Q A - 3.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

Updated February 25, 2010

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, 10 Causeway Street Boston, MA 02222 www.gsa.gov penetrations in the roof serving other Option items should be carried as part of the Base Bid or Option respectively. Option 6, Advanced Metering, 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.

10 Causeway Street Boston, MA 02222 www.gsa.gov

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

10 Causeway Street Boston, MA 02222 www.gsa.gov 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

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 ***********************

Questions and Answers as of February 24, 2010

1. Please clarify the type, size and end points of the “backbone” communications cabling?

Answer: Backbone cabling is not required as part of this contract from the demarc point to the respective telephone feed location. This work will be accomplished as part of a separate contract.

2. It specifies 12-strand fiber cable to be used but end points and quantities are not clear?

Answer: Fiber Optic Cable installation is not required as part of this contract. Fiber Optic Cable installation will be accomplished as part of a separate contract.

3. The drawings show a 25-pair copper cable but end points and quantities are not clear?

Answer: Backbone cabling from the demarc point to the respective telephone feed location is not required. Sheet E301, schematic 4 identifies a 25 pair cable but this cable is not part of this contract. This work will be accomplished as part of a separate contract. All other station cabling from the respective racks to the respective telephone/data outlet locations is required to be accomplished as part of this contract.

4. Are the data rooms to be connected by backbone cabling? Answer: The data rooms are not required to be connected by backbone cabling. This will be accomplished as part of a separate contract.

5. What equipment and cabling is required in DS HUB room-124? Answer: Refer to sheet E401 for equipment and cabling that is required in DS HUB room 124. Based on the plan the only equipment that is not to be provided is the Server Cabinets that indicate N.I.C., not in contract.

6. Are BICSI & RCDD certifications absolutely required? Answer: The certifications referenced in the specifications are not absolutely required. However, contractor will be responsible to

10 Causeway Street Boston, MA 02222 www.gsa.gov produce evidence of being certified by the cabling solution manufacturers' certified installers program. Certification submission will be required prior to commencing the work.

7. E301, Keyed Note T-16 indicates a government furnished equipment rack. What is this?

This rack is a separate piece of equipment that the agency is going to provide. Answer:

Installation is limited to unpacking and setting the unit in place at the designated location.

Exact location of rack to be coordinated with COTR.

8. Option # 6 on page 3 of the Bid Solicitation makes sense for the Advance Metering. But the other options as far as bidding electrically do not make sense to me and is not clear on the electrical drawings. Answer: Refer to sheet A002, “GENERAL DEFINITION NOTES” for explanation of how the electrical work should be priced. It indicates that for TI Tenant Improvement costs, electrical and telephone outlets and wiring form the tenant demised premises to the building core should be priced as a TI costs. As such electrical work in the identified area of the base bid and option should be priced as a SHELL and/or TI item for the respective area as defined on sheet A002. Even though this is one large project, you have to price them as individual projects as outlined in the base and option items.

**************** End of questions updated as of February 24, 2010 ********************

Questions and Answers as of February 25, 2010

1. Specification Section 09510 Part 2 – Products

a. The tile specified is a 2x4 panel yet the reflected ceiling drawing shows a 2x2 tile.

Which is correct? Answer: 2x2 is required to be used as part of this contract.

b. The ceiling panel specified is a tile usually used in a clean room situation. Is this correct or would a tile with better noise reduction qualities be better suited and more appealing for an office environment? Answer: The specified tile is correct.

2. A specification for the Level 1 and Level 3 ballistic panel could not be found. Please provide a specification for this product. Answer: Specification section will be added as part of amendment item.

3. A ceramic tile backer board was not specified in Specification Section 09250. Would you please provide a specification for the type of product you would require us to install? Answer:

Specification section will be added as part of amendment item.

4. Drawing A102, 3/A102 indicates an area to receive 4” of rigid insulation. Do you intend for the insulation to be rigid board type insulation mechanically fastened to the underside of the roof deck? Please provide additional detail. Answer: Mechanically fastening rigid insulation is acceptable as long as fasteners are installed at low point of roof deck as not to penetrate roof insulation, fasteners shall be toggle style.

10 Causeway Street Boston, MA 02222 www.gsa.gov

5. Sheet A101: At the transition of the Screening Room and Counters Room indicates a detail 11 on A500. This detail is not on A500. Please clarify. Answer: The reference to 11 on sheet 500 is in reference to an enlarged plan on sheet A500, graphically it is actually a circle split in half with 11 on top and A500 on bottom. This reference was mislabeled and should actually indicated 4 in lieu of 11. When you look at sheet A500, there is an enlarged plan 4 which is labeled Plan of Adjudication Counters which is the detail or enlarged plan that is referenced on sheet A101.

6. Drawing A500 has a detail #10 which is not indicated on A101. Please clarify. Answer:

Detail # 10 is actually an elevation. If you look in room 122, you will see a circle with an arrow graphically. A500 is referenced inside the circle. To the left of the arrow is a #10. This is the reference to the elevation 10 on sheet A500, not a detail.

7. What does DTL 1, 2 shown in the screening room refer to? Answer: This was a reference that was not used in the drawings. Please disregard this reference as it does not apply to any part of the drawings.

8. Door going into Copy area #137 is not labeled nor in door schedule. Answer: Doors in the door schedule are labeled with an A after the room number. The reference on the plan is not labeled but should indicated door 137A. Door 137A is referenced on the door schedule on sheet A701.

9. Drawing A701 – Door Schedule - Doors 148A, 150A, 151A, 152A, 156A do not have Door types or Door hardware identified. Answer: Door 148A: Door type and hardware are listed in the door schedule. Door 150A 151A and 152A: Refer to amendment 0002 and 0004 for reference to doors 150A, 151 and 152A. Door 156A: Refer to amendment 0002 for reference to door 156A.

