FPE_Reply_to_RFI_(Draft)_07_24_2017_-_IK.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

1) Due to the size of the Solicitation, request a two week extension to the due date to Tues, 29 Aug

2017 at 4PM to properly prepare a Professional and Detailed Bid for Government Review.

Proposal due date has been extend to Wednesday, August 16, 2017 @ 4:00 PM EST.

2) Is this a Siemens System, If so is it proprietary? Yes

3) Does Siemen's sell and allow other contractors to work on their systems? Yes

4) Page 11 of II.F. Requirements for Joint Venture Offerors. In order to competitive, we believe that working together we could be a successful contender for the Project. Instead of forming a joint venture can we execute a teaming agreement with other companies. The Government is not going to get involve with how a prime contractor staffs its team. Each contractor makes its own decision on how to form its joint venture or team. There will only be one prime contractor per proposal.

5) During the site visit at Washington National Records Center, one of the government engineers mentioned that “as-built” or other drawings of WRNC’s existing fire alarm system were located only earlier this week. These drawings could be critical in terms of providing the government with the best and most cost-effective solution, particular in terms of counting fire system panels and devices. Can you provide us this package of these 51 drawings, either through a download on

FBO or some other electronic means? If there’s a security concern, we would even be willing to pick up a CD of the drawings from your office at GSA or from WRNC. Drawings will be provided via email when a request is made to the contract specialist and contracting officer.

Requests should be addressed to both Isaac.karto@gsa.gov and Jamal.magee@gsa.gov.

6) Is there a U.S. citizenship for employees of the Contractor and its subcontractors? It is presumed that all employees will need either U.S. citizenship, or legal work status as a registered alien.

That’s correct.

7) What are the anticipated working hours for the project? Are late shift working hours permitted?

7.00 AM to 5.00 PM. No, late shift is not permitted.

8) It was observed during the walkthrough that the existing Fire Alarm system does not appear to be compliant with current fire codes. Is an upgrade to code-compliant envisioned as part of this project? The project is to replace in kind fire alarm equipment. The new equipment will meet current codes and standards.

9) Will employees working on-site be badged for easier daily entry to the Federal Complex? Is there any cost to the Contractor associated with this badging process? How long does it take for an employee to be badged? Contractor must be badged with GSA’s HSPD-12.

10) We completed the second site visit yesterday and we were told that drawings were located and will be distributed as soon as possible. That said, the solicitation states that we are to have all mailto:Isaac.karto@gsa.gov mailto:Jamal.magee@gsa.gov

RFI’s into you by 1600 today (July 26, 2017). The drawings will undoubtedly generate additional RFI’s which would be critical to the proposal.

FDC is requesting an extension to the RFI deadline as well as the submittal of the final proposal so we can properly review all the information. Please referenced question No.5 for the drawings. Proposal due date is extended to August 16. 2017.

11) The existing high voltage smoke detectors connected to the existing system contain radioactive material. Whose responsibility is it to dispose of these detectors? It is contractor's responsibility to de-install and properly dispose existing high voltage smoke detectors connected to the existing system contain radioactive material per existing code. Also, unit pricing is requested.

12) Scope of WNRC Fire Alarm Upgrade Project”, Page 3 of 13 states that there are eight Firelite

Miniscan control panels. Five of the eight Firelite Mini Scan Panels were not found during the two site field surveys. Can you confirm that these five Firelite Miniscan control panels no longer exist? There are eight (8) smoke control panels for vault protection which consist of: Two

(2) System 3 Pyrotronics control panels. Eight (6) Fire Lite Miniscan control panels

13) Will escorts be required to access all parts of the building? No, GC will have to undergo training and sign-off certain forms.

14) What are the specific access requirements associated with the three classified storage areas?

Escorts will be provided while working in these areas.

15) The scope of work states that work is to include upgrade of existing amplifiers. There are multiple references to “speakers”, “speaker-strobes”, “speaker circuits”, “fire phones”, fire phone circuits” and “amplifiers” throughout the documentation. In our field survey, we did not find any amplifiers or voice related equipment. Can you confirm that this building does not include amplifiers, speakers, fire fighter’s phones or any voice evacuation type equipment and that no amplifiers, speakers, fire fighter’s phones or any other voice evacuation type components are required for this project? Voice components are not required for the project.

The fire alarm system is not a voice evacuation system and there are no fire fighter phones, amplifiers or speakers.

16) The existing system includes a thermal strip printer in the head-end control panel. The new control panel will not have this feature available. The new system will support a desk-top printer if desired. Will a desk top printer be required for this project? If yes, will the end-user provide the desk-top space for this printer? This project will provide and install one (1) new system printer with the new FACP in the Fire Control Room.

17) If necessary, may we re-use existing control panel enclosures for terminal cabinets? Yes, control panel enclosures can be re used for terminal cabinets.

18) Regarding bid option one (“Scope of WNRC Fire Alarm Upgrade Project”, Page 3 of 13), will the existing devices be replaced on a “one for one” basis without regard for current code or new device spacing requirements? The project will replace in kind (“one for one”) the existing devices.

19) Can you provide a list or floor plan detail of the devices connected to the existing Siemens/Pyra-larm FIU control panel? The available list is in the attached most recent maintenance report.

