HDI_-_Questions_and_Answers.pdf

Additional Questions Received After Preproposal

Q1. Can the bid due date to be extended to at least mid August 2015. This request is being made so that a properly well prepared proposal can be compiled that meets all of the GSA's requirements. This is a large project that requires adequate time and attention to detail to ensure nothing is overlooked.

A1. The bid due date will be extended via an amendment. An amendment is forthcoming and will be posted on FBO.

Q2. A request was made for the current points list for the existing fire alarm system at the HartDoleInouye Complex.

A2. Asbuilt plans will be made available on FBO.

Q3. A request was made for all available digital and/or hard copies of the existing floor plans per building and of the overall complex.

A3. See page 5 of the Program of Requirements for a Site Plan. Floor plans will be made available on FBO.

Q4. Please provide as built drawings, schematic floor plans and/or design concept drawings for this project in order to provide an accurate design build estimate.

A4. Asbuilt plans will be made available on FBO.

Q5. A request was made for the asbestos survey for the entire HartDoleInouye complex.

A5. The Asbestos and Lead Paint surveys for each building will be posted on FBO.

Q6. A request was made for the room numbers / locations of all high secure areas that will have special requirements in order to work in these areas. The requestor is looking for a count and location that corresponds to each building's floor plan (floor plan requested in RFI # 003).

A6. This specific information cannot be provided due to security requirements. GSA does not anticipate any substantial differences in the manner in which work is performed in secure areas versus nonsecure areas. The only special requirement for secure areas will be access. GSA will coordinate access to secure areas with the impacted agency and the contractor.

Q7. A request was made for a list of each different suppression systems for each building along with each type of systems associated locations (ie: system type by room number by building).

A7. There are 2 wet chemical kitchen hood fire suppression system in the kitchen in Building 1A. There is a single wet chemical system in the Daycare Kitchen. There is a Halon system in the telephone room of Building 1. There is an antifreeze sprinkler system on the GSA loading dock.

Q8. Other than speaker and white strobes labeled "ALERT" for the mass notification, are there requirements for outside audible notification at the building entrances or textual/graphic visual displays at the building entrances and exits?

A8. There are no requirements for text/visual displays at building entrances. Outside notification devices should be placed in or near those areas outdoors where people are expected to congregate. There are no requirements for large outdoor notification devices.

Q9. During the walk thru on 63015 it was noticed that multiple fire doors that need replaced have existing penetrations above the door opening or to either side. Is it to be understood that under this contract those existing openings should be filled with firestop?

A9. Yes.

MORE QUESTIONS CONTINUE ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES

Q10. A request was made for the design parameters for the existing fire pump as well as the specifications.

A10. See the attached fire pump flow test for all information on the new fire pump.

Q11. Standard Form 1442 has the submission date set as 7/20/2015, whereas on page 5 of 27 of the solicitation has the bid date set for 7/21/2015. Please clarify the submission date.

A11. The submission date will be changed. An amendment is forthcoming and a new 1442 will be issued with the correct date.

Q12 Are there established preservation Zones that establish a list of priorities for historic space preservation in the campus?

A12: Yes. There are established zones in the facility that are meant to maintain the historic integrity. These areas are located primarily in Buildings 1, 1A and 2. A Building Design Standards document will be available to the contractor for use. GSA’s Historic

Preservation Architect will also need to review all designs that have the potential to impact these zones.

Q13. Should we include experts as part of our team to address decorative plaster and paint where they may disrupted by new equipment installation?

A13 Yes a designer/construction manager with this expertise is required to assure historic fabric that is approved to be breached is done so with means and methods that will return the fabric to its original appearance.

Q14. To what extent does the Design Team need to show existing systems with respect to new connections to these systems? For instance, where new sprinklers are being added to a room or space, how much of the existing piping must be shown on the design drawings?

A14. All piping needed to show hydraulic calculation points must be shown. The specifications require hydraulically calculated systems therefore, all piping necessary to verify those calculations must be shown.

Q15. Are asbuilt fire sprinkler system drawings available for all existing sprinkler systems? If yes, will they be made available to the successful bidder?

A15: Asbuilt drawings do exist for some buildings but not for the entire complex. All existing asbuilts will be made available to the contractor.

Q16. Are asbuilt fire alarm system drawings available for all existing fire alarm systems? If yes, will they be made available to the successful bidder?

