Cleveland-Rudman FA Project - DB Solicitation Questions and Answers 09.25.2020.pdf

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

1. In several areas the existing devices will be removed, and new devices located in another area. Given the level of finish in the areas around these existing devices it may become very disruptive or nearly impossible to exactly match the existing finishes. Would blank covers be allowed for these few areas?

Answer:

BID the documents as specified.

2. When devices are removed and eliminated will it be allowed to keep the buried conduit in place? In many areas it will be very disruptive and negatively affect the normal operations of the facility

Appendix A Paragraph E will be updated via an amendment.

3. In reference to the “Design Build Statement of Work for Replacement of Fire alarm system dated March 5, 2020 page 1 Project Description paragraph 1.2

Project Goals and Objectives states “To increase the level of life safety provided in these buildings by upgrading the existing fire alarm system. The new fire alarm system is to be an integrated analog addressable voice evacuation fire alarm system that meets the current codes & standards and complies with NFPA 72 and PBS P-100 requirements. Can you change the wording upgrading the existing to replace the existing? Please confirm.

Answer:

This paragraph will change the wording to “replace the existing” via an amendment.

4. In reference to the same documents as indicated above, page 16 paragraph L.

The design -build work shall provide for the option of removing fire sprinklers from the elevator machine room that is enclosed in a 2-hour rated enclosure and limit the detection to installing smoke detectors (NFPA 13 Exception). The option of removing fire sprinklers shall include the area control valve both at the elevator machine room and for the main electrical room which are placed just outside main electrical room door. Can you please clarify if this statement is referring to an add alternate or deduct alternate since it is worded as an option?

Also does this request refer to all elevator machine rooms and all main electrical rooms including the elevator machine room penthouse? Please provide a better description of this request

Answer:

This paragraph will be revised via an amendment to clarify that the work associated with this paragraph will be an option to the project.

5. Section 01-40-00 Quality Assurance & Control Requirements page 4, paragraph

1.2 A states a qualified independent testing agency shall be an accredited entity engaged to perform test and inspections both at the project site or elsewhere and to report on and to interpret results of those test or inspections. Testing agencies shall be acceptable to GSA and the Agency shall be authorized by authorities having jurisdictions to operate in jurisdiction where project is located. Is it the

Owners intent to pay the fees associated with this independent testing agency or the responsibility of the design build contractor to retain the services of a third-party testing company?

6. Will the Design Build contractor receive a complete and current set of cad files for both the James C. Cleveland Federal Building and the Warren B Rudman

Federal Courthouse for all levels?

Yes, floor plans in CAD will be provided.

7. Are the existing door holders to remain or will these be replaced? If the design build contractor is to replace these can you provide a quantity?

Answer:

BID the documents as specified. Door holders are a component of the Fire Alarm system. Please see Attachments A through E for available information on the existing building fire alarm system and components.

8. Can the owner provide the company names and contacts along with emails & phone numbers of the different service companies associated with managing these buildings, i.e. elevator vendor, building management company, security service company, fire protection company, door hardware manufacture, etc.

There may be fees associated with contracting the services of these companies and if so, who pays the associated fees if applicable?

9. Section 283101 Part 1 General 1.1 description of work references the John J

Moakley Federal Courthouse. Please update the name of the project.

This reference will be updated via an amendment.

10. Owner’s project requirements page 19, paragraph 27 requires the design build contractor to provide a smoke evacuation control panel adjacent to the new fire alarm control panel. The existing atrium smoke exhaust system does not appear to have a smoke evacuation control panel. Can you provide a sequence of operation of the existing system so we can determine what is required for the smoke control panel?

Answer:

A new smoke evacuation control panel is required. Please see Attachments A through E for available information on the existing buildings fire alarm system and components.

11. Owners project requirements page 16 paragraph G notes “the sprinkler system devices connected to the fire alarm system shall be replaced and additional devices shall be provided where required – 1.e water flow switches, tamper switches, etc. Is it the intent of this RFP to replace every sprinkler device or just replace the devices determined to be defective? Please provide a quantity if possible.

Answer:

BID the documents as specified. The sprinkler system devices are components of the Fire Alarm system. Please see Attachments A through E for available information on the existing buildings fire alarm system and components.

12. The existing pull stations in public spaces do not currently have locally alarmed covers. The Owners project requirements page 17 paragraph 6 is requiring locally alarmed covers on all manual pull stations in public spaces. Are these now required, and can you provide a quantity or description of what manual pull station is in a public space?

13. The two buildings are not considered a high rise. Section 283101 page 49 and

50 are requiring a firefighter telephone communication system. Can this section

2.18 be removed from the design intent or will this be required?

14. Appendix A, Section E: States existing system is Siemens, this is assumed a typo, please clarify

This reference will be updated via an amendment.

15. System Design Criteria, section 17 calls for speakers to be installed in elevator cabs. If speakers do not exist or are incompatible, what level of elevator subcontractor work would be expected to meet this requirement?

