Questions and Answers Suspected Fungal Growth 21 July.docx

General Q1. Post-Remediation Verification (PRV) vs. Post-Remediation Evaluation (PRE). Section 3.5 refers to PRV testing and also mentions “Pre-PRV” testing. According to IICRC S520 (referenced in the SOW), PRV must be performed by an independent third-party Indoor Environmental Professional (IEP) — not by the remediation contractor. If testing is performed by the contractor, it is considered a Post-Remediation Evaluation (PRE), not a PRV.

A1. The contractor will obtain initial testing for Pre Remediation Report. Following remediation contractor will perform testing for Post-Remediation Evaluation. See Section 3.1 of PWS “All remediation efforts must be validated with a Pre and Post Remediation Report.” & Section 3.5 d & e.

Q2. Does the government intend to provide or coordinate with an independent IEP for official PRV testing, or if contractors should conduct internal PREs instead.

A2. Contractor should conduct internal PRE. See Section 3.5 d & e.

Q3. The term "Pre-PRV" testing is not an industry-recognized term. Could you clarify whether pre-remediation air testing is truly required, and how those results will be evaluated in the payment process?

A3. The contractor will obtain initial testing for Pre Remediation Report. Following remediation contractor will perform testing for Post-Remediation Evaluation. See Section 3.1 of PWS “All remediation efforts must be validated with a Pre and Post Remediation Report.”

Q4. Containment Methods for High-Ceiling Areas - The SOW requires full containment using 6-mil plastic sheeting for several spaces, including:

· Building 1811 (BX warehouse) — which may include ceilings well over 20 feet

· Building 1345 (Chapel sanctuary) — with suspected ceiling mold per attached photos Is floor-to-ceiling containment is required in these areas? If so, are alternate containment methods (e.g., engineered false walls, partial containment, or hard panel systems) acceptable for compliance?

A4. Partial containment is acceptable for Building 1811 warehouse and Building 1345 sanctuary. See Section 3.3 (updated).

Q5. Clarification of MDE Training Requirement: Section 3.5 requires remediation credentials meeting Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) regulations for training. To our understanding:

· MDE does not currently have active mold remediation training/licensing requirements, though regulations may be under development.

· Given the project is on federal property, please confirm whether MDE requirements still apply, or if that reference can be removed or revised.

A5. The reference has been revised. Contractors are not required to be MDE certified. See 3.3 paragraph 2.

Q6. Occupational Dress Code in High-Heat Conditions: Section 2.11.4 of the SOW requires workers to wear long pants. Since remediation tasks will be performed indoors with HVAC systems shut off and in full PPE, there is concern about potential heat-related safety risks. Would the government consider modifying this requirement to allow contractors to determine PPE and dress policy based on internal safety protocols and environmental conditions?

A6. Yes, contractors may determine dress policy while in PPE based on internal safety protocols and environmental conditions. 2.11.4 has been revised.

Q7. Will a Matterport or any type of 3D scan of the affected areas be provided by the government?

A7. No, 3D scan of the affected areas will not be provided.

Q8. Could you please confirm how many HVAC units are present in each of the five affected buildings for planning purposes related to duct cleaning?

A8. Units per Facility:

Building 1811 - 1 Building 1245 - 1 Building 1628 - 1 Building 1794 - 1 Building 1345 - 2 Q9. Are there any available room measurements or floor plans for the affected spaces? This will assist vendors in properly estimating containment materials and equipment needs based on square footage.

A9. Floor plans have been added as an Attachment. See Attachment 1 Facility floor plans.

Q10. Will the contractor have access to a dump site on the installation, or will they be responsible for transporting and disposing of contaminated materials off-site?

A10. Contractor will be responsible for transporting and disposing of contaminated materials off-site. See Section 3.3 paragraph 3.

Q11. Following completion of the mold remediation, will the government be requesting the contractor to perform reconstruction and repairs (e.g., drywall patching, ceiling tile replacement, repainting), or will that be handled under a separate effort?

A11. Reconstruction and repairs will be completed by the contractor under this contract. See Section 3.3. paragraph 3.

