Technical Questions Tracking Spreadsheet - Fort Meade DB - 11-25-20.pdf

Program Contracting Activity Central (PCAC)

36E77620R0054 - Fort Meade VAMC - Upgrade Overhead Page and Nurse Call System Design-Build

36E77620R0054 Upgrade Overhead Page and Nurse Call System Design-Build – Fort Meade VAMC TECHNICAL QUESTIONS AND VA RESPONSE

TRACKING SHEET

ITEM

NO.

DATE

QUESTION

RECEIVED

DATE

QUESTION

ANSWERED

QUESTION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

1. 11-10-2020 11-12-2020 We are preparing our questions for the 13th.

I am personally not sure if questions due the 13th are for all phases or just in relation to phase 1?

The PH I questions only are due on

November 13th.

2. 11-11-2020 11-12-2020 What is the availability for a job walk on the above project?

The site visit will be held in Phase II, as stated in the solicitation under 2.20 52.236-67

Site Visit (Construction).

3. 11-11-2020 11/25/2020 My company holds an IDIQ Contract VA245-17-D-

0132 for AE-Services. I am seeing your request for

SF330’s, and we already have a contract in place that will support your needs. We have been screened and are already working with the VA on the construction assistance after our Design at the

VAMC Baltimore Hospital for Switchgear. Would you be willing to consider using this vehicle to get this solication approved quicker for you? Otherwise

I will put together an SF330 for you.

The COR and local VA were not participants of building that contract. Plan on providing

SF330 for this contract.

4. 11-12-2020 11-16-2020 Could you share a status update on this Sources

Sought? Is Fort Meade planning to move forward, for example, with an RFI or RFP?

Please see the associated solicitation:

36E77620R0054.

5. 11-13-2020 11/25/2020 Can an extension be provided for this solicitation, to allow ample time for Answers to the Questions below to be incorporated into a thorough and comprehensive response.

Phase I due by 4DEC2020.

36E77620R0054 - Fort Meade VAMC - Upgrade Overhead Page and Nurse Call System Design-Build

ITEM

NO.

DATE

QUESTION

RECEIVED

DATE

QUESTION

ANSWERED

QUESTION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

6. 11-13-2020 11/25/2020 Section C. Para 7.a. Page 8 (PDF) of the SOW

Attachment 1 document states:

a. “Stand-Alone Wireless Network System must be installed to support wireless devices that incorporate with Nurse Call and Overhead Page

Systems.”

Who is responsible for the provision and installation of this WiFi network?

The contractor is responsible for the provision and installation of the Stand-Alone Wireless

Network System.

7. 11-13-2020 11/25/2020 Section C,. Para 8.h. Page 9 (PDF) of the SOW

Attachment 1 document “Overhead Page Minimum

Salient Characteristics” states:

a. “High Reliability Switches”

Is the contractor to provide the network for the

Overhead Paging System?

Yes, the contractor is to provide the Overhead paging system network.

8. 11-13-2020 11/25/2020 Section D. Para 5.e. Page 10 (PDF) of the SOW

Attachment 1 document states:

a. “Design shall include Overhead Paging, Mass Notification, and Panic Alarms”

There are, however, no Mass Notification requirements mentioned in the final SOW. Is the described Overhead Paging System simply to be used as part of the overall Mass Notification strategy, or are there specific, necessary Mass

Notification characteristics that would require separate Mass Notification software and equipment.

The overhead paging system is to be utilized as part of the overall Mass Notification strategy. Additional mass notification software and equipment is not required with this project other than equipment to support the overhead paging, nurse call, code blue, and panic alarms in the SOW.

36E77620R0054 - Fort Meade VAMC - Upgrade Overhead Page and Nurse Call System Design-Build

ITEM

NO.

DATE

QUESTION

RECEIVED

DATE

QUESTION

ANSWERED

QUESTION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

9. 11-13-2020 11/25/2020 Section D. Para 5.f. Page 10 (PDF) of the SOW

Attachment 1 document states:

a. “Design shall evaluate the fore alarm system and determine interaction with the overhead page system”

Is the Overhead Paging system to shunt during fire alarm?

Overhead page and Fire alarm are two separate systems and are to remain separate systems.

10. 11-13-2020 11/25/2020 Can the electrical engineer’s company serve in the role of the commission agent if they have healthcare commissioning experience? What are the program requirements for commissioning of each system?

The electrical engineer company can serve in the role of commissioning agent for electrical system(s), but cannot be the same individual that designed the system. Also qualification of individual needs to meet commissioning agent as called out in commissioning Specs which is included. The commissioning spec was inadvertently omitted during solicitation.

11. 11-13-2020 11/25/2020 Whole Building Commissioning Process Manual -https://www.cfm.va.gov/til/Cx-RCx/CxManual.PDF

General - Are there any provisions or considerations given in regards to COVID related restricted site access and project access/timeline/delays/expense?

The current requirements due to COVID for contractors coming on-site at the VA Black

Hills Health Care System is to go through a screening site (everyone coming on site goes through, but usually pretty quick), wear a multi-layer cloth mask that covers nose and mouth and a face shield when inside VA facilities. Potential that unable to access areas due to patients with Covid-19 being present. However, no provisions given in regards to timeline or expense because large area that needs to be upgraded and only limited areas with potential impacts that should be able to work around with proper planning.

36E77620R0054 - Fort Meade VAMC - Upgrade Overhead Page and Nurse Call System Design-Build

ITEM

NO.

DATE

QUESTION

RECEIVED

DATE

QUESTION

ANSWERED

QUESTION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

12. 11-13-2020 11/25/2020 Are the mobile devices to be tied to the owner provided phone system for internal and external call routing outside of nurse call operation? If so does the phone system provider expense of integration need to be included in proposal?

