RFI_Answered_47PH0522R0028_Texarkana Post Office US Courthouse 4-29-2022.pdf

Request For Information (RFI)

General Solicitation RFI’s

GSA answers in red. Solicitation 47PH0522R0028

1. The SBSA GC Agreement document, page 3, Section I.B. The Contract states that the contract consists of documents and mentions Drawings. There were no drawings provided for this solicitation. Please confirm if there are drawings associated with this project and if so please provide them.

There are no drawings from us.

2. Please confirm if the Notice to Proceed is issued when we are on site ready to start construction.

A limit notice to proceeded will be issued on the date of the signed contract. A full notice to proceed will be issued when the contractor is ready to occupy the construction site.

3. Are permits required for this project as this is a federal facility?

No

4. Can the daily supervision be performed by a Working Foreman?

Yes

5. Please confirm if you require crane usage to be done off hours.

Not anticipating crane usage, but if needed, will be coordinated with the building and the Courts.

6. Please confirm if there is a page limit for the technical portion of the bid.

No page limit.

7. Please confirm if contractors will be able to use the existing facilities.

If referring to restrooms, yes.

8. Please confirm this is a federally owned property and local building inspections and codes are not applicable.

Correct

9. Can you please post the sign in sheet from the walkthrough?

Yes.

10. Please confirm when the proposal due date and time as the following documents have shown more than one date and time for the proposal to be due:

May 5th, 2022 is the proposal due date.

• The RFP Letter shows the following due date:

• The Solicitation shows the following due date:

Elevator Related RFI’s

1. The existing crosshead data tag on the elevator states that the speed is 400 fpm, but the specification says the rated speed is 350 fpm. Please confirm if you want to change the speed from 400 fpm to 350 fpm, or if you would like for us to retain the existing speed of 400 fpm.

350 fpm

2. Do you require an elevator kill switch to be installed on the pit door as well as any associated signage?

All code requirements shall be met, and any safety items needed shall be provided.

3. Please confirm if all painting and demolition of the existing elevator equipment will need to be done on off hours.

Any disruptive work shall be performed after hours.

4. Spec 14210 – 39, Item 46.1 states to retain the existing hoistway entrances at all landings. Please confirm if any work needs to be done to the existing hoistway entrances (i.e.- refinish the existing entrances or clean and polish the existing).

The intent is to polish existing entrances and door to look “like new”.

5. Spec 14210 – 39, Item 46.3 states to retain the doors and that they shall be faced with Brushed Bronze. Section 46.3 talks about what the door panels shall be constructed of and mentions stainless steel. Please confirm if we are to retain or replace the existing hoistway door panels. If we are to retain the existing door panels, please confirm you would like for us to clad the existing door panels with Brushed Bronze finish as the existing door panels are in good condition.

Retain existing hoistway doors with all new hardware. Provide new car doors.

6. Please confirm that you are requesting the ASME 17.1-2019 code as the basis of design for this project as the specifications do not mention the following which is stated in the code:

ASME A17.1 2.27.1.1 Car Emergency Signaling Devices has been updated to include:

• Two-way message display in the cab for hearing and/or speech impaired.

• A means for authorized personnel to view video of passengers anywhere in the cab.

• A means activated by emergency personnel to change cab message to indicate help is on-site (building height restricted)

The code now requires a camera that can see the floor and be viewed remotely by rescue services, a display on the car panel that allows rescue services to remotely ask questions by typing a message and receiving yes or no responses, and yes and no buttons.

Correct. 2019 Code is in effect. The MAD and Rath devices are approved by GSA.

7. Please provide details of the existing security system so we can ensure the controller manufacturer is compatible with the existing system.

No. This information will be provided to the awarded contractor.

8. Please provide what the distance is from the security desk to the machine room.

Lobby of first floor.

9. Please confirm if it is feasible to provide a standard allowance for any of the following items that are to be retained if in good condition as it is unknown if we can reuse them until a thorough engineering survey is completed upon contract award:

• Car and counterweight buffers

• Machine beams

Retain. If needed to replace, we will discuss at that time.

10. The signed SOW document states the following as the purpose:

Please confirm if we to replace the entire cab structure, or if we are to refurbish the existing as the specification and other documentation provides conflicting information.

Retain existing cab shell, provide new cab interiors.

11. Spec 14210 – 36, Item 43.4 states all signal fixture cover plates for passenger elevator shall be Satin Stainless Steel ln all floors. The existing fixtures are Brushed Bronze. Please confirm if you would like to retain the Brushed Bronze finishes or if you would like everything to be Stainless Steel Satin finish instead.

Brushed bronze is the intent. All fixtures shall match existing finishes.

12. The existing hoist machines are gearless machines. The specification is asking for new geared machines. Please confirm you would like for us to replace the existing gearless machines with new geared machines.

Correct. Provide new geared machines.

13. Please confirm if it is acceptable to take down both elevators at the same time or if we are required to work on one elevator at a time.

One at a time.

14. There is no elevator mechanic rate provided in the General Decision Number: TX20220232 dated 02/25/2022. Please provide what rate we should use for this project.

Waiting on a response from DOL. Will post when received.

15. Please confirm if the programming of the new controllers is to be simplex as it refers to group operation in Spec 14210.