Q12. Do you have a comprehensive mold inspection report from a hygienist that includes a Scope of Work and a Remediation Protocol? If yes, can you share it with us?

A12. Previous test and inspection reports are provided as an attachment for reference. These references may not be used to satisfy the pre report and testing requirement. See Attachment 2 Test References.

Q13. During site-walk it was stated that all drywall repairs, painting and ceiling tile replacement within these offices will not be responsibility of contractor. Is that true?

A13. No, the contractor is responsible for drywall repairs, painting and ceiling tile replacement. See Section 3.3. paragraph 3.

Q14. Should wall repairs be spot-treated only to match paint color, or is full wall painting required?

A14. Contractor shall spot-treat only to match paint color.

Q15. Has asbestos testing already been completed for all five buildings included in the scope?

A15. Yes. See Attachment 3 Asbestos Testing Report.

Q16. If asbestos testing hasn’t been completed, will the Government be responsible for coordinating testing prior to the start of work, or should the contractor plan to include testing in our proposal?

A16. Contractor may reference Attachment 3 Asbestos Testing Report.

Q17. Who will be responsible for conducting the required pre- and post-remediation air sampling under ASTM D7391-09? Will this be managed by a Government-appointed hygienist, or by the contractor?

A17. The contractor will be responsible for conducting the required pre- and post-remediation air sampling. See PWS para 3.5(d) and (e) Q18. If pre- and post-remediation air sampling under ASTM D7391-09 is contractor-led, does the Government require a licensed hygienist to oversee and interpret results, or will certified lab reports suffice?

A18. A licensed hygienist is not required. Certified lab reports are acceptable within the pre & post reporting requirement.

Q19. For each building, who is responsible for the removal, relocation, protection, and reinstallation of furniture, equipment, and other contents during remediation?

A19. Government is responsible for the removal, relocation, and reinstallation of furniture & equipment. Contractor is responsible for protection and cleanliness of all remaining items. See Section 2.11.6.

Q20. Specifically in Buildings 1794 and 1811, where contents are significant, is the contractor expected to provide full contents handling and cleaning, or will this be managed by Government personnel or a separate party?

A20. Government is responsible for the removal, relocation, and reinstallation of contents, furniture, & equipment. Contractor is responsible for protection and cleanliness of all remaining items. See Section 2.11.6.

Q21. Would the Government consider extending the performance period to accommodate the actual duration required for compliant containment, safe remediation, and proper sequencing?

A21. Project completion must be within the 60 Day Period of Performance.

Q22. Is the Government’s intent for this project to focus on remediation of visibly affected areas only, rather than full exploratory or insurance-grade remediation? If only visibly affected areas, should cosmetic damage unrelated to visible mold—such as minor water staining or prior finishes—be excluded unless explicitly directed?

A22. Project scope is based on visibly affected areas. Cosmetic damage unrelated to visible mold—such as minor water staining or prior finishes should not be accomplished unless explicitly directed in the PWS.

Q23. If additional contamination or damage is discovered during performance, what is the proper process for notifying the Government and submitting a request for scope or cost adjustment?

A23. Contractor shall notify Government of additional contamination or damage in writing for review and consideration. See PWS para 3.4.5 (added).

Q24. Are there any time-of-day restrictions, noise limitations, or access controls that would affect remediation activities in occupied buildings (e.g., the dining hall, chapel, or BX warehouse)?

A24. No restrictions during regular work hours. Contractor will coordinate work opportunities outside of regular hours and phasing planned.

Q25. Given the volume of work and the performance period, would the Government permit overnight or weekend work in any areas?

A25. Yes, overnight and weekend work may be requested for all areas. See PWS para 2.6.5 Q26. Will the Government be providing temporary heating or cooling equipment for any of the buildings, or should the contractor plan to furnish all necessary HVAC support?

A26. No. Temporary heating and cooling equipment is not required.

Q27. Are there known hazardous materials (e.g., asbestos, lead) in any of the remediation areas?

A27. Building 1245, 1794 & 1345 were built in 1961, 1961 and 1957 respectively, with others built after 1980. Buildings built prior to 1980 have the possibility of asbestos in some building materials. See Attachment 3 Asbestos Testing Report.

