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TECHNICAL QUESTIONS AND
| SOLICITATION #: |
| 36C77626B0021 |
| RESPONSES TRACKING SHEET |
| PROJECT TITLE: |
| EHRM Chicago DDPO Construction Project |
| # |
| RECEIVED |
| ANSWERED |
| CONTRACTOR QUESTION |
| VA RESPONSE |
| Will the government pay for materials stored per VAAR 852.232-70 and FAR 52.232-5? We have experienced PCAC Contracting Officers refusal to pay for materials stored on site during these periods of material shortages and the need to expedite procurement of materials when available to meet schedule obligations and prevent project delays. This is an important factor in preparing Price proposals. |
| In accordance with contract terms and conditions, Contractors should not submit an offer assuming the Government will approve monthly progress payments for material and/or equipment procured by the Contractor and stored on the construction site, as space is available, or at a local approved location off the site. Payment of stored materials and/or equipment is at the Contracting Officer’s discretion and will be handled on a case-by-case basis during the contract and under such terms and conditions as the Contracting Officer approves. |
| Please confirm that any designers or consultants who provided professional services for the construction documents, including reports, are precluded from pursuing this project as a Prime contractor, Mentor-Protégé partner, or subcontractor. |
| Any member of the design team of this project is not permitted to be part of the construction team. |
| Please confirm that this project is a competitive SDVOSB set-aside and that any bonding provided by a contractor must be through a SDVOSB or SBA/VA APPROVED Mentor-Protégé partnership under the SBA/VA Mentor-Protégé program in which the partnership has been approved prior to the due date. |
| This project is set aside for SDVOSBs. The bonding requirements must be met for this project per the applicable clauses, provisions, and instructions to offerors. |
| 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 or a payment & performance bond for a SDVOSB. |
| This project is set aside for SDVOSBs. The bonding requirements must be met for this project per the applicable clauses, provisions, and instructions to offerors. |
| When visiting the link, I noticed the project was “set aside for Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business” – does this mean that General Contractors cannot bid the project unless they meet that requirement? |
| Yes, this project is a 100% set-aside for SDVOSBs. The prime contractor submitting the offer must be certified as such in the SBA VetCert database. |
| Is this project tax exempt? If the project is sales tax exempt will the government/VA provide a sales tax exemption certificate? |
| See Special Note regarding FAR 52.229-3 Federal, State, and Local Taxes in the solicitation. It is solely the responsibility of the offeror to include all state and local sales or use taxes for construction materials, and all other applicable taxes, in their bid or proposal price. Please see page 38 of the solicitation. |
| Will the Government provide detailed written requirements for contractor badging? Please clarify the process for obtaining PIV badges, including required documentation, background checks, and estimated processing timeframes. |
| Regardless of affiliation, everyone working within VA facilities or requiring access to VA information systems requires a VA PIV Card. PIV badging requirements can be found at https://www.osp.va.gov/How_To_Get_A_VA_ID_Badge.asp |
Immediately after the bonds are provided to the Government, the contractor shall immediately start working with the identified COR at the site to commence the VA PIV process for all known contractor personnel that will be working the project. All contractors must have a PIV Card in order to work on site.
