S06 - Amendment 0008 - ATT 1 - TechQuestionsVAresponses Final Set - Huntington EHRM IU.pdf

TECHNICAL QUESTIONS AND SOLICITATION #: 36C77626R0025

RESPONSES TRACKING SHEET PROJECT TITLE: EHRM Construct Infrastructure Upgrade – Huntington, WV

# CONTRACTOR QUESTION VA RESPONSE

1 Sheet: AE501 Specification: N/A Topic: MCR drainage pipe Wall section details show drainage pipe at foundations, these are not shown on underground plumbing plans. Please indicate extent of drains and where they terminate.

Plumbing will tie into the existing catch basin to the west of the new data center within the courtyard area.

2 West Virginia HVAC licensing applicability:

Please confirm whether Division 23 HVAC subcontractors and individual technicians performing work on this federal project in West Virginia must hold West Virginia HVAC licensure or certification in order to perform the required work under this contract.

This is a federal project. Contractors are expected to be licensed and prove this licensure from a state or national authority.

WV license PE for structural lift plan over buildings. This is to ensure the load being hoisted drops the building can support the load.

3 Firm versus individual HVAC credential Requirement:

If West Virginia HVAC licensure or certification is required for this project, please confirm whether the requirement applies to the subcontracting firm, to individual field technicians, or to both.

This is a federal project. Contractors are expected to be licensed and prove this licensure from a state or national authority.

4 Photo package for tower penetration and tie-in Locations:

Please provide a current, date-stamped photo package of each location where new telecom towers penetrate or tie into the existing buildings, including floor, wall, ceiling, access path, adjacent occupied conditions, and any visible existing equipment that may affect construction.

Bidders were provided the opportunity for a site walk, with the current documents.

5 Photo package for gut-and-reuse telecom rooms:

Please provide a current, date-stamped photo package of each existing telecommunications room scheduled to be gutted and reused, including room contents, wall conditions, ceiling conditions, access conditions, pathway congestion, and adjacent spaces.

Bidders were provided the opportunity for a site walk, with the current documents.

6 Photo package for the enclosed courtyard, existing data center, and IRM demolition area:

Please provide a current, date-stamped photo package of the enclosed courtyard, the existing data center demolition area, the adjacent IRM areas, entrances, exits, rooflines, and surrounding construction access points so bidders can accurately price demolition, protection, logistics, and material handling

Bidders were provided the opportunity for a site walk, with the current documents.

7 Swing and suspended-load restrictions over occupied buildings:

Please clarify the Government's requirements and restrictions for crane boom swing, suspended loads, and rigging operations over occupied buildings or occupied portions of buildings adjacent to the courtyard and tower work. Section 01 35 26 states loads may not be carried over occupied buildings unless one of the specified protection methods is satisfied. Please identify which of those protection methods, if any, bidders may rely upon for this project and the specific buildings or areas where each method may be used as the bid basis.

Lift paths and clearances will be finalized with station at time of final hoist selection, set up locations and lift plan.

Lifts may require off hours work for specific loads over buildings for safety.

8 Bid basis for restricted-access labor efficiency:

Please confirm whether bidders are required to include restricted-access labor inefficiency associated with courtyard and tower construction in the base bid, including inefficiency related to constrained crew movement, protected access, and phased owner coordination. If bidders are required to include this inefficiency, please either (a) confirm a defined productivity reduction factor, expressed as a percentage of normal baseline labor output, that bidders may uniformly carry in the base bid for this work; or (b) confirm that any productivity loss beyond normal baseline performance, resulting from access restrictions, escort requirements, or owner coordination delays not defined prior to bid, will be treated as compensable under FAR 52.243-4 Changes, with no requirement that the contractor have pre-priced such loss beyond a reasonable baseline allowance.

This is a firm fixed contract all costs should be included and risk should be considered by the bidder. Unforseen conditions will be arbitrated by the contracting officer at the time it is identified by the GC.

9 Bid basis for limited laydown and staging Efficiency:

Please confirm whether bidders are required to include limited laydown and limited staging inefficiency in the base bid for courtyard and tower work where normal material storage and preassembly space are unavailable. If bidders are required to include this inefficiency, please either (a) confirm a defined productivity reduction factor, expressed as a percentage of normal baseline labor output, that bidders may uniformly carry in the base bid; or (b) confirm that any productivity loss beyond a reasonable baseline allowance, resulting from the absence of adequate laydown and staging space, will be treated as compensable under FAR 52.243-4 Changes.

