46-DNCR-27-2180 IFB Bid Addendum 1 Revisions and Responses to Vendor Questions.pdf

North Carolina Solicitation Addendum Version Date: 11/2021

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SOLCITATION ADDENDUM

VENDORS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THIS BID ADDENDUM WITH THEIR BID

RESPONSES.

1. The Solicitation is hereby modified as follows:

A. Section 2.4 IFB Schedule is revised and listed below.

The table below shows the intended schedule for this IFB. The State will make every effort to adhere to this schedule.

Event Responsibility Date and Time Issue IFB State August 28, 2026 Hold Site Visit State September 4, 2026, at 11:00 AM ET Submit Written Questions Vendor September 8, 2026, by 12:00 PM ET Provide Response to Questions State September 10, 2026, by 4:00 PM ET Submit Bids Vendor September 15, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET Contract Award State To Be Determined

The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources will be conducting live bid openings over conference call. Below is the call-in information for this procurement’s bid opening scheduled for Tuesday September 15, 2026, at

2:00 PM ET.

Call-in telephone number: 1-984-204-1487

Phone Conference ID number: 875 647 005#

B. Section 5.1 Specifications are revised and listed below. Vendors are required to provide a response for Item 5.1.1.

Issuing Agency: Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Solicitation Number: 46-DNCR-27-2180 IFB Solicitation Description: Fire Alarm Testing and Inspections for the North Carolina Zoo Solicitation Opening Date and Time:

September 15, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET

Addendum Number: 1 Addendum Date: September 10, 2026 Purchasing Agent: Dwayne Alston

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 46-DNCR-27-2180

ADDENDUM NUMBER: 1

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The specific items and any specifications that the Procurement Entity is seeking are listed below. Items offered by the Vendor must meet or exceed the listed Specifications to be considered for award.

VENDOR’S RESPONSE

Item

Specifications Product/Service Offered Meets Specification

1 Provide testing and inspections of the fire alarm systems, fire extinguishers, and fire sprinklers at the Zoo.

YES NO

FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS

2 Provide testing and inspections of the fire alarm systems in accordance with the North Carolina Department of Insurance requirements, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, North Carolina State Fire Prevention Code, and manufacturer recommendations. Perform work during Zoo business hours Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM ET to 5:00 PM ET April through October, and from 9:00 AM ET to 4:00 PM ET, November to March. Locations of the fire alarm systems are included in ATTACHMENT ONE: FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS LOCATIONS. Specifications are listed below.

A. Perform testing and inspections one (1) time per year or twelve

(12) months.

B. Test and inspect the following fire alarm systems:

1) Africa Admissions

2) African Plains Barns

3) Aviary

4) Avian Propagation

5) Bison/Elks Barn

6) Black Bear

7) Cat/Chimp

8) DTC Administrative Building

9) DTC Zoo Warehouse

10) Elephant Barn

11) Forest Glade

12) Greenhouse

13) Grizzly Bear/Red Wolf

14) Hoof Stock Barns

15) Hotdog/Hamburger Shack

16) Junction Restaurant

17) Kid Zone

18) Lemur Island

19) Leopard Spot Gift Shop

20) Mammal Holding

21) North America Gift Shops

22) Mega Generator

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23) Rhino Barn

24) Rocky Coast

25) Safari Gift Shop

26) Service Support

27) Desert

28) Stedman Building

29) Streamside North

30) Streamside South

31) Vet Hospital

32) Vehicle Maintenance

33) NA GSO – Restaurant

34) Wildlife Rehab

35) ZOG (Giraffe Barn)

36) AF GSO – Restaurant

37) DTC Society Warehouse

38) Baboon Holding

39) Avian Hilding

40) Asia in construction

C. Test and inspect on-site.

1) Control panels (fire alarm control unit)

2) Smoke detectors and heat detectors (initiating devices)

3) Manual pull stations

4) Notification appliances such as horns, strobes, voice systems

5) Supervising station connections for off-site monitoring

6) Additional detection/communication systems (e.g., mass notification, emergency voice systems, CO detection) are also included in the NFPA 72 scope.

D. Submit inspection and testing reports to the Department Contract Manager, Timothy Wiles, tim.wiles@nczoo.org, (336) 879-7320 who will maintain the records on site. Digital records are acceptable.

