Additional Questions Cleveland-Rudman FA Project - DB Solicitation QA 10.07.2020.docx

Design Build Replacement of the fire alarm system at the James C. Cleveland Federal Building and the Warren B Rudman Federal Courthouse:

Questions and Answers

Section Design build statement of work

38. Page 16 item G indicates sprinkler system devices connected to the fire alarm system shall be replaced and additional devices shall be provided where required, i.e.: water flow switches tamper switches etc. The documents call for the existing system to remain in service completely until the new system is installed tested and accepted by the government. How do we connect flow switches and tamper switches to the existing sprinkler system without removing the existing units? This will require some portions of the existing fire alarm system to be removed and deactivated prior to the new system being fully accepted Response: Means and methods including fire watches, construction phasing, etc. is up to the DB Contractor. An amendment will be issued to clarify mixed use occupancy (A, B, S, and I). (Reference Revised /SOW/POR page 15 for change).

39. Page 16 item H calls for relays and monitor modules be installed associated with the existing elevators to affect the necessary control. Are the existing elevators capable of accepting the external control and connections as called for or will modifications to the existing elevators controllers be required? If modifications are required can you tell us who presently maintains the elevator systems, and can you provide drawings for the elevator controllers?

Response: BID the documents as specified.

40. page 16 item J Can you tell us where the US marshals office is located in the building?

Response: The US Marshals Office is located on the second floor adjacent to elevator #2 of the Rudman Courthouse.

41. Page 16 item K Can you tell us where the USMS command and Control Center is within the building?

Response: The US Marshals Office is located on the second floor adjacent to elevator #2 of the Rudman Courthouse.

42. page 16 item L Can you provide drawings relative to the sprinkler system portion that is to be removed under this item? Can you also provide any details regarding the existing structure of the wall around the elevator machine room?

Response: Please see Attachments A through E for available information on the existing building layout, fire alarm system and components. The elevator machine room walls are 2-hour rated CMU walls.

43. Page 16 item M Can you provide any information regarding the presence of asbestos in the building and where we may encounter it or can this item be carved out of the project as an allowance to address for any hazardous materials found?

Response: Refer to Solicitation. Available Hazmat information has been provided in Attachment G.

44. Page 17 item 4 Can you tell us where the fire command room is?

Response: The Fire Command Room is directly to the left of the CSO screening as you enter the building.

45. Page 17 item 5 Can you provide some additional guidance regarding the extent to which fire watch is anticipated to be needed on this project?

Response: Please see Attachment D to the Scope of Work.

46. Page 18 item 7 At one location in the documents the requirement for smoke detectors seems to indicate that all the existing smoke detectors are to be replaced in kind with new smoke detectors. This note indicates smoke detectors should only be provided in accordance with NF PA 72 and PBS P-100. Is it a correct understanding that smoke detectors are only required where NFPA 72 and PBS P-100 require them not at every location presently existing on the drawings?

Response: Smoke detectors shall be provided per the guidance of GSA P-100, NFPA-90A and NFPA-72.

47. Page 18 item 13 Can flexible cabling be utilized on individual floors in lieu of conduit?

Response: Installation shall comply with PBS P-100.

48. Page 18 item 15 This item seems to indicate that a separate speaker /strobe unit will be required in every room. Is this the intent of the RFP?

Response: Location, quantities, and coverage of notification devices shall comply with GSA P-100 and NFPA-72.

49. Page 19 item 19 Can you identify in the drawings where each of the judge’s private restrooms are located? Can you provide information regarding the US courts design guide listed in this item? Where can this document be obtained?

Response: Judge’s private restrooms are located in 4th floor of the Rudman Courthouses in the hatched areas. Please see Attachments A through E for available information on the existing building layout, fire alarm system and components.

50. Page 19 item 21 we did not observe any existing firefighter phones in the building during the walkthrough. Can you provide on the drawings locations where these devices exist?

Response: The firefighter phones/intercoms are located within each stairwell at each floor landing. Please see Attachments A through E for available information on the existing building layout, firo e alarm system and components.

51. page 19 item 26 Can you identify the location of the USMS operation and Control Center? This item indicates we are to coordinate the installation of the remote annunciators with the USMS. Are there any special requirements we should be aware of when establishing the remote annunciated location?

Response: The US Marshals Office is located on the second floor adjacent to elevator #2 of the Rudman Courthouse. Please see Attachments A through E for available information on the existing building layout, fire alarm system and components. The remote annunciator shall follow PBS P-100 requirements. The egress shall follow PBS P-100 and NFPA 72 Chapter 7. All incidental work to the Fire Alarm System in the area shall follow USMS Pub 64 requirements.