This is a firm fixed contract all costs should be included and risk should be considered by the bidder. Unforseen conditions will be arbitrated by the contracting officer at the time it is identified by the GC.

10 Bid basis for multiple-handling efficiency:

Please confirm whether bidders are required to include multiple-handling of materials and debris in the base bid for courtyard and tower work where materials may need to be transferred several times before final installation or disposal. If bidders are required to include this inefficiency, please either (a) confirm a defined productivity reduction factor or cost adder per unit of material that bidders may uniformly carry in the base bid; or (b) confirm that any multiple-handling costs beyond a reasonable baseline allowance, resulting from the constrained site conditions, will be treated as compensable under FAR 52.243-4 Changes.

This is a firm fixed contract all costs should be included and risk should be considered by the bidder. Unforseen

11 Bid basis for protected haul-route efficiency:

Please confirm whether bidders are required to include protected haul-route inefficiency in the base bid for courtyard and tower work where debris and materials may need to move through controlled, protected, or restricted campus paths. If bidders are required to include this inefficiency, please either (a) confirm a defined productivity reduction factor or unit cost adder for protected haul-route operations that bidders may uniformly carry in the base bid; or (b) confirm that any haul-route inefficiency costs beyond a reasonable baseline allowance, resulting from owner-controlled access path restrictions, will be treated as compensable under FAR 52.243-4 Changes.

This is a firm fixed contract all costs should be included and risk should be considered by the bidder. Unforseen conditions will be arbitrated by the contracting officer at the time it is identified by the GC.

12 Bid basis for crane-dependent access efficiency:

Please confirm whether bidders are required to include crane-only or crane-dependent access inefficiency in the base bid for courtyard and tower work if crane or hoist access is the only practical means of material installation and demolition debris removal.

If bidders are required to include this inefficiency, please either (a) confirm a defined productivity reduction factor or crane-dependent premium that bidders may uniformly carry in the base bid for crane-only access conditions; or (b) confirm that any crane-dependent access inefficiency beyond a reasonable baseline allowance, resulting from the site geometry, access restrictions, or owner-imposed lift limitations, will be treated as compensable under FAR 52.243-4 Changes.

This is a firm fixed contract all costs should be included and risk should be considered by the bidder. Unforseen

13 Additional BMPs beyond plan at contractor cost:

The civil erosion sheets state the contractor must revise TESC facilities as conditions dictate and install additional facilities as necessary to ensure no sediment-laden water leaves the site, work area, or haul routes. Please confirm the bid basis for temporary BMPs beyond those graphically shown on the plans and identify whether bidders are expected to include all supplemental BMPs required by seasonal conditions, unexpected drainage paths, or field-created conditions in the base bid.

Please see Civil sheets for sediment control measures-

CG 101

14 Dewatering testing, treatment, and disposal basis:

Please confirm the required bid basis for dewatering excavations, including sampling and testing requirements, discharge or disposal criteria, temporary treatment, holding tanks or sediment bags, discharge location restrictions, required permits, and the party responsible for approving the disposal method. The civil sheets state dewatering water must be tested and disposed of in accordance with state environmental requirements under the approved SWPPP plan.

Dewatering is expected to be limited to potential rain events during construction. Discharge must meet local regulation requirements prior to release.

15 Diversion ditch, berm, and sediment basin Applicability:

Section 01 57 19 requires temporary protection of disturbed areas by diversion ditches, benches, berms, and sediment basins, but the civil drawings do not clearly quantify where those measures are expected beyond the shown TESC details. Please confirm whether bidders are expected to include temporary diversion ditches, berms, benches, or sediment basins as part of the base bid and identify the locations or conditions where the Government expects those measures to be used.

Contractor to implement temporary protection as needed during construction to limit impact to operation and meet stated requirement for sediment control.

16 Temporary modular barrier systems for ICRA Containment:

The Huntington drawings and ICRA details require temporary ICRA barriers, temporary doors, and in some conditions fire-resistant plastic dust barriers. Please confirm whether temporary modular barrier systems, including modular plastic wall systems such as STARC panels or similar products, are acceptable for meeting the temporary containment and ICRA barrier requirements on this project, or whether bidders must assume site-built framed barriers and temporary doors only.

AE confirms that STARC panels or similar products can be used as long as they meet ICRA barrier requirements per the specifications where fire rating is not required.

