S06 - Amendment 0003 - Tech Questions VA Responses - Martinsburg.pdf

TECHNICAL QUESTIONS AND SOLICITATION #: 36C77625B0033

RESPONSES TRACKING SHEET PROJECT TITLE:

Reno/Expand 47-Bed Domiciliary Pod B –

Martinsburg VAMC

# CONTRACTOR QUESTION VA RESPONSE

1 Reference: Spec 01 00 00 page 11 of 1254

Item D. Before placement and installation of work subject to tests by testing laboratory retained by Department of Veterans Affairs, the Contractor shall notify the COR in sufficient time to enable testing laboratory personnel to be present at the site in time for proper taking and testing of specimens and field inspection.

Such prior notice shall be not less than three workdays unless otherwise designated by the COR.

a. All testing (except asbestos abatement final clearance air tests) shall be the responsibility of the Contractor to procure third party testing, for payment for the testing, and for scheduling the testing. All test reports shall be copied to the VA COR. Item B States Asbestos abatement final clearance air tests and sampling materials for asbestos will be by a certified testing firm and a certified testing laboratory and will be procured and paid for by the VA. Presently Boggs Environmental is under contract for this testing.

QUESTION: Item A & B are conflicts with each. Please confirm if the contractor is responsible for the final asbestos abatement final clearance air tests?

Item D in 01 00 00 is a general comment covering any possible work that may be subject to tests by a testing laboratory retained by VA and is a requirement for providing 3+ workdays notice for such work.

For asbestos testing/monitoring, the third party Industrial Hygienist for the VA will monitor and provide the final clearance air tests to VA COR to provide to contractor. This does not remove or replace the requirement for abatement contractor to also have an industrial hygienist on site monitoring for the contractor (below).

02 82 11 – 1.6 – 1. Personnel: This section provides requirements for contractor personnel, which does include a contractor professional industrial hygienist and industrial hygienist technicians responsible for compliance with the specifications and all applicable requirements.

02 82 11 – 1.6 – 1. – c. provides the minimum qualifications for contractor, contractor’s competent person, contractor professional industrial hygienist and abatement personnel.

2 Reference: 01 00 00 page 48 of 1254

Section 1.26 Government-Furnished Property. Sheet AER501 note 6 list a small amount of Toilet Accessories items that will GFCI.

Please provide any additional GFCI equipment?

Drawing is correct. From that list, the only items that are GFCI are toilet tissue dispenser, paper towel dispenser and soap dispenser. All other items are CFCI.

3 Reference: Spec 01 00 00 page 50 of 1254

Section 1.27 /E Contractor shall employ the services of an installation engineer, who’s is an authorized representative of the manufacturers.

Sheet PD101, PD01, involves a relocated flow meter, sheet ED102 involves relocating a j-box, sheet TK101 involves a relocated wireless access point.

Please confirm if the requested installation engineer is required for the complete mechanical and electrical service installation? Additionally, is this engineer fulltime, what’s the qualifications.

1.25 - E. Contractor shall employ services of an installation engineer, who is an authorized representative of the manufacturer of this equipment to supervise assembly and installation of existing laundry equipment, required to be relocated.

This spec is specifically for relocation of laundry equipment.

PD101 Key Note 6. Remove existing washing and dryer machines and turn over to the VA.

AE902 shows “existing washing machines and dryers (2 ea) to be reinstalled by contractor.

Change above for AE902 and any mention of existing washers/dryers being reinstalled to “new washing machines and dryers will be VA furnished & contractor installed”.

-Installation engineer only required for the installation of the new washers & dryers.

4 Reference: Pandemic Exhaust Ductwork

Is the pandemic exhaust air duct that is called out on the drawings required to be any special material such as Stainless Steel or Aluminum, Etc?

No. This is an exhaust duct and is not required to be any special material.

5 Given the short period of time between RFI submittal and the date bids are to be received, may we have an extension on the bid due date?

Bid Due date is EXTENDED to August 20, 2025, 12:00PM EDT

6 If a bid extension is considered, could a 2nd round of RFIs be considered? No

7 There is a note on page GI300 under coordination, 3 that sites not disrupting adjacent areas. Confirming the interior and LOD areas are not to remain operational and that those spaces will be given over for complete renovation and construction.

