Attachment 12 Technical Questions and Answers.docx

SOLICITATION # 36C77623R0138

PROJECT NAME: Relocate Women’s Health to Bldg 50 – Iowa City

TECHNICAL QUESTIONS AND VA RESPONSE TRACKING SHEET

ITEM

NO.

General note H on GC001 states that we shall not carry loads over any occupied building unless the top two floors are vacated. Can the VA confirm that during steel erection activities Level 1 and Level 2 of the existing building 50 will be unoccupied?

The VA has anticipated this need and will work with the contractor to ensure building 50 is not occupied any time crane lifts are occurring over the building.

GC001 provides for a location for construction dumpsters. On past Iowa City VA projects there have been communal dumpsters provided by the VA for waste, cardboard, and metal. Can the VA confirm if this project will have access to the use of those communal dumpsters?

Dumpsters are provided by the VA without any additional charge to the contractor. The dumpsters are located on the South side of the facility and waste is typically carted out to these dumpsters. If a Contractor requires the use of a chute for demo, a separate dumpster will have to be provided by the Contractor. Space is extremely limited, so the size and storage location of a Contractor provided dumpster will have to be coordinated with and approved by the COR

Sheet GC211 identifies a section of exterior wall that is to be standard construction in lieu of prefabricated panels. It is our assumption that that work would fall under a specification section for Cold-Formed Metal Framing, the specifications don’t have that spec section. Can the VA please provide a specification section for Cold-Formed Metal Framing if that is what is meant to govern this section of wall?

Section 05 40 00 – Cold Form Metal Framing will be added to the Specifications

It is unclear as to why the section identified as standard construction in lieu of prefabricated panels is identified as such. Can the VA provide clarification as to why this section cannot be completed as prefabricated panels similar to the rest of the building?

This section of the building exterior was designed as standard construction to match the existing floors below. Contractor shall follow the design as shown.

Sheet A104 contains notes in room 404 stating “Water activated flood control barrier by contractor.” There do not appear to be any details or references that clarify what is required at these locations. Can the VA please provide a section view and any other clarifications that are needed to properly estimate and construct these barriers?

Basis of Design information provided along with clarification of placement is shown on sheet A-114.

Keynote #3 on sheet A131 identifies a metal guard. There is very little information in the plans that identify what is wanted in this location. Can the VA please provide details for what is wanted, including dimensions, finish, attachment, etc.?

Basis of Design information provided along with clarification of placement.

Detail 4/A521 identifies metal trim at a transition in ceiling height between two sections of acoustical ceiling tile ceilings. There does not appear to be any specification for this metal trim in section 09 51 00. Can the VA please provide specifications on what is wanted for this metal trim?

The metal trim should be part of the ceiling system accessories. Basis of Design information provided.

Detail 6/A555 gives a section view of a proposed tie-off anchor. This detail seems to conform with the basis of design outlined in specification section 11 24 23. Detail 7/S502 details a tie-off anchor configuration that does not match the basis of design or the architectural detail. Can the VA please confirm which detail is to be followed for the installation of permanent tie-off anchors?

The specifications and basis of design govern. Installation should follow manufacturer’s recommendations.

Detail 1/A611 details the SXA wall types. There does not appear to be any detail that distinguishes between wall type S3A and S3B other than the STC rating difference. Can the VA please provide clarification on the difference in construction between S3A and S3B?

All S3B partitions will be renamed to F3A. S3B will be removed from 1/A611.

Detail 5/AI511 shows a wall protection detail. This detail does not appear to be referenced anywhere in the balance of the plan set. Can the VA please clarify where this condition occurs? Also, the scale on this detail appears to be incorrect.

Detail was updated, WP-1 locations are called out in Finish Schedule

Room 3C08 appears in the finish schedule for level 3 on sheet AI641, but it does not appear that any room on the floorplans is labeled 3C08. Can the VA please clarify what area is identified as 3C08?

3C08 is between Exam 338 and Exam 337.

3C08 surrounds Team Work Area – 317. Room tags have been added to A-103, A-113, A-123, A-153, AI143 and AI163.

Alternate No. 2 states to “only rough in for electrical in rooms 411, 413, 416, 416A, 418, 419, 420. Room numbers 413,416,416A,418,419 do not exist on the floor plans. Can the VA please correct these discrepancies in the alternate description?

Alternate No. 2 does not state what is in the question. The room numbers requested to be removed are not in Volume 1 - Addendum 2 Specifications sent to the VA on 12/21/2023 and posted to sam.gov on 01/03/2024

Alternate No.3 States to eliminate all gypsum board on interior faces of rooms on 3rd floor except rooms 314,312,324,310 and 309. What is being done with electrical, telecom fire alarm in areas not to receive gypsum board?

