HHS Consolidation - Master RFI 9.11.2024.pdf

U.S. General Services Administration GSA Solicitation No. 47PK0124R0010

Construction Contract for: Health and Human Services Office Consolidation Project At Speaker Nancy Pelosi Federal Building, San Francisco, CA 94103

Pre-Proposal Conference Date: August 15, 2024 at 10:00AM

Master RFI List 09/11/2024

1. Question: How to receive the CUI documents on sam.gov? Answer: The Contract Officer will provide information in the amendment.Contractor and subcontractor must have a sam.gov account. Login to sam.gov is required, and access to the controlled documents must be requested. If experiencing issues, offerors to contact the Federal Service Desk, FSD.gov.

2. Question: Is the project metric? Answer: Project is both metric and imperial systems. The items that are metric are items that tie into the existing building system, so really the Ceiling is where that is a concern. Ceiling grid structure and tiles, HVAC ceiling return and supply grills, and then any lighting fixtures that are meant to fit the ceiling grid. So in imperial something like a 2x2 light would instead need to be metric, but a can light that does not need to fit the square exactly would not have to meet that requirement.

3. Information: The Artwork Inventory List by HHS will be issued in the amendment.

4. Question: Who will provide the phasing plan? Answer: Contractor will provide the phasing plan and coordinate with GSA PM. Phase 1 work will need to be completed and including billing by June 15, 2024.

Master RFI List, Continued

5. Question: Will any of the spaces be vacant? Answer: During the walk through, there will be vacant spaces to see.

Vacant spaces will be issued in the amendment by HHS.

6. Information: The lobby on each floor is excluded from the work, NIC.

7. Question: Would like to see the BAS and Fire Sprinkler rooms. Answer: These rooms will not be shown during today’s walk-thru or until contract award.

8. Question: Is there any fire sprinkler work for the at locations with the “wave” concrete ceiling? Answer: If relocation or new fire sprinklers are required by a fire protection engineer, see contract documents.

9. Question: “Cleared Sign” on pieces of paper taped to furnishings mean the space will be ready? Answer: It means space has been cleared by HHS.

10. Information: Mechanical closet at 5th floor Suite 5-100 was shown by HHS during Pre-Proposal Walk.

11.Question: What is the challenge for this project? Answer: The phasing and meeting the schedule for Phase 1.

12. Information: Shattered glass panel will be replaced with glass panel from Suite 3-600 as shown in drawings.

13.Question: How to access the CUI / controlled documents. Answer: See answer to Question #1.

14.We logged into sam.gov and was unable to locate where we need to submit our questions. Can you please let us know so we can submit them on the site before the 8.22.24 – 4pm deadline? Answer: Please email all RFI to http://sam.gov/ dan.makowski@gsa.gov and copy Contract Specialist Daniel Ramirez - daniel.ramirez@gsa.gov. The RFI deadline was 8.22.24.

mailto:dan.makowski@gsa.gov mailto:daniel.ramirez@gsa.gov

15.Question: The below file access is “controlled” and we can not get access to it, does it apply to our moving scope?

Answer: Amendment 1 “Proposal Conference Slides.PDF” is the presentation from the Pre-Proposal Conference on August 15, 2024. For access to controlled documents please review the answer to question # 1 or reach out to the FSD for help.

16.Question: Should we be submitting our quote to you or the GC’s? Answer: Your Quote as a subcontractor to a Prime needs to be submitted to GC. GSA will only accept complete proposals from General Contractors.

17.Question: Are we using the attached “Attachment+I2+-+Contractor+Furniture+Move+Responsibilities-1” to base our quote from? Answer: This document is a matrix of furniture, current location and destination.

18.Question: What is the attached “Attachment+A2+-+Furniture+Bid+Sheet” for? Answer: This Bid sheet will show your pricing for items listed and submitted with your proposal. This pricing sheet is a breakdown of base contract item #5 as shown in the SF1442.

19. Question: Does our moving rate need to be prevailing wage rates or is non-prevailing wage rates ok? Answer:

Offeror will meet the Davis-Bacon Act requirements. Wage determination # CA20240018 was issued with the Solicitation.