10. The A-501 drawing dated 2-18-2010 and the SK sketches don't match the plumbing drawings. Are we to use the plumbing drawings for our fixtures or the A-501 drawing? If we are going to use the A-501 drawings is there a spec on the drinking fountain? Answer: As part of amendment 0004, a revised sheet A501 was issued with the amendment. The plumbing drawings on the updated sheet A501 matches the SK sketches issued as part of the amendment.

11. If we are going to use the A-501 drawings is there a spec on the drinking fountain?

Answer: An amendment will be issued for the manufacturer and model # of the drinking fountain. Drinking fountain should as manufactured by “Oasis Drinking Fountains”, model P8AC or an approved equal. Installation to include furnish and install of 120 volt power as recommended by the manufacturer.

12. Drawing A101 – Notes specific to Drawings: # 2 calls for Guard lockers, #3 calls for Employee Lockers. Please provide a specification to base this pricing on. Answer: Refer to

10 Causeway Street Boston, MA 02222 www.gsa.gov

Amendment 0002 for information on Guard Lockers in room 157 and employee lockers in room 133.

13. Drawing A101, Notes specific to Drawings: # 6 calls for white board and projection screen.

Please provide a specification to base this pricing on? Answer: Amendment will be issued for this. White board and project screen are not part of this contract. Delete any and all references to the projection screen and white board from the project scope.

14: The plans identify the existing finish flooring material will be removed by others prior to the G.C. beginning work. They also call for the GC to provide all necessary flashing and prep for new flooring. The extent of flashing and preparation is a hidden condition and impossible to quantify during the bid time. Will the government provide an allowance amount to be carried in the bid for this work so that it does not become a guessing exercise with the associated likelihood of inaccuracy? Answer: Amendment will be issued for this. Contractor should consider leveling of the floor over 100% of the construction area for up to 1/4” of leveling with a self leveling Level X-52, Polymer-Modified Cement Based grout as manufactured by Edison Coatings, Inc. or an approved equal.

15: On Drawing A200 there is reference, for the new brass banding around the post office boxes, to matching “existing brass banding frame profile” and a photo is shown of said profile on a display case. Does the scope of this work include installing a band at the meeting of two sections of mailboxes where there is currently a vertical wood mullion? Also, please clarify the detail for installation of this brass trim, are we surface mounting the new brass trim, like the existing wood trim? Answer: The intent of the scope of work is to install banding at the meeting of two sections of mailboxes. That being said, you will have banding along the perimeter of each of the three sets of mailbox locations. Additionally, based on field conditions, a total of 6 vertical bands are required to be installed, in addition to the perimeter banding, which separate sections of mail boxes in each of the three sets of mailbox locations. The intent of the brass trim installation is to surface mount it, like the existing wood trim was.

16. Please provide a specification for the brass trim to be used at the mailboxes. Answer: A specification is not available. Contractor is responsible to find a manufacture that will produce a brass trim detail to match the existing filed conditions.

17. Refer to drawing A200, Note 2: The walls are covered in plastic for the abatement operation making it impossible to assess the amount of work required. Can you make this an allowance? Answer: The area of marble replacement and resetting that will be required as part of this project is actually at the wall that abuts rooms 122 and 130. For bidding purposes, the area of wall patch that will be effected is 8’-0” high x 24’-0” wide. However, removal of wiremold and other equipment will be completed throughout the lobby so other patching of marble will be required. Additionally, once the work is completed, complete cleaning of all of the marble in the lobby will be required.

18. A200, Detail 3 states to “replace worn marble with like kind to match existing” of the flooring in the large Vestibule 103. This Vestibule is not included in any of the Options. How

10 Causeway Street Boston, MA 02222 www.gsa.gov shall we handle this? Answer: This work should be priced as part of OPTION 3 – GSA SHELL

AND TI.

19. A500, Elevation 10: There is a note stating: “Bid Alternate for Blinds Typ.” Please provide a specification for the Blinds and specific locations where they are to be installed? Answer:

Amendment will be issued. Delete this reference from the sheet in its entirety. There are no bid alternates in the scope of work and blinds are not required in room 116. However standard mini-blinds will be required in this room. Blind size will be based on the storefront glazing system size sections in room 116.

20. Refer to Addendum #2, Questions and Answers item #2, “…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.” Regarding this example are these areas shell cost for the base bid or shell cost for option #3? Answer: The rooms identified, 162, 163, 166 169, 150 and 151 are within the area identified as Option 3. Work in these rooms, Shell or TI, should be priced as part of Option 3.

21. Can a dumpster be located at an existing overhead door during demolition? Answer: The existing parking deck at the back of the building, where the overhead doors are has a weight limit of 20,000 GVW. If the combination of the dumpster and truck picking up the dumpster, after it has been loaded, does not exceed 20,000 GVW, then a dumpster can be located at one of the existing doors during demolition.

22. Sheet A100 references three manufacturer’s of window systems, Anderson, GGI and Jeld- Wen. Which window type is this for? Answer: The reference to the manufacturer’s is in reference to window type A only.

23. Sheet A100, references storm windows to be installed on the Type B and C windows.

Answer: Amendment will be issued. Due to the window sizes, if double hung window system is used, a keyed locking device should be provided at each window which will render the window inoperable. Additionally, the glazing should include an 8 mil impact resistant window film.

Furnish and install interior storm windows as manufactured by Allied Window, Inc. Allied One Lite - (1) and (2) Panel with Invisible Clips (AOL-A, AOL-C) interior storm window system or an approved equal. The invisible clip screws used to remove the panels should be tamper proof screws.

**************** End of questions updated as of February 25, 2010 ********************