BID the documents as specified. See PBS-100 -7.6.4.

16. System Design Criteria, section 13 States existing conduit and boxes may be reused. Will these need to be painted where exposed in accordance with

Architectural requirements Section 7?

Answer:

BID the documents as specified.

17. Architectural Requirements, Section 7, calls for all exposed conduit and boxes to be red. Would using only red conduit and red box covers be acceptable?

18. System Design Criteria, section 4 requires a printer in the Fire Command Room.

Please clarify where the fire command room is located?

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

19. Architectural Requirements, section 6 only allows for surface mounted devices in unfinished or utility areas. Due to the nature of the finishes and lack of access in some locations, surface mounting with factory box cover / skirt may be a prudent consideration.

20. Architectural Requirements, section 2 requires patching or repair of existing notification appliance locations. Due to the nature and age of the finishes in some locations (granite, wood, fabric) a close match may not be possible without replacement of entire wall panels or sections. Please clarify what level of work will be required to meet this expectation.

21. During walk through it was noted some of the existing wall mounted devices are not mounted at an ADA compliant height, mostly to avoid casework and granite. It is assumed all such locations will be abandoned and devices installed at the appropriate heights in the high-end finish surfaces as needed.

22. A smoke evac panel was not able to be located at the walk through. It is assumed the existing Simplex fire alarm panel is providing that function. Please clarify if an existing smoke evac panel is or is not present in the facility.

Answer:

BID the documents as specified. A new smoke evacuation control panel is required. Please see Attachments A through E for available information on the existing buildings fire alarm system and components.

23. System Design Criteria, section 38 references fire pump valves. A fire pump was not able to be located during the walk through. Please clarify if a fire pump is or is not present in the facility

Answer:

The Rudman building does not have a fire pump. The Cleveland building has a small jockey pump, but it's not a fire pump.

24. System Design Criteria, section 21 references fire fighter phone system. Based on device locations and lack of handset interface, the existing communications system may be an area of refuge system rather than a fire fighter phone system.

As we have confirmation the existing Emergency Responder radio Coverage in the building is adequate. Please clarify the intent of the requirement for a system in accordance with IBC 1009.8 or NFPA 72 24.8.

These phones are utilized in Occupant Evacuation Plan (OEP) to communicate with fire command center/FD to effect rescue.

25. System Design Criteria, section 28 references 2 Hour rated cable assemblies and fire stop penetrations but provides exception for (1) hour enclosures. Please clarify this exception

Answer:

BID the documents as specified. Refer to P-100 Section 7.6.8. The two vertical risers must be protected by a minimum one-hour fire rated enclosure or a two-hour rated cable or system.

26. Locations for new fire alarm equipment will be required throughout each building. Existing electrical and communications closets (most likely locations) do not appear to be more than 1 Hour rated. Will 2Hr rated enclosures be required for the protection of fire alarm equipment?

BID the documents as specified. Refer to P-100 Section 7.6.8.

27. It is unclear if these buildings meet the criteria for Highrise as defined in the

International Building Code, Chapter 2. Please clarify if these are considered high rise.

These buildings are not considered high rise buildings.

28. The specification states that the new FACP shall tie into the existing door locks. Is there a list of quantities and locations of all the door locks?

Answer:

BID the documents as specified. Please see Attachments A through E for available information on the existing buildings fire alarm system and components.

29. The specification states that the master box shall be provided by the city of Concord.

What type of master box is it and what manufacturer (i.e. radio box, or Digitize, local energy)? If it is radio, how many zones are required?

Answer:

BID the documents as specified. Please see Attachments A through E for available information on the existing buildings fire alarm system and components.

30. The specification states that the new fire alarm system shall have fire fighter phones.

With the common use of bi-directional amplifiers, will these fire fighter phones still be required? If so, where will they be required?

31. Will the smoke control panel be replaced with new or is it expected to be tied into the new system? This will void UL listing.

Answer:

BID the documents as specified. A new smoke evacuation control panel is required and it will not be tied into the new FACP.

32. Will a professional engineer and/or a NICET IV technician be required on site at all times for supervision?

33. Please identify all “high security areas” (i.e. FBI, DEA, witness protection etc) as mentioned in the specification.

34. How are fire zones classified in these buildings? Is it per floor or are there other areas also considered separate fire zones?

35. The specification mentions a “VDU”. Will this be required as it is older technology?

The intent is to provide a display on each FACP that indicates all information associated with the fire alarm condition. The proposed FACP display panel shall comply with this requirement.

36. Both buildings are currently being tested quarterly. The test report included in the bid packet is for June 2019. Can we have access to the remaining three (March, September and December) in order to get a full count of devices currently in the buildings?

The information requested will be provided via an amendment.

37. Q: please post all the companies that attended the site walk. This allows the interested companies to network with one another and providing the tax payer with the most cost effective solution

A: Reference the attendance sheet attached to the Teleconference meeting minutes.