A16: See response to Q4.

Q17. Is it the intent of the RFP to require the Design Team to prepare asbuilt drawings for existing fire sprinkler and fire alarm systems?

A17. Only as it applies to the design, construction and/or temporary impairment of systems with the new sprinkler system installations. If you are going to turn off valve A to tie in new sprinkler piping, we need to see what is affected by turning off valve A.

Likewise, hydraulic calculation points must be shown and piping used in those calculations must be shown.

Q18. Are there any outdoor areas that will require fire alarm speakers? If yes, can you identify those areas?

A18. Yes. The smoking area adjacent to building 2A, the smoking area adjacent to building 2C, the courtyard adjacent to building 20, and the Child Care playground.

Q19. Are there any existing security systems and/or door locking systems that need to be interfaced with the fire alarm system. If yes, can you identify those systems?

A19: None have been identified at this time.

Q20. Is the Design Team responsible for converting existing hard copy drawings of existing systems into electronic format?

A20. Yes. Those hard copy drawings that are needed to design and construct this project need to be available in electronic format. Hard copies that are not impacted in any way by this project need not be converted.

Q21. Are there any areas with inaccessible ceilings (gypsum board, plaster, etc.) where exposed piping/conduit is permitted to be exposed?

A21. Refer to Specification 28 31 01, Section 3.2 for direction on System Field Wiring.

Refer to Specification 21 13 13 for installation of sprinkler piping. Typically surface mounting of fire alarm conduit and sprinkler piping in an exposed manner is acceptable in mechanical rooms, elevator machine rooms, electrical rooms, unfinished areas typically in the basement, and the tunnels system. Please refer to the painting section of 21 13 13 3.1.G for sprinkler piping. Exposed piping is typically not acceptable in historic fabric/spaces or spaces with suspended ceilings.

Q22. Can the GSA provide a listing of all fire alarm and/or fire protection subsystems that need to be connected to the new fire alarm system via monitor modules?

A22. The current fire alarm system is networked eliminating most of the need to monitor other systems with monitor modules. There is currently a separate fire alarm system in building 1B but this project should eliminate that and make the system in that location fully compatible with the new campus fire alarm system. Please refer to Q7 for special suppression systems that must be monitored. Please also consider that addressable interface devices will be required for the 14 elevators, all HVAC units, approximately 100 door closers/releases, Stair pressurization in Building 1 and Building 2 involving 5 stairs, and the fire pump. In many cases these locations will require multiple addressable interface devices. Refer to the Fire Alarm Specification for additional details and requirements.

Q23. Does the scope of this project include the installation of any electronic textual signs as is commonly provided for Mass Notification Systems?

A23. No, electronic signage is not required for this project.

Q24. Does the scope of this project include installing sprinklers in existing nonsprinklered elevator machine rooms or elevator shafts? If yes, are the associated elevator power shunt trips to be included in the scope of the project?

A24. Sprinklers are required in elevator pits and are to have a complete zone control set monitored by the fire alarm system. Elevator pit sprinklers shall not shunt trip the elevator equipment. Sprinklers shall not be installed anywhere else in the elevator shaft.

Elevator machine rooms shall be fully sprinklered and also have a complete zone control set with elevator flow switch incorporated therein. Activation of this zero delay flow switch or by a required heat detector in the machine room shall shunt trip the power to the elevator. Elevator machine rooms shall have the required smoke detectors and heat detectors as well.

Q25. On the Contract Price Form, Allowance #04 requests a cost for repairing penetrations in rated construction but does not indicate the size of the penetration or what type of rated wall or ceiling (IE CMU, drywall, plaster, etc.). Please clarify what you are looking for with this allowance.

A25. What the intent here is to document the cost of penetrations made by the fire alarm and sprinkler installer in fire rated construction. This would most likely be in masonry or plaster walls but it could possibly involve few gypsum board fire rated walls. The size of the opening would be dependent on what the contractor’s installer opens up for penetrating a wall. The desired outcome is a finished opening utilizing UL/FM materials to maintain the fire and temperature rating of the fire rated construction utilizing the specified sleeves, firestopping installers certificate at each opening, and restoration of the finish around each opening.

Q26. Spec Section 012300 indicates an alternate price for a substitution to the specified fire alarm system but there is no spot on the bid form for this alternate. If this alternate is applicable to the bid, please provide a line item on the bid form for it.