17 Cutover prerequisites and rollback planning:

Please confirm whether the VA, local OIT, and/or National OIT will establish the required transition prerequisites, validation steps, and rollback plans prior to each network cutover event, or whether bidders are to include development of those prerequisite checklists and rollback plans in the contractor’s base bid scope.

Local OI&T and national VA personnel will be conducting the movement of network equipment (switches) and patching switches to new patch panels in the rack. The Contractor is responsible for setting conditions in new or updated spaces to receive network equipment; this will include a contractor provided report including but not limited to all cable testing reports to ensure conditions are met for the cut over process.

18 Phased-disturbance NPDES permit basis:

Please confirm whether bidders may rely on a phased construction approach that keeps total disturbed area under one acre at any given time as the basis for determining whether an NPDES permit is required, assuming the contractor maintains all required BMPs, inlet protection, and SWPPP controls.

The total disturbed land at any time is not projected to exceed an acre due to the linear foot distance of the trench performance. See civil routing for restrictions and control measures.

19 Existing roof warranty identification and coordination contacts:

Please identify all existing roof systems within the project work areas that are currently under warranty, including manufacturer, installer, current warranty status or remaining term, and the required coordination contact or procedure for penetrations, temporary supports, flashing, or related roofing work.

Roofs where work is to be performed are not currently under warranty.

20 Schedule delay analysis methodology and timing:

Please confirm the required methodology, software, and submission timing for schedule delay analyses and time impact analyses submitted after award, including whether they must use the Government-approved CPM software and whether contemporaneous window analysis is acceptable.

Unforseen conditions will be addressed by the contracting officer at time of identification.

21 Activity Hazard Analysis requirements:

Section 01 35 26 requires Activity Hazard Analyses to be submitted and approved before beginning each definable feature of work. Please confirm the required advance submittal period for each AHA, the number of definable features of work bidders should assume for pricing purposes, whether AHAs must be approved before mobilization to each work area or only before the first day of work on each DFOW, and whether a blanket AHA is acceptable for recurring activities such as cabling, conduit, and patching.

A blanket AHA will not be acceptable as each area will have different requirements and concerns based off stakeholder input as well as hospital operations.

22 Sustainable construction requirements Applicability:

Section 01 81 13 requires sustainable construction measures including Energy Star product compliance, low-pollutant-emitting materials tracking, and a Sustainability Action Plan. Please confirm whether all requirements of Section 01 81 13 apply in full to this project, whether an HPSB Guiding Principles Checklist is required, and whether the contractor must submit a Sustainability eNotebook and sustainable construction progress reports with each pay application

Selection and procurement will be made by the contractor in accordance with the material specifications

23 Commissioning agent appointment and contractorside commissioning cost basis:

Please confirm whether the Government's Commissioning Agent has been designated and provide the CxA name and contact information if available.

The commissioning agent will be provided through a separate contract from the GC.

24 Pre-construction conference requirements:

Please confirm the required timing of the post-award pre-construction conference relative to Notice to Proceed, identify all required attendees, and list all submittals the contractor must have prepared, submitted, or approved before the pre-construction conference may be held.

This will be coordinated with the awarded contractor at time of award.

25 Pre-construction conference requirements:

Please also confirm whether construction may begin before the pre-construction conference or only after the conference is complete and the Government has provided written authorization to proceed.

This will be coordinated with the awarded contractor at time of award.

26 VA Police badging and credentialing process:

Please provide the complete VA Police badging and credentialing process applicable to this project, including the required documents, forms, background check requirements, processing lead time, cost, whether badges are required for all trades or only for personnel accessing restricted areas, and any limits on simultaneous badge processing or escort availability bidders are to carry in the base bid.

Please see attached station badging procedures

27 VA project sign requirements:

Please confirm whether a VA project sign is required for this project. If required, please provide the required sign dimensions, content, design standard, installation location, installation timing after Notice to Proceed, and identify whether the Government will provide sign artwork or whether the contractor is responsible for design and fabrication.

VA project sign is not currently in the scope of this project, nor in the specifications.

28 Integrated door assembly locations and access control coordination:

Section 08 17 10 requires integrated door assemblies.

Please identify every location in the project where an integrated door assembly is required and confirm whether those assemblies include card-reader hardware, electrified strikes, magnetic locks, delayed-egress devices, or other access-control components. Please also confirm the responsible trade for furnishing, installing, programming, and testing all access control hardware integrated into door assemblies, and identify the required coordination sequence with Division 28 for those locations.

