Attachment 1 - Technical Questions - CWM EHRM VA Response.pdf

SOLICITATION # 36C77623R0051

PROJECT NAME: EHRM Infrastructure Upgrades – Central Western Massachusetts

TECHNICAL QUESTIONS AND VA RESPONSE TRACKING SHEET

ITEM

NO. QUESTION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

1. Please provide additional time for this procurement.

EHRM projects of this size and complexity have had significantly longer procurement durations which benefit the VA by giving sufficient time for the contractors resulting in more accurate pricing.

We are on a tight timeline to get this requirement awarded for FY23 and do not recommend extending by more than a few days

2. Please confirm the superintendent shall not have any shared duties as a QCM, MEP Coordinator, SSHO or any other roles on the project.

Correct

3. Please confirm the SSHO shall not have any shared duties as a QCM, MEP Coordinator, Superintendent, or any other role on the project.

Correct

4. Please confirm the QCM shall not have any shared duties as a SSHO, superintendent but may serve as the MEP Coordinator.

Correct

5. Please confirm the requirements of the project management team. The requirements listed in Spec Section 01 00 00, sub part 1.4 are different than the requirements listed in the Solicitation Document.

There is no RCDD requirement for the Superintendent per the specifications, which is the only discrepancy between the two.

6. Please confirm that the Superintendent is required to be certified as an RCDD. This is an extremely unusual requirement and seems to be very unrealistic for prime contractors in the requested project roles. Typically, the VA requires on EHRM projects that the cable installer must have on staff a Registered Communication Distribution Designer (RCDD) certified by Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI).

There is no RCDD requirement for the Superintendent per the specifications, which is the only discrepancy between the two.

7. Please confirm that the QCM is required to be certified as an RCDD. This is an extremely unusual requirement and seems to be very unrealistic for prime contractors in the requested project roles. Typically, the VA requires on EHRM projects that the cable installer must have on staff a Registered Communication Distribution Designer (RCDD) certified by Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI).

Assumed QCM=CQC Manager - Correct

8. If the purpose is to have an RCDD involved in the project, can teams submit subcontractors who have an RCDD that will be involved with the project? Typically, the VA requires on EHRM projects that the cable installer must have on staff a Registered Communication Distribution Designer (RCDD) certified by Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI).

The VA is open to reviewing the subcontractor or third-party substitution for the CQC/RCDD and MEP coordinator, if they meet all other requirements.

9. With regards to the MEP coordinator, most prime contractors do not have a Master Electrician or Electrical Engineer on their staff. Can this be filled by a third party or subcontractor?

The VA is open to reviewing the subcontractor or third-party substitution for the CQC/RCDD and MEP coordinator, if they meet all other requirements.

10. With regards to the Communications Project Manager, can this role be filled by a subcontractor’s staff?

Correct – says this in 1.4.E

11. Typically the VA requires on EHRM projects that the cable installer must have on staff a Registered Communication Distribution Designer (RCDD) certified by Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI). Please confirm this will meet the intent of having an RCDD involved in the project.

No, BICSI is not an approved substitution to RCDD. BICSI may not have the required experience to meet the RCDD. RCDD would require a minimum of 5 years of experience with ICT commercial installations. BICSI do not necessarily meet that requirement. The VA would be willing to review an individual with the experience of an RCDD, but with the BICSI certification as a substitution.

12. Please confirm if the VA can and will be flexible on the site phasing plan provided in this procurement.

Within the EHRM restrictions and Data Center activation the VA will be receptive to new phasing ideas from the GC.

13. Please confirm that the contractor is to supply all materials testing for the project.

Correct. The GC will be responsible for all testing requirements as identified per the specifications.

14. Please confirm that all firestopping must be either installed by an FM global approved contractor, or a UL qualified firestop contractor certified.

Correct

15. Please confirm that the contractor is to include the services of a third party independent firestopping inspector in their bid.

Correct. Ensure this is going to be provided by location per phase.

16. Please confirm that firestopping installers accredited by a firestopping product manufacturer will not be approved by the VA unless they meet the FM global or UL qualifications referenced in section 07 84 00.

Correct

17. Please confirm that the VA will provide the contractor with a laydown area for dumpsters, toilets, storage, and trailers. We understand there is not much room onsite however without this area there will be an impact to cost and efficiency.

Correct.

18. Please provide a site plan showing the contractor trailer and laydown area(s).

See attachment for allocated long-term laydown areas.

