Mold Cleaning Questions v3.docx

Questions and Answers B559 Mold Cleaning

FA252126QB132A

1. Discrepancy in the Period of Performance: SOW Section 3 mandates that all contractor work, including any time for equipment shipping and handling, must be accomplished within 30 calendar days of contract award. However, Section B.5 of the Combined Synopsis and Solicitation specifies that delivery is to be completed 60 days after award. Please clarify which period of performance governs this requirement, as this timeline mismatch significantly impacts scheduling, mobilization, and labor pricing.

a. 60 days for performance will preside.

2. Undefined Scope of Ceiling Repair: Section B.1 of the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation indicates that the purpose of this acquisition includes "associated ceiling repair". However, Section 2 (Description of Work) of the revised SOW focuses exclusively on floor steam cleaning, surface HEPA vacuuming, and HVAC decontamination, with no technical tasks, performance standards, or material specifications defined for ceiling repair or ceiling tile replacement. Please clarify whether ceiling repair is a requirement under this solicitation, and if so, please provide the specific scope of work, technical specifications, and quantities required for this task.

a. No ceiling repair.

3. HVAC System Specifications and Layout: SOW Section 2 requires a comprehensive decontamination of the entire HVAC system, including supply and return ductwork, air handling units, coils, registers, and drain pans. To ensure all offerors are bidding on an identical baseline and to prevent post-award disputes, could the Government provide the total count of Air Handling Units (AHUs) in Building 559, the estimated linear footage of supply and return ductwork, and the count of registers/grilles?

a. The air handler is a Trane, model MCCB017UA0A0UB 26 ton cooling capacity 6 foot by 6ft foot box. This building has two floors connected to it. The first floor has 500 feet (split up between 12 foot and 16 foot runs) of supply duct among 23 air supply grills and 20 return grills. There are 3 exhaust vents in the bathroom that go directly outside on the first and second floors. The second floor has 10 air supply grills, 9 of which are connected directly to the main supply duct that goes down the hallway and 1 grill that is in the hallway. The main supply duct is 3 by 3 feet wide by 115 feet long and goes from the mechanical room on the south side of the second floor to the north side.

4. Availability of Government-Furnished Utilities: SOW Section 2 mandates steam cleaning of floors and negative-pressure HVAC cleaning, both of which require significant power and water supply. Will the Government provide the contractor with uncompensated access to on-site water and electrical utilities necessary to operate this heavy commercial equipment, or is the contractor responsible for providing self-contained utility units (such as generator trucks)?

a. The government utilities are authorized for use.

5. Is there an existing mold assessment/remediation protocol, lab report, moisture mapping, photographs, or other environmental report available for Building 559? Mold mitigation plan?

a. No “current” assessment is available. Attachments provided with solicitation are the extent of what’s available.

6. What is the known or suspected source of the water/moisture intrusion, and has the source been permanently corrected?

a. Yes. Broken HVAC was the source of the mold and has been repaired.

7. Please provide available HVAC system information, including the number and size of AHUs, approximate ductwork quantities, and the number of supply/return registers included in the scope. Is a layout, plan, or schematic available for the HVAC and ductwork?

a. The air handler is a Trane, model MCCB017UA0A0UB 26 ton cooling capacity 6 foot by 6ft foot box. This building has two floors connected to it. The first floor has 500 feet (split up between 12 foot and 16 foot runs) of supply duct among 23 air supply grills and 20 return grills. There are 3 exhaust vents in the bathroom that go directly outside on the first and second floors. The second floor has 10 air supply grills, 9 of which are connected directly to the main supply duct that goes down the hallway and 1 grill that is in the hallway. The main supply duct is 3 by 3 feet wide by 115 feet long and goes from the mechanical room on the south side of the second floor to the north side.

8. How deep is the HVAC cleaning? To what standard and what portions of it need to be cleaned. Is there an expected manner in which it should be cleaned? Are contractors simply cleaning the entrances and visible portions or is this a full cleaning of the system?

a. The statement of work notes full cleaning of surface areas to include the air handler coils.

b. The HVAC cleaning end result should be no mold in the air handler, duct work or on the discharge and return grills.

9. Please clarify the ceiling repair scope, including approximate square footage, locations, materials, and required finish/painting.

a. Ceiling repair was intended to be fully removed in the update of the SOW. No ceiling repair requirement as amended.

10. The revised SOW states that work must be completed within 30 calendar days of award, while the solicitation states 60 days after award. Please confirm the required performance period.

a. In the face of ambiguity, the more lenient description will be taken. Vendors will have 60 days after award to complete performance.

11. Please confirm whether post-remediation verification (PRV), clearance testing, or final air/surface sampling will be required upon completion. If required, will the Government provide the independent assessor, or should the contractor include this cost in its proposal?

a. Cleaning service, not mold remediation. No tests after cleaning are required.