-For this project, the “adjacent areas” would be defined as the other occupied buildings ~ A-Pod, C-Pod, D-Pod, E-Pod and any areas outside the construction fence.

-It is also to require that any utility outages do not disrupt the adjacent areas, or create as little disruption as possible. Specifically for utility outages, depending on the extent of disruption to adjacent areas and possible other buildings affected, these may be required to be done off-hours (noted in general requirements spec) to minimize disruption.

-This also covers closing down any occupied corridors outside the construction area for possible utility tie ins and can be discussed in the field for the extent of disruption/closure.

-B-Pod, specifically, interior & exterior (extent of exterior construction fence containment can be discussed to give adequate work area inside for contractor while not impacting possible adjacent buildings/walking paths/etc…).

8 W1, W2, GP1, GP2: Defined in the VA Physical Security and Resiliency Design Standards Data Definitions. What is the threat-based blast rating the windows need to achieve?

Blast resistant windows requirements are contained in specification 08 56 53.

08 56 53 – 2.1 – A. – 1. – b. States “design threat W1 at the standoff distance not to exceed pressure and impulse associated with GP1 threat for Life Safety Protected Buildings.”

9 On drawing S516 detail 1 there is mention of blast framing around typical window opening (existing building). Is this indicating that the framing is existing or to be added to existing?

-Unless something is listed as “existing to remain”, mentions of “existing building” means the current building vs. the new building addition to be constructed/attached.

-This detail is requiring this blast framing to be installed by contractor for window openings in the existing building.

-There should also be a detail for blast framing for the new building addition.

10 Please confirm whether Detail 1 on sheet S515 applies to the new addition? Other window details, such as Detail A3 on sheet AE304, clearly show steel reinforcement. Should we interpret this to mean that all windows—both in the existing building and the new addition—are to receive the same steel-reinforced framing?

All windows that are part of this project shall receive steel reinforcing per structural details on sheet S515.

11 Is there a basis of design for the mechanical equipment? Yes. M-601 lists basis of design for mechanical equipment. Please re-send if there is specific equipment you do not see a BOD for.

12 Is there a basis of design for plumbing fixtures or a fixtures schedule with manufacturer and models, finish type and color?

P-001 lists basis of design for some plumbing equipment. Any plumbing fixtures with no basis of design will be governed by plumbing fixtures specification.

Change: For plumbing fixture P-604 electric water coolor spec 22 40 00 – 2.10 Dispenser, Drinking Water. Change from water fountain with bottle filler option to a bottle fill only model. BOD from past projects is Elkay LZ8WSSSMC.

13 What, if any, are the liquidated damages for this project? No liquidated damages for this project.

14 In Spec Section 01 35 26.1.7 under Safety Requirements it states that the SSHO cannot hold any other duties and must maintain onsite presence at all times. Can the VA confirm that this must be adhered too?

General Note: Recommend thoroughly reading specifications 01 35 26-Safety Requirements as well as 01 45 00-Quality Control.

The SSHO and Superintendent and Quality Control Manager must be separate persons.

There are also requirements for subcontractor competent persons.

There are also requirements for certified safety professional conducting random monthly site safety inspections.

15 Can the VA confirm that all equipment/furniture/etc will be moved out of the space prior to the GC mobilizing onsite and everything that remains within the construction boundaries is to be disposed of?

VA COR will give notification for any VA departments to remove all items that will be kept.

Site walkthrough with COR & contractor will verify if all items have been removed. If, for some reason, items have not been removed by contractor mobilization, specific items will be clearly identified between COR and contractor to not be disturbed or moved to a safe location by COR, if possible, until they can be removed by responsible VA personnel. Any items left after this are to be disposed of/recycled/etc…by contractor.

16 At the walk through there was a door we couldn’t enter that was marked do not enter COVID area. Can the VA confirm whether this entryway will be cleared of COVID-related restrictions, and that it will not impact project accessibility?

This was simply a wall/door built in the corridor for VA use during COVID. Corridor on both sides of this wall were walked during site visit.

