Tech Questions Tracker - NOLA - 8-9-23.pdf

TECHNICAL QUESTIONS AND SOLICITATION #: 36C77623B0038

RESPONSES TRACKING SHEET PROJECT TITLE: NOLA EHRM Infrastructure Upgrades Construction Project

# RECEIVED

DATE

ANSWERED

DATE CONTRACTOR QUESTIONS VA RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS

1 07/05/23 8/8/23 There are several annotations stating that the contract should field verify telecommunications outlets and assume a cable length of 200’ average. Are we to include the cable counts identified with the cable schedules on sheets 00-TJ-002 through 00-TJ-023 as our basis for what is to be replaced?

Existing Schedules show all cables to be replaced. Note 1 on the schedules are cables we were not able to locate during our site verification. Note 1 states: “Contractor to trace cable and confirm location. Assume 200’ of cable.

Remove existing outlet, cabling, jack, and face plate and replace all with new outlet, cabling, jack, and face plate.”

2 07/05/23 8/8/23 Is the contractor to provide an allowance of additional data cables for outlets which may not be identified within the bid drawings?

No

3 07/05/23 8/8/23 Has the site had a Wi-Fi upgrade since the design has been completed which may have added WAP’s not shown or accounted for?

Active project currently under way. Documents can be provided when available.

4 07/05/23 8/8/23 Will there be a lay down area for prime contractor and subcontractor connex boxes or is offsite storage required?

Yes, but space will be limited. VA will provide at kick-off meeting for location. Contractor has option for off-site storage, but it will be required to be bonded.

5 07/10/23 8/8/23 My question is if the telecommunications (Div. 27) will bid thru GC/Electrical or straight to the VA?

Project will be bid by GC/Prime.

ANSWERED

DATE CONTRACTOR QUESTIONS VA RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS

6 07/26/23 According to Spec Section 28 05 00 Common Work Results for Electronic Safety and Security, Part 1 – General, 1.1, E., and 1.4, A. and 1.13, A., please confirm the below:

a. Part 1 – General, 1.1, E. “Software support shall include all software updates that occur during the warranty period.”

i. The current software utilized at the New Orleans VA

Medical Center is operating at the most current software version and has reached end of sale and end of support.

b. Part 1 – General, 1.4, A. “Manufacturers Qualifications:

The manufacturer shall regularly and presently produce, as one of the manufacturer's principal products, the equipment and material specified for this project, and shall have manufactured the item for at least three years.”

i. The existing Access Control equipment and material used at the New Orleans VA Medical Center is no longer manufactured. In order to deploy additional and/or new equipment and material on the current system, a software update will be required in order to enable our most current available equipment and material to be utilized to expand the New Orleans VA Medical center Access Control System.

c. Part 1 – General 1.13, A. “Materials and equipment furnished shall be of current production by manufacturers regularly engaged in the manufacture of such items, for which replacement parts shall be available. Any existing equipment or model which is no longer manufactured, a new, current, compatible model shall be provided as a replacement.”

i. In order to satisfy this requirement, the new version of equipment and material will have to be utilized which requires a complete software upgrade of the current Access Control System.

d. QUESTION:

i. Is it the governments intent, as part of this project, to update the current Access Control System Software to the latest supported version of software?

Response will be provided in a future amendment.

ANSWERED

DATE CONTRACTOR QUESTIONS VA RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS

7 07/26/23 According to Spec Section 28 13 00 Physical Access Control System, Part 1 – General, 1.9, A., please confirm the below:

a. Part 1 – General, 1.9, A. “The expanded PACS System shall match current features and functionality.”

i. Considering the existing software and hardware can allow for expansion, expansion software is no longer available and expansion hardware is limited to availability and no longer manufactured. If we do in fact update the software platform, we will be able to utilize current manufactured software and hardware to expand the current system.

b. QUESTION:

i. Please confirm that we are to update the software platform to satisfy the specifications?

Response will be provided in a future amendment.

8 07/26/23 According to Spec Section 28 23 00 Video Surveillance, Part 1 – General, 1.1, please confirm the below:

a. Part 1 – General, 1.1, A. “Provide and install expansion equipment to the existing Video Surveillance System, which is identified as the Video Assessment and Surveillance System hereinafter referred to as the VASS System as specified in this section.”

i. Expansion equipment for the current VASS is not available due to end of sale and end of support software version. Similar to the PACS, this platform will need to be upgraded in order to expand.

b. QUESTION:

i. Please confirm that we are to upgrade the existing software in order to expand the system for this project?