| How soon after award is NTP expected to be issued? |
| The Government anticipates issuance within 90 calendar days after award. |
| Will the VA allow deviations to Buy American Act if the noted products are not available? |
| The process of requesting exceptions to the Buy American Act is detailed in the provision at FAR 52.225-12, Notice of Buy American Requirement—Construction Materials Under Trade Agreements, and the clause at FAR 52.225-11 Buy American—Construction Materials under Trade Agreements, in the solicitation. Any items not compliant must be specifically listed in the offer. |
| Due to current potentially significant tariffs being placed on the importation of building materials such as wood or steel by the current Presidential Executive Branch, if a tariff is placed after bid time and before award will the government consider a price escalation on a contract value for products such as steel or wood should the executive branch levee tariffs effecting such materials? Most of these materials would still have been Buy American compliant as the tariffs would increase pricing on all steel or wood materials, regardless of origin. |
| This will be awarded as a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract and all escalation should be factored in your FFP. Additionally, FAR 52.216-4 “Economic Price Adjustment – Labor and Material” is not included in the solicitation and will not be added. |
| Do panelboards with available spare capacity exist for feeding each of the seven (7) new emergency power outlets that are required (Yes or No)? |
| Yes |
| If the answer to the Question above is “NO”, please provide new panelboard detail requirements AND where each new panelboard is to be installed (i.e., Building, Floor, and Electrical Room location). |
| N/A |
| Do each of the existing panelboards feeding the new emergency power outlets have EXISTING spare breakers already installed and available to support the seven (7) additional outlet circuits required (Yes or No)? |
| Yes |
| If the answer to the Question above is “NO”, is the Contractor required to provide new breakers (Yes or No)? |
| N/A |
| What voltage (120V, 220V, etc.), what type (DPDT, SPST, etc.) and what size (20A, 30A, etc.) breakers are required for each new emergency power branch circuit? |
| N/A |
| Does each of the seven (7) new emergency power outlets require individual homerun circuits run back to an emergency panelboard? |
| Emergency power outlets would require homerun circuits if receptacle is going to draw more than or equal to 16A. |
| Do panelboards with available spare capacity exist for feeding each of the thirty-four (34) new normal power outlets to be installed as part of this project (Yes or No)? |
| Yes |
| If the answer to the Question above is “NO”, please provide new panelboard detail requirements AND where each new panelboard is to be installed (i.e., Building, Floor, and Room location). |
| N/A |
| Do each of the existing panelboards feeding the new NORMAL power outlets have EXISTING spare breakers already installed and available to support the additional outlet circuits required (Yes or No)? |
| Yes |
| If the answer to the Question above is “NO”, is the Contractor required to provide new breakers (Yes or No)? |
| N/A |
| What voltage (120V, 220V, etc.), what type (DPDT, SPST, etc.) and what size (20A, 30A, etc.) breakers are required for each new NORMAL power branch circuit? |
| N/A |
| Does each of the thirty-four (34) new outlets require individual homerun circuits run back to a panelboard? |
| If the receptacle is going to draw more than or equal to 16A, then the receptacle shall be connected on a dedicated circuit in a dedicated homerun conduit |
| Many of the locations identified in the SOW are in patient rooms and sterile areas. Where the SOW calls for new outlets to be installed and conduit is to be concealed behind walls, can the Contractor utilize flex conduit to reduce opening walls (which causes more airborne dust, debris and destroys existing wall textures) (Yes or No)? |
| Yes |
| On Attachment 4 - LIST OF END USER DEVICES, there are eighty-one (81) line items located in thirty-one (31) different hospital departments/areas where work is to be performed. What is the ICRA Category and Class for each of these thirty-one (31) departments/areas that the Contractor will be expected to adhere to? |
| Low to high risk areas including but not limited to offices areas, breakrooms, waiting areas, laboratories, general pharmacy work zones are considered as Level II. These areas may be worked on during the day, given that they do not interfere with service providers. |
Higher risk areas including but not limited to OR, GI, Endoscopy, Dialysis, Radiology Interventional Imaging are considered as Level III. These areas may be performed after hours/weekends.
Refer to PRA/ICRA Attachments for additional reference information.
| On Attachment 4 – LIST OF END USER DEVICES, it states that there are ten (10) power strips identified by local FMS/Engineering Services that “could” be used instead of adding new power outlets. What is the Contractor’s Scope of Work for these ten (10) power strips (i.e., is Contractor providing and installing?) as it states that the VA “could” use these? |
| Not in scope. |
| On Attachment 4 – LIST OF END USER DEVICES, it states that there are ten (10) power strips identified by local FMS/Engineering Services that “could” be used instead of adding new power outlets. Is the Contractor allowed to use these ten (10) power strips instead of installing new power outlets (Yes or No)? |
| Not in scope. |
| If the answer is “YES” to the above question, which new outlets identified within the SOW get removed when we use the ten (10) power strips? |
| N/A |
| What model number are the Oracle Connectivity Engines (OCE)? |
| Provide justification of relevance to project. |
| Who is responsible for providing the OCEs (VA or Contractor)? |
| VA |
| Who is responsible for providing the OCE power cords (VA or Contractor)? |
| VA |
| Who is responsible for providing the OCE mounting brackets? |
| VA shall provide brackets for contractor to install. |
| Is the Contractor responsible for providing any specialty cabling for the OCEs? |
| No |
| Upon installation, who is responsible for powering up and starting each OCE (VA or Contractor)? |
| VA |
| Where an existing data drop outlet exists in the space near a newly mounted OCE, who is responsible for providing the ethernet cabling that runs from the OCE to the data drop outlet (VA or Contractor)? |
| VA |
| Do the Tracking Boards require ethernet connections (Yes or No)? |
| Yes |
| Where an existing data drop outlet exists near where the new tracking boards are to be installed, who is responsible for providing the ethernet cabling that runs from the Tracking Boards to the data drop outlet (VA or Contractor)? |
| VA |
| Because much of this work is being performed within patient and sterile areas of the hospitals, is the Contractor expected to include costs for their crew(s) to work during weekends, evenings and nights (Yes or No)? |
| Yes |
| Do any of the areas above ceilings, or behind walls where conduit is to be run have asbestos containing materials (ACMs)? |
| 8455 has asbestos-containing transite cement sheets behind radiators on the northeast corner of the room. While it is not expected to be disturbed, exercise caution when installing conduit and avoid. |
See asbestos drawings for reference.