During the walkthrough, we walked the entire building (both sides of temporary COVID wall).

COR can check with shops if they want to recoup any hardware/door from this wall (and any other existing hardware/equipment) if M&R shops do not want to remove/keep anything it will all be for removal by contractor.

17 Sheet AE501 calls out in the toilet accessories legend ceiling mounted curtain track. Can the VA kindly provide the basis of design for the curtains and track?

No BOD for this. Shower curtain track is specified in spec section 10 21 23.

18 Sheet AE901 under Equipment Schedule calls out item R6800 refrigerator. Can the VA kindly provide the basis of design and or cubic feet of the refrigerator

Refrigerators provided and installed by VA.

19 Please confirm that Item 0001 in the Price/Cost Schedule is for the entire scope of the project, inclusive of the addition, and the various other cost/price items are to be represented as deducts from the base scope.

Yes.

20 Has an erosion and sediment control plan already been obtained from the appropriate AHJ and if not, is it the Contractor's responsibility to obtain one?

Stormwater management plan & permit are contractor’s responsibility to obtain and keep updated/current.

21 Referencing Drawing E-601 single line diagram Building E; Panels MDP and EDP are noted as being located in Building E. Review of a campus map (not provided) shows a Building 502E adjacent to our building being renovated but could also yield a 500 LF conduit run from our new panels located in Electric Room B-167. Could the following be provided.

• Length required to MDP

• Length required to EDP

• If unknown what allowance length would you want to be provided

The location distance can be determined by referring to sheet FA100.

The fire alarm panel is located in Room E-121 which is where the electrical panels are located.

22 What is the designation and or specification of the accent tile in the restrooms?

Replace designation SE1 with GT1 (Glass Tile Mosaic). Refer to spec section 09 06 00 for basis of design.

23 Referencing AE-307; electrical closet B-109 and Biomed B132 show LVT- 1 on drawings but call of C1 on the finish schedule. Please clarify the correct finish for each room.

Mechanical/Electrical/Biomed (Utility spaces) should be sealed concrete.

24 Is PT-1 used for the shower floors? Yes. See AE501 detail F7. Ensure proper slope to drain.

25 B-131, B-144, B-158, and B-138 all call for PT4 as the floor finish and base. This is a 12"x24" tile. Is the base to be 24" as well? If so, is a schluter metal edge at the top of the base tile required?

For the base-to-floor joint, provice an alumimnum coved insert similar to detail F15/AE501. At the baser-to-RWC transition, provide a continuous Schluter aluminum edge strip at top of the base.

26 B-127 shows LVT1 on drawings but the finish schedule calls for CPT1.

Please clarify the correct finish for this room.

Provide CPT1 in room B-127 per finish schedule.

27 AE307 shows B-101 to have LVT3 floor finnish but the finish schedule calls for CPT1. Please clarify the correct floor finish for this room.

Provide CPT1 in room B-101 per finish schedule.

28 What , if any, is the required amount of attic stock for carpet, ACT, LVT, and tile?

I see no requirement for an amount of attic stock. Materials should be ordered with “usual and customary” waste percentage included. Any welded sheet flooring should be ordered with adequate material to minimize cross-seams. Any leftover materials can be turned over as attic stock for M&R shops, but does not seem to be required.

29 Are Items E1 and E2 on AE902 Contractor Furnishes/ Contractor Installed?

VA will be providing new washers and dryers. 4 washers and 4 dryers for rooms B-100B and B-118. (2 ea. In each room).

30 Please confirm that the third-party commissioning agent is not under the Contractor.

3rd party commissioning will be procured by VA if funding allows. If no 3rd party commissioning, all documentation called to be provided to commissioning agent will be provided to VA COR.

31 Please confirm that special inspections are to carried as part of the Contractor's scope.

01 45 35 Special Inspections specification is not included in contract.

Tests & Inspections required in 01 45 00 are contractor’s scope, as well as any witnessed tests/inspections required in individual specifications.

***Clarification: Door Frame Specification***

Hollow Metal Door Frames – Spec 08 11 13 – Are to be full profile welded and with hospital stops