QandA Sheet CHA Solar Wall_updated 5.13.24.pdf

Q&A Sheet 6973GH-24-Q-00089: CHA Solar Wall

1. Permitting – We have reviewed with Hamilton County and City of Chattanooga and because the work is occurring on Federal land no permitting is required. We wanted to verify that the FAA does not expect any permitting requirements: Occupancy, Fire Marshal inspection, Building, etc.?

A. No outside permitting is required – the FAA is the AHJ

2. Access Control – no badging is required, there will be an escort present during all construction activities?

A. Concur

3. Access – we will have use of the bathrooms inside the building during construction.

A. Concur

4. Scope – we are requesting the use of a split face CMU block system, is this acceptable?

A. See updated SOW reflective of split face CMU block acceptable to FAA

5. Scope – what specific plants are required to replace the demolition of the existing bushes? Is any post watering required after planting?

A. See updated SOW for plant / shrub selections acceptable to FAA. Post watering will be the responsibility of the FAA.

6. Scope – does installation of new door on SW side of building require an “Exit” sign? Does this “Exit” sign require power?

A. Yes, a lit / energized exit sign will be required above the new egress door.

7. Scope – removal of office furniture. All office furniture will be removed and stored in a 20’ container located in the existing parking lot, is this acceptable? We ask that the Government remove electronic equipment and sensitive documentation prior to renovation of given office, is this acceptable?

A. Concur

8. Scope – Government has verified that all interior CMU wall penetrations for the doors and windows will be non-load bearing?

A. The exterior solar wall is not a load bearing wall, however the existing CMU wall behind the solar wall (if any) may carry a load on it. The contractor is responsible for contracting with a structural engineer (if deemed necessary) to determine what size and type header / lintel should be used to adequately support / transfer the load from the new window / door openings.

9. Scope – please be advised, we predict extensive dust to occur during CMU cutting.

Contractor understands that all renovated offices/kitchen are to be returned to current existing conditions or newer. It is understood by the Government that any dust migrating outside of the construction area (offices) is for the Government to manage? Please note proper and diligent construction care will be made; tarping, sealing, moving of furniture, etc. We would ask to the Government review where the dust might migrate and what sensitive equipment might be affected.

A. Contractor cutting must be done during non-operational hours only after the COR has turned off the building ventilation system to prevent migration of dust from the work area.

Additionally, the contractor must install temporary plastic partitions over all doorways and openings to ensure that minimal dust is allowed to migrate outside of the affected work area.

Cutting of this sort will only be permitted within one affected space / office at a time. Any room that has had CMU cutting performed, proper and diligent construction care will be made, including but not limited to; tarping, sealing, moving of furniture and proper cleaning including shop vac of any loose visible dust to help consolidate any dust before ventilation system is turned back on.

10. Scope – We understand the scope based on the Pre-Bid review for the removal and replacement of the solar panels is to replace the panels with CMU as indicated in the Specification. During this Pre-Bid the understanding was that no insulation was required between the existing inner wall made of CMU and the new (to be installed) CMU wall which will be the outer wall. But the Specification drawings seem to indicate that insulation is required.

First, is insulation required? If so, please provide the specification requirements for the insulation (R-value, etc.?

A. The solar wall had no insulative properties, so removing it does not decrease the insulative resistance available on that building exposure. Therefore, no additional insulation is required beyond what would be industry standard at the locations of the new exterior penetrations, including windows and doors (if any).

11. What type/size/qty of new shrubs?

A. See RFI question 5 – same answer applies.

12. Does anything need to be included for irrigation?

A. See RFI question 5 – same answer applies.

13. Do waste containers need to be covered?

A. No

14. What “style” of CMU is preferred? Understanding from pre-bid meeting is that pre-colored is preferred, and not painted as bid specifies. Split rib CMU is specified in sketch, please confirm if that is the style desired.

A. See updated SOW reflective of CMU style of block to be selected.

15. Do the entire rooms need painted?

A. Bidders must submit their bids reflective of labor and material costs to repaint only the affected walls where new windows and doors will be installed. Walls not otherwise affected by this scope of work are not included in the bid. The painting scope is limited to the walls affected by the scope of this project (new windows / doors) up to the 90-degree transition to the perpendicular wall.

16. Is the removal of the HVAC equipment that is above the Solar Chamber Room part of the scope?

A. Yes, see updated SOW. All heat transfer equipment and piping are to be removed as part of the scope of this project.

17. Is the removal of the access ladder part of the scope?

A. The ladder is to remain in place to access a roof hatch above, however the ladder connection to the CMU wall will be disconnected by the contactor so that the wall can be removed in its entirety. The ladder connections at the floor and roof above will remain in place.

18. Is an illuminated exit sign required for new egress door?

A. See RFI question 6 – same response applies.

19. Is there additional specification regarding window glazing thickness, tint, STC rating, or is that contractor preference?

A. Contractors must adhere to local Chattanooga building codes, which is based on the IBC and the IECC. The contractor shall submit products meeting or exceeding the following criteria:

Double glazing (Insulated Glass Units - IGU): Usually two panes of 1/8 inch glass with a space of 1/4 inch or more filled with air or gas. The maximum allowable U-factor for windows in Chattanooga is 0.30.

Product submissions are required for approval.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC): The maximum allowable SHGC for windows in Chattanooga is 0.25.

Tinted or reflective coatings can be used to meet this requirement. Product submissions are required for approval.

STC Rating (Sound Transmission Class): window submissions must meet or exceed 25 to 35 class scores.

Product submissions are required for approval.

20. Do you just need the bid bond now until the project is awarded?

A. Pursuant to Clause 3.4.1-1 PROPOSAL GUARANTEE (JAN 2017), a bid bond (document SF-24) is required to be submitted with all proposals.

21. Is the footing in place to receive the new block wall?

A. No – however this new block wall should not be load-bearing in any way and will only serve as an exterior facia for that building exposure. Proper foundation and site prep work must be included to ensure no differential settlement or cracking occurs on that exposure after CMU block installation.

22. The wall inside that is coming down, what about the items that are attached to the wall, the ladder, a vacuum canister, etc.

A. The vacuum will be removed by others.

The ladder is to remain in place to access a roof hatch above, however the ladder connection to the CMU wall will be disconnected by the contactor so that the wall can be removed in its entirety. The ladder connections at the floor and roof above will remain in place.

The entirety of that CMU block wall is in the scope of this project for demo.