| Is the Contractor required to employ an Illinois Department of Public Health (DPH)-licensed asbestos inspector to survey (NESHAP Inspection) the work areas for the presence of asbestos-containing materials before any demolition work (i.e., opening of walls for conduit installation on new receptacles)? |
| No |
| Do any of the walls located in the areas of work have lead-containing paint? |
| Station is not aware of areas with lead-containing paint. |
| Who is responsible for abatement of ACMs or lead paint (where we are demolishing/opening walls) (VA or Contractor)? |
| Contractor to notify VA of any suspected asbestos. VA will test/abate as needed. |
| It appears that much of the work is being performed in patient areas. When we complete the work in an area/room, is the VA responsible for performing terminal cleaning (Yes or No)? |
| Yes |
| When patching and painting walls that have been opened for conduit and boxes, does the VA expect each wall to be painted corner-to-corner? |
| VA does not expect wall to be painted corner-to-corner, but contractor is responsible for patching and painting to match existing. |
| Where above ceiling space is too tight (space not available) for additional conduits, may the contractor utilize j-hooks to support the CAT6a horizontal cabling? |
| Yes |
| There are multiple areas within the Patient Tower that have hard ceilings. Is the contractor responsible for providing 2’x2’ lockable access panels, where needed? |
| Yes, contractor to provide appropriately sized access panels by location. |
| Will the VA be providing escorts to the contractors for access into TR rooms so that access is provided when needed so as to not impact the project schedule? |
| Yes, escorts will be provided. |
| Please confirm whether the VA will consider extending the published 60-calendar-day Period of Performance after NTP. Due to the scope, campus-wide coordination, outage approvals, infection control requirements, after-hours/weekend access, testing/certification, labeling, and as-built documentation, would the VA consider extending the period to 120 calendar days or another duration deemed acceptable by the Government? |
| The Period of Performance can be extended to 90 days, maximum. EHRM launch schedule requires completion by mid-September. |
| The End User Device workbook overview indicates 57 data drops, 34 regular power outlets, 7 emergency power outlets, 10 power strips, 129 OCE mounts, 21 tracking board mounts, 25 tracking board PC mounts, and 1 wallmount. Please confirm these quantities are the intended contract quantities and are to be included in the Base Bid. |
| Mounting brackets will be government furnished. |
| Several DDPO locations identify 'Power strip available' or 'FMS to Add Power Strip.' Please confirm whether power strips are Government-furnished, existing-to-remain, or Contractor-furnished/installed, and whether any power strip work is included in the Base Bid. |
| See Question #25 – not in scope. |
| The SOW directs the Contractor to use existing raceways as much as possible. Please confirm whether bidders should assume existing raceways are available and adequate, or whether the Base Bid should include new raceway pathways wherever existing raceway capacity cannot be verified before bid. |
| Contractors can assume existing raceways are available and adequate. |
| Please provide the preliminary VA PRA/ICRA requirements, infection control risk levels, required barriers/containment, negative air requirements if any, and any locations that will require enhanced infection control during construction. |
| See #24 for Infection Control risk levels. |
| Please identify areas that must be worked after hours or on weekends, including anticipated access windows, restrictions, escort requirements, and whether normal working hours of 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM CST are available for all other areas. |
| Refer to #24 for the list of areas. |
| Please identify all high-risk areas referenced in the SOW and confirm any additional procedures, infection control, escorting, or work-hour restrictions applicable to those areas. |
| Reference #24. |
| The DDPO list notes that Bed Pavilion Sterile Processing rooms 1635 and 1639 are under construction until March 2027 and that data/power needs are TBD. Please confirm whether work in these rooms is included in this contract, excluded, or to be carried as an allowance/alternate. |
| Excluded. |
| Please provide project site logistics requirements, including available material staging areas, laydown space, loading dock access, freight elevator access, delivery hours, trash removal route, and any limits on carts or material movement through patient-care areas. |
| Contractor shall not store materials on site. Contractor shall do “on-time” delivery and use the Polk street dock. Remove trash and construction debris each day using covered gondolas and damp mop any dust debris. |
