HHS0016943v2 Responses to Questions.pdf

PCS 134 HHS Responses to Questions

Effective Date 06/26/2015 Page 1 of 8 Reviewed Date 09/18/2025

Solicitation Title: Water Improvements at El Paso Psychiatric Center

Solicitation Number: HHS0016943v2

# Reference Question Response

1.

Specification Reference:

Section 22 11 16 – Domestic Water Piping Paragraph 3.11.E Specification Text:

“Aboveground domestic water piping, NPS 2-1/2 to NPS 4, shall be one of the following:

1. Hard copper tube… solder-joint fittings; and soldered joints.

2. Hard copper tube… copper pressure-seal-joint fittings;

and pressure-sealed joints.”

Please confirm whether both soldered copper joints and copper press/pressure-sealed joint systems are acceptable for this project as indicated in the specifications.

Additionally, please advise whether there are any Owner, facility, or operational restrictions regarding hot work/open-flame soldering within occupied areas of the facility, including any required fire watch, alarm coordination, or work-hour limitations.

Both soldered copper and pressure-sealed fittings are acceptable inside the building. (Note that the Civil

Engineer is using PVC; refer to site work. Transitions from PVC to copper need to be made as noted, for example, to BFP, and at the entrance to the building.)

For the facility, if hot work takes place, a permit will need to be filled out and provided by the vendor. Fireproof blankets will need to protect the area behind what is being soldered, and the Contractor shall coordinate with EPPC to ensure an EPPC staff member is available to do the fire watch.

Effective Date 06/26/2015 Page 2 of 8 Reviewed Date 09/18/2025

# Reference Question Response

2.

Specification Reference:

General Project Coordination / Execution Requirements

During the pre-bid site visit, it was discussed that normal working hours may be permitted while the facility remains in operation.

Please confirm whether standard daytime working hours will be allowed for construction activities associated with this project.

Additionally, please advise of any facility procedures, operational restrictions, coordination requirements, or access limitations that contractors will be required to follow due to staff and occupant presence within the facility, particularly for work occurring within interior corridors and hallways.

Please also identify any requirements related to:

• Occupied-area work procedures

• Temporary barricades or pedestrian control

• Noise limitations

• Dust control/infection control measures

• Hot work coordination

• Fire alarm coordination or shutdown procedures

Daily work area cleanup or reopening requirements

Normal working hours are from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday - Friday; special accommodations can be made if needed.

For day-to-day operations, GC’s Superintendent/Foreman will be in contact with William

Jackson (DSS) or Israel Ysquierdo to coordinate any requirements or restrictions GC may have.

For occupied areas, communication within these areas will be professional in nature. We need to remember we are in a clinical setting.

Temporary barricades will be needed.

Keep noise at a normal tone. If you foresee a day with lots of noise, get with William Jackson (DSS) or Israel

Ysquierdo the day before so that the plan can be discussed with the clinic.

Dust control will be needed; HEPA filters will be needed.

Hot works will need to be coordinated and approved via a hot works permit provided by the vendor and approved by the Support Services Director.

Fire alarm/Suppression work will need to be coordinated with the Support Services Director before any work is to be done.

Daily cleanup is required.

Effective Date 06/26/2015 Page 3 of 8 Reviewed Date 09/18/2025

3.

Specification Reference:

Section 01 50 00 – Temporary Facilities and Controls Section 01 73 00 – Execution

Please advise whether the project will require any specific HEPA filtration, negative air containment, infection control, or enhanced dust-control procedures due to work being performed within an occupied healthcare/psychiatric facility.

Additionally, please clarify any requirements related to:

• HEPA-filtered equipment or vacuums

• Temporary containment walls or partitions

• Negative air machines

• Dust migration prevention within occupied corridors/hallways

• Daily cleanup procedures

• Protection of staff, patients, and facility operations

• Coordination requirements with facility personnel during corridor work

Please identify whether any owner-specific standards, ICRA procedures, or occupied-area work protocols will be required for this project.

HEPA filters will be required.

Temporary containment walls will also need to be installed in the working areas, keeping egress open.

Negative air machines are not needed.

Dust mitigation will be needed.

Daily cleanup is required.

Coordination will be kept with William Jackson Support Services Director and Israel Ysquerdo, Assistant Plant Manager.

Effective Date 06/26/2015 Page 4 of 8 Reviewed Date 09/18/2025

4.

Specification Reference:

Section 01 50 00 – Temporary Facilities and Controls Specification Text:

“The Contractor shall be responsible for coordinating with the Owner’s Rep, a construction staging area for equipment and materials storage, construction offices, etc., that the Contractor feels is necessary for the project.”

“Coordinate Laydown Areas with Owner and Engineer.”

Please identify the anticipated contractor staging, laydown, and material storage areas available for this project.

Additionally, please clarify:

• Whether interior material storage areas will be permitted

• Contractor parking locations and access procedures

• Material delivery restrictions or designated delivery hours

• Any restrictions regarding storage of materials, gang boxes, ladders, lifts, or equipment within occupied corridors or adjacent exterior areas

• Requirements for daily removal or securing of tools and materials

Any limitations associated with maintaining egress or staff/patient access routes during construction activities

We have no interior storage areas.

Parking is limited; we can provide 4 parking spaces in the rear parking lot.

Material deliveries can happen between 8:00 am -5:00 pm; the loading dock can be used.

