Clarifications to Technical Questions 9-5-23.pdf

Please see the attached questions in response to the posted Amendment #0002. The responses are not clear prompting additional clarification.

1. Question #4- Has the government validated the Equipment Schedules for MEP can comply with Buy American Act? – All products should be reviewed by the bidding contractors. Items included within the design shall be utilized as a basis of design.

2. Question #4- Will the VA allow deviations to By American Act if the noted products are not available? – No.

3. Question #16- response is “some night and weekend activity”. Here are additional clarifications needed to fully understand this response.

a. Building 1- Are the Fan Coil Boxes in the Interstitial or the plenum below the interstitial?

Typical mechanical drawings are ambiguous and lead use to believe these units fit between the ACT and bottom deck of Interstitial. FCUs are not in the interstitial space.

They are above the ceiling of the spaces they serve.

b. Please provide elevations Building 1 representing the floor to floor including interstitial deck? The VA shall provide “As Built” drawings for Building 1 including building sections to the GC for any existing condition details after award.

c. If cabling and mechanical equipment are to be run above ACT, please provide acceptable means to secure through the insulated interstitial deck panels? Connection will vary based on location and loads. Contractor to provide more specific information.

Where possible provide secure attachment to existing structure in lieu of insulated deck panel.

4. Question #19- Please provide details where the government intends the FO shafts to be constructed or allowed. Is there existing vertical raceways or shaft and how are they constructed? Will there be sufficient room to accept new Vertical FO Riser. Or will there be alternative locations designated? Vertical penetration locations are noted on the TN-overall plans for building 1. The vertically stacked Riser rooms are called out by room numbers there.

New riser pathways shall be provided in these rooms.

5. Question #37- In a competitive bidding situation, how does the VA intend Bidders to estimate what the final design profile is for this switchgear? Reference attached drawings. Based upon the possibility that the separate emergency paralleling switchgear replacement may not occur, the following drawings were revised to reflect connection to existing electrical equipment:

B01-EN332 – Revise Keyed Note 3 from the location of the Emergency Switchgear to the existing emergency distribution switchboard ESWBD-1 located in Room BE-141. This switchboard is Westinghouse Power Line C Switchboard. The 400A circuit breaker shall be installed in existing space within the existing switchboard. The circuit breaker shall match the ratings of the existing switchboard and be listed for installation. The circuit breaker shall have an adjustable instantaneous trip unit. Keyed Note 4 shall continue to be located in the paralleling switchgear in Generator Room BE-142. The existing parallel switchgear is ASCO Power Manager.

B01-E500 – Keyed Note 3 shall reflect providing the new 400A circuit breaker serving 01-UPS- ATS-A shall be indicated in the existing emergency distribution switchboard ESWBD-1, rather than the new paralleling switchgear.

6. Question #50- In a competitive bidding situation, how does the VA intend Bidders to estimate what the final design profile is for the electrified hardware? – Our interpretation of this question is this question regarding “design profile” is referring to what style (e.g. electric lockset vs. electric strike, panic hardware, etc.) of door hardware is to be used. The make and model of this hardware is defined in the Division 8 door hardware specifications. The model numbers listed in the standard VA specs were provided in the Division 8 specifications. Please see the below screenshot.

7. Question #55- Are bidders to exclude Intrusion Detection Systems? For this project no intrusion detection system will be required. Motion sensors in TRs will connect to physical access control system.

8. Question #57- Will plenum rated cables be required in the interstitial since there is no R/A in that space? – The cabling run through interstitial will pass into plenum space as it transitions down to the level below, all communications cabling within the buildings shall be plenum rated.

9. Question #61- Will the VA accept Contract Modification if the AS-BUILT drawings demonstrate conditions that exclude design considerations or impart Differing Site Conditions? – Reference

FAR Clause 52.236-2 Differing Site Conditions.

10. Question #62- Please explain what this means related to add ’l labor costs in excess of the noted 15% when required by the VA? Does this imply awardee will be able to invoice to this additional labor as directed by the VA? – The goal of this requirement is to define a labor rate if additional service, outside of the 15%, is required to complete the identified task. ALL work outside operation hours is to be approved in writing prior to work commencing (each time).

Detailed work description to be included for the approval.

11. Question #63- Please confirm that Fire Watch is not required for shutdown of four hours or less? Please confirm that fire protection piping is in the Interstitial and work performed is expected to be in non-occupied areas and can be conducted during normal business hours? – Fire watch should be provided for any area that does not have an active fire alarm or fire suppression system, for the period the system(s) are offline, per NPFA 25 and 72. Fire suppression distribution piping will likely only be modified in telecom room spaces which will have the interstitial floor as their ceiling. Sprinkler distribution to sprinkler heads can be within the TRs. Non-occupied areas such as TRs can be performed during business hours.

12. Question #85- Installation of ¾” EMT conduit at all LV installation are a VA requirement.

Bidders should have the reliance that this has been adopted for locations impacting this solicitation. In a competitive bidding situation, how many locations should we consider to be non-compliant? Bidders are to assume all locations are compliant and notify VA when noncompliance is found. For locations without existing conduits to device backboxes, Bidders are to provide a unit price per location for 1 trade size up flex conduit (1” in this case), new dual gang backbox with single gang mud ring, new pull string, and demo of existing device backbox.