20) Can you provide a list or floor plan detail of the devices connected to the two existing Siemens

System 3 control panels? The available list is in the attached most recent maintenance report.

21) Can you provide a list or floor plan detail of the devices connected to the three existing Firelite control panels? …continued on page 2 Sollicitation Number GS-11-P-17-MA-C-0030

Washington National Record Center, Fire Alarm System Siemens Industry, Inc. Request for

Information July 26, 2017 Page 2 The available list is in the attached most recent maintenance report.

22) Can you provide any floor plans depicting the existing fire alarm system?

Drawings will be provided via email when a request is made to the contract specialist and contracting officer. Requests should be addressed to both Isaac.karto@gsa.gov and

Jamal.magee@gsa.gov.

23) The scope of work states “Note: Replacement of the fire alarm control panel may occur over the course of a long weekend when occupancy is limited and the impact of a building wide fire watch would be limited”. While we understand the desire to limit the impact to the building occupants, the size and complexity of this scope will likely require the transition time to extend beyond a “long weekend”. Will a schedule that extends beyond a long weekend schedule be acceptable? It can be considered.

24) Is all system testing to be conducted after normal business hours? Yes, testing will be performed after normal business hours.

25) “Scope of WNRC Fire Alarm Upgrade Project”, page 2 of 13 states that regular construction working hours shall be after normal business office hours (7:00AM to 5:00PM) daily and on

Weekends”. The same document on page 12 of 13, item number 2 states: “Contractor can perform work during office hours (7AM to 5PM). What are the correct working hours for this project? 7.00AM to 5.00PM – no weekends

26) Are floor plan drawings available that accurately represent the current building lay-out? See answer number 5.

27) Are CAD files available that accurately depict the existing building lay-out? No.

28) Do you have a copy of the latest system test results that can be shared? Yes, see attached.

mailto:Isaac.karto@gsa.gov mailto:Jamal.magee@gsa.gov

29) The project includes the possible re-use of existing initiating devices and notification appliances.

The “Scope of WNRC Fire Alarm Upgrade Project”, page 7 of 13 states “All designs and construction work shall comply, as a minimum, with the latest edition of all applicable national and local codes and standards that govern federal construction.” It then goes on to reference

GSA, IBC, NFPA 72 and 101. To comply with this statement, the new design would require extensive additions and modifications to the initiating devices and notification appliances. Will the scope of work associated with this requirement be limited to the control panels only or will this requirement extend to the initiating devices and notification appliances? The project is to replace in kind, and the notification and initiating device spacing will not be modified.

30) “Scope of WNRC Fire Alarm Upgrade Project”, Page 3 of 13 states “No parking is available during normal business office hours; however, there is parking available after 6PM weekdays and on the weekend.” Where are the contractors expected to park during this project? Incorrect, parking is available

31) The specification's description of work describes providing a new voice evacuation fire alarm system, the existing system provides horn/strobes so all new cabling and equipment will have to be installed. The site visit did not provide access to any of the vault area's and without design drawings to bid from access to these areas would be necessary to engineer the proper coverage. Incorrect statement. Site visit on Tuesday was made available to all contractors to visit each and every vault. Some GC’s did take part.

32) During the site visit our escort was telling certain attendees what the quantities of existing initiating devices were in the vault areas, please provide the initiating device information to all bidders so there is not an unfair advantage. The available list is in the attached most recent maintenance report. Also, the system point list is provided.

33) Please provide copies of the most recent test reports for the sprinkler and fire alarm testing which should reflect device quantities and locations. Please see question No.5.

34) Can the smoke detectors in the archival and storage areas be replaced prior to the headend panel, transponders, and sub-panel switchover date? Yes. New vault smoke detectors can be installed along with the subpanels.

35) Is it necessary to test all smoke detectors in the archival and storage areas if they are to be replaced? Will the government accept a 10% sample test of the detectors inAll new equipment and smoke detectors shall be 100% fully tested. Per NFPA 72, confidence (re-acceptance) testing to include 10% of the building field devices

36) Section 2 (Project Details) of the RFP Scope of Work documents requires all network wiring to be two hour fire rated cable system. Is this correct? If so, would the 2 hour rated protection apply to the monitoring wiring between the main fire alarm system infrastructure to the smoke control panels dedicated for the storage vaults? 2 hour fire rated cable system will not be required.

37) RFP requires the replacement of the stand-alone storage/archival vault smoke control panels as a bid option. Is the government requiring the new panels to have peer-to-peer network capability with the base-building fire alarm system? If so, would the network wiring between the base-building fire alarm system and vault panels be required to have 2-hour rating? The panels will be standalone systems (not networked) and monitored by the building system

38) Is a Registered Fire Protection Engineer required for the Design Team? Shop drawing design shall be by a NICET Level III or IV Fire Alarm Technician or a Registered Fire Protection

Engineer.

39) Is the Construction team required to use a Registered Fire Protection Engineer?No.

40) Are unit costs for all possible non-operational items and wiring to be replaced in-kind to be provided in the proposal? Yes

41) Has GSA verified with Siemens that the existing field devices and circuits will work with the

XLS system? This will be performed by the contractor during Phase 1.

42) If the existing network and device and circuit wiring scheduled to be replaced is not UL listed two hour rated does it have to be replaced? 2 hour fire rated cable system will not be required.