E. Notify the Zoo's Communication and monitoring station, before and after testing and inspections.

F. Schedule onsite work with the Department Contract Manager.

A Zoo escort is always required for each location.

G. Furnish all labor, vehicles, tools, supplies, materials, testing, inspections, and equipment which satisfy manufacturer's applicable requirements necessary for professionally performing all work in this contract. Any losses to the Department caused by inferior quality work, equipment or supplies shall be reimbursed to the Department by the Vendor.

H. Be responsible for maintaining a schedule governing all alarm system inspection activities, i.e., the specific periodic tasks to be performed for each building. This shall include an inventory of fire alarm panels and devices per building.

I. Submit itemized quotes to the Department Contract Manager for proposed repairs which are not included in the contract. The Vendor shall provide an itemized quote with the labor rate, North Carolina Solicitation Addendum

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The quote must be approved by the Department Contract Manager before any work begins. The Vendor shall provide the labor rates per hour for repairs performed during business hours and beyond business house on ATTACHMENT A:

PRICING FORM.

J. Clear all fire systems of annunciations and return fire panels to normal operation according to manufacturer specifications after work is completed.

K. Submit a summary documenting the testing and inspections work performed to the Department Contract Manager no more than 30 days after the completion of work.

L. Complete testing and inspections in the month that fits the Zoo Safety Officer’s schedule.

M. Provide emergency repair service beyond the regular business hours on weeknights and weekends upon notification by the Department Contract Manager. The Vendor must return the call of the Department Contract Manager within (1) one hour of the emergency call. The Vendor must be able to provide on-site service within twenty-four (24) hours of the emergency call. All emergency repairs and costs will be billed separately and must be approved by the Department Contract Manager before work begins.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

3 Provide testing and inspections of approximately 500 portable fire extinguishers at various locations and in various vehicles and equipment at the Zoo.

A. Perform the work one (1) time per year in accordance with

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 10 Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers.

B. Perform inspections which include a thorough examination of the three (3) basic elements of a fire extinguisher which are mechanical parts, extinguishing agent, and expelling means/excellent gas.

C. Inspect each fire extinguisher:

1) Check the gauge pressure. Check for proper agent weight and pressure.

2) Check the condition of the gauge to make sure it is legible and compatible with the extinguisher.

3) Check that the last hydrostatic test date [twelve (12)years from the manufacturer date] is within code requirements for dry chemicals and five (5) years for pressurized water, carbon dioxide, and wet chemical or the approved NFPA 10 standard.

4) Check the last six (6) year (from the manufacture date) inspection, if applicable.

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a) 6-Year Inspection – Break down each fire extinguisher and check for damage. Replace the 0-rings and gaskets and recharge the extinguisher.

5) Check the value and shell for damage or corrosion.

6) Check the condition of the discharge horn.

7) Break the extinguisher seal and remove the locking pin.

8) Check the upper and lower handles.

9) Replace the locking pin and reseal the extinguisher. Ensure safety seals and tamper indicators are in place.

10) Check the valve opening for powder or any foreign matter.

11) Wipe down the extinguisher.

D. Perform one (1) hydraulic test.. The test is required every five years from the manufacturer’s date for Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Water, and K Class fire extinguishers. The test will need to be performed during the contract. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) fire extinguishers require that a conductivity test be conducted on the hose assembly. Carbon Dioxide extinguishers are not required to be examined internally; however, these extinguishers must be weighed to determine if the amount of carbon dioxide is within the required range.

E. Extinguishers subject to weather (including indoor areas that are damp and open-air vehicles) are required to have weather-resistant tags. The Vendor must leave at least 50 weather-resistant tags with the Zoo Ranger section to use throughout the calendar year as needed.

F. Install service verification ring tags in all extinguishers that require six (6) year recharging or twelve (12) year hydrostatic testing. Identification tags must include the date of service.

G. Fire classes of extinguishers include:

a) ABC 376

I. 2.5 lbs. -167 II. 5 lbs. -24

III. 10Ibs-173 IV. 20 lbs. -12

b) CG - 8 extinguishers, 10 lbs. (CG-Compressed Gas)

c) CO2 - 25 extinguishers

d) K Class - 6 extinguishers, 10 lbs.

e) Water - 7 extinguishers

H. Perform work onsite although the Vendor may receive approval from the Department Contract Manager to perform extinguisher work offsite and furnish loner extinguishers at no charge to the Zoo. If fire extinguishers must be removed from the Zoo, the Vendor's vehicle removing them must be enclosed or covered by a tarp.

