SOLCRT_RFI_-_AMD_02.docx

1. The Region 10 Fire Alarm Design, Installation, and Testing Policy require conductors to be installed in Rigid Metal Conduit or Electrical Metallic Tubing. Much of the tenant office spaces, lobbies, and corridors are of open, finished construction (i.e. there are very few areas with acoustical or non-exposed, accessible ceiling spaces). Most of these areas are Zone 1 or 2 Historical Preservation Areas. Will exposed EMT or RMC be allowed to be surface-mounted in these areas? If not, which raceway types are allowable for exposed raceways in each of the historical zones?

Surface mount molding may be acceptable in zones 1 and 2. GSA AHJ and historical architect will have input as to where this raceway is installed during design review. Submittals must reflect materials to be used and design must reflect specific, accurate locations to accommodate review and acceptance.

2. It appears that the general construction of the interior walls throughout the building is solid red clay brick, consistent with the period, is this correct?

We believe most of the walls in the interior are hollow clay tiles based upon recently completed projects.

3. What accommodations should be made for the 2 hour rated class A riser? CI cable is currently not UL listed

2-hr fire rating will not be required for this project. Class A fire alarm riser will be required (as stated in the contract documents). In addition, the feed and return of the Class A riser must be separated, so a single fire event does not affect their functionality.

4. Is the elevator shaft sprinkled…and will code required detection in the shaft be required if it is?

Question answered round 1 design sec. Q-9

5. Are we to include the installation of new tamper switches for the sprinkler control valves and shut off valves on dry standpipe systems that currently have none? If so, please provide a count.

Quarterly testing and inspection indicates less than 4ea valves are not currently supervised, However, the installation of tamper switches and monitoring of these switches per code will be required.

6. Is a new firefighter telephone system going to be required?

Question answered round 1 General sec. Q-12

7. The specification indicates that we are to follow the current IBC requirements for the buildings occupancy classification. The drawings indicate manual pull stations at all egress locations. Currently the IBC only requires a single manual pull station at an approved location in a full sprinkled “B” occupancy. Shall we go by IBC requirements, or as shown on the drawings?

Question answered round 1 Design sec. Q-20

8. What are the db requirements in storage rooms?

Per GSA Region 10 AHJ - Fire Alarm Design, Installation and Testing Policy, "The notification appliances shall deliver a minimum of 70 dBA throughout the building with an exception for small offices of 200 sq. ft. or less; they shall deliver a minimum of 65 dBA with the door closed."

9. Will there be a db requirement for bathrooms?

No, db requirements for bathrooms will not be required. However, per GSA Region 10 - Fire Alarm Design, Installation and Testing Policy, "Notification appliances for restrooms shall be visual type appliances only."

10. Please define or describe the intelligibility testing that will be implemented by GSA.

Question answered round 1 design sec. Q-3 and Q-4

11. What areas of the GSC are not sprinkled and will require supplemental automatic and/or manual smoke detection initiation?

Question answered round 1 general sec. Q-4

12. Section II.A.5 lists a requirement to use of 8-1/2x11 inch white paper. Our experience indicates certain information such as the required organization chart and preliminary project schedule are easier to read when displayed on 11x17 paper. Will it be permissible to utilize 11x17 paper for these types of documents?

Yes. Section II.A.5, PROPOSALS, page 8 has been amended to allow for charts and schedules to use other than 8 ½ X 11 paper, as long as it is folded within the binder and otherwise meets all other physical requirements stated in the RFP.

13. Factor 4 requires we send no more than three PBS Past Performance Questionnaires to our customers. However, Factor 2 requires we provide six total references: three references for Construction projects, and three references for Design projects. Please confirm if we are to provide 3 or 6 references total.

RFP Factor 4, PAST PERFORMANCE, page 18 has been amended to match the requirements under Factor 1 (your reference to Factor 2 was actually found under Factor 1). See attached/revised SOLCRT Fire Alarm DB SOLICITATION – AMD 02.

14. Which type of Fire Alarm Notification Signaling shall be required: Selective (floor above floor below) type signaling or General all building Evacuation type signaling?

Question answered round 1 design sec. Q-1.

15. In the first round of Q&A’s you identified “fire dampers”. Can you confirm that these are strictly mechanically operated fire dampers or are they fire/smoke dampers?

Mechanically operated fire dampers.

16. In the last round of Q&A’s you clarified that this project is not assumed to be primarily in exposed conduit. While installing above ceiling spaces, is aluminum flex acceptable as a raceway?

Installation of raceways must be provided as described in GSA Region 10 - Fire Alarm Design, Installation and Testing Policy and PBS-P100. As a matter of clarification, the use of flexible metal conduit not exceeding a 1.8 meter (6-foot) length (single or combined length) shall be permitted for initiating and/or notification device.