Responses to Technical Questions Marion 20210108 .docx

Technical Questions All below questions were asked by prospective offerors in regard to project 657A5-19-903 Modernize Elevators 1 - 4.

1. The solicitation letter states one base bid under A.3, however the drawings and specifications suggest there are add alternates. The Price Schedule has been amended to reflect the DEDUCT Alternatives and is included with this Amendment.

2. The specifications and drawings show that a 1 hour rated partition wall and door are to be installed around the scope of work for all of the elevators in order to meet the ICRA requirements. Are these partition walls to be installed with studs and drywall or is a temporary partition wall with a door permissible? Temporary partition walls must meet all required ICRA requirements. They are to be 1 hour fire-rated, stud and drywall partitions, including the doors.

3. The solicitation for the project indicated in the subject line above states that bid offers are due on 1/12/21, however, the bid due date on beta.sam.gov states that bids are 12/28/20. Please advise. Bid due date is changed on this amendment.

4. What is the existing fire alarm system? Siemens.

5. Drawings and specifications do not indicate new elevator cab finishes. Please advise. The new cab interior finishes shall resemble the Piedmont model by Charter Elevator, available for viewing at www.charterelevator.com or an approved equivalent. As indicated, the lower panel (below handrail) should be textured stainless steel and the upper panels (above handrail) should be plastic laminate with a woodgrain finish. The handrail itself should be flat, satin stainless steel. The panels themselves should run horizontally as in the illustrated model.

6. A-101 Note 2 states that the existing door is to be demolished and replaced. Please provide additional information for door replacement. Door Schedule. Replacement door shall be similar to the existing door but must be self-closing.

7. Is the contractor responsible for moving or providing additional sprinklers and smoke detectors that are affected by the temp partitions that will be built around each elevator car on each floor? While the contractor is not responsible for modifying the existing sprinkler/fire protection system to accommodate any of the temporary construction partitions which will be installed, they are responsible for providing and maintaining fire protection measures in all areas which are then left isolated during construction.

8. Please confirm that the contractor is only providing the pretest for proper operation before requesting final inspection. VA/CO/COR will coordinate and provide Services of Independent QEI Certified Elevator Inspector. Per the spec section 14 21 10, part 3.6, the VAMC/CO provides for the final elevator inspection.

Please answer the questions relating to the following sections:

9. 14 21 10 2.14 Please confirm what seismic zone this site is classified as. Refer to specification section 13 05 41 for seismic criteria.

10. 14 21 10 2.44.D Please provide finish of raised panels. See response to question #5.

11. 14 21 10 2.44.E Please provide type of stainless steel for wall below handrails and finish of panels above handrails. See response to question #5.

12. E-601 Note 4 Isolation Transformer size shall be per Manufacturer’s requirements. The Isolation transformers are shown in the one-line diagram as 480v to 208v. After speaking to both the Elevator contractors at the site visit the new elevators are most likely 480v. Are Isolation transformers to be provided/required under this contract? If the manufacturer calls for 480-volt for the elevator motors as well as the elevator controllers, then isolation transformers are not required. However, if the controllers are 208-volt, isolation transformers are required.

13. The specification indicates that a complete new cab is required under 2.44 CAR ENCLOSURE: PASSENGER/SERVICE ELEVATORS – SUPPLY ALL NEW. Did you mean contractors are to replace the car interiors and not the entire car enclosures? Interior Finishes.

14. The requested deduction “Alternate 2” makes better sense if the interior re-work was the intention and not the replacement of the entire car shell. Section refers to interior finish only. Not the whole structure.

15. How much of Section 2:44, A through N, do we deduct from Alternate 2? Everything but item C.

16. What cab interior materials and designs have been selected for this project? Pricing varies greatly from one cab design to another. An interior design should be included in the drawings so the desired interior can be manufactured, and the proper deduction can be determined if Alternate 2 is selected. See response to question #5.

17. The intention of Alternate 1 is to simply deduct the costs associated with the door panels, correct? All other work in section 2.41 remains, correct? Yes.

18. Is the design standard to be ASME A17.1-2019 compatible? Yes.

19. Is it permissible to renovate one elevator per building concurrently? Yes, this is the required method for phasing. One elevator per building pair, at a time.

20. 2:13 requires load weighing, but load weighing isn’t necessary on such a low-rise, geared application. Can this be excluded? Yes.

21. What is the travel distance on each elevator? The spec states “field verify” but we were unable to measure this during the site visit. Please provide your measurements so we can quote the equipment. According to existing drawings the height of Bldg. 1 from lowest floor level to floor of elevator penthouse is approximately 65.1 feet. Bldg. 38’s elevator penthouse floor is about 4.2’ lower, so its travel would be approximately 60.9 feet.

22. 1.11: Will the warranty periods be staggered, with each one starting upon passing inspection? Or would the VA like them to coincide, all ending 12 months after the final elevator has passed inspection? Your legal department may need to weight in here, Joshua, but I would think that the warranty period would not begin until the project is complete.

23. 1.13: Please provide manufacturer and specifications of existing emergency power. The emergency power is by the motor control center which is backed up via an existing emergency generator. The existing generator is a Caterpillar 2.5MVA emergency generator system, 277/480V, 3PH, 60 HZ.

24. Card reader: Would the VA want us to supply or just make provision in the COP, to be supplied and installed by others? Supply and Install.

25. 2.5.C: What type of wire is needed for the video display monitor? Video monitor not required, only digital floor position indicator (with ethernet cable) shall be provided.

26. Camera: What provision/wiring is needed for this? Is this the CAT-6 wire in 2.5.F? Please refer to the Detail 7/E-501. The cable is provided with the camera and matches what is used for the VA’s security camera system. The manufacturer indicated in the detail is the bases of design.

27. 2.5.F Cat-6 wire is only 23 gauge, which is too small to survive the coiling of a traveling cable (minimum 20 gauge). Please advise an alternate requirement. Refer to question 26.

28. 2.14: Please advise the specifics on seismic requirements. The design manual (section 4.2) just says elevator equipment “may require special certification.” Refer to specification section 130514 for seismic criteria.

29. 2.24: Existing buffers are spring buffers, not oil buffers, so do not require new oil. Please confirm deletion of this requirement. Reuse Spring Buffers.

30. 1.5.H.3 Says reuse existing door tracks, 2.41.F says provide new door tracks. Please confirm requirement. Reuse existing if possible.

31. 2.44: Please clarify design of cab interior. Do you want flat SS walls or panels hung on steel walls? See response to question #5.

32. 3.5.F.2 Do galvanized components need to be painted? No.

33. Please advise as to what wage rates apply. There are 3 different sets of rates in wage requirements provided for the elevator mechanic. The Contractor will determine the best category of wage rate to apply for the elevator mechanic based on the contractor’s laborers.

34. 1.8: What type of barrier is desired, and who erects it? GC vs. Elevator Contractor. For type, see response to question #2. GC needs to erect.