RFIs_7_Mar_2017,_FBO.docx

RFIs, 7 Mar 2017

MECHANICAL IDIQ, FA488717R0001

Q: Is the contractor allowed to present alternative designs to the proposed systems that are outlined in Attachment 20, paragraph 2.7.7. Conversely, will alternate designs result in a “not acceptable” response from the government?

A: Other design solutions will not be considered for the sample project. Bid the project as written in the Sample SOW taking into consideration any changes made through this question and answer period.

Q: Attachment 20, paragraph 2.7.7 requires a specific list of equipment to be installed. One item is an air to air heat recovery unit (HRU). Paragraph 2.7.1 requires the post office area to be designed as negative with respect to the remainder of the building per UFC-4-010-01. In order to maintain the post office negative, the post office area needs to have more exhaust than outside air. The amount of this differential will be defined by calculations to achieve the desired 0.05”WG across the doors between the post office and remainder of the building. This differential between the exhaust and outside air flows may be too excessive for the HRU to function or it may provide very minimal. Is it acceptable to provide a design that does not include the HRU?"

A: Design the HRU to condition the required make-up air for the existing AHUs. Any exhaust air in excess of the amount needed to condition the make-up air can be routed directly out of the building. Paragraph 2.7.7.2 has been changed so that only the required amount of exhaust air shall pass through the HRU. Additionally, there are no doors connecting the Post Office to the Dining Hall.

Q: Attachment 20, paragraph 2.7.7.1 requires make-up air to be conditioned to space design temperature before being ducted into the AHUs. What is the “space design temperature”?

A: Condition the make-up air to 76° before entering the existing AHUs.

Q: Attachment 20, paragraph 2.7.7.1 requires make-up air to be conditioned to space design temperature before being ducted into the AHUs. The existing AHUs were designed to accommodate untampered outside air. Making “space design temperature” outside air as make-up is not necessary based on the original AHU design. Is it acceptable to provide outside air to the AHUs that matches the original outside air design temperatures?"

A: "Outside air must be conditioned before entering the AHUs. UFC 3-410-01, paragraph 3-2 requires all outside air to be conditioned by a dedicated outside air system (DOAS). The amount of exhaust air that will be removing will increase infiltration as the front door opens and closes. This will increase the load on the existing units. By using free cooling to temper the outside air, the AHUs will be better able to overcome this increased load."

Q: Attachment 20, paragraph 2.7.2 requires verification of the chilled water capacity is adequate to support the new equipment. Since this is a sample project, design should not be required. Please confirm that calculations are not required. Besides, the as-built drawings provided are no longer valid since the building is no longer fed by a dedicated chiller.

A: The system being installed will require additional cooling capacity. The building is limited by the heat exchanger, chilled water lines, and pump. If the installed equipment exceeds the capacity provided to the building this project will not be complete and usable. The calculations should be used to determine if an alternate supplemental cooling system is needed to function as needed.

Q: Attachment 20, paragraph 2.7.15.2 requires the pressure in the Post Office to be measured. Is this measurement required to be with respect to the remainder of the building or atmosphere?

A: A building pressure sensor shall be installed in the Post Office and tied into the EMCS system for monitoring. The reference point will be the adjacent room in the dining hall.

Q: Attachment 20, paragraph 2.7.3 requires door seal kits for all doors leading to the “exterior”. UFC 4-010-01 requires the Post Office to be negative with respect to the “remainder of the building”. It seems that the door seals would be required at doors between the Post Office and the remainder of the building, not the exterior. Please clarify where door seals are required.

A: There are no doors joining the post office and the dining hall. The existing exterior doors are leaking which makes it difficult to maintain pressures inside the space. Seal all exterior door to aid in maintaining required pressures.

Q: Attachment 20, paragraph 2.7.3 requires door seal kits for all doors leading to the exterior. Are existing windows and other exterior wall penetrations also required to be sealed?

A: There are no windows in the post office that lead to the exterior.

Gaps, if any in the exterior walls will make it difficult to maintain pressure. The end result of the project will determine whether the project is successful. Sealing gaps may be required to meet project goals.

Q: Attachment 20, paragraph 2.7.12 requires sealing of openings between the Post Office and Dining Hall.

Does this include penetrations above the ceiling?

Shouldn’t this also include the walls between the Post Office and the Boiler room and the AHU Room since those spaces appear to open up to the Dining Hall side of the building?

A: This requirement does include penetrations above the ceiling. Seal all penetrations on the north wall and the mechanical room walls that are shared with the Post Office.

Q: On CLIN items 1-30, do you want just the coefficient for the line item? The bid sheet says “Max Net Amt”. So as an example if my coefficient was 1.99 then I would put 1.99 on the max net amt line?

A: Yes. Enter only the number representing your coefficient; in this case 1.99. Enter a coefficient number for each line item; CLINs 0001 through 0030, on the max net amount line.

Q: My bond company is concerned that we may be obligated to bid on all projects even if we are committed to other agencies on MINOR Projects that may absorb all of our bond capacity. The Solicitation does not require a Bid Bond when submitting on the RFP. Can we assume that issuance of Bid Bonds is only for project specific. What happens if a firm goes out of business? My agent was telling me a story about a firm under similar IDIQ’s that went out of business because of retirement and the Surety was committed to perform work. Can you confirm what are the future bond commitment or requirement are for the Surety? There is hesitation for them to move forward with us unless I can confirm the long term commitment required by the Surety.

A: There is no Bid Bond required for the IDIQ itself. The contemplated IDIQ contract has a 5 year ordering period and has a guaranteed minimum over the 5 year period. The Miller Act requires that construction contracts greater than $30,000, but not greater than $150,000 include payment protections. Bonds are the most common, but there are alternative types of protection for contracts below $150K. The Miller Act requires performance and payment bonds for construction contracts exceeding $150K for 100% of original contract price. We do intend to hold the company to the 5 year ordering period so if you were to close doors, the surety would be responsible to finish out the contract. As far as bidding all projects, we do require that you bid on all funded projects during the life of the ordering period; that is the reason to have an IDIQ contract. We cannot require you to bid on all projects that are unfunded. If your commitments do not allow that, you should carefully consider your ability to complete the contract before submitting a proposal.