Coordinating with electrical

29 Physical access control system integration scope:

Section 28 13 00 requires a physical access control system.

Please identify the existing campus PACS platform, manufacturer, software version, and current system integrator.

Edwards EST 4 equipment for the system

30 Physical access control system integration scope:

Please confirm whether the contractor is required to integrate all new card readers, electrified hardware, and access control panels for the new data center, MCR, and all new telecom tower rooms into the existing campus PACS platform, and confirm whether VA OI&T review and written approval are required before any PACS programming, testing, or commissioning activities may begin.

Yes new PACs panels and equipment will be integrated.

The installation contractor will coordinate with the station for integration and programming. Coordination for programing will be completed through the VA project manager

31 Physical access control system integration scope:

Please also confirm whether the VA's existing PACS system integrator will be required to participate in programming, testing, and acceptance activities under this contract, and if so, confirm whether the cost of that integrator's participation is borne by the Government or must be included in the contractor's base bid, as this significantly affects subcontract pricing and schedule for the Division 28 scope.

The Contractor is responsible for performing work shown on contracting documents. The contractor will coordinate with existing maintenance contractor to ensure programing and testing is correct and functional.

32 Micropile load testing requirements:

Section 31 16 15 governs micropile installation. Please confirm whether pre-production proof load tests, verification load tests, or both are required for the micropile installation on this project, identify the required number of test micropiles per structure, the required test load as a percentage of the design load, the required holding duration, and the party responsible for witnessing and accepting each test.

Please see 31 16 15 for micropile requirements, as well as special inspections for testing requirements and submittal requirements for results.

33 Earthwork soil testing responsibility and compaction requirements:

Section 31 20 11 governs earthwork. Please confirm the required compaction percentage for all fill and backfill associated with the data center addition and tower foundations, the required testing frequency and test method, and whether the contractor or the Government is responsible for engaging and paying for the independent geotechnical testing laboratory performing compaction verification during earthwork operations.

Yes contractor is responsible for engaging in geotechnical testing laboratory. Please see S-001 for additional information

34 Davis-Bacon wage determinations:

Please identify the applicable Davis-Bacon wage determination or determinations governing this project, including the wage determination number, revision date, and any supplemental wage determinations applicable to specific trades or work classifications. Please confirm whether all anticipated work classifications for this project, including telecommunications, low-voltage, security, fire alarm, controls, and specialty subcontractor trades, are covered by the issued wage determinations, and identify any work classification that may require conformance after award.

Please see the attached solicitation requirements. As the wage determination updates PCAC will issue a resulting amendment.

35 Liquidated damages rate:

Please confirm that liquidated damages do not apply to this contract

See solicitation documents for clarification.

36 VA information security requirements for contractor IT systems:

Section 27 05 11 and the EHRM project requirements reference OI&T involvement and VA information security requirements. Please identify all VA information security, IT access, and cybersecurity compliance requirements applicable to the contractor and subcontractors performing work on this project, including whether any contractor-furnished IT systems, laptops, testing equipment, network analyzers, or network-connected devices must be VA-approved or VA-managed before use on the VA network or in VA telecommunications spaces, and confirm whether any IT security compliance training, credentialing, or authorization is required before work on network-connected systems or in data center or telecommunications room environments begins. Please also confirm whether VA OI&T system access approvals are required before commissioning, testing, or acceptance of any Division 27 or Division 28 systems and identify the typical processing time for those approvals so bidders can include the appropriate schedule allowance.

Contractors are not expected to interface with networked equipment with contractor owned equipment. Testing and validation should be performed prior to network connections to prevent unauthorized access to VA systems. Installing contractors are to be properly licensed and overseen by appropriate supervisors for work being performed.

37 Beneficial occupancy and phased acceptance:

Please confirm whether the Government intends to exercise beneficial occupancy of completed portions of the project before the overall contract completion date. If so, please identify the planned beneficial occupancy milestones and areas, confirm the contractual treatment for warranty period commencement, confirm what access to remaining active construction areas the contractor will retain after beneficial occupancy of any partial area, and confirm how punch list management and deficiency correction responsibilities will be administered when the Government takes beneficial occupancy of a portion of the work while other portions remain under construction.

Please also confirm whether any liquidated damages exposure is modified when the Government takes beneficial occupancy of individual areas prior to overall contract completion.

Please see the warranty clause in the project contract documents for additional details on warranty requirements. This can be found in clause 52.246-21 warranty of construction.