A26. A new line item will be added to the contract price form to include the alternate price for a substitution. The new contract price form will be in an amendment and posted on FBO.

Q27. The solicitation terms & conditions states that the contractor shall perform at least 10% percent of the work on this project. Does general conditions & requirements count against this 10%?

A27. Yes

Q28. Please confirm that 3rd party hazmat testing will be provided by the owner as stated at the pre proposal meeting on 6/30/15.

A28. 3rd party hazmat testing will NOT be provided by the owner. Please reference specifications section 028200 Asbestos Abatement and 020806 Lead Mitigation. In particular, the Architect/Design Builder will have to perform a “prealteration assessment”.

Q29. Per the preproposal meeting on 6/30/15, it was stated that there are locations where asbestos & lead paint will be encountered for this project. Please provide hazmat reports supporting this statement with quantities to carry with this proposal.

A29: See response to Q5.

Q30. What is the sizing and capacity of the facility fire pump that was newly relocated to Building 5? If possible, please provide flow test.

A30. Please refer to Question #10.

Q31. What is the size of the fire service main feeding Building 5 from Brook Street?

A31. 8 inch ductile iron installed in 2014.

Q32. What are the sizes of the existing campus fire mains as described on Page 22 of the Program of Requirements document dated June 5th, 2015?

A32. Typically 6 inch for the fire protection system. Reference to domestic water lines serving fire protection will be negated by the project tying in all sprinkler systems to the campus fire protection water supply system.

Q33. Should the existing facility fire pump be undersized for the additional buildings now being tied into the campus fire service? Please confirm providing a larger fire pump would be in the design intent.

A33. The new fire pump was sized to provide water supply to any sprinkler system in the complex. Any of the systems being added as a part of this project will not require more water supply than the pump will provide. No fire pump work is contemplated or desired.

Q34. Emergency egress signage and lighting was not mentioned in the Program of Requirements.

Please confirm they will not be required with this project.

A34. Emergency exit signage and emergency lighting is not a part of this project and is not included in the scope, program of requirements, specifications or other documentation for this project.

Q35. Where can I access the drawings for this project?

A35. See response to Q4.

Q36. We would respectfully request an additional two weeks to submit the proposal. While it is not an overly large construction project, it is certainly a complex project.

A36. An amendment is forthcoming extending the proposal due date.

Q37. Have there been any assessments of painted finishes throughout the site to determine locations of lead based paint (LBP)? If so, would those reports be made available to proposers prior to submittal of the DB construction cost fee proposal?

A37. See response to Q5.

Q38. Will reports documenting ACM locations on site be made available to proposers prior to the proposal due date?

A38. See response to Q5.

Q39. If reports documenting the presence of ACM and/or LBP will not be made available prior to the proposal due date, may we assume the government will contract separately for an appropriate abatement contractor?

A39. The government will NOT contract separately for an appropriate abatement contractor. Available reports documenting the presence of ACM and/or LBP will be made available prior to the proposal due date. Also see response to Q28.

Q40. During the preproposal conference, there was discussion of providing ‘sound mockups’ for the acoustically challenging spaces. For purposes of preparing the DB proposal, how many acoustically challenging mockups should a proposing team plan to include?

A40. It would be prudent to plan for mock ups in the main lobby of Building 1, in the main lobby of building 2, and in the tunnels connecting the buildings. This is by no means meant to limit mockups to 3 locations, it is just that we know that these 3 spaces will likely need that attention. Other spaces that the designers have questions about can be most simply tested and proved by using a mock up. It is up to the individual fire protection engineers and fire alarm technicians to determine where and how many mock ups will be needed. Likewise, choice of sprinkler and location in historic space may best be accomplished through mockups with the GSA Regional Historic Preservation Architect and the GSA Regional Fire Protection Engineer present.

Q41. Is the FPE Lead identified on P 9 of The Solicitation intended by the government to be the same FPE as the one identified in Paragraph 1.3.A of Specification Section 017000?

A41. Yes.

Q42. Figure A4 in PBS P100 outlines a design process that is not quite specific to design build.

During the meeting, there was discussion of including design submittals at the 35%, 65% 95% completion point and then a final Issued For Construction. Can you please clarify the required design submittal requirements for this project?