ANSWERED

DATE CONTRACTOR QUESTIONS VA RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS

9 07/26/23 According to Spec Section 28 23 00 Video Surveillance, Part 1 – General, 1.1, please confirm the below:

a. Part 1 – General, 1.1, C. “Video surveillance system

Video assessment & surveillance system shall be integrated with monitoring and control system specified in Division 28 Section PHYSICAL ACCESS CONTROL that specifies systems integration.”

i. The existing integration between the PACS and the

VASS is done through a “PSIM” Situational Awareness (SA) platform. As previously discussed and questioned in other RFI’s, it is critical at address all integrated systems associated with the SA in order to expand and support the existing systems.

b. QUESTION:

i. Please confirm that the intent of this project is to ensure these systems are upgraded to their most current version in order to satisfy the specifications for access control and video surveillance?

ANSWERED

DATE CONTRACTOR QUESTIONS VA RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS

10 07/26/23 Considering the critical nature of the Situational Awareness platform at the New Orleans VA Medical Center, there are multiple options as it relates to software upgrades. The existing system does have the capability of upgrading to the latest version, but if the PACS and the VASS is to be upgraded, the new version of the PACS has the same capabilities being used today as the SA platform. If the VA approves, the PACS and VASS integration can be accomplished without the use of the SA system if the PACS, VASS and Intercommunication software platforms are upgraded.

a. QUESTION:

i. Please confirm if the VA will approve the use of the updated software for the PACS, VASS and intercommunication system for the purpose of integrating?

ii. If the VA would like to continue using the SA integration platform currently in place, that system will also require a software upgrade. Please confirm if we are to upgrade SA integration software to the latest version in order to maintain current operational functionality and expand the system as required as part of this project?

Response will be provided in a future amendment.

11 07/26/23 8/9/23 Considering the critical nature of this project and the complexities of working within an operational healthcare facility, will the VA consider extending the Q&A deadline by two weeks? Additionally, will the VA consider extending the bid due date accordingly?

Amendment 0004 issued on 8/9/23 extends the bid due date to 8/24/23 at 1:00 PM ET. The due date for questions has not been extended. We will attempt to review any additional questions received, but do not guarantee answers will be provided. It is critical that the VA awards this project in Fiscal Year 2023.

12 07/26/23 8/9/23 Can you provide the hazardous materials report/environmental survey for the project?

Currently there is no hazardous materials or environmental concerns to report due to the scope, because this is a new facility within the last 7 years.

ANSWERED

DATE CONTRACTOR QUESTIONS VA RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS

13 07/26/23 8/8/23 The sample submittal log shows submittals for a Cold Aisle Containment System, but there is no specification. If a Cold Aisle Containment System is required, can you provide a specification?

Division 13 Special Construction:

GDM has removed all references to Hot/Cold Isle containment. This is not part of this project. A new Specification section is provided in Addendum No 2.

14 07/26/23 8/8/23 Specification states to provide an SSHO, can the project superintendent have dual duties as the superintendent and

SSHO?

Dual roles is fine

15 07/26/23 8/8/23 Specification states to provide a CQC System Manager, can the project superintendent have dual duties as the superintendent and CQC System Manager?

Should be independent

16 07/26/23 8/8/23 If the superintendent is able to provide combined SSHO and CQC System Manager capabilities, will they be able to perform all three positions in tandem?

No

17 07/26/23 8/8/23 Drawings 01-TD-051, 01-TN-051, 02-TN-052, 11-TD-011, 11- TN-011, 01-ED-051, 01-EP-051, and 02-EP-052 are listed in the Table of Contents of drawings, but are not in the drawings provided—are these drawings needed on the project? Was the fifth floor of Building 01 descoped from project?

These sheets were removed from the set, but not the sheet index. A new sheet index is provided in Addendum No 2.

18 07/26/23 8/8/23 Drawings 04-TN-012/013/014 are mislabeled in the Table of Contents of drawings but are labeled as -021/-031/-041.

Same with 05-TN-021/031/041 (not necessarily a question, just for reference…).

Sheet Index was mislabeled. The correct sheets are 04-TN-021/-031/-041 and 05-TN-021/031/041. A new sheet index is provided in Addendum No 2.

19 08/04/23 RE: chemical treatment for hydronic systems – please confirm volume / GPM requirements to be treated / tested for this project.

Late question - response may be provided in a future amendment.