Addendum Item 04

HHS Responses to Questions

PCS 134 HHS Responses to Questions

Effective Date 06/26/2015 Version 1.00 Page 1 of 6 Revision Date 09/13/2023

Solicitation Title: Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ), Professional Architectural and/or Engineering Services

Solicitation Number: HHS0016475

# Reference Question Response

RFP number; No.HHS0016834 v2

Section number; Attachment G-1

Paragraph number; Page number;

FA0.01

Text of passage being questioned;

Contractor shall provide a fiber optic output from the fire alarm panel that will be picked up by civil to route to Building 543

What fire alarm panel is this in reference to?

The fire alarm panel in each of the buildings to be upgraded shall report back to the main campus wide fire alarm panel in the security building. This reporting is for notification only. Each building will have its own reporting back to a central monitoring station per the contract drawings.

RFP number; No.HHS0016834 v2

Section number; Attachment G-1

Paragraph number;

Page number; C1.1

Text of passage being questioned;

Fiber Line Route Plan

Is the expectation that Building 732's new non proprietary panel will need to be integrated with the Notifier Panel? Notifier systems use proprietary communication protocols and the data riding on the fiber network is proprietary. A non Proprietary panel would not integrate as the new fire panel in Building 732 would need to be a proprietary Notifier panel to fully integrate.

Notifier is a non-proprietary manufacturer (it can be sourced and serviced by numerous vendors). Notifier is acceptable equipment for this project. Note the integration between buildings 732 and 533 to the security building is for reporting of alarm, supervisory, and trouble signals only and not for control.

Version 1.00 Page 2 of 6 Revision Date 09/13/2023

# Reference Question Response

RFP number; No. HHS0016834 v2

Section number; Attachment G-1

Paragraph number;

Page number; FA1.00

Existing Security Building Contractor to penetrate into building and connect fiber line into existing fire alarm system for reporting.

On the site visit, it was observed that the current Notifier Fire Alarm Panel In the Security Building has fiber already connected to it. It was observed that there is second red tagged Notifier Fire Alarm Panel on the Second Floor, Is the Second Floor Panel, the one that needs to be connected to Fiber?

The intent of the project is to provide reporting only to the main panel in the security building via fiber. There is no equipment replacement in the security building. Contractor to confirm “Main Panel” location in the security building.

RFP number; No. HHS0016834 v2

Section number; Attachment G-1

Paragraph number;

Page number; 000

Text of passage being questioned;

Install New Fiber lines to transmit Fire alarm signals from building 533 and 732 to Main Panel At The Site

Can you clarify what is meant by the "Main Panel"? Is the Main Panel Notifier? Is the expectation that non-proprietary fire panels be installed in buildings 533 and 732 and fiber networked to a Proprietary Notifier Fire Panel?

“Main Panel” is intended to be the panel in the security building where all building fire alarm signals are reported. Refer to answer for Addendum Item #12.

Version 1.00 Page 3 of 6 Revision Date 09/13/2023

# Reference Question Response

RFP number; No. HHS0016834 v2

Section number; Attachment G-1

Paragraph number;

Page number; 000

Text of passage being questioned;

Install New Fire Alarm Systems Throughout Buildings 533 ad 732

Will the Fire Alarm Systems in Buildings 533 and 732 operate independently from any other panel on campus?

Per Attachment G-1, Project Drawings, drawing FA1.00, the buildings shall be tied into the campus wide system in the security building. This is for reporting only so security personnel know there is an event occurring. Each building will still have its own central station monitoring. All equipment required for offsite monitoring (e.g. DACT) is the responsibility of the contractor.

RFP number; No. HHS0016834 v2

Section number; Attachment G-1

Paragraph number;

Page number; C1.1

Fiber Line Route Plan

For the Underground Fiber Line Run between buildings 790 and 732, Will there be any fiber ran in the actual buildings? In particular building 732, the actual existing panel's location is a bit of distance from where the fiber is coming into the building. Is Direct to indoor plenum the expectation? One Fiber is in the building, do we need to run raceways or j hooks to final destination? Is there any requirement for the Brand/Manufacturer of the Fiber? On completion, Is the requirement for the fiber to be tested or for certification?

