Technical Questions Responses - Northport Chiller - 8-5-26.pdf

36C77626B0024 Upgrade Chiller Plant Construction – Northport VAMC

Technical Questions and VA Response Tracking Sheet

ITEM

NO.

DATE

QUESTION

RECEIVED

QUESTION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

1. 7-24-26 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 on the project. All contractors must have a PIV Card in order to work on site.

2. 7-24-26 Please confirm if taxes should be carried in proposals? Reference Special Notes Regarding FAR 52.229-3 contained in the specifications for a detailed explanation concerning taxes being exempt. It is the responsibility of the prospective bidder to coordinate with the State of New York. Contracting will not be providing a certificate.

3. 7-24-26 This procurement contains both a SOW and Specifications. In the event that there is conflicting information between the two documents, which document takes precedence?

In the event that there is conflicting information between the SOW and the Specifications, the specification will take precedence.

4. 7-24-26 Will the VA be issuing an IFC set of Contract Documents post award? If so, will the Designers of Record be identified in the title block?

The VA does not intend on issuing an IFC set of documents. The project was designed by the VAMC Engineering Department.

https://www.osp.va.gov/How_To_Get_A_VA_ID_Badge.asp

5. 7-24-26 Ref: G102 – Site Key Plan - The Areaway outside building 200 to access the basement and subbasement there is an existing hoist system on the Areaway; Is that system owned by VA & available for use by awardee or will it be removed from the area prior to work?

There is an existing electric hoist that is set over the areaway that is owned and used by VAMC, to deliver and remove light materials to the Sub- basement. The electric hoist is rated for 1 ton, but the supporting base and frame is not structured to meet the same rating.

The VAMC may allow use of the hoist by the awarded contractor under the following conditions:

• The use of the hoist is a privilege granted by the VAMC and not a condition of the contract.

• Use of the hoist, shall be in a safe manner and used for the delivery of construction materials, piping, accessories, and removal of debris. It shall not be used for lowering or lifting personnel.

• Contractor shall be responsible for not exceeding the capacity of the hoist or its supporting structure.

• The VAMC shall not be held responsible for any injury or damage caused in relation to use of this hoist.

• If the VAMC deems that the contractor is not using the hoist safely or responsibly, the VAMC reserves the right to revoke, without prior notice, the privilege of using the hoist.

If the contractor wishes to make modifications or improvements to the hoist or its supporting structure, before any improvements can be made, the following shall be accomplished:

• Improvements shall be discussed and agreed on with the project COR. Conversations shall be documented.

• Agreed to improvements shall be designed by and sealed by a licensed Structural Engineer.

• Sealed drawing shall be submitted for review as a shop drawing, and approved by the COR.

• Any improvements shall remain with the VAMC after the completion of the project.

• The Government shall not be billed for any improvements or modifications associated with the hoist or its supporting structure.

DATE

QUESTION

RECEIVED

QUESTION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

Notwithstanding the above, this hoist is not to be used for rigging the chillers, plate and frame heat exchanger, pumps, expansion tank, air separator and any other heavy equipment or materials exceeding the capacity of the hoist.

6. 7-24-26 It was reported that the area adjacent to the Areaway is not to be used as a staging area, please confirm; What is the process for getting access into the area way for a crane or material lift equipment?

Portions of the area adjacent to the Areaway will be available for access to the Areaway. It may be used as a temporary staging area for materials, but the materials are to be removed from the area quickly and the area is expected to be left, clear of materials by the end of each workday. The configuration of the accessible area may be modified during the course of the project. The project

COR will provide advanced notice of any changes to the area configuration. Access into the areaway for crane or material lift equipment shall be coordinated through lift and staging plans, submitted as shop drawings for review and approval. Large deliveries and crane or material lifts may be required to be performed off regular working hours.

7. 7-24-26 Please confirm if any state, local, and/or Federal permits will be required on this project?

Federal and State permitting will not be required for the project.

Permitting from the Medical Center will be required, for example:

confined space entry, hot work, trenching and excavation, etc.

8. 7-24-26 Please confirm if there are any known hazardous materials? Some pipe insulation has been tested and found to contain asbestos (ACM). The ACM has been identified primarily in pipe fitting insulation. The VAMC has limited documentation that can be shown to the contractor.

9. 7-24-26 Can the site Superintendent also be the roll of the SSHO and

CQM?

Please refer to Specification 01 35 26, section 1.9.C, “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.”

Please refer to Specification 01 45 00, section 1.4 Quality Control

Organization for requirements of the CQC organization.

DATE

QUESTION

RECEIVED

QUESTION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

10. 7-24-26 Please confirm if the site superintendent can take the daily photos or do contractors need to hire a professional photographer?