A42. Please reference the “Implementation Plan” section in the POR (starting on page 46 of the report). It is noted in this section, that the “project should incorporate a 30%, 60% and 90% and 100% review stage.”

Q43. Factor #1 on page 7 of 27 states "A similar project is defined as a project that is similar in scope, delivery method, complexity and size as compared to this project AND contains all of the following characteristics..." can the "all" be changed to a numerical value (i.e., contains 4 of 5 characteristics)?

A43. No. “Similar” contains all the characteristics. “Comparable” projects contain three or more of the characteristics.

Q44. Item "E" under Factor #1 on page 7 of 27 states "The DesignBuild team (proposed for this solicitation and listed under Factor #2) has worked together on the project submitted under this technical evaluation Factor #1." Please confirm that this refers to the DesignBuild Contractor and the Architect and not each individual listed as key personnel?

A44. Correct The DesignBuild contractor and the AE have worked together.

Q45. On page 6 of the Fire and Life Safety Program of Requirements (POR), it states that contractor’s primary proposal shall utilize the existing EST fire alarms and backbone equipment.

This section of the POR continues by stating that the Design/Build contractor may propose providing alternative fire alarm manufacturers to replace the entire existing EST base system. Is it the Government’s intention for contractors to submit two proposed solutions (one utilizing the existing EST base system and a second for a replacement of the entire existing EST base system) or is it the intention to include one or the other?

A45. Will be answered in a forthcoming amendment.

Q46. 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?

A46. Please refer to response #45.

Q.47 Can the government provide the small business subcontracting goals for this project?

A47. See below:

● 9.14 percent for womenowned small businesses;

● 12.21 percent for Small Disadvantaged Businesses;

● 3.31 percent for HUBZone small businesses;

● 38.85 percent for small businesses;

● 3.04 percent for servicedisabled veteranowned small businesses.

Q48 Can the government provide asbuilt drawings for the existing fire suppression system in all the buildings?

A48: See responses to Q2,Q3 and Q4.

Q49 Can the government provide asbuilt drawings from the 20082009 fire alarm upgrade?

A49. Yes.

https://www.sba.gov/content/service-disabled-veteran-owned-small-business-concerns-sdvosbc https://www.sba.gov/content/8a-business-development https://www.sba.gov/content/women-owned-businesses https://www.sba.gov/content/hubzone-0

Q50 Can the government provide an estimate or allowance for the number of existing items like the fire fighter phones, heat detectors and other misc. items that they expect to be replaced?

A50. Please refer to the points list in Question 2.

Q51 Please provide an asbestos survey for each building in the facility involved in this project.

This will allow the bidders to better quantify the likelihood of encountering ACM during the execution of the project.

A51: See response to Q5.

Q52. Can the government provide a phasing or sequence plan for each building to show which areas will have 24/7 operation versus 7:00am5:00pm Monday – Friday operation?

A52. The government can provide the number of 24/7 operations and which buildings they are in. However, the sequencing and phasing of the project is the contractor’s responsibility.

Q53. For work in the 24/7 operational areas what shift will be required to be worked in these areas?

A53: Work is typically performed outside of the building hours of 7AM to 5PM in the 24/7 areas. However, all work schedules for 24/7 areas will be subject to coordination with the impacted agency or agencies. Contractor should be prepared to perform work in these areas at any time.

Q54. How many areas that work will take place in are in operation 24/7?

A54: There are approximately five areas that are operational 24/7. The areas vary in size from approximately 300 sq. ft. to approximately 10,000 sq. ft.

Q55. What are the load limits on the existing floors for the high bay work that will require lifts?

A55: Floor load limits are unknown. All work that will require lifts will have to be coordinated with the GSA Project Team prior to the start of the work.

Q56. Will all materials be required to be screened before being brought into the buildings? If yes, where does this screening take place and how long does it take to get material screened?

A56. Yes, materials will have to be screened before entering the facility. All materials will enter the facility via the main receiving dock. Screening times will vary depending on the size of the delivery and other deliveries that may be taking place at the same time.

Q57. Can materials be staged inside the buildings? If so, where is the laydown area?

A57: Materials can be staged inside the buildings in designated storage areas and outside the buildings in designated staging areas. Storage and staging areas will be coordinated with the Property Manager based on the potential impact to the normal operations of the facility.