| The solicitation identifies Project No. 537-26-702, while Specs Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 reference VA Project No. 537-21-700. Please confirm that Specs Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 are applicable to this solicitation. |
| Yes |
| Will the sign-in sheet from site visit be available in addendum? |
| Yes, this information was provided via Amendment 0001. |
| Please clarify if a superintendent can be a dual hat to cover the requirements of SSHO? |
| Yes |
| If no to the question above, will the SSHO need to be full-time for this project? |
| N/A |
| Please clarify if a superintendent can be a dual hat to cover the requirements of QA/QC? |
| Yes |
| If no to the question above, will the QA/QC need to be full time for this project? |
| N/A |
| Can a superintendent be a triple hat to cover the requirements of SSHO and QA/QC? |
| Yes |
| Please confirm if tax should be included in our proposal? |
| Please see page 38 of the solicitation regarding Special Notes regarding FAR 52.229-3. |
| Please provide the latest wage determination for this project’s county. |
| The latest wage determinations were produced on May 18, 2026 and is provided in Amendment 0002. |
| Please confirm if the current prevailing wages will be consistent for the life of the project with no escalation? |
| The wage determination that is part of the awarded contract will remain effective throughout the contract unless changed by formal modification. |
| Please confirm the current design documents meet current VA TIL guidelines. |
| Yes |
| Please confirm any minority business participation requirements. |
| There aren't any minority business participation requirements. This is a SDVOSB set-aside. The offeror must be an SDVOSB in accordance with the solicitation. |
| Who is responsible for contracting the commissioning agent? |
| VA shall contract a commissioning agent, if necessary. |
| Is the use of temporary plastic wall panels (such as STARC panels) acceptable to meet ICRA requirements? |
| Yes, they are acceptable so long as they can be brought up to ceiling height and sealed off. |
| Will shutdowns be required to be done during off hours or weekends? |
| Assume all electric shutdowns are off hours. |
| Who is the vendor or contractor currently servicing and maintaining the Building Automation System or Temperature Controls System? |
| TL Services, unsure of how this pertains to project. Contractor must communicate with COR if they need access to system. |
| Who is the vendor or contractor currently servicing and maintaining the Telecommunications System? |
| Service and maintenance of Telecommunication system is performed in-house or nationally. Unsure how this pertains to project. Contractor must communicate with COR if they need access to system. |
| Who is the vendor or contractor currently servicing and maintaining the Fire Alarm System? |
| Unsure how this pertains to project. Contractor must communicate with COR if they need access to system. |
| Please confirm existing wall finishes where new outlets are to be installed. |
| Mainly gypsum, bulk CMU in some locations; contractor to field verify. Conduit and junction boxes can be surface mounted to CMU. |
| Please confirm existing wall types where new outlets are to be installed. (CMU, Gypsum, Plaster) |
| See #74. |
| Please advise if the VA will handle relocating any office furniture or other items that my impede installation of outlets. |
| Contractor shall communicate with COR and service staff regarding impeding office furniture. If it is determined not to be relocated, contractor shall adjust receptacles, outlets or connection locations to accommodate furniture/equipment. |
| To allow sufficient time to review responses and prepare our bid we kindly request that you please extend the bid date. |
| The VA affirms its current bid due date of June 24, 2026. |
| The drawings issued are not to scale, and the room numbers are hard to read. Could these be reissued? |
| VA provided PDF files that contractors can scale as they see fit. If there are any issues with readability due to markups, a “clean” copy of the drawings can be provided. |
| The scope of work summary on the drawings does not match the list of end user devices, are we to include the device on the list and on the drawings? |
| The drawings are to provide a general visual location of the devices based on the list. Contractor to follow the list of end user devices, if not provided on the drawings. |
| Does the data cabling need to be in complete conduit all the way back to the nearest telecommunications room (TR)? |
| Data cabling does not need to be in complete conduit, please refer to specifications for appropriate equipment installation method. |
| Who provides the power strips, and what are the specifications? |
| VA will provide power strips. |
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