8_5_15_HDI_RFP_Questions_and_Answers_-_Round_2.pdf

Additional Questions Round 2

Q1. After reviewing drawings and asbuilts provided via FBO on 15 July 2015, there does not appear to be drawings and asbuilts for Building 8, Building 30, and Building 11A. Respectfully request missing drawings and asbuilts be provided.

A.1 We do not have asbuilts nor construction for Bldg 8, & 30. We have construction drawings for 11A. Previous fire alarm drawings should provide information on these locations.

Q2 There are no scaled drawings that show all of the walkways and tunnels. As there are designbuild requirements for walkways and tunnels, please provide scale drawings.

A2. We do not have scaled drawings for the walkways and tunnels. The assignment drawings include tunnels and walkways and those are as close as we can get.

Q3. A list of fire and fire safety devices installed throughout the complex and campus has not been provided. This information is not available on the drawings and asbuilts provided. Please provide a list of existing installed fire and fire safety devices.

A3. See Amendment #04.

Q4. Page 9 of the POR indicates that the existing EST3 platform is addressable. Can the government provide a copy of the computer workstation and printer output of the addressable systems (i.e. device counts) and installation history provided by the program outputs?

A.4 See Amendment #04.

Q5. The POR requires the contractor to provide Final Inspection and Testing material in accordance with NFPA. Chapter 14 of the NFPA 72 (14.6.2) Inspection and Testing requires retention of Records. Can the government provide a copy the latest test and inspection records on the current system required by NFPA 72? The NFPA 72 document should provide accurate device counts, and other information necessary for offerors to develop Firm Fixed Price bids.

A5. See Amendment #04.

Q6. On page 6 of the Fire and Life Safety Program of Requirements (POR), the last sentence of the first paragraph states, “The contractor shall provide comparison of the current EST panel technology, panel construction quality, longevity of service, ease of service including programmability, and expected lifetime of the primary design option with the alternate design option to provide a complete fire alarm replacement.” It is a concern that requiring a potential fire alarm system equipment manufacture to conduct this comparison between its own system and one of its competitors could create a potential “impaired objectivity” Organizational Conflict of Interest. It appears that the Government is interested in having fire alarm system equipment manufacturers bid on this opportunity. Can the Government please clarify the intent of this comparison and whether it would preclude a fire alarm system equipment manufacturer from bidding as Prime contractor for this contract?

A6. See Amendments #2 and #3.

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Q7. On page 6 of the Program of Record it states: “The contractor shall provide comparison of the current EST panel technology, panel construction quality, longevity of service, ease of service including programmability, and expected lifetime of the primary design option with the alternate design option to provide a complete fire alarm replacement.” However, there is no Factor in the RFP that appears to be linked to this requirement and that would enable the technical evaluation board to choose between an EST solution, or a replacement solution. In which factor should our proposal include the requirement to compare the EST solution to a proposed alternative?

A7. See Amendments #2 and #3.

Q8. There are various electrical, data rooms, telecom rooms, etc. that are currently not sprinklered within the buildings. As per the PBSP100, these rooms are to be supplied with a single feed that contains a control valve, check valve and flow switch (with test connection). There is no reference to this requirement in the RFP. Shall these items be included in the cost of these rooms? If so, what are the approximate sizes of the rooms?

A8. The reference is in the specifications located in the Appendix and in PBSP100.

Please note, the sprinkler controls for these rooms does NOT apply to electrical closets, telephone closets, and other such spaces throughout the complex. It DOES apply to electrical switchgear and transformer rooms, data processing facilities, and elevator machine rooms. Telephone rooms do not require special sprinkler controls unless it qualifies as a data room.

Q9. As per the RFP, all control valves that leak, fail test, are difficult to operate, or are not approved for fire protection use are to be replaced. Is there an approximate quantity of these valves, their location, their sizes, etc. to allow for pricing? Are the existing systems to be hydrostatically tested to verify that all existing valves are capable of operating correctly and are able to complete isolate a system?

A9. We do not wish to hydrostatically test existing piping. New piping shall be so tested.

All valves on the sprinklers system are to be checked to assure proper type and listing, that they travel to the open and shut positions without difficulty, and that downstream indications are that the valve is holding (via main drain, auxiliary drains, etc). Leaking valves shall be replaced.