Q58 Is material allowed to be laid down on the exterior of the buildings? If so, where would these laydown areas be and are there any fencing requirements around the lay down areas?

A58: See response to Q57.

Q59 Is there interior space available for a site construction office? If not, are trailers allowed onsite and where would they be located?

A59. Interior space will be available for a site construction office. Trailers can be allowed, space permitting, but would have to supply their own electrical service. Trailers would have to be placed on the east side of the facility in the parking lot adjacent to Brook Street. Office and trailer locations will have to be coordinated with the Property Manager.

Q60. When working in occupied areas, are separation walls required to be constructed?

A60. No, that would not be possible. Contractors will have to tarp over cubicles and furniture to prevent any dust, debris, or materials from landing on occupied work spaces.

Cleaning of the work space will be required at the end of each shift to assure a clean and healthful workplace for building workers.

Q61. When ceilings are removed to install new overhead work, are they required to be reinstalled after each shift or can they be left out for the duration of the work in that area?

A61. Each area will have to be assessed individually to determine the impacts on the normal operations of the facility and the project itself.

Q62. 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?

A62. Will be answered in a forthcoming amendment.

Q63. Reference Section II.D, Factor #1, of The Solicitation document. If offerors do not have two

(2) similar projects meeting all five of the (a) through (e) criteria, please confirm and clarify if offeror's are to submit not more than 3 comparable projects. (i.e. only up to 3 comparable).

Specifically, the word "additional" is causing confusion. (i.e. If offerors have 2 similar projects, they may submit up to 3 additional comparable for a total of up to 5. If offerors have only 1 similar, they may submit up to 3 additional comparable for a total of up to 4. If offeror has no similar projects, then they may submit up to 3 comparable, for a total of 3.) In any case, in order to meet the evaluation criteria on page 9 of 27, offerors must document past performance on at least two (2) projects (either similar or comparable, or combination). Please confirm or clarify this interpretation.

A63. If a firm does not have any similar projects, then an offeror can only submit up to 3 comparable projects. If a firm has any similar projects, then they can also submit up to 3 additional comparable projects. The most projects any firm can submit is five (2 similar and 3 comparable). The evaluation criteria on page 9 of 27 is associated with Factor #2 Qualifications of Key Personnel. If a proposed Key Personnel has not worked on any of the projects listed under Factor#1 Experience, then two additional references must be provided for this person on a similar or comparable project.

June 30th Preproposal Questions and Answers

Q1. What is the submittal process?

A1. It is expected that before a submittal is transmitted for review that the contractor review it for completeness and accuracy. Reviews will be done by the appropriate subject matter experts at the GSA Regional Office in Chicago as well as the property manager in Battle Creek.

Q2. What drawings will be posted on FBO and will they be they all be in electronic version?

A2. CAD files for new improvements but, older ones that are paper and some don’t exist because of the age of the building

Q3. Historic elements above the ceiling A3. If the contractor encounters an unusual ceiling or installation hidden above a ceiling, notify the GSA project manager. Other necessary GSA notifications will be made by the project manager.

Q4. Mass notification system What means are you testing for intelligibility?

A4. If the GSA Fire Protection Engineers present for final acceptance testing can understand all of the messages without difficulty, the intent for intelligibility is met. We have found that other means of measuring intelligibility are much more involved, costly, and provide no further benefit.

Q5. How much time do we have to do acoustic profiles?

A5. We believe the use of mockups is the simplest way to verify speaker design.

Clarification: Where we are replacing 1940’s vintage sprinklers, we are not replacing the piping nor the rest of the system.

Q6. Minimum vs alternate fire alarm requirement?

A6. Please see question #45. The current EST 3 system has a main fire alarm control panel in the Fire Control Room with Fireworx terminal, a backup system in Building #5 with Fireworx terminal, A Fireworx terminal in the Emergency Manager’s Office, a remote control annunciator in Adam30, and a remote control annunciator only for Building 11 in Building 11. There are 16 transponders on the system.

Q7. Environmental work third party is hired by GSA, but this does not relieve designer for responsibility of having their own environmental engineer.

A7. See response to Q28 and Q38.

Q9 If you prove new system, you would need a new backbone?

A9. Yes, because we would be installing a parallel system to test out prior to switchover.

The existing system would still be using the existing backbone.

Q10. Is there fiber or copper?

A10. All copper, no fiber in existing system.