Q28. What is the standard process for coordinating HVAC shutdowns and restarts?

A28. Contractor must coordinate request with 3 business days’ notice with the COR, who will ensure the Government performs shut down of the equipment.

Q29. Is the building work sequence (starting with B1794 and ending with B1345) mandatory, or can multiple sites be worked on simultaneously?

A29. Multiple sites may be worked on simultaneously. See Section 3.3 paragraph 4.

Q30. Is start date of next building determined by post-test results of previous building?

A30. No.

Q31. Will on-base staging or storage space be available for equipment and materials?

A31. Space may be allocated within remediation areas while onsite, but no dedicated on-base staging or storage space will be provided.

Q32. Will dumpsters or waste disposal services be provided by the government, or must the contractor coordinate off-site disposal?

A32. Contractor will be responsible for transporting and disposing of contaminated materials off-site. See Section 3.3 paragraph 3.

Q33. Will contractor personnel require escort at all times, or just at initial access points?

A33. No, Contractors will obtain base access and be escorted as needed in secure areas. Building 1794 and B1245 are in secure areas. (See Section 2.6.7 and Section 2.11.1).

Q34. Should the Contract Line item number pricing be broken out by labor, materials, testing, and disposal, or consolidated per building?

A34. Consolidated pricing per building is acceptable.

Q35. Aside from the general wage determination attachment, are there specific labor classifications or prevailing wage requirements applicable to this contract?

A35. No Q36. If period needs to go beyond 60 days due to change orders/scope, is the extension still limited to less than 75 days?

A36. The period of performance is limited to 75 days for quoting purposes. Extensions for modifications would be negotiated at the time of modification.

Q37. Will there be any penalties or liquidated damages for exceeding the 60-day performance period?

A37. Liquidated damages are not included.

Building 1794 Q38. FM Office, Room #4 – What materials need to be removed?

A38. Government will remove furniture. Contractor will remove all contaminated materials.

Q39. Tower Office – Do all the walls and contents need to be cleaned and disinfected?

A39. Yes. PWS Updated.

Q40. In Tower office, does scope include HEPA vacuum & wipe down of all surfaces?

A40. Yes, as needed.

Q41. Once tiles are removed, are we to treat each office separately or can we contain full area above the grid?

A41. Contractor will treat and contain full area above the grid.

Q42. Does cleaning surrounding areas include office spaces, furniture & contents within offices?

A42. Government will remove furniture & contents in space. Contractor will remove all contaminated materials & clean impacted room as outlined in Section 3.3.

Q43. Will HVAC units for this area in B1794 be shut off and require cleaning in this area?

A43. Yes. See Section 3.3.

Q44. During the site walk, we observed the ceiling cavity above Rooms 1–4, and it appears continuous and visibly impacted. The PWS currently references only Rooms 3 and 4. How should this be handled?

A44. Contractor will treat and contain full area above the grid.

Q45. Will the contractor be responsible for removal and replacement of the ceiling tiles and grid, or will this be performed by the Government?

A45. Contractor is responsible.

Q46. Will the Government complete repairs to the source of the leaks in Rooms 3 and 4 prior to the start of remediation?

A46. Yes.

Q47. Should the contractor include carpet removal in both Rooms 3 and 4?

A47. Room 4 only.

Q48. Should the contractor include cleaning or painting of visibly stained or affected walls and non-porous surfaces not explicitly listed in the PWS?

A48. Yes, the contractor is responsible for cleaning or painting all visibly affected surfaces.

Q49. Should any portion of the HVAC system serving Rooms 1–4 be cleaned or isolated to prevent recontamination following remediation?

A49. Yes, cleaning for Room 3, 4 and Tower. See Section 3.3.

B1811 (BX)

Q50. Building 1811 BX Areas – What is the ceiling height?

A50. Approximately 20 ft from floor to highest point.

Q51. Building 1811 BX Areas – Where is the air handler located and is there easy access? If it’s on the roof, does it have access from inside the building or from the exterior?

A51. HVAC unit is located in the warehouse.