12. Is there an estimated project budget, independent government cost estimate (IGCE), or target price range available for this requirement?

a. The government will not be disclosing estimated costs as part of the solicitation. Requirements regarding disclosure of project magnitude in the FAR are gone in the RFO with the removal being intentional.

13. Licensing and Certification Ownership: SOW Section 6 requires that the Contractor possess applicable State certifications as required by law. Florida state law heavily regulates mold remediation. Will the Government permit an offeror to utilize the active Florida State Mold Remediator licenses and certifications held by its subcontractor to satisfy this requirement, provided the Prime Contractor maintains full administrative, safety, and compliance oversight?

a. Contract is for cleaning and not mold remediation. Subcontractor certification can be used but is ultimately the responsibility of the prime contractor to provide the certified service. Contractor is this case must provide subcontractor information prior to award for evaluation in the proposal.

14. Are supply and return ductwork layouts available?

a. No, supply and return ductwork layouts are not available.

15. Should ceiling tiles be HEPA vacuumed? Should chemicals be used on the ceiling tiles?

a. Use industry standards for cleaning ceiling tile. Usually a light cleaning with bleach is performed.

16. How are broken/damaged carpet tiles handled? Removal, cleaning, or otherwise.

a. Clean existing tiles as noted in the statement of work. No tile will be replaced on this contract.

17. Are mechanical, layout, plans, design or otherwise available for the building and/or HVAC system?

a. No mechanical layout designs or plans are available.

18. Schedule of work? Phasing?

a. Complete within 60 days of contract award. The government will work with the contractor to find the best suited approach to perform. The government is willing to facilitate proposed hours, phasing, and clearing of the building to the best of it’s ability. Clearing sections of the building at a time or allowing off work hours including weekends is allowable.

19. Porous Mold: How should contractor’s deal with the presence of porous mold in an item requiring actual remediation and is beyond standard cleaning?

a. Contractors should simply annotate and report these items to the government which it will handle separately. The contractor does not need to take action against any porous mold found. If possible, clear sections of object should still be cleaned.

20. Are there specific known mold locations?

a. Ductwork, vents, grilles, and return vents.

21. Are there any inaccessible or controlled rooms?

a. No

22. If drawings are unavailable are there otherwise available measurements and relevant dimensions for ductwork and HVAC?

a. The length of ductwork to be cleaned will be provided. All ductwork is rigid.

23. Can the government confirm it is requesting cleaning of approximately 14,400sq. ft.? What is the total room count of the building?

a. Use the 14,400 square feet for the cleaning requirement.

24. How many stories is the structure?

a. 2 Stories

25. Can or will the government vacate the structure during the project?

a. The government can support vacating the structure in a phased approach.

26. How many HVAC systems are currently in place?

a. One air handler and chiller.

27. What is the model and tonnage of the HVAC system?

a. The air handler is a Trane, model MCCB017UA0A0UB 26-ton cooling capacity 6 foot by 6ft foot box.

28. Is there a tentative start date?

a. No. The project will simply be structured as completion within 60 days after award.

29. For furniture and room contents are the room/space furnished and will the government move or relocate furniture/equipment prior to work start? Should contractors plan to clean around existing furniture and contents? Underneath? Should contractors be cleaning furniture contents of the rooms?

a. Clean furniture in their location.

30. Provide condition and prior assessments if available.

a. Attachment - Indoor Air Quality Letter Agar Plate Results - 14 November 2025

b. Attachment - KSC Environmental Microbiology Lab - 19 November 2025

c. Attachment - Mold Survey Results Letter - 2 December 2025

d. Please note these documents are outdated to the current requirement, and the government takes no responsibility for assumption made based on these documents on the condition of the building.

31. Cubicles/Workstations: Is the contractor expected to disassemble, move, and reinstall cubicles or workstations as necessary to access walls and other surfaces requiring cleaning or remediation?

a. Contractor is not required to disassemble or reinstall cubicles.

32. Dumpster Provider: Is there a Government-approved or base-approved dumpster provider that must be used, or may the contractor select its own provider subject to base access and placement requirements?

a. Contractor may select their dumpster provider that has Patrick Space Force Base access.

33. Industrial Hygienist / Remediation Protocol: Has an Industrial Hygienist prepared a mold assessment, remediation protocol, or similar report for this project? If so, will that document be made available to offerors?

a. Attachments will be provided as listed in question 30. Further protocols/assessments outside of that are not available.

34. Ceiling Tile Replacement: Please confirm the quantity and location of ceiling tiles requiring removal and replacement. During the walkthrough, our understanding was that approximately 10 tiles in one area may require replacement, but we would appreciate confirmation of the actual requirement.

a. No ceiling tile will be replaced on this contract.

35. HVAC Operation: Will the building’s air-conditioning/HVAC system remain operational throughout the project, including during cleaning, remediation, treatment, and any post-remediation testing activities?

a. The building’s HVAC system will remain operation and can be shut down on an as needed basis.