20.Question: Would you like us to provide any boxes or labels in this move? If so, how many? Answer: Boxes and labels will be provided by HHS.

21.Question: As subcontractors of the GC, will our crew need to do the badging process too? Answer: Yes or escorted by HSPD cleared representative.

22.Question: The following scope of work is unclear: The only scope of work in these spaces is replacing the existing lighting with LED fixtures. Furniture must either be protected in place from damage, or removed from the space during construction and moved back.” Did you want us to quote to uninstall all of the items in the below locations and store them on site? Answer: Yes.

Then reinstall them after the lighting with LED fixtures are installed? Answer: Yes.

Or did you want us to leave the room as is and use visqueen to wrap the items in its original position? Answer: Yes.

example of a room.

23.Question: Can the Government confirm the past performance value for the prime contractor only? Answer: The value and square footage requirements for past performance projects listed under evaluation factor #3 shall be the same as defined under “Similar projects” and as amended.

24.Question: Will the Government accept an aggregate value from the prime contractor and major subcontractors to meet the $8M project value? Answer: No.

25. Question: Can the Government confirm if a bid bond requirement applies to this project? If so, does the bond have to be in the name of the prime contractor or can it be provided by a major subcontractor? Answer: A bid bond is required per section I.F of the Solicitation. The bond must be submitted by the bidder, which is the Prime.

Please also refer to section III.C of the Solicitation for guidance on SBA bond assistance for small firms.

26.Question: Will the Government revise the "Similar Project" definition to include major subcontractors? Answer: No.

27.Question: Are letters of commitment required for the Key Personnel? Answer: No.

28.Question: The new exit signs are shown to have battery backup. All existing exit signs in the building do not have battery backup, but are tied into the emergency lighting circuit that runs with the generator. Please confirm we should match building standards for exit signs and plan to run wiring to the closest emergency circuit. Answer: Yes, we can match the building standard.

29.Question: Please confirm that ALL low voltage wiring, including data, A/V, security, Aiphone, camera, card reader, door controls, and other low voltage systems shall be ran in conduit even under the raised floors and above dropped ceilings. Note that this is contrary to building standards. Answer: Utilize building standards in these instances.

30.Question: The specifications do not mention the use of MC cable, but currently nearly all power in this building is ran in MC, including the home runs to the panels. The reason for that, is to get a home run out of the electrical rooms in this building, one must go through the ceiling of the electrical room below it, in order to stub into the raised floor above. There are also small pockets in the underfloor structural stem walls that work fine for MC to pass through, but are choke points for EMT. Is it acceptable to match building standards with regards to the use of MC cable for power? Answer: MC cable does not allow termination directly at an electrical panelboard. MC cable from junction box to lighting fixtures is acceptable. But from junction box to the electrical panelboard is not permitted. Because additional circuits may be added to these spaces, EMT shall be used for all receptacle circuits. Where structural conditions do not permit EMT, flexible metal conduit can be used if approved by the A/E. All EMT conduits must be connected with compression couplings.

31.Question: On sheet TN000, under "special systems legend," the symbols for communication outlets indicate that a conduit needs only to be stubbed to above the ceiling. This contradicts the specifications for horizontal cable (271500-1.2.C) which says that EC to provide conduits for all cabling. Please clarify which is correct. Answer:

Sheet TN000 is correct.

32.Question: The TN sheets indicate running data cable through the ceilings. However, in areas A&B in this building, all data cable is currently ran under the floor, because there is no overhead way to get between sections of the building with exposed ceilings. Running conduit through the floor is much more difficult than overhead, but is the only way without an exposed conduit crossing between sections. Please confirm they should be installed under the floor in these areas. Answer: Install under floor in areas A & B.

33.Question: The division 27 & 28 specifications mention shop drawings, submittals, etc for all of the systems.

However, according to the plans, all card reader equipment, AIphone equipment, camera equipment are all furnished by the owner. Please confirm that shop drawings, submittals, product warranties, etc will not be required for owner provided systems. Answer: Shop drawings, submittals, product warranties are not required for owner provided systems.

