36C77623R0096 0003 - Extension and RFI Answers - Columbia.pdf

5. PROJECT NUMBER (if applicable)

CODE 7. ADMINISTERED BY

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER

CODE

6. ISSUED BY

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NUMBER 3. EFFECTIVE DATE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED

PAGE OF PAGES

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED

BPA NO. 1. CONTRACT ID CODE

FACILITY CODE CODE

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

E. IMPORTANT:

is extended,

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning __________ copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

(REV. 11/2016)

is required to sign this document and return ___________ copies to the issuing office. is not, A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

15C. DATE SIGNED

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER

Contractor

16C. DATE SIGNED

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER 16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

STANDARD FORM 30 PREVIOUS EDITION NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

(Type or print) (Type or print)

(Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

(Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code)

(If other than Item 6)

(Specify type of modification and authority)

(such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.)

(If required)

(SEE ITEM 11)

(SEE ITEM 13)

(X)

CHECK

ONE

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

1 6

544-20-107

36C776

Department of Veterans Affairs Program Contracting Activity Central

6100 Oak Tree Blvd, Suite 490 Independence OH 44131

36C776

Department of Veterans Affairs Program Contracting Activity Central

6100 Oak Tree Blvd, Suite 490 Independence OH 44131

To all Offerors/Bidders

36C77623R0096

08-09-2023

X

X X

Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 2:00 PM ET

X 1 (ONE)

The purpose of this amendment is to provide the following:

1. Extend the date and time for submission of proposals to Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 2:00 PM ET

2. Provide the government's responses to technical questions submitted by August 2, 2023 at 1:00 PM ET (See Below)

Maria Rodeffer Contracting Officer

SOLICITATION # 36C77623R0096

PROJECT NAME: EHRM Infrastructure Upgrades Construction Columbia, SC

TECHNICAL QUESTIONS AND VA RESPONSE TRACKING SHEET

ITEM

NO.

QUESTION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

1. Is an RCDD to be provided for both Division 27 & 28? It currently appears to only be a Division 28 requirement.

Add these two Contractor Qualifications requirements to Section 270500:

1. The Contractor shall provide proof project superintendent with BICSI Certified Commercial Installer Level 1, Level 2, or Technician to provide oversight of the project.

2. Cable installer must have on staff a Registered Communication Distribution Designer (RCDD) certified by Building Industry Consulting Service International.

The staff member shall provide consistent oversight of the project cabling throughout design, layout, installation, termination and testing.

2. Are we to provide an allowance of Cat 6A cables for anything missed during design?

See drawing sheet TG001, Telecom General Note #43.

3. Division 27 13 23 Para 2.2.F identifies OS2 fiber shall be “loose tube gel-filled”, there is no “gel-filled” indoor/outdoor plenum rated fiber optic cable. On other EHRM sites this has been modified to “dry-tape” construction to meet indoor/outdoor plenum requirements. Is dry-tape construction acceptable?

Remove the requirement for “gel-filled” cable.

Ensure all other requirements are met.

4. Division 27 16 19 identifies patch cord requirements but not quantities, can you please provide a quantity of cords to be provided for Cat 6A and Fiber Optic cable systems?

See drawings

The contractor shall provide (1) patch cord for every wired port within each rack/cabinet.

For example, if there is a 48-port fiber patch panel in a rack/cabinet the contractor shall provide a patch cord to cover all 48 ports. If there is a 48-port copper patch panel, the contractor shall provide 48 copper patch cords. Contractor shall assume that every patch cord needs to reach any location within the associated cabinet. There will be no patch cords that leave one rack/cabinet to go to another. All patching will be contained within individual racks/cabinets.

ITEM

NO.

QUESTION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

5. With the Eaton 5kW Blade UPSs being discontinued does the VA have an alternate UPS approved? The Eaton UPSs as the basis of design will not be available to support this project.

The Eaton Blade UPS is the Basis of Design.

The contractor shall utilize the specifications for that UPS to select an equal UPS that will be reviewed for approval during the submittals phase of the project. The VA was also recently informed that Eaton UPSs will be available again.

6. Drawing TG002 identifies the site plan, are the primary and redundant cables being installed within the same duct banks? There does not appear to be multiple duct banks around the campus only diverse paths into the buildings. Please see below, I identified in red lines diverse pathways into the facility, but the green lines appear to be shared duct banks. Image Below

Each facility has a primary and redundant diverse path. See table “Building OSP Cable Routing” on sheet TG002. Pathways may be shared for different facilities.

The OSP pathway designed is a big ring. The pathway is designed so that each building can have two diverse and redundant fiber feeds that do not ever need to cross paths in the same segment of duct bank. There are not two separate duct bank systems. There is one duct bank system that provides fully diverse and redundant pathways for two separate fiber feeds to each building. The diverse and redundant fibers to each building should never be installed in the same section of duct bank.