Q10. In Building 2, the building was not fully surveyed for the preparation of the RFP. As stated there are areas that have concealed wooden areas above the acoustical ceiling that creates a combustible space that requires sprinkler protection. For the preparation of this solicitation cost, is an approximate quantity square footage of space that should be utilized for this type of construction? If additional areas are found, the cost associated with these additional sprinklers will be covered under a specific unit price or as modifications to the contract?

A10: In these type of areas there is typically 23 feet of mechanical space above the finish ceiling which is typically at 8 feet.

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Q11. Electronically controlled inspector test stations are to be provided for the testing of all flow switches. Will a quantity of existing flow switches be provided to determine how many testing stations are to be provided? Is the intention to have these provided as a locally controlled test station (keyed at a switch adjacent to the test station) or is this to be performed remotely at Fire Command Center (FCC)?

A11. There shall be as many inspectors test stations as there are flow switches in the fire alarm system. The fire alarm address printout shows all of the existing flow switches and the designer shall add flow switches to that number as required by the RFP. The intent is to operate these automated flow switches from the Fire Alarm Control Panel in the Fire Command Center.

Q12. In Building 4/4A, the existing antifreeze system is to be replaced with a new dry pipe system. What is the approximate size of the loading dock canopy that is being protected? What type of power shall be available for the power to the air compressor (120V/single phase)?

A12. The dry pipe sprinkler system shall be equipped with a nitrogen generator that has an integral compressor. Power should be 120vac and shall be supplied from an emergency power panel. The size of the exterior loading dock canopy on Building 4 is approximately 500 square feet.

Q13. Will the GC be required to supply job trailers for their staff or will GSA allow the GC to use space in the building for temp offices? Spec Section 015000 is not clear on this, please clarify.

A13: Space will be made available in the building for a work room/office. The contractor will be responsible for supplying their own means of communication (phones, computers, internet, etc.).

Q14. Per the specifications mechanical tee outlets are not to be provided. With the addition of various items to the existing systems, the use of mechanical tee outlets shall be a substantial cost savings for the addition of new sprinklers, air vents, etc. Please advise if the use of mechanical tees can be utilized.

A14. Please follow the specification as written.

Q15. Spare sprinklers are to be provided at four different locations and comply with NFPA13 requirements for the quantity of sprinklers provided. With the numerous various types of existing sprinklers that are to remain and the relative age of some of these sprinklers, confirm only the new sprinklers are to be provided as part of the spare sprinkler stock.

A15. Spare sprinklers shall be provided for all new sprinklers in this project. Existing spare sprinklers older than 45 years shall also be replaced. All other existing sprinkler spare stock shall remain as long as they are still in use in the facility. Spare sprinklers shall be coordinated so that the spare sprinklers for a given area can be found in the respective sprinkler spare stock. Sprinkler wrenches for every sprinkler in each spare stock shall be provided.

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Q16. Building 1B states that some of the existing HVAC system still has some existing HVAC smoke detectors and will need to be changed out to an addressable duct smoke detector. Is there an approximate 2 quantity of existing duct detectors that need changed to be provided as part of this solicitation for the preparation of the pricing?

A16. There currently should be no more than 6 HVAC units that are not equipped with duct detectors.

Q17. Electronically controlled inspector test stations are to be provided for the testing of all flow switches. Is the intention to have these provided as a locally controlled test station (keyed at a switch adjacent to the test station) or is this to be performed remotely at Fire Command Center

(FCC)?

A17. See answer #11

Q18. All tunnels and walkways are to be provided with sprinkler coverage. Please confirm if only the pedestrian tunnels and areaways are to be protected or if all tunnels should be protected. For example, the mechanical chase tunnel from Building 5 to Building 20. This tunnel is not a pedestrian tunnel but is only accessible for servicing piping.

A18. Primarily we are concerned with tunnels and walkways usable by people. For the utility tunnels there shall be sprinklers outside and up to the entrance of each of these utility tunnels with a single sprinkler inside each end of each utility tunnel. Tunnels of all kinds shall be designed for Ordinary Hazard Group 2.