I. Remove fire extinguishers from the Zoo upon approval of the Department Contract Manager. Identify for the Zoo the number of portable fire extinguishers that require hydrostatic testing and the cost to complete the test. The Zoo may opt to have these fire extinguishers removed and replaced with new fire extinguishers rather than having the required testing.

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J. If non-rechargeable fire extinguishers are hydrostatically tested, they shall be removed from service at a maximum interval of twelve (12) years from the date of manufacture. In no case shall an extinguisher be recharged if it is beyond its specified retest date. The Vendor will mark any cylinder condemned as such. No person shall remove or obliterate the "CONDEMNED" marking. The Vendor will provide a list of all fire extinguishers removed from service and the reason for the removal.

K. The Zoo has identified 31 inspection zones included in ATTACHMENT TWO: INSPECTION ZONES. The Vendor will be escorted by Ranger staff to each location/inspection zone to inspect the extinguishers inside structure/in place, noted in the below zones. Arrangements will be made by Ranger staff to coordinate the areas below with inspections and Zoo Staff.

Extinguishers can be brought by staff to the areas listed below and inspected and put back in place by staff at that location at time of inspection.

L. Upon inspection of fire extinguishers, all service tickets shall be rendered by the Vendor's representative to the Safety Director, Jason Joines. All service tickets are to show the type, size, location, and work performed (ex. recharge service and tag, hydrostatic test, removed, etc.)

M. Complete the work during normal Zoo business hours Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM ET to 5:00 PM ET April through October, and from 9:00 AM ET to 4:00 PM ET, November to March. There shall be no interruption to the public or zoo operations during inspection and/or testing of the portable fire extinguishers.

N. Contact the Safety Director and Ranger Team Leads to schedule testing and inspections.

FIRE SPRINKLER

4 Perform testing and inspections of the fire sprinklers at locations included in with the following specifications:

A. Schedule and inform the Department Contract Manager before any fire protection system equipment is shut down for testing and inspections. When servicing the Fire Protection Systems in any area of a facility, the system must be taken “off-line,” and the technician must, prior to leaving the facility, verify that the system is back “online” by noting it on the service log and contacting the Department Contract Manager. The Vendor shall verify that the system has been returned to “online” status by notifying the Department Contract Manager that the system is fully functional. Failure to follow this procedure shall be reasonable cause for cancellation of the Contact. Submit a location-specific electronic report certifying that such tests and inspections have been completed and must document any

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B. Provide the Department Contract Manager with electronic records/results of testing and inspection within one (1 ) week after completion of testing and inspections of each building or agreed upon a section of a building testing and inspections of sprinkler systems. The format of the records shall be prescribed by the Department Contract Manager and shall utilize an acceptable data format. The reports shall include the following information at a minimum:

1) A comprehensive computer-generated inspection report subsequent to scheduled testing and inspections. Each report will include the results of all testing and inspections as described in these specifications by location.

2) All required reports must be submitted with invoices to the Department Contract Manager, and if hard copies are accepted, two copies of each report are required.

C. Certify, test, and inspect the fire sprinklers and fire pump systems once(1) per year.

D. Furnish all labor, supervision, materials, and tools necessary to perform the work. The scope of work includes all parts of the sprinkler system. The systems components include but are not limited to, all valves, backflow preventers, piping, sprinkler heads, standpipes, per-action systems, and all deluge valves.

This list is not an all-inclusive list but a summary of components that will be tested, certified, and inspected.

E. Ensure the fire sprinkler systems meet all federal, state, and local fire codes and regulations. All work performed under this RFP shall follow CMR 780_ Chapter 9, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards 13 and 20, and any other applicable laws and regulations.

F. Completely drain any dry system of any standing water to ensure that there are no freeze-ups and rusting to the system due to standing water being left in the pipes. If the Vendor is called back because the Zoo finds that standing water has been left in the pipes due to Vendor’s failure to perform, the Vendor shall return at no cost to rectify the problem to ensure all water has been drained and pipes are clear. Should damage result from water remaining in the pipes, the repairs shall be conducted at the Vendor’s expense.