The site superintendent may take the daily construction photos.

Please refer to Specification 01 91 00, Section 3.9, for qualified commercial photographer requirements.

11. 7-24-26 Please confirm if there are any boring logs for where the site work is taking place?

There were borings taken in the vicinity of the underground tanks being installed for the generator project. The VA will be able to share these logs with the awarded contractor.

12. 7-24-26 Drawing A301 detail 3 states installing 6" of compacted stone but then the detail shows installing 7" of stone. Please confirm the thickness of stone to be installed?

The referenced “Section 3” states 6” of compact stone. The referenced 7” dimension is the depth of the concrete turndown, below the bottom of the slab.

13. 7-24-26 Please confirm if the existing soil that is staying under any of the concrete slabs or footings will be able to meet the 95% compaction?

This will need to be verified with testing. The soil on the site is typical sand and meeting the criteria shouldn’t be a problem.

14. 7-24-26 Please confirm if there is any ledge to be removed? We are not sure what is being asked here. If the referenced

“ledge” is referring to an existing wall or column footing, we do not expect any footings to be removed.

15. 7-24-26 There are no specifications for the medical air and vacuum system, it looks like the specs from the ejector pumps may have been copied and put onto medical pumps. Are there different specifications for these pumps?

For the medical vacuum system, please refer to Specification 22

63 00 titled,” Vacuum System for Laboratory and Healthcare

Facilities”.

For the medical air system, please refer to Specification 22 63 00 titled, “Gas system for Laboratory and Healthcare Facilities”.

The ejector pumps have a dedicated specification. Refer to specification 22 13 33 titled, “Packaged, Submersible Sewerage

Pump Units”.

16. 7-24-26 Who is the basis of design for the temporary chiller plant? Carrier is the basis of design, per “Rental Chiller Schedule” found on drawing M-112.

17. 7-24-26 Please provide the size (GPM/HP) for the skid mounted temporary chiller pumps?

Nominal water flow is 1000 GPM. Two Pumps for each chiller are to be mounted in series, to provide the necessary pump head.

Refer to Rental Chiller schedule on drawing M-112 for additional information. It will be the Contractor’s responsibility to balance the flow rate and provide weatherproof enclosures for pumps as necessary.

DATE

QUESTION

RECEIVED

QUESTION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

18. 7-24-26 The temporary plant is sized for 900 tons. Please confirm if this is enough to carry the peak load of the hospital?

We anticipate that the temporary chillers at total 900 tons will be sufficient for the duration of construction of the new chiller plant.

19. 7-24-26 Please confirm the scope associated with the existing cooling towers as well as the make and model?

The scope is to connect to the existing condenser water system, balance to the existing design condenser water flow rates and any other tasks necessary to fulfill the sequence of operation.

20. 7-24-26 Please confirm if there is any temp AC or heating required when changing over happens?

Not unless specifically called out in the contract documents.

21. 7-24-26 For the temporary chiller plant, the plan calls for the rubber hoses to heat traced, insulated, and jacketed with stainless steel.

(a) Has the manufacturer approved the use of heat trace on the rubber hose?

(b) We believe the stainless-steel jacket will not be possible with the rubber hoses since they are not rigid. Is venture-clad an acceptable alternate?

The basis of design supplier approved heat tracing the hoses, in addition, when outdoor temperature drops to 40 degrees or lower, we will keep the water circulating constantly. Final decision on freeze protection will be based on the manufacturer’s recommendations for the approved temporary chillers.

Venture Clad is an acceptable alternative for temporary insulation jacketing.

22. 7-24-26 Please confirm if the mechanical insulation shall be painted or if all piping shall be covered in a color-coded PVC jacket.

Both the chilled water and condenser water systems are insulated, due to the waterside economizer. Both systems shall have their respective insulation covered, indoor and outdoor, with color -coded PVC jacket as specified in contract documents. The exiting jackets are the wrong colors for chilled water and condenser water; so, remove all the existing jacketing and cover with new jacketing of the correct color.

23. 7-24-26 Please provide the make/model number of the existing chillers to be removed.

• Chiller 1: Model #: 19XR-656546FDGS68, Serial #:

3510Q20053

• Chiller 2: Model #: 19XR-5557467DGH68, Serial #: Q63792

• Chiller 3: Model #: 19XR-555746DGH68, Serial #: Q63793

• Chiller 4: Model #: 19XR-5557467DGH68, Serial #: Q63791

24. 7-9-26 Is the Government requiring the new controls be furnished through the existing Johnson FX platform?

Yes, it is the Government's intent is to extend the existing Johnson

FX system for all new DDC controls.