34.Question: Sheet TN301, detail 1, is titled "typical floor outlet box." These are indeed what is typical all over this building, however on these plans, this type of box is not called out anywhere. Instead, using sheet E-106b as an example, an above floor pedestal type box, (CW COLE TLR series) is called for. Please confirm we are not matching building standards nor using the typical floor box shown on TN301. Answer: For all new floor boxes, we are using the Cole floor box specified. However, if a different floor box works better for the contractor, it can be submitted for review as an alternate. At this point, the specified Cole floor must be used for bidding.

35.Question: Throughout Specification Section 271500, Category 6 and 6A are used interchangeably. Please clarify whether the communications cabling system should be Category 6 or 6A compliant, or are the data, AV and camera cables Category 6 and the WAP cables Category 6A? Answer: Provide Category 6A in all areas.

36.Question: Specification Section 271500 2.8 A states that vertical cable management is required. As the equipment racks in the telecom rooms are existing, do we need to provide and install the specified vertical wire managers?

Answer: Provide vertical wire managers as needed for proper installation of new equipment.

37.Question: Specification Section 271500 2.9 B states that ladder rack and accessories are to be provided. As the telecom rooms are existing and presumably already built out, is this ladder rack really required? Answer: Provide ladder rack as needed for proper installation of new equipment.

38.Question: For the new 12-strand OM4 armored fiber optic backbone cables, are these being installed free air (through J-hooks) or in conduit? Answer: The new armored cable can be installed free air through J-hooks.

39.Question: Does any of the cabinetry require locking hardware? Answer: No lockable hardware needed.

40.Question: Does any of the cabinetry/millwork require pull outs for trash cans? Answer: No pull outs for trash cans needed.

41.Question: Are backsplashes required at any of the countertop locations? Answer: Tile backsplashes are required as shown on the elevation sheets A-203C, A-204C, A-205A, A-205B, A-206A, and A-206B.

42.Question: Some of my subcontractors are stating that they cannot scale the plans because the scale shown is in metric unit. The plans show the metric scale is plumbing, mechanical and audiovisual. Can we switch to US units? Answer:

Mechanical, Plumbing and AudioVisual drawings are all using an engineering scale which is just a ratio of 1:50 or 1:100. You can pick the units you would like, it can represent 1 inch = 50 inches which are imperial units. The process to reformat everything to a different scale is a large effort that we are not able to accommodate.

Answer: While the scale is an engineering scale AudioVisual Mounting Heights, Details and Dimensions are in imperial units. The dimension text must be referenced and the drawings themselves must not be scaled directly. Please refer to the dimensions listed and use the Architectural sheets for scaling and location references. Devices must be centered on architectural elements, confirming locations in shop drawings submittals.

43. Question: In the AV Spec for the Pre-Bid Submittals, it states we need to prequalify with the architect 10 days before this project bids. An image of the section. Do the AV Sub-consultants need to submit qualifications at this stage of bidding? If so to whom? Answer:

Delete, “Submit listed qualifications to Architect for review ten (10) days prior to submission of a bid.” and replace with “Submit listed qualifications to the GC to be included in GC’s proposal.”

44. In attachment I 1, SOW from Studio 2G Furniture, Installation and Project Management, it refers to Attachment A- Proposed Furniture Plans, Attachment B Furniture Specifications & Requirements, Attachment C Furniture Bid Sheet. We are unable to locate these except for in Sam.gov under “ Controlled “. They appear to be just renamed and are hoping you may allow us to access, send a link or an attachment ?? Answer: Please refer to the answer to question #1 for request and access to controlled documents. Attachment A - Proposed Furniture Plans, Attachment B Furniture Specifications & Requirements, Attachment C Furniture Bid Sheet were renamed and posted as Attachment I3 - Proposed Furniture Plan, Attachment I4 - Furniture Specifications and Requirements, and Attachment A2 - Furniture Bid Sheet.

45. In attachment I 1, again. Page 5 “ Estimated project schedule “ Refers us to the Construction Solicitation for this ?? Can you please share which of the ( 26+ ) Construction documents links may possibly confirm this information ?? Answer: The actual dates for the project schedule are variable. Total project duration is 548 calendar days.

46. Can we ask that the size threshold for similar projects to be used as past performance be lowered to between 10,000 and 15,000 SF. Answer: Yes. The square footage has been revised as detailed in Amendment 03.

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