Q A 5.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

7 June 2012

Solicitation GS-01P-12-BW-D-0050

JANITORIAL AND MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE SERVICES AT 9 LAND PORTS OF ENTRY

(LPOE) THROUGHOUT NORTHERN MAINE

Question and Answer 07 June 2012

Q 27: During the site visit, it was put out that all fire and life safety systems and equipment inspections must be performed by NICET II certified technicians. As a result, the nationally recognized subcontractor we have contacted are interpreting what was put out during the site visit to mean that this extended all the way down to weekly visual inspection of sprinkler components and backflows, monthly inspections of fire extinguishers, monthly emergency light inspection, monthly fire pump procedures, etc.

This results in an exorbitant cost to GSA.

Please clarify that the expectation for NICET II Technician is for Quarterly, Semiannual, Annual, 3 and 5 year services, and that the weekly and monthly services such as exercising the fire pump, visual inspection of sprinkler heads, fire doors, dampers, and fire extinguisher monthly inspection can be performed by onsite mechanics who do not need to be NICET II level certified.

A: The NICET Level II standard essentially just ensures that the person performing work has a minimum of 2 years experience these systems as well as having passed tests to prove knowledge of applicable NFPA codes pertaining to fire sprinklers and or fire alarm systems. We do want the technician performing this maintenance to have this certification since it is essentially requiring the technician to have achieved a "journeyman" type level in the field.

Fire doors, dampers, and extinguishers are neither fire alarm system equipment, nor fire sprinkler system equipment and would therefore not be subject to the NICET II requirement. The fire pump and fire sprinkler would be, as they are part of the fire alarm and fire sprinkler systems.