Questions and Answers.pdf

FAR Chiller Replacement

697DCK-26-R-00368

Questions and Answers

1. Does this project require Asbestos survey followed with removal? We would assume that any abatement required would be a change to the contract? FAA Response: Although there is no expectation that asbestos will be present in the areas affected by this project, it is required that a survey be conducted by the contactor. If there are abatement costs because of the survey, those costs will be a change to the contract.

2. Period of performance / NTP clarification. Can this project begin construction during the cold weather months? FAA Response: Yes, so long as the work is coordinated and properly planned to the satisfaction of the FAA Contracting Officer, Contracting Officers Representative (COR), and Local FAA Facility.

3. Does this project require any temporary cooling to the building while the main system is down. FAA Response: Yes, even if the chiller is taken down during the winter, temporary cooling may still be required for equipment rooms. Contractor must maintain 72 deg F in all occupied and critical spaces during construction.

4. Do the existing concrete pads require extension? FAA Response: This depends on the new, and approved equipment and the manufacturer’s requirements for proper and complete installation.

5. Restricted Area: With this building being secured, does this require personnel to have badging? This building is on landside and the chiller is on the exterior of the building not in a restricted area. If badging or escorts are required, we are assuming that the FAA will take care of either? FAA Response: FAA badging for the contractor will not be required unless the CO specifically requires it. The FAA will provide dedicated FAA Employee(s) and/or FAA COR(s) to provide on-site contract oversite and escort the contractor.

6. Site Superintendent: During our site visit, the building personnel they would not require a site superintendent on site at all times. Would you confirm if this information is correct.

FAA Response: That is NOT correct, the local FAA facility does hold this contract for the FAA.

This FAA contract requires that the prime contractor has a superintendent, or delegated superintendent, on-site at all times.

7. Is the current DDC system up to date with new controls/control valves being installed?

Would the current DDC system need to be updated to communicate with new equipment? FAA Response: The current DDC is Distech Controls Niagara Framework, which is a BACNet based DDC protocol system. The FAA requires that all DDC system components are compatible with and/or use BACNet based DDC controls. The contractor shall ensure all equipment installed for this project can communicate using BACNet based protocols.

8. Are there existing TAB records available? Is it required to only Test and Balance the new equipment to be installed per scope of work or does the entire facility need to be Tested and

Balanced? FAA Response: Currently, we are unaware if there are any existing TAB reports, they will be provided if they exist. All the cold-water systems attached to the chiller piping should be TAB’d.

9. Can the existing glycol system be pumped out, saved and reused. FAA Response: Do not plan on re-using any of the existing water/glycol mix.

Can the system be isolated and new introduced for just what was isolated and removed?

FAA Response: We are not sure how well the system can be isolated, but if you would like to add valves to better isolate the system for the chiller replacement, we want such valves added to the system. We would also like all the water/glycol mix for the system to be replaced and properly treated under this project.

If the entire glycol system has to be replaced, do you have an approximate volume available?

FAA Response: We do not currently know the volume of the chilled water/glycol system, if you think a visit to the site would help you calculate the volume of the system the local FAR FAA facility said they would facilitate a visit for this reason.

10. Confirm crane requirements and whether FAA Form 7460-1 is required.

FAA Response: It is our understanding that for any crane used on this project a 7460-1 will be required.

11. I am inquiring to see if Energy Tech Systems utilizing Schneider Electrics EcoStruxure would be approved for this project, as we would like to bid on it. FAA Response: Not anticipated to be approved since the facility is already utilizing Distech Controls using their Niagara framework, and we are not replacing the BAS control system, we are just replacing the chiller.

12. Regarding the requirement to maintain 72 degrees F in all occupied and critical spaces du ring construction, are there specific relative humidity (RH) thresholds or positive/negative pressure requirements that must be maintained in the ATCT equipment rooms, or is temperature control the sole metric for the temporary HVAC system? FAA Response: Yes, relative humidity of the critical space to be maintained between 30 to 50.

13. As this is a federal construction project located at Hector International Airport in Fargo, Cass County, ND, please clarify if a Davis-Bacon Act Wage Determination is applicable, and if so, will the Government provide the applicable Wage Decision number via amendment?

FAA Response: Yes a Davis-Bacon Act Wage is applicable for this project. See Attachment J-3 Wage Determination ND20260013.

14. For the integration of the new chiller system into the existing Distech Controls Niagara DDC system, does the FAA have an existing service contract with a specific controls integrator who holds administrative rights to the system, or is the contractor expected to source and utilize an independent certified Distech technician for all programming, graphics, and BACnet mapping?

FAA Response: There is an administrative right for this program, contractor is expected to utilize them to connect chiller to the BAS system

15. Given that the FAA Form 7460-1 crane airspace approval requires a minimum of 60 days for processing, will the Government allow the contractor to submit this form immediately upon receipt of the Notice of Award (NOA) prior to the formal Notice to Proceed (NTP), and will a day-for-day schedule extension be granted if the FAA's airspace clearance process exceeds 60 days? FAA Response: Yes, FAA will allow the contractor to submit this form immediately upon receipt of the Notice of Award (NOA)

16. Will the FAA provide badged escorts for the contractor's personnel and subcontractors working inside the ATCT at no cost to the contractor, or must the contractor factor in the cost of providing its own cleared/badged escorts? Additionally, are there any restricted work hours (e.g., night-work only) for activities inside the tower cab or equipment rooms? FAA Response:

The FAA will provide dedicated FAA Employee(s) and/or FAA COR(s) to provide on-site contract oversite and escort the contractor

17. For Volume II, Factor 2 (Key Personnel), the Project Manager is required to have a BS in engineering or a technical degree, 5 years of experience, and a PMP certification. To maximize competition among qualified small businesses, will the Government accept equivalent experience (e.g., 10+ years of managing federal HVAC/chiller replacement projects) in lieu of the formal engineering degree or PMP certification? FAA Response: The Government will accept 10+ years of managing federal HVAC/chiller replacement projects) in lieu of the formal engineering degree or PMP certification.

18. Can you supply the existing control system manufacturer and the local company that services your DDC System? FAA Response: Current control system is Distech Controls Niagara DDC system. At this time there is not a local company on contract to service the DDC system.