounder bases? 520LF is code.

A31: The “Hoptel” (i.e., Hospital Hotel), student quarters, and fire station should be to the higher standard of sound 520Mhz LF, to account for deaf or impaired individuals that occupy those spaces.

Q32: Can you please identify exactly which rooms would require the conduit to be painted to match wall/ceiling color.

A32: Refer to architectural sheets for more specific information.

Q33: FA Spec 283100-11, 2.3.C. Describes Operator Terminal as having 15” minimal diagonal screen like a computer. Please confirm this is for the (3) workstations in select locations and not each FACP. Normally the FACP is a simple LCD displace, 2 lines of 40 characters, as mentioned in spec 283100-15 2.5.A.

A33: Display requirements moved to 28 31 00 2.16 for the operator workstations.

Q34: A Spec 283100-11, 2.3.C.4. Describes a printer; however, nowhere on the plans is a printer shown.

A34: Provide printers as specified.

Q35: If Printers are not required, do we still need Spare Parts list 2.13.A.15-16, Printer Paper and Ribbons.

A35: Provide printer accessories as specified.

Q36: Spec 283100-18, 2.7B.2. Backplate is the only place in the plan and specs that refers to notification devices lettering “Fire”. Please confirm color of all notification ceiling and wall as well “Fire or Alert”.

A36: Red with the word Fire per AHJ.

Q37: Is the installation contractor responsible for clearing any existing or reoccurring troubles on existing system?

A37: The contractor is responsible for maintaining the fire alarm and related troubles of all areas under construction or impacted by construction.

Q38: Can the installing contractor operate sprinkler valves for system testing?

A38: Yes, contractor to coordinate with onsite fire department.

Q39: Are detailed drawings required for all new power supplies to NAC/FACP locations?

A39: Shop drawings shall contain all minimum information required per NFPA 72 and Specification 28 31 00 Paragraph 1.4.B

Q40: Can the superintendent dual hat as the SSHO?

A40: No.

Q41: Is there room onsite for material storage (in building or exterior Connex)?

A41: Yes, but space must be approved and coordinated with VA COR prior to lay down of Connex box(s). Interior storage should be assumed as not being available for use for bidding purposes.

Q42: Are there any areas needing asbestos or lead paint remediation?

A42: No.

Q43: Is the installing contractor able to work in multiple buildings simultaneously?

A43: Yes provided, the contractor is properly coordinating, performing quality control activities, following safety requirements, managing the sub-contractors, and performing all tasks per the contract documents.

Q44: Is it acceptable for ICRA HEPA Negative air exhaust to be returned back into the hospital space above ceiling?

A44: See ICRA Appendix A instructions in the ICRA forms that are attached in spec 01 00

00.01. We do not allow plenum exhaust systems.

Q45: Will any outside monitoring of the fire system be required?

A45: No, the VA has our own fire department.

Q46: In order to accelerate installation times and efficiency, can the contractor conduct interior rough-in while the outside fiber loop is being pulled?

A46: Yes provided, the contractor is properly coordinating, performing quality control activities, following safety requirements, managing the sub-contractors, and performing all tasks per the contract documents.

Q47: With this type of work (essentially just fire alarm replacement), are two separate personnel (superintendent and SSHO) required for this project?

A47: Yes, this project is spread out and in our experience with size of project requires more than one person to effectively manage the project.

Q48: In regard to painting, if we are required to open up a chase to run conduit in a gypsum board wall for example, are we required to paint from corner to corner and from floor to ceiling on the entire wall or just paint the area where we had to open to run conduit?

A48: Paint corner to corner no exceptions.