13. Question #88- Response to question 85 and 88 are in conflict. Please clarify how we are to proceed. All cabling shall be placed in conduit. Existing conduit can be reused. If there is no existing conduit contractor shall attempt to use flexible conduit to reach the location. Waivers may be issued on a case-by-case basis depending on location and impact to the facility.

14. Question #89- Please provide dimension of plenum? There are no vertical dimensions shown on the plans for Building 1. We need finish floor to ACT to bottom of interstitial, to top of above deck. Dimensions and composition of deck structure. Dimensions from ACT to Bottom of interstitial deck (roughly 3-4 feet). Floor to floor on levels basement through 4 is 11’-5” and the plenum is approximately 3’. Floor to floor on level 5 through 9 is 10’-5” and the plenum is approximately 2’.

15. There are no structural drawings for the Chiller and pump placement on the roof. Will the government provide structural details for curbs and other structural systems to support placement of chillers and pumps? If not, is this a Contractor Delegated Design requirement to meet these requirements? If so, please provide roof deck structural as-built drawings. Will the Bidder need to design structural to accommodate wind loads and NOA, Notice of Attachment?

Chillers are to be supported on a steel dunnage system. Steel HSS Tubes will be epoxy anchored to top of existing columns (estimated 4 posts total), with steel wide flange beams spanning between them supporting the chiller equipment. Lateral stability will be handled through the use of additional wide flange framing members and angled knee braces attaching back to the steel posts. Total estimated amount of steel is 13.2 tons. All steel shall be hot dipped galvanized. All framing connections are to be delegated design by the contractor. Provide line items for demo of the existing roofing material, flashing around new posts, and replacement of roofing material to match existing once dunnage is installed. No reinforcement of existing structural members is expected at this time. For additional information please refer to project specifications, and structural general notes in the contract drawings. Reference attached drawings.

16. Is there a roof warranty in place at the locations of mechanical equipment placement? If so, please provide the manufacturer and roofing firm holding the warranty. – Existing roofs do not have a warranty in the areas affected by this project.

17. Typical detail- Plan Sheet B01-M105C TR 5B-234. It is unclear if the Fan coil boxes are to be located in the interstitial above each TR or in the plenum space outside of the TR. Please clarify.

If the intent is to place them in the plenum, not interstitial, is there enough space to place the FCU and construct ductwork in this area to support new and existing sheet metal ducting. Please provide a detail showing how the Fan Coil Units are to attach to the Interstitial deck slab. FCUs are not in the interstitial space. They are above the ceiling of the spaces they serve.

18. Plan Sheet B01-M105C/4- this detail represents three Chillers. The Basis of Design manufacturer states the EOR is in discussion with them to add a fourth Chiller. Please advise if we are to price three or four chillers? There are only three chillers. Reference attached drawings.

19. The plans do not show locations of mechanical risers or the current construction of these risers.

Please provide as-built drawings so bidders can assess the impact of opening up chases if required. Will the existing structural floor slabs require coring for the chilled water riser pipes, and will these openings require fire stop caulking? New mechanical chilled water risers are in stacked mechanical room B-304 as shown on the mechanical drawings.

20. There appears to be missing fire dampers for new ductwork penetrating corridors walls. Please verify if walls note on the plans as rated assemblies will require fire dampers? Provide Fire dampers in all fire rated walls.

21. Plan B01-M104CI shows the new 4” chilled water pipe tapping into an existing chilled water loop. What size is the existing chilled water riser pipe? The existing pipe would have to be at least 6” in diameter to be able to provide wet tap. Existing chilled water riser are at least 10” in this location.

22. Please indicate the type of motorized control valve needed to provide a switchover from the new chilled water to the existing chilled water loop in case of an emergency, per Sheet Note No.1 on plan B01-M104CI. Contractor to submit 2 position valve for approval in shop drawings.

23. Are there any restrictions to placement of crane in the back of the building for hoisting materials onto roof of 4th floor? - Coordination will be required but the VA will aim to accommodate the needs of the project. Crane and obstructions shall be scheduled to be for as short of duration as possible.

24. Please provide details for the location and configuration of the emergency generator mufflers.

Will the mufflers be attached directly to the generators in a vertical position prior penetrating the roof as indicated on plan B23-M102? Generator muffler to be located in the generator room; attachment and positioning will be manufacturer dependent.

Email Questions:

1. The cart lift motors are not pictured, are they located in the shaft or out of the shaft?

Basement? 9th Floor? 10th Floor, elevator motor room.

2. Can a picture of the cart lift motors be provided? See attached cart lift motor photos.

3. Do all floors have a front and rear opening doors? Total of 54 doors and frames to be removed?

All floors have back-and-front access to the lifts. 6 doors on each floor and 10 floors; 60 total cart lift doors and frames to be removed; please refer to architectural drawings.

4. Are all the frames embedded in concrete? Yes