Q19. There are various electrical, data rooms, telecom rooms, etc. that are either currently sprinklered or require sprinklers as part of the upgrades. As per the PBSP100, these rooms are to be supplied with a single feed that contains a control valve, check valve and flow switch (with test connection). There is no reference to this requirement in the RFP, please confirm they are required for this project.

A19. Please see the answer to #8.

Q20. As per the RFP, all control valves that leak, fail test, are difficult to operate, or are not approved for fire protection use are to be replaced. During the walkthrough it was hard to determine the condition of each valve without operating them and/or testing them. Should it be assumed that all control valves are to be removed and replaced?

A20. No. The majority of existing valves are thought to be in operable condition. Valves that require replacement include any valve that is not approved for use by NFPA 13 or is not listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, valves that leak water when operated, valves that are difficult to operate in either direction, or valves that will not close properly allowing water to flow through.

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Q21. For all of the existing zone control assemblies, there are no check valves provided on any of the zones. Therefore, when a standpipe/riser is taken out of service, all of the building is drained with that standpipe/riser. For high rise buildings, typically a check valve is provided on each floor to keep from draining the entire building during maintenance. Please confirm no check valves are to be provided on each zone control assembly as part of this RFP.

A21. Any new zone control assemblies shall have the required approved check valve installed. It is not the intent of this RFP to install check valves in all locations that would now require them. However, if the control valve is found to be faulty and requiring replacement, then a zone check valve would be required to be installed at that time.

Q22. During the walkthrough, numerous sprinklers were noticed to have either corrosion on the sprinkler or at the connection point to the piping. There is no reference to replacing corroded sprinklers as part of this RFP. Please confirm that existing corroded sprinklers are excluded from the scope.

A22. The RFP requires the complete replacement of sprinklers in a couple of the buildings because they are over 50 years old. Outside of that requirement, existing sprinklers that are not affected by the installation of new sprinklers are not included in this RFP. However, if new sprinklers are put into a space with existing sprinklers, they shall all be upgraded in that space to new sprinklers per NFPA 13. If corroded sprinklers or any other unsafe condition is found during the work, we would expect the contractor to inform us of the problem and where it exists so that it may be remedied.

Q23. For the connector tunnels and walkways, is there a height restriction for the walkways, other than the required Egress pathway per the applicable codes?

A23: It is our intent to provide as much headroom as possible while meeting the requirements of NFPA 13. The litmus test will be the required headroom for egress in NFPA 101, Life Safety Code.

Q24. As stated in the RFP, Building 5 is to have the existing fire suppression system modified for deficiencies. Upon further investigation, there is no sprinkler in this building. Please confirm the intention is to fully sprinkler this building.

A24. Yes, it is our intention to fully sprinkler the building. There are some existing sprinklers in the basement, but nowhere near complete coverage.

Q25. As noticed on numerous older systems, there is the use of ¾” piping, there is no indication in the RFP to replace this piping, please confirm this is excluded from the RFP.

A25. It is not the intention of this RFP to replace existing piping outside of specified work.

Again, we would expect the contractor to inform us of conditions such as these during the project so that we may make additional plans to remedy the situation.

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Q26. Due to the requirements for thorough site investigations and the large areas to cover for survey / coordination (multiple site investigations needed to cover the building footprint that is part of this scope), is it possible to get a bid extension to ensure proper bid preparation & pricing?

A.26 See Amendment #04. The due date has been extended to August 17, 2015.

Q27. As of 31 July 2015, the remaining drawings (for Building 8, Building 30, and Building 11A) and a list of the current fire alarm initiating devices installed throughout the complex, have not been made available to contractors. This information is critical to an Offeror’s proposed design and without it is extremely difficult to properly scope this effort. We respectfully request a 14 day extension from the date all remaining documents are provided.

A27. See Amendment #04

Q28. It was observed during the site walk on 29 July 2015 that there have been renovations completed that are not captured on current Architectural drawings provided to date. Would like to inquire whether more current drawings are available and can be provided? Or if the effort should be designed based upon the drawings already provided, with the understanding that changes will be required during the design phase after award?

A28: There is no set of drawings available that captures all renovations or existing conditions in all spaces.

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