7. After review of the specifications, we have reviewed Division 28, however, I do not see any security devices on the electrical or telecom drawings. Is there any electronic security needs on this project?

Door security is shown on the telecommunication drawings – enlarged plans and elevations. SSTV cameras are shown on telecommunications drawings – floor plans.

There are many security devices indicated on the design drawings. For example, look at Building 5 sheet TN400. There are card readers, electric locks, rex, BMS on the TR door. Also, please look at Building 5 sheet TN005.1. In TR 109B it shows the PCU (premise control unit for security) and a camera within that room. This is just an example but there are security devices shown for every building in a similar fashion.

NO.

QUESTION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

8. Are fiber optic cables to be routed in conduit with Maxcell, innerduct, or cable tray systems internal to the buildings? Also, TG002 Note 5, is MaxCell to be installed in the corridor conduits?

As shown on the drawing package, all backbone fiber connections are required to be installed in conduit. There are redundant and diverse conduit pathways for every TR in every building. No fiber shall be installed in the corridor cable tray that serves as the main horizontal pathway for Cat 6A cabling.

All fiber is to be installed within fabric mesh innerduct within the conduits. Only install fabric innerduct in conduits that are used for fiber (no fabric mesh innerduct in cable trays as no fiber will be in corridor cable trays).

9. Specification Section 01 32 16.15 para 1.4 Computer Produced Schedules: A. “The contractor shall provide the schedule and all updates in Microsoft Project 2016 or later format.”

Request: Are schedules produced in Primavera P-6 acceptable?

Delete the reference to Microsoft Project 2016. Ensure all other specification requirements are met.

10. Page 13 of 69 in the solicitation states, Offerors shall include a draft schedule showing durations in calendar days that meets the contract requirements. The Contract Requirements currently require that the job be completed within 1 year which is not feasible even if we are able to have multiple crews working in various buildings/areas and all phasing is eliminated from the job. If we were to provide a more realistic schedule showing the actual time to complete the work required whether it be 3, 4, or 5years...will our bid be kicked out because we aren't showing a one-year duration. If this is the case, please provide a clear response as we would not intend to bid the job at year.

The period of performance, POP, is extended from 12 months to 18 months from notice to proceed. Any proposals received showing a POP longer than 18 months will not be considered.

11. Is the project budget and independent government estimate that was completed for this project based on a one-year overall project duration? If so, the project will most likely be well over the VA's budget and IGE. Please verify if the VA's budget and/or IGE is based on an overall duration of 1 year

The cost estimate was based on the design as an 18-month duration.

NO.

QUESTION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

12. Due to the quick turnaround time and the complexity and scope of the project, will the government consider extending the due date for bid submission?

The bid submission date has been extended to Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 2:00 PM ET

13. Reference: Section 27 05 00-32 2.2 Equipment Identification: Will a nameplate schedule be provided for equipment identification, citing “Provide laminated black phenolic resin with white core nameplates with minimum 6mm (1/4 inch) high engraved lettering?

The VA/DOR will provide naming convention/requirements for how things will need to be labeled. The contractor will then apply this convention to all equipment and provide a submittal for approval prior to installing labeling. This exchange will happen post award.

14. We realize the VA has the goal of getting this project priced and awarded prior to year-end which is why we have an extremely tight window in putting together our pricing. We request that the bid date be extended significantly so that a better value can be provided to the VA and the Veterans. Having such a tight window to submit a bid of this magnitude and of this complexity will decrease competition and increase prices from everyone. If the goal is to obtain the best value for the project, the bid should be extended

The bid submission date has been extended to Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 2:00 PM ET

15. General/Ladder Rack : As noted in the drawing spec some IT rooms call out 12”x4” ladder racks and others that call for 18”x4” ladder racks. The spec refers to all ladder racks nominally being 12”x4” ladder racks. Would using all 18”x4” or 12”x4” ladder rack be acceptable?

Some new Telecom Rooms are not perfect squares. In some instances, an 18” wide ladder rack is too big and there won’t be any room for the light fixtures to be installed between runs of ladder runways. In some other spaces a 12” wide ladder runway is not going to be large enough to support the quantity of cables coming into the room.

Install as designed.

16. Who is responsible for moving furniture to access work area outlets?

Contractor should include in their scope, that they are to move and replace furniture to its original positions as needed to gain access to data outlets.

17. Concealment of telecommunication room windows. Per section 6.2.2 of PSDM, attach 7-mil anti-shatter film. This film shall also be blackout.

18. Building 8 telecommunication room ceiling may contain lead paint or asbestos mastic/glue.

Bidders are advised that the B8 TR ceiling may contain hazardous material and shall be surveyed and abated as necessary.

Image corresponding to Question #6 Columbia

End of Document

ITEM