0002 - Responses to Tech Questions - 5-14-26.pdf

TECHNICAL QUESTIONS AND SOLICITATION #: 36C77626R0046

RESPONSES TRACKING SHEET PROJECT TITLE: Buffalo Parking Ramp Expansion Minor Construction

# CONTRACTOR QUESTION VA RESPONSE

1 Due to the instability in our current economy such as price escalations, procurement issues, and vendors unable to reasonably hold prices for more than 30 days, please change the contract type to a fixed-price contract with economic price adjustment pursuant to FAR 16.203.

This requirement will remain a firm-fixed-price contract, and all escalation should be factored in your pricing. Additionally, FAR 52.216-4, Economic Price Adjustment – Labor and Material, is not included in the solicitation and will not be added.

2 Due to the instability in our current economy such as price escalations, procurement issues, and vendors unable to reasonably hold prices for more than 30 days, please reduce the price-hold period to 30 days.

The Government standard concerning price-hold period is 90 calendar days and will not be altered.

3 We respectfully request clarification regarding the applicability of FAR 52.229-3 – Federal, State, and Local Taxes in the context of potential material price escalations arising from pending tariffs. Specifically, we are seeking to understand whether this clause would afford any contractual relief or price adjustment mechanisms in the event that new or increased tariffs are imposed on imported materials after contract award, thereby affecting the cost basis for materials included in our pricing proposal. Our intent is to ensure that any potential risk from such government-imposed cost changes is addressed appropriately under the contract terms, or whether alternative provisions (e.g., economic price adjustment clauses or contract modifications) may be more applicable for consideration. Please confirm if FAR 52.229-3 is intended to apply to increases in material costs due to tariff changes?

If after the contract is awarded, the contractor becomes liable for an increase (or receives a reduction) in a federal excise tax or duty “which was not otherwise anticipated,” the contract price may be adjusted accordingly.

To recover under FAR 52.229-3, the contractor generally must show:

The tariff was not in effect or anticipated at the time of award;

The tariff is a federal duty or tax covered by the clause;

The tariff directly increased the contractor’s cost of performance;

The contractor timely notifies the contracting officer of the change; and The contractor can substantiate the increased costs attributable to the tariff.

4 Is this project tax exempt? If so, will VA provide the documentation to the prime contractor after award?

See Special Note regarding FAR 52.229-3 Federal, State, and Local Taxes in the solicitation.

5 Please confirm this project must meet the buy American act requirements. The requirements in FAR 52.225-11 and FAR 52.225-12 must be met for this project.

6 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.

7 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.

No member of the design team of this project is permitted to be part of the construction team.

8 How soon after award is NTP expected to be issued? The VA expects to issue the notice to proceed within 90 calendar days after award.

9 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 performance and payment bonds are provided to the Government, the contractor must 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.

10 I am inquiring about Construction of Parking Ramp Expansion Buffalo VAMC. We would like to be listed as the recommended Parking and Outdoor light supplier for the project. Please advise the process to be considered.

This construction contract will be awarded in whole to a prime contractor who will coordinate their own subs and suppliers. You can get contact information for contractors by joining the interested vendors list on SAM.gov or by viewing the site visit sign-in sheet, which was provided in amendment 0001.

11 We are interested in the development of the garage at 3495 Bailey Avenue in Buffalo. It's obviously getting the vertical expansion, but we want to know about the facility's PARCS needs. Is there existing PARCS equipment installed? Are there plans to add more?

The existing parking garage does not have a PARCS system. The proposed project does not include a PARCS system.

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

12 I am emailing to obtain the pre-bid sign in sheet for the Buffalo VAMC Parking Ramp project

The site visit sign-in sheet has been posted to SAM.gov. See 0001 - Site Visit Sign-in Sheet 4-22-26 attached to amendment 0001.

13 We came across Parking Ramp Expansion Minor Construction - Buffalo VAMC in Buffalo, New York and wanted to reach out regarding the structured cabling and low voltage scope.

We'd love the opportunity to provide a budgetary estimate for the low voltage scope on this project. If you could share the technology or telecom drawings, we can turn around a detailed proposal quickly.

All specifications, drawings, and other supporting attachments for this project can be found at SAM.gov under notice ID 36C77626R0046.

This construction contract will be awarded in whole to a prime contractor who will coordinate their own subs. We do not issue separate solicitations for different portions of the work, and we will not consider offers for individual products or services.

14 What is the existing Network Video Recorder (NVR) brand or OEM name? The existing NVR brand is Victor – American Dynamics.

15 Is there enough storage on the existing NVR for the additional cameras that will be added for this project?

Offerors shall assume there is enough storage available.

16 What are the end users' recording requirements? This will be determined through the submittal process, after the project has been awarded.

17 Is the contractor to provide any network switches and if so, what make/model?

If additional network switches are required, the VA will provide and install in existing rack(s).

18 Will power be located at each camera location? No, power will be provided through the low voltage cable. No dedicated power will be required.

19 For the existing cameras where the contractor is being asked to provide new mounting hardware and re-install, what are the makes/models of the cameras?

The make and model of the existing cameras could not be determined. Existing mounting hardware is Pelco, PA402 Mount:

https://media.pelco.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/19024335/PA402-Mount-Specification- Sheet.pdf

20 Do the cameras in the question above need licenses? No.

21 Will the contractor include licenses for the new cameras? No.

22 Where is the elevator control room? Existing elevator room is located on the ground floor of the parking ramp. The proposed elevator control room may be located at the bottom or the top of the new elevator tower, depending on elevator manufacturers requirements. The final layout / configuration will be determined through the submittal process, after award.