36. On-Site Storage: Will the contractor be permitted to keep a box truck, semi-trailer, or similar secure storage unit onsite for the duration of the project for tools, materials, and equipment?

a. Yes

37. CSS Section B.1 refers to mold abatement, remediation, and associated ceiling repair, while CLIN 0001 and the Revised SOW describe cleaning and mold-prevention measures. Please confirm that the base scope is limited to cleaning and treatment and excludes demolition, removal or replacement of building materials, ceiling repair, ceiling-tile replacement, and permanent buildback. Please also confirm that the Government will repair or replace missing or damaged ceiling tiles, as stated during the site walk.

a. SOW only pertains to mold cleaning and mold-prevention measures.

b. The government will handle damaged/missing ceiling tiles.

38. Please clarify how the Government wants the contractor to handle contents and delineate Government and contractor responsibilities for inventorying, disconnecting, moving, protecting, cleaning or remediating, storing, and returning them. Please identify which contents or contents categories require cleaning or manipulation under the base scope. For contents that fall within the scope, should cleaning or remediation and storage occur onsite or offsite? Please also identify how cleaned areas and remediated contents should be sequenced or separated to prevent recontamination when contents are returned.

a. No

39. Please confirm whether “the entire HVAC system” means the complete air-side system serving Building 559, including exhausts and outside-air intakes. Please also confirm whether the central chiller and other hydronic or refrigeration-side equipment are excluded.

a. Only interior HVAC system, ducts, and vents will be cleaned.

40. Please provide any available HVAC as-built drawings or equipment schedules for Building 559, or confirm that none are available.

a. No as-built drawings are available.

41. Please confirm whether the contractor may create and restore temporary HVAC service openings needed to perform the cleaning. Please also confirm whether Government personnel will provide system shutdown, controls coordination, and restart support.

a. The government will perform system shutdown as needed to support the mold cleaning.

42. The SOW’s general paragraph requires all “surfaces abated” to be wiped with an EPA-registered disinfectant and coated with a mold inhibitor, while the detailed task requires antimicrobial damp-wiping of hard, nonporous surfaces. Please clarify which requirement controls and whether disinfectant and mold inhibitor must be applied to carpet, upholstery, ceiling tiles, or other porous materials.

a. The scope of this project is mold cleaning and application of mold inhibitor. Contractor will submit mold inhibitor they plan to use.

43. Please confirm whether ceiling cleaning is limited to exposed room-side surfaces or includes the upper surfaces of ceiling tiles and above-ceiling areas. If a specific ceiling-cleaning method is required, please identify it.

a. No ceiling repair.

44. Please provide all available lead and asbestos survey or testing records for Building 559, regardless of their age. Please also identify the required procedure if suspected or confirmed lead-containing or asbestos-containing materials are encountered during cleaning or HVAC access. Specifically, please clarify whether HEPA vacuuming or damp wiping of those materials is permitted under an established protocol or whether the contractor must stop work and obtain Government direction. If testing is required, please identify whether the contractor or government is responsible for coordination and payment.

a. Will provide available lead and asbestos survey or testing records as requested. Damp wiping and HEPA vacuuming is acceptable.

45. Government personnel stated during the site walk that post-remediation verification and environmental clearance testing are not required. Please confirm that understanding in writing. If any clearance sampling, verification, or other testing is required, please identify the applicable standard, the party responsible for performing it, the required timing and acceptance criteria, and whether the contractor must include it in the base price. Please also identify the objective basis the Government will use to accept the completed building-surface and HVAC cleaning.

a. A visual inspection of cleaned surfaces will be used to ensure mold has been removed.

46. The site-walk discussion indicated that the Government may be able to accommodate flexible working days and hours, including weekend work. Please confirm whether this flexibility will be available. Please also identify any escort requirements, crew-size or personnel restrictions, access limitations, and required phasing or sequencing of the work.

a. The government will work to accommodate a phased approach to cleaning and will consider contractor request to work outside normal business days/hours. A specific schedule to accomplish the work is not prescribed.

b. Individuals performing work must be properly badged to work on the installation prior to work start.

47. The Revised SOW requires a contractor-provided dumpster. May the contractor instead use a dump trailer or another lawful same-day haul-off method?

a. Yes.

48. Section E includes DFARS 252.237-7006, Subcontracting. Please confirm whether this clause is intended to apply to this requirement.

a. Yes. Typically the Contracting officer is informed of subcontracting actions by the submission of an SF1413 form. The agency seeks awareness of subcontractors employed by the prime contractor.

49. Section D lists price, technical performance, delivery timeline, and past performance, while FAR 52.212-2 lists technical acceptability, price, and schedule. Please confirm the controlling evaluation factors and their relative importance, including whether past performance will be evaluated.

a. The specified evaluation criteria in section D will preside over other guidance. FAR 52.212-2 is redundant to section D and is simply prescribed by our clause system.