A parking space in the rear parking lot can be provided for a Conex to store materials provided by the vendor.

No extra materials or tools are to be left in the construction site; they will need to be removed and secured.

Egress will need to be always maintained; a barrier can be put up dividing the hallway from the working area to the occupied area.

Effective Date 06/26/2015 Page 5 of 8 Reviewed Date 09/18/2025

5.

Specification Reference:

Section 22 11 16 – Domestic Water Piping Specification Text:

“Submit water samples in sterile bottles to authorities having jurisdiction.”

“Prepare and submit reports of purging and disinfecting activities.

Include copies of water-sample approvals from authorities having jurisdiction.”

Please clarify the required procedures and responsible party for domestic water bacteriological testing associated with chlorination and disinfection of the new domestic water piping systems.

Please confirm:

• The authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) responsible for sample approval

• Required testing parameters (total coliform, E. coli, HPC, etc.)

• Number of passing samples required prior to final acceptance

• Whether certified third-party sample collection is required

Any project-specific chlorination, flushing, or retesting procedures beyond those specified in Section 22 11 16

Please refer to “HHS0016943v2_Attach B_Texas UGCs (Version 2.2)- Section 8.2, Testing” regarding the responsible party for Bacteriological Testing, AHJ, and sample collection. The testing parameters and the number of passing samples must be in accordance with EPPC’s Water Plan. EPPC’s Water Plan is available upon request in the El Paso Psychiatric Center’s Maintenance office.

Effective Date 06/26/2015 Page 6 of 8 Reviewed Date 09/18/2025

6.

Reference:

Section 1.12 – Submission of Proposals Pages 9–10 of the RFP

We are requesting clarification regarding the required method of proposal submission.

Section 1.12 references physical delivery of proposals to the HHSC Procurement and Contracting Services office in Austin, TX, while Section 1.12.1.1 specifies submission of electronic proposal files on USB flash drives.

Please confirm that:

1. The proposal is required to be physically delivered or shipped to the Austin office in a sealed package; and

2. Printed hard-copy proposal binders are not required, provided all required proposal documents are included electronically on the labeled USB flash drive(s) in accordance with the RFP requirements.

Confirmed.

Effective Date 06/26/2015 Page 7 of 8 Reviewed Date 09/18/2025

7.

Reference Information per RFP Section 1.9:

a. Specification Section Number:

Section 33 10 00 – Water Distribution

b. Paragraph Number: Thrust Block / Water Piping Restraint Requirements

c. Drawing Reference: Domestic Water Service Plan and Thrust Block Detail

d. Text of Passage Being Questioned:

Contract drawings indicate concrete thrust blocks at proposed 4-inch C- 900 domestic water service fittings and 90-degree changes in direction.

Please clarify whether restrained mechanical joint systems and/or approved joint restraint devices may be utilized in lieu of the concrete thrust blocks detailed on the contract drawings for the proposed 4-inch C- 900 domestic water service piping.

If permitted, please confirm:

1. Whether restraint calculations and manufacturer recommendations shall be submitted in lieu of concrete thrust block details.

2. Whether restrained joints are acceptable for all fittings shown on the project drawings.

3. Whether any minimum restraint lengths or approved manufacturer requirements apply.

If restrained joints are not acceptable, please confirm that concrete thrust blocks as detailed on the drawings are mandatory at all indicated fittings.

Restrained mechanical joint systems are acceptable to be used.

1. Yes, restraint calculations and manufacturer recommendations will be required to be submitted and approved.

2. Restrained joints are acceptable for all fittings.

8.

SECTION 01 73 00 - EXECUTION

PARAGRAPH H.4 - PAGE 01 73 00 -

7.9 Ceilings: Patch, repair, or rehang in-place ceilings as necessary to provide an evenplane surface or uniform appearance.

Architectural Drawing A2.0 Key Note #1

Scope of work calls for ceiling tiles that are removed to be salvaged and reinstalled. Can we instead provide new ceiling tiles to match existing as best?

You can do either way; if the ceiling tile is still good, you can just reuse it.

Effective Date 06/26/2015 Page 8 of 8 Reviewed Date 09/18/2025

9.

SECTION 31 11 00 - Clearing & Grubbing

PARAGRAPH 3.1 C

PAGE 31 11 00 - 3.5

Locate and clearly flag trees and vegetation to remain or to be relocated

There are a couple of medium-sized bushes in the way of where trenching will take place. Are we to remove and store for reinstallation?

Yes, if you can, please salvage any plants so that they are replanted.

10. PAGE 01 11 00 - 2.3

1.6 CONTRACTORS USE OF SITE

Confirming that this project will be regular working hours. Will the offices in the basement be occupied during the project?

All clinical offices will still be working during the project.

If anything changes, DSS will let your Superintendent/

Foreman know.

11. PAGE 01 11 00 - 2.3

1.6 CONTRACTORS USE OF SITE

Confirming that this project will be regular working hours. Will the offices in the basement be occupied during the project?

See above response to Question 10.

12.

Engineer Plans P1.0 Note #8 - Install pressure reducing valves

Regarding the pressure reducing valve, there is not a bypass indiciated on the plans, but the during the walk though the user brought up installing one. Please advise.

Do not install a bypass. Do install line size isolation valves upstream and downstream of the PRV

(flanged). Provide to Owner a spare pressure reducing valve equal to the one installed.