Q A - 1.pdf

GSA New England Region

U.S. General Services Administration Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Federal Building 10 Causeway Street Boston, MA 02222 www.gsa.gov

Solicitation: GS-01P-10-BZ-C-0014

Title: St. Albans Federal Building, First Floor Space Alterations, St.

Albans, Vermont

Questions and Answers as of February 12, 2010

1. Will the contractor be able to use the existing building power without having to meter separately? Answer: Yes the contractor will be able to use the building power and separate metering will not be required. However, since most of the electrical distribution to the space is being removed, power removal to the area will have to be coordinated by the contractor to ensure that there is power going the area.

2. Will the contractor be able to use the existing building heat without having to meter separately? Answer: Yes the contractor will be able to use the existing building heating and separate metering will not be required. However, since most of the heating distribution to the space is being removed, heating removal to the area will have to be coordinated by the contractor to ensure that there is adequate heating going the area.

3. Spec section 01035 for the various options refers to the scope of work being defined in Section 01036-Tenant Improvements. Addendum #1 changed this.

a. The area of the Base Bid Shell and area of Option #1 are identical.

1. Where is Demolition priced? Answer: Demolition is considered a shell cost and should be carried as part of the shell cost for each respective base bid or option item. Base bid demolition should be carried as a shell item as part of the base bid. Option 1, DOS-Passport Service TI, should not have any demolition costs since they will be carried as part of the base bid. Option 2, DOS-Diplomatic Security Shell and TI will have demolition costs associated with it in the area identified and should be reflected in the Option 2 price for that area. Option 3, GSA Shell and TI will have demolition costs associated with it in the area identified and should be reflected in the Option 3 price for that area. Option 4, Historic Lobby Finish Upgrades will have demolition costs associated with it in the area identified and should be reflected in the Option 4 price for that area. Option 5, Roof Replacement, all work including demolition associated with Roof replacement is to be considered as part of the Option 5 price. However, penetrations in the roof serving other Option items should be carried as part of the Base Bid or Option respectively. Option 6, Advanced Metering, Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Federal Building 10 Causeway Street Boston, MA 02222 www.gsa.gov all work including removal of old meters should be considered as part of the Option 6.

2. Please better define what work will be included in the base bid and what in option #1, i.e. finishes at exterior walls as opposed to interior walls.

Answer: Building shell, as a general rule, as defined on sheet A002 is considered the Base Structure and building enclosure components (windows with exterior finishes) are complete. With that in mind, work at the exterior walls should be considered as part of Shell costs for the respective base bid or option area. Additionally building shell is also all common areas, such as lobbies, elevators, fire egress corridors and stairwells, garages, and service areas are complete. With that in mind, as an example, Corridor 162, Common Area 163, Corridor 166 and Ramp 169, men 150, women 151 are considered common area and should be considered as part of the shell cost for the base bid or respective option.

Doors leading from tenant space to common areas are to be considered part of the shell cost for the base bid or respective option. With Option 1, DOS-Passport Service TI, the Corridor 119, Corridor 126, and Corridor 167 are within the agency space and are not considered common area so the walls and work associated with the corridors would be considered TI and should be priced as part of the Option 1 pricing.

b. Base bid and options 1, 2, 3 each share some of the same space at the mezzanine level. Please clarify the separation of work for the various options.

Answer: The two areas that are duplicated on the Mezzanine Level are the Mechanical Room 156 and the Guard Locker Room 157. The mechanical room Shell, since the new air handler will be providing HVAC to all of the Base and Option spaces should be divided among the respective spaces.

The guard Locker room 157, since it will serve DOS-Passport Service and DOS-Diplomatic Security needs to have shell and TI costs broken out for that space to be divided among the respective spaces. Per sf basis can be used.

4. The demolition of the Lookout gallery is extensive. Can you provide any original construction details of this structure? Answer: No original construction details are available.

5. You identify only core drilling as requiring work after 5PM. Should we assume this demolition can take place during regular work hours? Answer: Demolition of the catwalk can take place during normal working hours.

6. Is the ceiling of this structure the same as the building shell ceiling and requiring

Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Federal Building 10 Causeway Street Boston, MA 02222 www.gsa.gov no demolition? Answer: The ceiling inside the catwalk is considered part of the catwalk so the ceiling will have to be demolished as part of the demolition activities.

7. In reference to FAR 52.228-1, "Bid Guarantee", What does the percentage of the amount of the contract need to be with the line of credit? Is this saying my line of credit only needs to be, if the contract was $1 Million, 20% of it which is $200,000? Answer: For the Bid Guarantee, the amount should be 20% of the bid price, up to a total amount of $3 Million. For example, if the bid is for $1 Million, then the Bid Guarantee would be in the amount of $200,000. If the bid price is $17 Million, then the Bid Guarantee would be $600,000 (29% of $3 Million).

8. Drawing D100 Elevation #3 notes that “Remove masonry wainscoting TYP. by others.

Other places indicating the removal of masonry wainscoting do not have this same note.

Please confirm that all of the masonry wainscoting removal will not be a part of this contract. Answer: All masonry wainscoting is part of this contract, the “by others”, reference in the not should be deleted.

9. Spec section 07540 TPO Roofing – 1.15 Warranty calls for both a 15 year and 20 year warranty. Please identify the warranty period required? Answer: Warranty period should be 15 years from the date of substantial completion.

10. Drawing A101 Details 1 shows diagonal braces for full height. Shouldn’t Detail 2 have the same type of bracing? Answer: Wall type 3 walls which are in rooms with the 13’-6” or 14’-0” ceiling height should receive the diagonal bracing to the deck above as indicated in detail 1. Wally type 3 walls which are in rooms with 9’-0” ceiling height will not need diagonal bracing to the deck above. However, the walls should be secured at perpendicular intersections of the walls with metal stud bracing at the tops of the walls.

11. Drawing A101

a. Wall type 1 – Please confirm that the construction can be either GWB to roof deck above or wire mesh on one side of studs from 9’-6” to roof deck.– this is the builders choice except where GWB is specifically called for. If wire mesh is acceptable in lieu of GWB does this mean that GWB does not need to be fire taped above 9’6”?

Answer: Wall type 1 does in fact give the contractor the choice to either install drywall to the deck above or wire mesh as indicated on the plan in the area above the ceiling. Please keep in mind that in some cases, ceiling heights are 13’-6 or 14’- 0” along the perimeter offices which will not leave much drywall and/or metal mesh to be completed above the ceiling. Rooms 134, 135 and 136 are required to receive drywall and use of expanded metal is not allowed as indicated in the note just below the description to wall type 1. Taping and joint compound is required above the ceiling on these walls. Taping and joint compound on walls that receive expanded metal are not required to receive taping and joint compound above the ceiling

Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Federal Building 10 Causeway Street Boston, MA 02222 www.gsa.gov

12.Please verify that sound insulation in full height walls (to existing ceiling) needs to extend to the roof deck. Answer: In all wall types which require insulation, insulation should be installed from the bottom track to the top track of the respective wall type. In a slab to slab partition the track is at the top slab so the insulation needs to be installed the full height of the wall as depicted on sheet A101, detail 1. In a wall that is installed to 6” above the ceiling, insulation has to be installed to the top track which is 6” above the ceiling.

******* End of questions updated as of February 12, 2010 ***********************