19. Please confirm that contractor parking will be provided on site. This directly impacts pricing.

Per 1.5.E, there is parking available for the contractor on site. The contractor can park in their laydown area(s). There will be sufficient onsite contractor parking in Lot N. There will be limited contractor parking in the employee lots closer to the buildings, but the COR will work with the GC for this parking. All vehicles parking outside the laydown area must have VA Pass issued by VA Police in Building 25.

20. Please confirm if this project is tax exempt. If so, will the VA provide the documentation to the prime contractor after award?

Yes, this project is tax exempt, and the VA will provide documentation following award.

21. Please confirm the contractor will be required to submit post award the requested information that the telecommunications contractor shall be a BICSI licensed Contractor with a minimum of five (5) years’ experience installing and servicing systems of similar scope and complexity. The Contractor shall provide four (4) current references from clients with systems of similar scope and complexity which became operational in the past three (3) years. At least three (3) of the references shall be utilizing the same system components, in a similar configuration as the proposed system. The references must include a current point of contact, company or agency name, address, telephone number, complete system description, date of completion, and approximate cost of the project.

BICSI is not an approved substitution to RCDD.

BICSI may not have the required experience to meet the RCDD. RCDD would require a minimum of 5 years of experience with ICT commercial installations. BICSI do not necessarily meet that requirement. The VA would be willing to review an individual with the experience of an RCDD, but with the BICSI certification as a substitution.

All qualifications per specifications must be submitted as part of Submittal process.

22. Please confirm that the telecommunications contractor must submit copies of system manufacturer certification for all technicians. The Contractor shall provide proof project superintendent with BICSI Certified Commercial Installer Level 1, Level 2, or Technician to provide oversight of the project.

Correct

23. Please confirm cable installer must have on staff a Registered Communication Distribution Designer (RCDD) certified by Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI).

Correct

24. Please confirm this project must meet the buy American act requirements.

Yes, please reference FAR 52.225-12 NOTICE OF BUY AMERICAN REQUIREMENT in the solicitation.

25. Please confirm level 4 finish for all finished gypsum board including patches.

Correct. Level 4 is required for all visible GWB patch areas.

26. Please confirm painting unless otherwise noted is to be

(3) coats (prime, body, and finish) and will be from "seam to seam" or to a change of materials where walls are patched and refinished.

Correct.

27. Please confirm work in common hallways requires use of the control cube method i.e. cart with plastic covering and sealed connection to work site with hepa vacuum for vacuuming prior to exit.

This is an acceptable method to address ICRA requirements, but not sole method.

28. Can the data cables be allowed to be fished in where pathways are not large enough?

No, all cabling to be installed per specifications.

29. Does the VA have extra network equipment (switch gear, routers, UPS's) to keep the network connected during construction and cut over?

The GC is responsible for all equipment with exception to Servers, Switches, and Wireless Access Points. The VA will have limited additional switches to allow a sequential activation of new TRs.

30. Are we required to use plenum rated cabling for all areas? Can we use riser rated cabling in non-plenum spaces?

Per Specification 27 15 13-2.1.G, CMP shall be specified if any portion of the cable passes through an NEC-defined plenum. CMR shall be specified for all other applications. CMP may be used as a substitute for CMR.

31. Will flexible metal conduit be allowed? Where specified for use.

32. Please confirm, that all existing conduit stubs for data communications are 3/4".

Approximately, 50% of existing is conduit is ½”, with the balance ¾”.

33. Please confirm existing locations where 1/2" conduits need to be replaced.

GC to confirm conduit to be replaced based on fill requirements. Approximately, 50% of existing is conduit is ½”, with the balance ¾”. All conduits must meet sizing requirements per NEC. Also, see Note 11 on Technology Installation Notes on

DWG 0-T00

34. Please confirm the VA will be working and scheduling with the subsystem vendors on scheduling network outages.

VA will provide GC contact information to schedule relocation of systems. GC responsible for coordination. VA to facilitate support.

35. Please provide floor to finish heights and floor to structure heights for all buildings.

Most of the work is existing. Assume floor to deck height as 13ft in existing buildings.

Structural documents show the requested heights for new construction.

36. Is there a current roof warranty for each building? If so, please confirm who has the roofing warranty and provide point of contact.

Current Roof Warranty for Buildings 1, 5, 9 and 22 are the only ones expected to impact this project. Currently the B1 and 22 Roof OVERALL Warranty is with JD Rivet (413-543-5660) expiring 1-19-2025, limited warranty is with Saint – Gobain (800-233-8990) 10 years. Building 5 is not yet in warranty period as still under active construction but expected have a warranty with Firestone. Building 9 is a material warranty with Hilltop Slate (518-642-2270) for 75 years.