Q52. Building 1811 BX Areas – Do you require the entire HVAC system and ductwork cleaned and disinfected?

A52. Yes, the AHU tested positive for mold as well as the end caps on the ducting.

Q53. Building 1811 BX Areas – May we bring scissor lifts, or will the Government provide them for this project?

A53. Ye, contractor may bring its own lifts. Lifts will not be provided by the Government.

Q54. Building 1811 BX Areas – To properly clean the ductwork, we may need to cut access holes in the duct system (that will be patched). Is that acceptable?

A54. Yes, cutting access holes into the duct is acceptable.

Q55. Does the requirement to clean all non-porous surfaces apply to the entire warehouse, or only areas with visible microbial growth?

A55. Only areas with visible microbial growth.

Q56. If the entire warehouse is in scope, how should containment and sequencing be managed while BX operations continue?

A56. Government will remove all movable materials and equipment for remediation. If phasing or sequencing is desired, this may be requested with at least two week notice.

Q57. Will the Government accept a phased containment strategy if it precludes achieving a passing post-remediation air test due to recontamination risks?

A57. Yes.

Q58. Is the contractor expected to remove and clean all warehouse inventory, or will partial protection and containment suffice?

A58. Partial protection and containment is acceptable.

Q59. Will visual clearance or wipe sampling be accepted in lieu of post-remediation spore trap testing for this space?

A59. Visual clearance with wipe sampling is accepted in lieu of post-remediation spore trap testing for this space. See Section 3.3.

Q60. Should the contractor propose a containment and phasing plan, or will operational boundaries be provided?

A60. Contractor will propose a containment and phasing plan.

Q61. How big of an area at a time can we contain without disruption from workers?

A61. Government is willing to clear full space as needed. Contractor will propose a containment and phasing plan.

Q62. Is 6 mil poly containment include all warehouse or just HVAC unit?

A62. HVAC Unit.

Q63. Will all warehouse contents be removed prior to start of work?

A63. Government is willing to clear full space as needed. Contractor will propose a containment and phasing plan.

B1628 Dining Hall / Mess Hall Q64. Building 1628 Dining Hall / Mess Hall – What is the ceiling height?

A64. Approximately 25 ft from floor to the highest point.

Q65. Building 1628 Dining Hall / Mess Hall - Do you require the entire HVAC system and ductwork to be cleaned and disinfected?

A65. Yes.

Q66. Building 1628 Dining Hall / Mess Hall – Do you require all surfaces to be cleaned and disinfected?

A66. Government will move all furnishings. Contractor will clean and disinfect walls, ceiling, floors and HVAC.

Q67. Should the contractor remove and replace the visibly damaged drywall ceiling, or clean it in place if it passes visual inspection? If mold is discovered behind it, should removal proceed or await change order approval?

A67. If mold is discovered behind drywall ceiling, removal and replacement will require a change order. If not, clean it in place per Section 3.3.

Q68. Will the Government complete roof repairs prior to remediation, or should the contractor plan to manage active water intrusion during performance?

A68. Government will complete roof repairs prior to remediation.

Q69. Does “inspect and clean accessible surrounding ductwork, supply and return vents” refer only to exposed components, or the full HVAC systems serving the area?

A69. Full HVAC systems serving the area is to be cleaned.

Q70. If HVAC cleaning is limited, what post-remediation verification method does the Government expect—visual inspection, wipe sampling, or air quality testing?

A70. Full HVAC systems serving the area is to be cleaned.

Q71. Will the Government be responsible for removal or relocation of furnishings in the dining area during phased remediation, or should the contractor include this?

A71. Government will relocate furnishings.

Q72. Is work expected after hours? Or to accommodate operation, are we able to section off areas?

A72. The area will be sectioned for work during operational hours.

Q73. If we must section off areas - would post testing be permitted before operating in next section to be cleared?

A73. Yes.

Q74. HEPA Vacuum not included in scope. Reasoning for omission in this area?

A74. As needed. PWS updated.

Q75. Wall repairs not included in scope. If wall repairs are needed, should wall repairs be spot-treated only to match paint color, or is full wall painting required?