The fiber is required to be ran from building 732 head end equipment to the security building. This will necessitate fiber to be ran inside of each building. Fiber is required to be in raceway. There is no manufacturer requirement for the fiber so long as the total system is NFPA 72 compliant. All systems are required to be commissioned and tested.

RFP number; No. HHS0016834 v2

Section number; Attachment G-1

Paragraph number;

Page number; 000

Text of passage being questioned;

Install New Fiber lines to transmit Fire alarm signals from building 533 and 732 to Main Panel At The Site

At the site visit, I was able to observe that Building 533 has fiber already connected to the existing fire panel. Can you clarify if the existing fiber lines need to be uninstalled and new fiber lines are still required to be installed? Is the expectation to upgrade and replace fiber that is currently installed at the Fire Panels at Building 533 and 543.

Contractor may use existing fiber but will be responsible for its integrity and overall function during commissioning and testing.

It is the contractor’s discretion whether to reuse existing (assuming it meets design intent) or to install new.

Version 1.00 Page 4 of 6 Revision Date 09/13/2023

# Reference Question Response

RFP number; No. HHS0016834 v2

Section number; Attachment G-1

Paragraph number;

Page number; FA2.03

Text of passage being questioned; All exposed conduit shall be painted to match the surface it is mounted to.

I understand that all existing wiring is to be replaced. Is it acceptable to reuse all existing conduit for the new devices for Building 533?

If the existing conduit meets code and design intent requirements, it may be reused. Refer to Attachment G-2, Project Manual, Section 284621.11. An example of code requirements is if it is under conduit fill requirements.

RFP number; No.HHS0016834 v2

Section number; Attachment G-1

Paragraph number; 1

Page number; FA1.00

Text of passage being questioned; Steam Tunnel Entrance Located Outside of Building Contractor to Provide Conduit and Fiber Penetration from FACU to Outside Building into Steam Tunnel

What is the expectation on the type of conduit ran throughout the steam tunnels?

Metal or Plastic? What are the dimensions of the steam tunnels?

Refer to Attachment G-2, Project Manual, Section 284621.11 for conduit.

Steam tunnel dimensions need to be field verified, but they do vary throughout the campus so there is no set size.

10 Who will we be the AHJ? HHSC will be the AHJ.

Version 1.00 Page 5 of 6 Revision Date 09/13/2023

# Reference Question Response

I need a Data Sheet from the door holders that the owner is providing. Documents only call for installation of said door magnets, nothing about powering them or the power source.

See Addendum item 03 for the requested door magnet data sheets.

More information is needed on the way the building panels are to report to security. The plans call out for a NON proprietary system to be installed in the remodeled buildings and I happen to know there is a Notifier Network system in place. The NON proprietary system will not communicate with the Notifier system.

Notifier is a non-proprietary manufacturer (it can be sourced and serviced by numerous vendors). Notifier is acceptable equipment for this project. Note the integration between buildings 732 and 533 to the security building is for reporting of alarm, supervisory, and trouble signals only and not for control.

Key Note 6 – on drawing FA2.04 – Furnish and install 120v combo smoke and CO with a sounder base capable of low frequency. The drawings call for a separate low frequency sounder and strobe, with nothing to initiate them other than waterflow or pull stations.

Please clarify if those smokes are to be 120v.

What triggers the door magnets? (City of Austin requires all smokes in buildings equipped with a fire alarm system be connected to the fire alarm system).

The drawings in Attachment G-1, Project Drawings are correct. There is a 120V smoke alarm that is associated with a 120V strobe in each room. These are independent from the fire alarm notification system also placed in each room. 120V devices utilize communication wiring to talk with each other. Door magnets are triggered by fire alarm system activation per keynote 1 on FA2.04. This is not the same as the smoke alarm system. As the City of Austin is not the AHJ, their amendments do not apply. See Question 10 above.

Version 1.00 Page 6 of 6 Revision Date 09/13/2023

# Reference Question Response

To the above question – can all be solved by going to system smoke/co’s.

No, keep the smoke alarm system as drawn.

Are new pathways to PIV’s required? I would recommend it. If so who will be responsible for the pathway/ conduit?

Not all PIV’s and pump have existing conduit. Contractor to provide all new conduit.