The phone system provider expense of integration needs to be included in the proposal. The mobile devices are to be utilized for internal and external call routing outside of nurse call operations.

13. 11-13-2020 11/25/2020 Will we be allowed usage of existing fiber/copper connectivity or be given a designated VLAN for multi building connectivity? If we are required to provide new fiber/copper connectivity is there existing raceway between buildings to utilize?

Contractor to provide new fiber. Contractor to plan on providing new raceways between buildings. Contractor to remove abandoned lines in existing raceway. Drawings of current fiber runs included and select photo’s in signal manholes.

14. 11-13-2020 11/25/2020 Are existing inpatient TV sets to be re-utilized for patient entertainment/engagement/dashboard or are new units to be provided?

TV sets are to be re-utilized or be

Government provided equipment.

15. 11-13-2020 11/25/2020 What is the make/model of existing hospital beds? If

Stryker IBed or similar are the additional alarm/status alerts to be integrated or just standard bed exit/siderail functionality?

New Bed acquisition currently in progress for

Arjo Citadel Medical Bed. Contractor to plan for integration of alarms/status.

16. 11-13-2020 11/25/2020 Does current nurse call include integration to room level smoke alarm? If not should future system?

Does room smoke alarm have contact output base?

No integration to room level smoke alarm, and plan to keep systems separate.

17. 11-13-2020 11/25/2020 Are any physical revisions required of the nurse stations beyond that required to install new equipment/wiring?

No physical revisions planned except as required to install new equipment/wiring which includes electrical and telecommunications cabinets needed for the system. Fire wall penetrations must be sealed.

36E77620R0054 - Fort Meade VAMC - Upgrade Overhead Page and Nurse Call System Design-Build

ITEM

NO.

DATE

QUESTION

RECEIVED

DATE

QUESTION

ANSWERED

QUESTION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

18. 11-13-2020 11/25/2020 Can the VA provide a VA design guide for nurse call, or for paging in this application beyond that outlined in the Telecommunications and Special

Telecommunications Systems Design Manual?

PG 18-9, Space Planning Criteria https://www.cfm.va.gov/til/index.asp , PG 18-

12 Design Guide OI&T FEB2011

(https://www.cfm.va.gov/til/dGuide.asp).

Infrastructure Standard for

Telecommunication Spaces

(https://www.cfm.va.gov/til/dGuide.asp)

19. 11-13-2020 11/25/2020 Is a specific proprietary nurse call system desired? No, upgrading entire system so doesn’t need to match existing or be a specific proprietary system.

20. 11-13-2020 11/25/2020 Can the VA provide a typical commissioning functional performance testing (FPT) form or protocol for each of these systems?

Will add commissioning specs. Inadvertently omitted from solicitation.

https://www.cfm.va.gov/til/index.asp https://www.cfm.va.gov/til/dGuide.asp https://www.cfm.va.gov/til/dGuide.asp

36E77620R0054 - Fort Meade VAMC - Upgrade Overhead Page and Nurse Call System Design-Build

ITEM

NO.

DATE

QUESTION

RECEIVED

DATE

QUESTION

ANSWERED

QUESTION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

21. 11-13-2020 11/25/2020 The systems will be replaced day-by-day, circuit-by-circuit. We anticipate that the system use/function in the area of replacement will be almost immediate.

This does not seem to be a practical application for a third Commissioning Agent in their typical site verification role.

a. Can the electrical engineer’s company serve in the role of the commission agent if they have healthcare commissioning experience? What are the program requirements for commissioning of each system?

b. Can the EC/EE team work with the VA to perform the pre-installation design / planning and then use a third party for design reviews?

c. Can the system supplier/Installer perform the daily checkout and turnover of rooms to the owner for interim use?

d. Can the EC/EE then team work with the VA to verify installation and functionality at the final turnover of each building

See Commissioning Specification 01 91 00 and Commissioning of Communications

Systems 27 08 00

22. 11-13-2020 11/25/2020 Are we reusing the existing speakers, wiring and zoning or does the VA expect all of the speakers to be replaced with IP type?

VA expects all of the overhead page speakers to be replaced and added where needed to provide complete coverage. The existing speakers and existing wiring must be removed, and new speakers and new wires must be installed. See question 23 on IP and conventional type.

36E77620R0054 - Fort Meade VAMC - Upgrade Overhead Page and Nurse Call System Design-Build

ITEM

NO.

DATE

QUESTION

RECEIVED

DATE

QUESTION

ANSWERED

QUESTION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

23. 11-13-2020 11/25/2020 Would the VA accept speaker grouping (halls, large rooms, etc.) to be a mix of conventional and IP?

VA will accept a mix of conventional and IP overhead speaks, provided contractor can demonstrate that it meets the requirements from the SOW and the COR approves the design.

24. 11/18/2020 11/19/2020 In reviewing the solicitation documents, it has come to my attention that the due date listed on the SF

1442 and the due date listed on beta.sam.gov differ.

The SF 1442 states offers are due November 30, 2020 at 2:00 PM EST and beta.sam.gov states offers are due November 26, 2020 at 2:00 PM EST.

Would you please provide clarification on the correct proposal due date?

Please submit offers in accordance with dates and times listed in the solicitation documents, to include any applicable amendments.

25. 11/20/2020 11/24/2020 Is there any possibility to the proposal due date being postponed to a date beyond the Monday after the Thanksgiving Holiday

PH I of this solicitation is now extended to

12/04/2020.

26. 11/24/2020 11/24/2020 My question has to do with the 20 page limitation for the proposal submission. WE don’t believe that

20 pages is adequate to provide the VA with the requisite information in order for the evaluation

The page count limitation has now been changed to not exceed TWENTY-FIVE (25) pages.

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