37. Is the contractor required to provide the licensing for the new Security Cameras? Or will the VA be providing that?

GC to provide licensing for all new devices.

38. Please confirm contractor include a 5% allowance per building for additional data drops beyond what are shown on the drawings.

Per note on Dwg. 0T-000, a 25% allowance is allocated.

39. Please confirm that this project is a competitive Service- Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside project and that any bonding provided by a contractor must be through a SDVOSB or SBA/VA APPROVED Mentor-Protege partnership under the SBA/VA Mentor- Protégé program in which the partnership has been approved prior to the bid date.

Yes, this project is a competitive SDVOSB set-aside and bonding must be through an SDVOSB or SBA/VA approved Mentor-Protégé partnership.

40. Please confirm that a large business not part of an SBA/VA APPROVED Mentor-Protégé team under the VA Mentor-Protégé program cannot provide a Payment & Performance bond for a SDVOSB.

Correct, a large business which is not part of an SBA/VA approved Mentor-Protégé partnership cannot provide a Payment and Performance bond for an SDVOSB. Bonding instruments must be issued for the firm submitting the bid, which will hold the government contract. Please reference VAAR 852.228-72, which states “Mentor firms are encouraged to assist protégé firms under VA's Mentor-Protégé Program in obtaining acceptable bid, payment, and performance bonds” however the Mentor firm cannot provide bonding in lieu of the Prime contractor.

41. Please confirm that a large business not part of an SBA/VA APPROVED Mentor-Protégé team under the VA Mentor-Protégé program cannot provide a bid guarantee for a SDVOSB.

Correct, a large business which is not part of an SBA/VA approved Mentor-Protégé partnership cannot provide a bid guarantee for an SDVOSB.

Bid guarantees must be for the firm submitting the bid, which will hold the government contract.

42. Please confirm contractor must provide a dust-tight 1-hour rated temporary construction wall with locking door to isolate the area of work when altering rated walls in the facility.

Refer to Specification 01 35 26. GC must maintain the existing building fire ratings and protection during construction, in any area where they need to modify sprinkler heads or above work ceiling that exposes the plenth. This ultimately is means and methods for the GC to determine how best to maintain the fire ratings and protection in place during renovations.

43. Please provide a current soils report for the campus. The Geotechnical Report was included as Appendix A to the Specifications but is also attached here for ease. For awareness there was also included as Appendix B a Subsurface Utility Engineering Project Summary Report.

44. Please confirm that the prime and subcontractors are to assume normal working hours except for utility disruptions, cutovers or any work in building 1, 2, 4 ,8, 9.

Correct. In addition, however, all noisy and vibration work that meets 01 57 15 must be off hours for all buildings. This is for pricing and planning purposes, some things do change in building usage and that will be discussed and confirmed with the VA prior to beginning of the work in those locations.

45. Outpatient and administration buildings were included in the off hours for work in the project document.

Please confirm.

All noisy and vibration work that meets 01 57 15 must be off hours for all buildings. Other work that doesn’t meet that criteria can be during business hours for those buildings except 1, 2, 4, 8, and 9.

46. Please define off hours, we assume off hours to be second shift work but need confirmation.

In general, off hours is considered 1700-0700 on weekdays, all weekend hours, and Federal Holidays. VA CWM does not allow work to be performed on Veterans Day or Memorial Day but work on other Federal Holidays can be performed in discussion with the VA.

47. Section 01 00 00 general requirements “alterations includes that the GC will provide a thorough survey of areas in which work is to be done with the COR and VA representative in attendance”. Please confirm that the VA staff will schedule and have the time to do these surveys without delaying the contractor as these thorough surveys are extremely time-consuming.

Yes, absolutely the VA team will support this effort as soon as the GC is ready.

48. Please confirm per section 01 00 00 that contractor is to provide a commercial photographer/subcontractor with 3 years’ experience and that indexing/navigation will use AutoCAD drawings to be interactive online. Typically this has been waived on most other EHRM projects as most facilities do not have the capabilities to utilize AutoCAD.

The station has AutoCAD capability.

49. Please confirm the pre-determined intervals in which the photographic documentation is to be done.

Per Specification 01 00 00-1.24, provide firm similar to MultiVista for photography in this section. Typical construction photos of a daily variety are the responsibility of the superintendent / CQM Manager and are uploaded to the construction management software as a normal course of construction operations.

50. Please provide a list of what work is to be included with the photographic documentation.

Quantity for pricing is included in Specification 01 00 00 1.24.B 14-17 for numbers of visits and expected number of photos. Intention beyond what is written is for them to take place at the beginning and end of all definable features of work.

