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TECHNICAL QUESTIONS AND
| SOLICITATION #: |
| 36C77625B0028 |
| RESPONSES TRACKING SHEET |
| PROJECT TITLE: |
| Replace Boiler Plant - Bronx Construction Project |
| # |
| CONTRACTOR QUESTION |
| VA RESPONSE |
| 1 |
| I am kindly seeking clarification regarding teaming agreement for this project. It stipulates that all SDVOB and JV or mentor protege will be accepted but are you accepting or taking teaming agreement in consideration? |
| Thank you for the clarifying question, at this time for this requirement we will not be considering a teaming agreement. |
| 2 |
| We request that the procurement strategy be revised to incorporate “brand name or equal” language under FAR 11.104, thereby opening the solicitation to fair and open competition. |
This modification would better serve the Government’s interests, as outlined in the advantages detailed below. We have also provided technical documentation in support of ABLE Company, Victory Energy, and Lockwood Products as approved and qualified sources for these systems.
Requested Action: We respectfully request that the current sole-source justification be reconsidered and amended to reflect a fair and open competitive process. Specifically, we urge the VA to revise the solicitation to include “brand name or equal” language in accordance with FAR 11.104, as there are multiple qualified and VA-compliant manufacturers whose products meet or exceed the performance and technical requirements of the project.
Please see Amendment 0002, posted on 8/4/25.
| 3 |
| Will the sign-in sheet from site visit be available in addendum? |
| Please see Amendment 0001, posted 7/28. |
| 4 |
| Please clarify if a superintendent can be a dual hat to cover the requirements of SSHO? |
| The Contractor shall provide a separate Superintendent and SSHO. |
| 5 |
| If no to the question above, will the SSHO need to be full-time for this project? |
| SSHO is required to be onsite while work is taking place. |
| 6 |
| Please clarify if a superintendent can be a dual hat to cover the requirements of QA/QC? |
| The Contractor shall provide a separate Superintendent and QCM. The QCM will have to be onsite while work is taking place. |
| 7 |
| If no to the question above, will the QA/QC need to be full time for this project? |
| QCM is required to be onsite while work is taking place. |
| 8 |
| Can a superintendent be a triple hat to cover the requirements of SSHO and QA/QC? |
| No. |
| 9 |
| Please confirm if tax should be included in our proposal? |
| Reference Special Notes Regarding FAR 52.229-3, Offerors are hereby notified that under New York Consolidated Laws, Chapter 60 - Tax, Article 28 - Sales and Compensating Use Taxes, Part 3 – 1116 (2), the United States of America, any of its agencies and instrumentalities, is immune from taxation when it is the purchaser, user, or consumer, or when it sells services or property of a kind not ordinarily sold by private persons. |
| 10 |
| Please confirm if the current prevailing wages will be consistent for the life of the project with no escalation? |
| The latest version of the construction wage rates prior to bid opening will apply for the length of the project. |
| 11 |
| Please confirm if a Project Labor Agreement is required. |
| The Use of Project Labor Agreement is required. Also refer to 52.222-33 Alternate II and 52.222-34 Alternate I. |
| 12 |
| Who is responsible for contracting the commissioning agent? |
| VA will hire 3rd party. |
| 13 |
| Is the use of temporary plastic wall panels (such as STARC panels) acceptable to meet ICRA requirements? |
| Yes. |
| 14 |
| Will shutdowns be required to be done during off hours or weekends? |
| It depends on the utility requested but if the interruption of that utility affects hospital operations, it will likely need to be during off-hours or weekends. |
| 15 |
| Will hydrostatic testing be sufficient on all pipe welds or will x-ray be required? |
| Specification section 23 21 11 states that non-destructive examination by radiographic examination is required of piping welds. |
| 16 |
| If X-ray is required, what percentage of welds and who will be responsible for the cost of testing? |
| Please see specification section 23 21 11. The contractor is responsible for the testing. |
| 17 |
| Please confirm if there is assumed asbestos on any piping that is to be removed whether underground or within manholes or buildings? |
| Sheet HA111 states to treat all Thermal System Insulation and mudded fittings in the work area as ACM. |
| 18 |
| Will boiler and chiller plant, mechanical rooms etc. be cleared of all stored debris prior to the contractor entering those areas? |
| Yes, all items belonging to the VA will be removed from the locations within the scope of this project, except for those locations that are still active or shared. In those locations, coordination with the VA is required. |
| 19 |
| Will a full-time fire watch be required during activities such as cutting and welding? How long after such activities are completed? |
| Any hot work, such as cutting and welding, requires a hot work permit from VA Safety. Fire watch would be required if the fire alarm or fire suppression system is disable for locations outside the construction site beyond working hours or if there are no personnel within the construction site when these systems are disabled. |
| 20 |
| Who is responsible for all coordination drawings if required? Who will act as the “Gate Keeper” |
| Coordination shop drawings are the responsibility of the contractor. The VA and the A/E consultants will review and approve/disapprove. |
| 21 |
| Will it be the responsibility of the mechanical contractor to lead the coordination process? |
| The general contractor is responsible for drafting and submitting coordination shop drawings by gathering all the information from each trade’s subcontractors. |
| 22 |
| Will the mechanical contractor be responsible for clash detection and reporting during the coordination process? |
| All trade subcontractors must report conflicts to the general contractor for resolution. |
| 23 |
| Will any existing glycol be required to be removed and disposed of by the contractor? If so, can the total volume of glycol be provided? |
| There are no glycol systems in the project. |
| 24 |
| Is there a particular vendor or contractor currently servicing and maintaining the Building Automation System or Temperature Controls System? |
| Yes, Independent Temperature Controls (ITC) Inc. is our BAS/BMS maintenance vendor. |
| 25 |
| Who is the vendor or contractor currently servicing and maintaining the Telecommunications System? |
| Telecommunications are solely managed by the VA’s Office of Information Technology (OIT). Coordination is with the VA is required for telecom work. |
| 26 |
| Who is the vendor or contractor currently servicing and maintaining the Fire Alarm System? |
| Our fire alarm vendor is Johnson Controls Simplex-Grinnell. |
| 27 |
| To allow sufficient time to review responses and prepare our bid we kindly request that you please extend the bid date. |
| The VA will not be extending the bid due date as this project must be awarded by the end of September 2025. |
| 28 |
| The following fixtures were included in the lighting schedule E-701, but not on the drawings. Please confirm they are not going to be used: |
A5 A5S E1 F05
S40SE
EM1
The light fixtures mentioned in the question are not being used for the final drawings and is a carryover from earlier iterations.
| 29 |
| Has the vent stack been tested or known to contain any ACM? |
| The breeching insulation has been tested, and it was non-ACM. The stack itself has not been tested. Although unlikely since the breeching wasn’t ACM, we would advise the contractor to treat the stack as ACM since we weren’t able to confirm it. |
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