A75. Spot-treated only to match paint color.

Building 1245 Q76. Building 1245 Conference Room – Do you require the carpet to be cleaned and disinfected?

A76. Yes. PWS updated.

Q77. Building 1245 Conference Room – What is the ceiling height?

A77. Approximately 10 ft in Lounge and 8ft in conference room.

Q78. Building 1245 Conference Room – Do you require the ductwork to be cleaned?

A78. Yes.

Q79. Building 1245 DV Lounge – Is the affected are only the area around the exterior window shown in the pictures?

A79. Yes, window & ceiling trim.

Q80. Should HVAC system or duct cleaning be included for the shared return system between the DV Lounge and Conference Room to avoid potential recontamination?

A80. Yes.

Q81. Should the contractor limit cleaning in the DV Lounge to visibly affected areas, or include additional surfaces (chairs, tables, etc)?

A81. No, just visibly affected areas.

Q82. Are there any occupancy or access limitations that should guide sequencing or containment planning for B1245?

A82. No, but contractor must coordinate work in all spaces.

Q83. How often is room used (how many days once containment goes up)?

A83. Room is used sporadically and scheduled in advance. Contractor must coordinate work in all spaces. The Government will limit activities in the affected spaces while work is ongoing.

Q84. Does scope not include affected ceiling tiles in DV lounge or cleaning of contents in lounge?

A84. Affected ceiling should be remediated.

Q85. Is the HVAC system serving the Conference room separate or the same as the DV Lounge?

A85. On same unit.

B1345 Chapel Q86. Building 1345 Chapel Prayer Room – Do you have pictures of the affected drywall around the perimeter of the stairs?

A86. Yes, See Page 18 of PWS.

Q87. Building 1345 Chapel Prayer Room – Do you require the carpet to be cleaned and disinfected?

A87. Yes.

Q88. Building 1345 Main Sanctuary – Is there access to the ductwork in the attic or the space above the sanctuary?

A88. The access to the ductwork is in the attic.

Q89. Building 1345 Main Sanctuary – What is the ceiling height?

A89. Approximately 26 ft in Sanctuary and 8 ft in Muslin Prayer Room.

Q90. Are samples of the ceiling tiles (Building 1345) available prior to bid for accurate material matching?

A90. The contractor is responsible for matching tiles for the respective remediation area. JBA commonly uses brand: Armstrong Models: 756A(Most Common),GR704A, 770, 895AN(2Ftx4Ft), and 585 Q91. With services on Sunday, can work only be performed Monday – Saturday? Are there any other stipulations on times for this building?

A91. Contractor may work during regular business hours and request weekend or evening work. See PWS para 2.6.5.

Q92. In Main Sanctuary, does cleaning include all ceilings, walls, stained-glass, floors, pews, materials and contents A92. No, just visibly impacted areas.

Q93. In Main Sanctuary, is water staining on textured ceiling part of removal and if so, need to be replaced?

A93. If mold is discovered behind textured ceiling, removal and replacement will require a change order. If not, clean it in place per Section 3.3.

Q94. If ceiling repairs are required, should patching and blending be used, or is a full retexture and repaint preferred?

A94. Patching and blending would be used.

Q95. In Prayer room, will cleaning of carpets (including prayer rugs) be responsibility of contractor?

A95. Yes.

Q96. In prayer room, to repair wall, can containment extend beyond the stairs to allow work to be done?

A96. Yes.

Q97. Does HVAC system for prayer room also service auxiliary room outside prayer room and is there consideration to inspect & clean that area as well?

A97. No, the two areas are on the same unit, however there isn’t a presence of mold in the AHU feeding the two areas.

Q98. Will the Government be responsible for removing and storing rugs and religious items, or should the contractor include this?

A98. Government is responsible for removing religious items. Contractor will clean rugs and carpet. PWS updated.

Q99. Do any rugs or religious items require mitigation or cleaning under this scope?

A99. Cleaning is required of the prayer rugs. PWS updated.

Q100. Should the contractor clean only the supply and return ducts in the affected rooms, or the full HVAC systems serving them?

A100. Supply & return cleaning only.