Utilities should still be run to these rooms and stubbed into their designed locations. VA to confirm.

These Competent Persons can have collateral duties as the subcontractor’s superintendent and/or work crew lead persons as well as fill more than one specialized CP role (i.e., Asbestos, Electrical, Cranes, & Derricks, Demolition, Fall Protection, Fire Safety/Life Safety, Ladder, Rigging, Scaffolds, and Trenches/Excavations).

However, the SSHO has be a separate qualified individual from the Prime Contractor’s Superintendent and/or Quality Control Manager with duties only as the SSHO

In reviewing Attachment 11 – Division Breakdown Pricing Sheet it appears the spreadsheet provided is set up as a full estimating spreadsheet for doing material and labor takeoffs for a project or task. The setup of this sheet is ill-suited for the communication of the cost breakdown from a prime contractor to an owner. Subcontractors will not share their full material and labor quantities and rates as that information is proprietary to their business operations and the volume of date that would need entered into the tabs of this spreadsheet serves as a severe deterrent to a prime contractor bidding this project. Furthermore, many of the material vendors will hold their bids until the last minute and entering this level of detail and still getting a bid submitted on time is not feasible. Can the requirement to submit Attachment 11 with the bid be eliminated?

The requirement for the Division Breakdown Pricing Sheet will not be eliminated.

Question on the acoustical ceiling, with Alternate # 7 Should rooms numbers 4c07, 4c11, and 4c12 also be part of the Alternate #7 deduct?

No, the corridors are not included in the Alternate.

Will there be a duct pressure class schedule? I am currently having no luck of this being listed on the floor plans. Reference the below snap shot.

23 31 00 2.2 - HVAC DUCTS AND CASINGS

Specification section 23 31 00 - 2.2.B should read as follows:

B. Duct Pressure Classification (unless otherwise noted on plans):

1. Supply ductwork upstream of terminal units 6” wg.

2. Downstream of terminal units 3” wg.

Return, exhaust, and outside air ductwork 3” wg.

Will there be a duct insullation schedule? As of right now the drawings are showing everything to be wrapped. Is that correct? Reference the below snap shot.

23 31 00 2.3 - HVAC DUCTS AND CASINGS

Refer to specification 23 07 11 – “HVAC and Boiler Plant Insulation” for duct insulation and liner requirements.

In specification section 01 91 00 General Commissioning Requirements paragraph 1.7.B includes a table of all systems to be commissioned. Included in this table are several components that are not relevant to this project (foundations, material delivery systems, fire pump [existing], sanitary waste interceptors, cathodic protection systems, water utilities, energy distribution utilities, etc.). Additionally, many of the components included in the table may be components included on the project but have not typically been commissioned by the VA on past projects. To properly bid this project, we need to know the scope of the commissioning on this project. Can the VA please provide an edited list of systems that are going to be commissioned on this project?

The commissioning goes through the contract with the architect and does not require anything from the contractor. No list will be provided.

If alternates (6 or 7)(fixtures not being set) come into play is there a certain non-temporary method preferred for capping (Sanitary) piping of a “in use” system?

Provide a cleanout as specified in specification section 22 13 00 – “Facility Sanitary and Vent Piping”.

Does the term “fixtures” in regard to alt #6 and #7 refer to all fixtures located on “plumbing fixture schedule” (P-601)?

“Plumbing fixtures” refers to the items listed on P-601 that are specified in specification section 22 40 00 – “Plumbing Fixtures”.

Current drawing does not show the removal of existing roof drain (if any exist) on current roof and the associated piping. It was mentioned at the walk through that work may be needed to be done on the second floor before continuing up to the new levels. Just wanted to make sure that the mechanical wasn’t responsible for removing any existing piping/fixtures since none are shown in the plumbing pages

There are no existing roof drains that will need to be demolished. The current two-story building utilizes scuppers and downspouts for roof drainage

From the third-floor plumbing plans you can slightly see where the existing piping on the existing second for is located for the sanitary lines, but the exact connection, exact height of existing and fitting (tee’s, combo’s, 90’s) needed to do so is not specified. The assumption is like that for all piping (HWS/HWR, CHS/CHR, LPS/LPR) the notes say to connect to existing piping, but not exactly with out knowing the size/height of the existing, and what fitting will be necessary to connect.

Per general note B on PW113, field verify existing conditions of piping in the second-floor ceiling before proceeding with work (height, connection type, required fitting, etc.)

Only plan MH113 has General Note D asking for the 2” insulation after the VAVs, plan MH114 does not have the same general note. Is the insulator to assume that the same insulation is to be used on the 4th floor as is used on the 3rd floor?

The insulation should be installed on the fourth floor as well. However, its usually called out in the spec rather the drawings, so it may be double specified.

See Question 40 for additional response information.

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