23 Are there any specific images that the VA is looking to achieve with the new cameras or is the intention to achieve general observation of the garage?

The intent of the cameras is to provide general observation / surveillance of the parking ramp and surrounding areas.

24 On plan sheet SJ102, Detail 8 shows #4 @ 12” reinforcing on the elevator pit walls and sheet SJ111 Detail 8 shows #6 @ 12” on the elevator pit walls. Please clarify the required reinforcement for the elevator pit walls.

Use #6 bar.

25 Please confirm which (if not all) VA responses to technical questions that were provided to bidders under the previous solicitation (36C77625R0023) are applicable to this solicitation (36C77626R0046) as well.

The responses to technical questions from the previous solicitation have been reviewed, updated, and posted to SAM.gov. See 0001 - 36C77625R0023 Technical Questions - FINAL - Buffalo - 3-13-25 - UPDATED 5-1-26 attached to amendment 0001.

26 Please confirm no negative impact to bid bond guarantee should a bidder’s Project Experience be rated as unacceptable.

The LPTA requirements are separate from the bid bond.

27 Is offsite parking required to be available on weekends and after 6:00 PM weekdays?

Weekend and after normal business hour off-site parking is not anticipated.

28 Please confirm that with the exception of FAR Clause 52.219-14, no other liquidated damages will be assessed under this contract.

FAR 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting, is not related to liquidated damages. FAR 52.219-16, Liquidated Damages— Subcontracting Plan, is the only clause in the solicitation related to liquidated damages and applies only if this contract is awarded to an offeror in tier 4. No other liquidated damages will be assessed under this contract.

29 Please confirm that the structural engineer of record (Desman) has independently evaluated the existing garage and confirmed that sufficient structural capacity exists to support the additional 2-level vertical expansion.

Confirmed. Note that restoration of select existing structural elements have been identified in the project documents; in support of the vertical expansion.

30 Will we get a signed letter or stamped drawings from either the VA or Structural Engineer that the parking deck is good/acceptable condition to set the new floors? Or is the Desman stamped drawings provided for that purpose?

Refer to stamped drawings.

31 Pour Strips are required at the ends of double tees, over beams and around stair towers. Is the precast fabrication subcontract's engineer responsible for design of the chord steel?

Means and methods are the responsibility of the contractor.

32 See Structural Drawings SJ004 Item 15. Flange to flange is typical for Stainless steel connections. In this detail, it calls out several other connections to be stainless. Existing fabricated structure does not have stainless at all connections. This is a substantial cost. In the interest of cost containment meeting the prescribed VA budget directive noted in the solicitation, we look for direction. Please verify.

Existing flanges have not held up well to weather and de-icing.

Designer specified a different material because of this.

33 PCI MNL 116, are quoted in the documents. However, there are cases where they call out the more stringent requirements taking precedent.

Your can't ask for a PCI certified plant and then defer to a higher standard. These plants are PCI certified and higher standards than PCI/ACI would require additional cost and may not all be capable of being met. Please clarify.

Designer selected qualifications to ensure quality precast elements. If there are any issues meeting the requirements the VA will work with the contractor during the submittal process, after the project has been awarded.

34 Mock-ups. States they require two 8’- 0” x ??(length) to be delivered to the site. These are very large pieces and have to be set and removed by a crane. These are also too big to just set somewhere. What is the plan for a footing or place to install these and who is responsible for the cost of the removal off site? Will the VA consider an alternative profile?

Mock-ups may be set in the large contractor staging area provided, as outlined in the project drawings. Contractor is wholly responsible for placement and removal as part of the project.

35 No EPOXY Coated reinforcing is included in this scope of work? If so please clarify.

All reinforcement shall be epoxy coated unless otherwise noted.

36 2.7 uses Section 033000 CIP Concrete as a guide for precast concrete.

This should be ACI 318 and PCI MNL 116.

Answer not provided as this is a statement and not a question.

37 Standard Finish is what is being provided per PCI MNL 116. There are no MNL 117 Architectural requirements listed in the specifications other than noted in deduct #9

Finish shall match existing as close as reasonably possible. The existing structure is weathered, and the VA understands new elements will look new / slightly different.

38 Exterior Spandrels, Shear Walls and Stair walls. Are we to matched the previous mix design used when building the original garage. Some of these materials don’t exist anymore so during the sample process we can get as close as the approving authority will accept. However, this will not be a perfect match.

Finish shall match existing as close as reasonably possible. The existing structure is weathered, and the VA understands new elements will look new / slightly different.

39 Is the Prime required to wash the building prior to construction for a match to that?

The contractor may choose the best course of action on how to best determine the existing finish (means and methods).

40 Is the Prime required match the existing structure as it is? Finish shall match existing as close as reasonably possible. The existing structure is weathered, and the VA understands new elements will look new / slightly different.

41 If you wash the structure after construction, it will likely be a more diverse look between the old and the new.

No question / no response provided.

42 There are no architectural specs. 2.1.D identifies finishes. This is grey as cast concrete. Therefore, it will be a modeled grey look. Exterior Spandrels, Shear Walls and Stair walls will be matched the best they can during the sample process and be produced fully in that mix design with a medium sandblast. Please confirm this will be sufficient.

Finish shall match existing as close as reasonably possible. The existing structure is weathered, and the VA understands new elements will look new / slightly different.

43 Corrosion inhibitor included in double tees, beams, columns. No other components. Please confirm that this is acceptable.

Please refer to the project specifications, specifically section 07 19 33.