Responses_to_RFIs_4050_Fire_alarm.pdf

4050 Alpha Road Fire Alarm Project DC14-07

DC14-07 Fire Alarm RFIs:

1. Can Contractors bid this as Prime as long as they hire a Notifier distributor whose territory includes Farmers Branch? They would supply Notifier equipment and provide panel reprogramming. This would allow Small Business Contractor competition for this solicitation and is a typical bidding arrangement.

No, this is a Brand Name Procurement, only Notifier distributors will be allowed to work on the system. The contract will be awarded to a Notifier distributor for the Dallas / Ft Worth Region.

2. Section 283111 digital addressable voice evacuation fire alarm 1.2-B Dedicated fire watch. Can fire alarm technician perform this function or do you require fire department fire watch?

The person providing fire watch must be dedicated to this function. A fire alarm tech may not serve to provide fire watch and be in any way working on the fire alarm system installation during a Fire Watch.

3. 1.4-F All new wiring shall be CI cable in conduit.

Will this include NAC, SLC, speaker and riser cables. With conduit fill less than 40%, 5–13 CI cable OD is very large this will require UL listed conduit per the CI cable manufacture, with conduit sizes over one inch and does not come in colors. Conduit will be required to be painted red 3.1-3.

Do you require all cables to be CI cable?

No. Network Loop, SLC circuits shall be CI cable installed in conduit per the manufacturer’s instructions.

NAC circuits shall be protected until they enter the evacuation/ signaling zone they serve. All other wiring shall be installed within a minimum of ¾-inch EMT conduit.

4. Riser drawing:

Drawing shows network Control modules not connected correctly. It is assumed that the installation is to be performed correctly and the drawing is showing the idea or intent of the installation?

The riser diagrams are meant to demonstrate the design intent. All equipment is to be installed and used per the manufacturer’s instructions, project specifications and design intent. Where discrepancies exist the most stringent requirement shall apply.

5. 3.3-B No portion of the existing fire alarm System shall be permanently taken out of service or demolished until the new fire alarm system has been installed tested and accepted by the GSA fire protection engineer. In the pre-bid meeting GSA stated that this was going to be a notification replacement. Per 3.3 – B this will be a complete fire alarm replacement including all pull stations, smoke detectors, duct detectors, monitor modules, control modules, speakers, strobes, plus all panels and network equipment?

Section 3.3-B indicates that the existing fire alarm system is to remain until the new portions of the fire alarm system have been installed and tested. At this time the existing system may be removed. The contractor should reference the SOW that describes what is involved in the base bid, and what is involved in Add Option #1.

6. Will badges issued to personnel working on this project allow access to the job site or will escorts be required? If escorts are required, how many will be provided?

Badges will be issued to personnel upon completion of the security investigations.

Tenants may require escorts even though personnel have gone through the security checks and received their badges. If the tenant requires personnel to have an escort they will provide an escort.

All personnel working on this project needing access inside the building must go through the security investigation and obtain their badges prior to accessing the building.

7. 1.4- D System Description states all Notification circuits to be Class A. / Is This Correct!

Yes.

8. 1.4 Is the Existing NFS-3030 to be reused and upgraded or is the intent to install a New NFS- 3030 and Voice System next to the Existing to be removed after.

The existing 3030 FACP is to be re-used.

9. 1.5-A-10.-d speaker Loads calculated assumed at ½ Watt. & Section 2.15 states ¼ Watt for Speakers. Which Wattage is correct?

Speakers are to be installed with the ¼ watt setting and spaced accordingly at this setting.

Speaker load calculations should assume speakers are at the 1/4 Watt setting.

10. 2.1-D-1 States about Five Digit Passwords for the Panel programming, The Main NFS-3030 is Factory default at 8 Digits, the NFS-640 Panels are 5 Digit.

Section refers to the new NFS-640 Panels.

11. 2.1-C Serial Interface, system to provide two ports for remote Printers are the Printers to be included in project or just capabilities for.

No Printer is to be provided.

12. 2.2-B Communications Control States Telephone Page Selector Switch and Master Fire Fighters Phone. / Is this to interface with existing Fire Phone System. Are existing Fire Phone Circuits to be reused!

Yes.

13. 2.5 – B States each panel shall be provided with 2 existing DAA2-5070 Amplifiers. / Are they existing or new per the Drawings.

Key note #1 on drawings for even numbered floors indicated the following:

Provide New NFS-640 Node Network Panel with two SLC loops and incorporate the two existing 5070 DAA2 Amplifiers, provide EQ cabinet to house both the NFS-640 Panel and the 5070 DAA2 Amplifiers.

14. 3.1-B Existing Wiring may be reused if properly sized./ What if the existing cabling is in

Conduit Proper size but not CI Cable, Since New Cable is to be CI!

This Section referred specifically to SLC and IDC circuits. However this section shall only apply to the IDC circuits. For example: Flow-switches back to monitor modules.

Wire for the SLC shall not be re-used.

Pricing Clarifications The 3rd floor computer room did not show smoke detectors on the bid drawings. The contractor should account for replacement of 20 smoke detectors currently in the 3rd floor computer room when pricing Add Option #1.

Changes to specification Sections:

Section 1.5-A 12: Voltage Drop Calculations Change to Read:

Provide voltage drop calculations, for the visual notification appliance circuits, with all devices assumed at the end of the total length of the Class A circuit. Use the UL RMS current of the devices at 16 VDC. Provide calculations such that the lesser of a 2.4 VDC voltage drop (10%) or manufacturer’s power supply voltage drop limitation is not exceeded in the circuit.

Value Engineering Items

Provide a deduct from Base Bid pricing to use MC cable for the NAC circuits once the circuit enters the Notification zone that it serves in lieu of EMT conduit.

Provide a deduct from Add Option #1 Pricing to eliminate the requirement of CI cable from the SLC loop.