52. Page 19 item 27 Indicates we are to interface with the smoke evacuation control panel. Can you define what interface means? Can you tell us how many smoke evacuation zones exist? Can you tell us how these existing smoke evacuation zones are controlled? Can you tell us where the existing smoke evacuation control panel is located? Is this control manual or automatic from the fire alarm control panel?

Response: The new smoke evacuation control panel provided as part of this work shall match the functions of the existing evacuation control panel and shall be located at the Fire Command Center. The new smoke evacuation control panel shall comply with the UL listing requirements in compliance with the IBC as referenced in PBS P-100. Provide all required points from the fire alarm system or incorporate the smoke control panel into the fire alarm system. Please see Attachments A through E for available information on the existing building layout, fire alarm system and components.

53. Page 20 item 37 Can you tell us who presently handles the sprinkler system maintenance for the building?

Response: BID the documents as specified.

54. Page 20 item 38 This item seems to indicate we are replacing the switches on the existing valves and tampers and not replacing those devices. Is it the intent of this project to replace the flow and tamper switches or two replace the fire alarm devices that monitor these items?

also, we need clarification relative to keeping the existing system in place while the new system is installed and accepted by the owner prior to demolishing the existing fire alarm system Response: The intent is to replace the flow and tamper switches and monitoring modules as part of the new fire alarm system installation. The intent is not to replace the valves or any part of the fire sprinkler system. Means and methods including fire watches, construction phasing, etc. is up to the DB Contractor. An amendment will be issued to clarify mixed use occupancy (A, B, S, and I).

(Reference Revised /SOW/POR page 15 for change

Appendix B specification - Section 28 31 01

55. In this section 1.4 Paragraph a 2, 3, 4 and within the design build statement of work the government mentions Class A wiring and class X wiring. Within this specification section the government indicates individual floors may be wired Class B. These two systems are mutually exclusive what is the intent of the RFP?

Response: Please refer to NFPA 72 and PBS P-100. An amendment will be issued to clarify mixed use occupancy (A, B, S, and I). (Reference Revised /SOW/POR page 15 for change

56. Within section 1.4 subparagraph A the RFP speaks of level 2 and Level 3 survivability. Can the government provide the definition of these two standards or can they direct us to available materials we can review?

Response: Please refer to NFPA 72, Chapter 12.

57. Page 12 item 13B indicates a telephone line to be installed and an alarm monitoring account creation/transfer coordinated with the property manager. Where is the phone service located within the building? Is a phone line available near the existing FACP? Who is responsible for establishing the alarm monitoring account, or does one exist?

Response: BID the documents as specified.

58. Page 12 item 13 C indicates a second means of transmission will be required. Can the radio transmitter for the city loop be considered the second means or primary means of transmission?

Response: No.

59. In the specifications duct smoke detectors are mentioned several times. We cannot see any of these on the plans can the owner provide us with any information regarding how many and where are these devices are located?

Response: See Attachments A through E for available information on the existing building layout, fire alarm system and components.

60. The specifications refer in several locations to PROM and EPROM memory storage for the audio portion of the system. This is old technology; will newer technology be accepted?

Response: Yes.

61. On page 19-line item K the specification calls for field programmability. The systems are programmable in the field, but you must be factory trained to perform this work. You should also be knowledgeable of fire alarm operations and other considerations. Is it the intent of the RFP that building personnel will be reprogramming this system at some point? Or is this to allow for future changes to the system through growth and modification of the building?

Response: Building personnel will not be programming the FA system. The intent is to allow for flexibility for future projects.

62. Page 43 item 2.13 calls for a video display unit. To ensure we provide what is desired, can you provide a general description of what this unit is supposed to do? Is this unit supposed to display what the fire alarm panel displays? Is it supposed to give a graphic representation of the building floor plan? Please provide a little more description of the operation you are attempting to accomplish with this device.

Response: Refer to PBS P-100.

63. Page 49 section 2.18 Is the elevator presently equipped with firefighter telephones?

Response: Please see Attachments A through E for available information on the existing building layout, fire alarm system and components.

64. Fire alarm system will require power feeds from the emergency panels. Can you identify the emergency panels on the drawings? Or can you provide a room location where the emergency panels are located throughout the building?

Response: Emergency Panels are located throughout the buildings. Please see Attachments A through E for available information on the existing building layout, fire alarm system and components.

65. Does the building have an existing emergency generator, if so where are panels fed from? Is this generator located within the building?

Response: Each building has an existing emergency generator. Please see Attachments A through E for available information on the existing building layout, fire alarm system and components.

66. Page 54 item E .1 indicates smoke detectors are to be located where shown on the drawings, can we assume this is the final design drawings provided by our engineer not the existing drawings showing building present conditions?

Response: Your Fire Protection Engineer will design the new system and locate the detectors in accordance with GSA P-100 and NFPA-72.