G. Test each system and ensure the system and associated alarms and panels are working properly without trouble alarms or notifications.

H. Immediately notify the Department Contract Manager about any sites with an operational fire alarm panel that are receiving a trouble/alarm signal in order to minimize interruptions of business operations before proceeding with any activities that may result in an alarm or trouble signal.

I. Respond to emergency service calls placed by the Department Contract Manager. The Vendor shall be onsite within six (6)

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5 Receive an escort by Zoo Emergency Operations staff during all fire testing activities.

2. The following are questions received about the Solicitation and the State’s response to those questions:

Question # Document Section

Vendor Question State’s Response

1 5.1 Specifications As magnet testing is not allowed during NFPA 72 testing and inspections, is it desired that all smoke detectors be cleaned out after the canned aerosol smoke testing?

Yes. All smoke detectors shall be cleaned out after the canned aerosol smoke testing.

2 3.1 Method of Award

Can the bid be awarded separately to a fire alarm vendor and a fire suppression contractor and if not can a fire alarm company subcontract a suppression company?

While the intent of this IFB is to award a Contract(s) to a single Vendor, the State reserves the right to make separate awards to different Vendors for one or more-line items, to not award one or more-line items, or to cancel this IFB in its entirety without awarding a Contract, if it is considered to be most advantageous to the State to do so. Please see Section 3.1 Method of Word in its entirety.

3 IFB Does the Zoo have a complete point list and/or quantity of initiating devices connected to each system?

Please see Attachment B.

There is no list for each initiating device.

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4 IFB Does the Zoo have and will provide all installer and access codes for each fire panel to be serviced?

Yes. The Zoo will provide all access codes for all fire panels to be serviced.

5 4.3 References Will current references from current owners and other companies meet the requirements of 4.3?

Vendor shall upload at least three (3) references to the Sourcing Tool using

ATTACHMENT D:

CUSTOMER

REFERENCE FORM, for which it has provided services of similar size and scope to those proposed herein. Please see Section 4.3 References in its entirety.

6 Attachment A:

Pricing Form

On page 21, the 5th column, “Service Rate (per service visit, per hour),” is that an hourly rate per person? Or an hourly rate per crew?

For Items 1-3, Vendors must insert their rates per service visit. For Items 4- 5, Vendors are to include their labor rates per hour.

7 IFB Can the 2024 IFB 46- DNCR-24-1961 bid tabulation results be provided?

For public records requests, please contact Public Information Officer Michele Walker at michele.walker@dncr.nc.g ov.

8 IFB The NC EVP portal states there is an addendum 1, 2 and 3 in Ariba but I don’t see them. Can they be provided?

Bid Addendum 1 in this only addendum for this solicitation thus far.

mailto:michele.walker@dncr.nc.gov mailto:michele.walker@dncr.nc.gov

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9 6.3 Invoices Is the NC Zoo subject to Sales Tax?

Absolutely no additional fees may be charged including but not exclusive to the fuel surcharges, administrative fees, handling fees, late fees, finance charges, sales tax, and refurbishment fees.

Please see Section 6.3 Invoices in its entirety.

10 Attachment A:

Pricing Form

On Attachment A: Pricing Form should service rate items 1 through 3 be omitted to be consistent with the packet handed out during the site visit?

The IFB which included Attachment A was highlighted at the Site Visit. Vendors must insert their rates per service visit on Items 1-3.

11 5.1 Specifications Will more than one escort be provided during the inspection times?

The Vendor may make the request to the Department Contract Manager prior to inspection times.

Check ONLY ONE of the following options and return one properly executed copy of this Addendum prior to the Solicitation opening time and date.

☐ A response was submitted prior to this Addendum. An updated response has been submitted to address the changes resulting from this Addendum.

☐ A response was submitted prior to this Addendum. NO CHANGES have resulted from this Addendum.

☐ A response was not submitted prior to this Addendum. ANY CHANGES resulting from this Addendum are included in our response.

ALL OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS REMAIN THE SAME

Authorized Signature Date

Printed Name Title

SOLCITATION ADDENDUM