51. Please confirm that contractor is to provide online hosting, security measures and redundant server back-up of the photographic documentation for the duration of the project.

Correct. The VA will also maintain photo documentation on their server as well.

52. Can the contractor QC manager serve as the photographer if they meet the requirement of having experience photographing construction projects. The term “Commercial Photographer” is vague, has no licensing requirements or any other information required.

Yes

53. Can the QC manager serve as the photographer for the demonstration and training recordings? The term “Commercial Photographer” is vague, has no licensing requirements or any other information required.

Yes

54. Please confirm contractor to provide (3) maxcell 3-pocket fabric innerducts (mxe86383) in each 4" conduit.

Correct. Refer to Note 3 on Drawing 0-T010 and Note 2 on Drawing 0-T011

55. Reflected ceiling plans have not been provided for corridor areas, please identify ceiling types in corridors.

Corridor types vary. Most of the corridor work are in ACT tiled areas or exposed ceilings.

56. Given the minimal scope of work, please waive the requirement for AISC certification for steel erection.

The VA will NOT waive AISC certification for steel erection.

57. If the contractor opts to work two shifts (Normal Working Hours and 2nd Shift) would we be required to have a full on-site staff (superintendent, QCM, SSHO, MEP Coordinator and Communications Project Manager) for both shifts? If we are required to have 2 full time staffs on site for both shifts would be a significant cost impact to the project.

A Superintendent must be always onsite when work is being performed. It is acceptable if the CQC (QCM), SSHO, MEP Coordinator and Communications PM are onsite for 1 shift, and will review work completed on another shift.

58. Are existing readers that are shown on the demolition plans to be reused as part of the new build out? Plus 30%?

Yes. Existing card readers can be reused.

Contingency for replacement of up to 30% non-functional card readers is to be included by GC, and number will be verified by COR.

59. Are the existing access control doors to remain and is the security door equipment to remain during the cabling of each door back to the new MDF/IDF closets?

No, unless noted otherwise on drawings. The VA understands that there will be a period during TR activation that the PACS and Security systems will be nonoperational.

60. Is it the intent to have a single recording system from Salient Systems designed specifically for the IT closets and surrounding areas? Or will there be a recording system per building for the IT areas?

The Salient security system is existing, with the workstation in Building 25. It is the VA intention to locate all the NVRs for this project in one location (either Dara Center or Building 25).

Scope includes, but is not limited to new camera licensing, updated site mapping of all buildings and camera layouts at existing Police workstations.

61. Spec section 282300 2.11 does not provide enough information in order to calculate storage required.

Please provide frame rate, how many days of storage, video quality, and how many hours of recording per day or will it be by motion.

Per 2.11F 32 GB is required for storage with a 60TB Hard Drive. The Basis of Design, Salient Plus meets these requirements and our requirements.

62. Does the project have Buy America requirements of any kind?

Yes, please reference FAR 52.225-12 NOTICE OF BUY AMERICAN REQUIREMENT in the solicitation.

63. There is a lightning protection spec section in the electrical specs, is this part of the Electrical scope of work? Which buildings get new lightning protection?

Per DWG 22A-EP102, Data Center 22A is only building to be provided lightning protection within the scope of this project.

64. Drawings 01EP01-03 indicate that a survey is to be completed to determine which conduits must be relocated to create a cable tray pathway. The scope of work is not discernable from the contract documents.

Please indicate an allowance to be carried by all electrical bidders for this scope of work.

GC to estimate in-depth, team site investigation of 400ft x 7ft, utility-dense basement ceiling. VA estimates relocation of the following – 2000ft of ¾” conduit containing 10x 12AWG wire; and 1600ft of 2-1/2” conduit containing 4x 4/0 wire and 1x 6AWG ground.

65. Do the card readers have to be replaced with new ones or are we reusing the existing ones?

Yes. Existing card readers can be reused.

Contingency for replacement of up to 30% non-functional card readers is to be included by GC, and number will be verified by COR.

66. Drawing 01-EP101 depicts a new 1E-ATS #3 next to EX.

ATS #3. Drawing 01-EP602 shows 1E-ATS#3 as existing to remain. Please define the scope of work.

The ATS#3 is existing to remain. No new ATS switch as part of project per DWG addendum.

67. Drawing 01-EP103 indicates a new panel E1E-LS in room B102. Drawing 01-EP602 shows E1E-LS as existing to remain. Please define the scope of work.

The Panel E1E-LS is existing to remain. No new Panel E1E-LS as part of the project per DWG addendum.

68. Can the Bid Date be extended? The bid submission date has been extended to Friday, July 28, 2023 at 1:00 PM ET

ITEM