38 Payment application retainage and release:

Please confirm the applicable retainage percentage to be withheld from each progress payment, identify the conditions and milestones under which retainage will be reduced during construction, and confirm the process, required documentation, and timeline for retainage release upon substantial completion and final acceptance.

Please also confirm whether stored materials, owner-furnished equipment installed by the contractor, and long-lead equipment procured but not yet installed are eligible for inclusion in progress payment applications and whether retainage applies equally to those line items.

This will be considered and discussed at post award.

39 Blasting and rock-breaking restrictions on the mountainside duct bank route:

Please confirm whether blasting, hydraulic hammering, pneumatic rock breaking, or other mechanical rock-fracturing methods are permitted along the mountainside duct bank route, and identify any restrictions, monitoring requirements, or pre-survey requirements bidders must carry in the base bid.

Please see adjusted fiber routing

40 Bid basis for ICRA class upgrades after award:

Please confirm the bid basis bidders are to use if the VA Infection Control Risk Assessment team, COR, or other VA authority later requires an ICRA classification or infection-control measure that exceeds the classification and barrier requirements shown in the contract documents.

This is a change from bidding conditions and will be addressed by the contracting officer

41 OI&T acceptance testing process, duration, and contractor participation obligations:

Please describe the complete VA OI&T acceptance testing process applicable to Division 27 telecommunications systems installed under this contract, including who conducts the testing, the required sequence of contractor-provided and OI&T-conducted tests, the expected duration of OI&T acceptance testing for each major system or building, all contractor participation and remediation obligations, and whether OI&T acceptance must be completed before final acceptance of any Division 27 system.

Please see division 27 specifications and commissioning for testing requirements. Yes all testing reports will be provided to OI&T for review and acceptance prior to final acceptance.

42 Contractor IT equipment ATO/TAR approval timeline and bid basis:

Please confirm whether contractor-furnished test equipment, network analyzers, cable certification equipment, or other contractor-owned or contractor-leased devices that connect to, interface with, or communicate over any VA network segment are required to obtain a VA Authority to Operate or undergo a VA Technical Architecture Review prior to use on this project. If approval is required, please identify the responsible VA office, the expected processing time, and whether approvals may be initiated during the pre-construction period or only after Notice to Proceed.

Testing will be performed on cabling prior to system connection. If devices are to be used on equipment, the network contractor will need approval from OI&T.

43 Vendor Identification:

Please identify the required manufacturer-authorized local vendor or service provider for the clean agent fire suppression system serving the new data center, including the vendor expected to provide installation support, releasing logic coordination, startup, testing, and final acceptance. Please also confirm whether the contractor is required to use a manufacturer-authorized local vendor for this work.

This is a new installation and will be coordinated through the contractor for compliance with the specifications.

44 Vendor Identification:

Please identify the current local station sprinkler inspection, service, or maintenance vendor for the affected buildings and spaces under this contract, and confirm whether that vendor will be required to participate in modifications, testing, acceptance, or return-to-service activities for sprinkler work associated with the new data center and telecom room scope.

If they use a WV licensed sprinkler installer/inspector, they can choose. For most part between Brewer and Sentry do about all the sprinkler work At VAMC Huntington

45 Vendor Identification:

Please identify the existing physical access control system manufacturer, platform, software version if applicable, and the current local station vendor or integrator responsible for service, maintenance, programming, and acceptance of the access control system. Please also confirm whether that vendor must be used for programming, integration, and final acceptance of new access control work under this contract.

Currently S-com electronic specialty- cameras are currently Avigilon

46 Vendor Identification:

Please identify the existing automatic transfer switch manufacturer, platform, and the current local station vendor or manufacturer authorized service provider responsible for service, maintenance, startup, testing, and acceptance of ATS equipment affected by this contract. Please also confirm whether a manufacturer-authorized local vendor must be used for startup and final acceptance of new or modified ATS work under this project.

Work identified in the contract documents is to be performed by the contractor and their sub-contractors.

Testing, set up, and startup for equipment is the contractors responsibility. Maintenance beyond this contract and warranty phase is not included.

47 Groundwater dewatering bid basis:

Please confirm whether groundwater dewatering is anticipated during excavation for the new data center addition and tower foundations based on the geotechnical report and existing site conditions, and identify whether bidders are to include dewatering, including pumping, discharge management, testing, and disposal compliance, in the base bid

Contractors should refer to the geotechnical report.