Both elevators are simplex.

16. Please confirm that we are to only make provisions in the controller and on the fixtures for future keypads, but no installation of a keypad or card reader is required for this proposal.

Correct. Provide space and wiring for future security system.

17. Specification 14210-23 calls out for emergency power. We will make provisions for this in the controller, but please confirm we are not required to install a lobby panel for emergency power recall.

Correct

18. Specification 14210-26 mentions complying with requirements for the required seismic zone. Please confirm if we are to provision for a counterweight derailment system and if any additional rail backings are to be installed.

All seismic devices shall be provided for any buildings in each zone. I do not believe that Texarkana is in a seismic zone.

However, this is the contractor’s reasonability to verify.

19. The specifications are indicating that new type B safeties are to be provided. Many times, they are not compatible with an existing older sling. Please confirm if we are to provide a new sling or reuse the existing mechanical safeties.

It is the intent to provide new safeties and retain the existing car sling and platform.

20. Please confirm if the buffers are in working order per the last inspection that was completed.

No issues were noted.

21. Please confirm the make and model for the existing Position Indicators so we can confirm with our fixture manufacturer that the scope of work being requested is feasible.

It is the original fixture at the lobby. Unknown, but retain and refurbish.

22. Please confirm if it is adequate to reuse the existing isolation transformer?

Provide new isolation transformer.

23. Please confirm we are not reusing the existing hall call buttons per section 43.7 which states to lower and provide new fixture cover plates and instead we are to provide all new hall call stations at each landing.

Provide new.

24. Please confirm that the existing hoistway entrances and doors are UL rated as it did not appear to have any signage on the back of them.

Confirmed.

25. Is it a requirement to provide detailed shop drawings on equipment that isn’t being replaced?

No, only on new equipment.

26. Under Section 13. Electrical Feeders and Wiring of SPEC 14210, #13.6 states 20% spare conductors are required, and #13.6

Letter B states 10% spare conductors are required. Please confirm which is required.

20% required.

Associated Building Work Related RFI’s

1. Please confirm what kind of barricades are required for this project (i.e. - floor to ceiling barricades, fully enclosed barricades, etc.)

Fully enclosed painted plywood.

2. Do you require HEPA filters to be installed and if so, where does the venting of the HEPA filters need to be run to?

Not required.

3. The signed SOW states that Division 2-13 is not being used and Division 15-33 is not being used, but the scope of work requested for this project falls under these trades. Will any documentation be provided for any of these divisions?

Any other work is very minor, and the elevator contractor is considered to be the GC.

4. Please provide the contact information for the incumbent Fire Alarm Service Contractor.

No. This information will be provided to the awarded contractor.

5. The existing pit door is not fire rated. Please confirm we are to replace the existing pit door with a new fire rated door.

Yes, that is correct. The hoistway and machine room shall maintain the fire rating.

6. Does the existing HVAC need to be replaced or is it adequate to support the heat dissipations for the new equipment?

The existing should support.

7. If the existing HVAC can stay, the ductwork does not travel through any other building spaces, does it need to be boxed out or covered in any way?

No change in any way needed.

8. Does the penetration of the existing ductwork need to be changed? It appears to be OSB. However, it is above the roof line.

None needed.

9. Does the existing window need to be removed and blocked in?

Not required.

10. The same window has an exhaust fan, does this need to be removed? It does not have a fire rating at the penetration.

Yes remove and fire rate.

11. Please confirm green water line and potential roof drain (possible chiller line) will need to be boxed out with a fire rated enclosure.

If water exists over controller or machines, install pans with drains.

12. Does the roof access need to be removed or separated from the machine room in any way?

No change required.

13. Hoistway ventilation has been removed from the most recent code. Do you require hoistway venting to be installed? And if so, does it have to be a mechanical louvre that actuates from a smoke detector.

Provide hoistway venting exhausting to outside. Fixed passive louvres.

14. Please provide a make model and color selection for the VCT flooring to provide accurate pricing as the pricing for this fluctuates or are we able to provide an allowance for competitive pricing.

Building manager will choose at a later date. Standard type, nothing unusual.

15. Please confirm there is no sprinkler work to be performed on this project.

Confirmed

16. Please confirm the what the existing disconnects shown in the picture below are being used for and do they require placement?

Unknown from picture.

17. Please confirm you would like ridged conduit and compression fittings to be installed throughout.

Correct.

18. Please confirm if the existing feeder to the machine room is being reused.

Correct, if proper size for new equipment.

19. Please confirm if there is a requirement to provide any hazardous material abatement and removal (i.e lead paint and asbestos removal). And if so, has a report been done that can be provided to us.

If found, stop work, and notify GSA.

20. The existing gearless machines have 25HP motors. The proposed replacement machines have a 30HP motor. Please confirm if the existing feeder is adequate to support an increase in horsepower for the new machines.

That is up to elevator design engineering to provide, not GSA.

21. There is miscellaneous wiring running through shaft that doesn’t seem to be elevator related. We have provided a picture of the wiring below. Please confirm what the wiring is used for and if it needs to be relocated.

Court and Marshals wiring. Do not remove.

22. Please confirm if the items shown in yellow in the picture are elevator related. If not do any of these pipes need to be relocated outside of the shaft?

Retain.