Answers to Questions for 3 Bedroom Manufactured Homes.doc

1.

I don’t see a requirement for underbelly protection commonly called “bottomboard.” In the MH north and south section the requirement is for 20m thick vapor barrier. If the same for the Park Models is it allowable to multi layer thinner products. Commonly bottomboard in the MH industry runs approximately 5m thick. Would it be acceptable to use 4 layers to reach the 20m thickness?

Answer: Using 4 layers to reach the 20m thickness is acceptable.

2.

Anchor straps. May the vertical and diagonal tie straps be replaced with DAPIA approved brackets attached to the floor perimeter and brackets welded to the main beam? This system for strap attachment on site will be like previous supplied FEMA homes and should reduce the chance that straps will be spliced on site.

Answer: Please provide in detail with proposal. It must show it meets or exceeds the specifications. Provide the testing on this approach as well.

3.

Electrical system Should the panel board location be on the left side or road side?

Answer: Up to provider, typically roadside.

4.

Ventilation Bathroom and kitchen exhaust state measured flow not rated flow by mfg. Will these exhausts on each home require testing?

Answer: Please provide CFM rating.

5.

Weather radio Only the northern UFAS call for a pillow vibrator or meet/exceed option. Does this unit require the pillow vibrator?

Answer: Both require pillow vibrators.

6.

Northern specs This relates to the air supply ducts/furnace. Page 5 seems to contradict page 7 as it relates to the air supply. Should the warm air supply ducts be in the floor in ceiling?

Answer: Through ceiling. However, can propose in detail another measure. Please justify how meets or exceeds specifications.

7. Southern unit Says exterior vapor barrier only summary of unit features states homes are placed in TX, LA,MS,GA,AL,FL,SC,NC HUD rules do not allow these homes in all area of these states except FL,LA see 3280.504 Answer:

8.

Air supply ductwork

Warm air supply ductwork state assure airtight construction with a maximum 3 percent duct loss is this test strictly based on the volume of air in duct. Or the values based on air handler airflow rates and correlate approximately to cubic feet per minute of leakage divided by the floor area of the home?

Answer: Please refer to HUD standards

9.

Bottom board

Bottom board specifications require plastic materials a minimum of 20 mil thickness can this requirement be met by the use of industry standard DAPIA approved bottom board with 20 mil plastic applied between the bottom board and floor insulation?

Answer: Please provide in detail with proposal. It must show it meets or exceeds the specifications. Please provide puncture results.

10.

Attachment D-5 floor plan drawing indicates bedroom 2 to have 62.5 sf of floor space. Specifications of D-1 thru D-4 requires each bedroom to be designed for 2 people. HUD MHCSS 3280.109 (b)(2) require 70 SF of bedroom for 2 people.

Answer: Please follow HUD standards.

11.

Attachment D-5 floor plan drawing indicates bedrooms 3 and 2 to have 2'-8" x 2'-0" windows. This size window would not be in compliance with HUD MHCSS 3280.106

Answer: Please follow HUD standards

12.

On the accessible manufactured home shall all "UFAS" standards APPLYOR just the "UFAS standards referenced in the summary of unit features?

Answer: All UFAS standards apply.

13.

Bottom board specifications require plastic materials a minimum of 20 mil thickness. Can this requirement be met by the use of industry standard DAPIA approved bottom board with 20 mil plastic applied between the bottom board and Floor insulation?

Answer: Please provide in detail with proposal. It must show it meets or exceeds the specifications. Please provide puncture results.

14.

Quality of construction states "no luan, mdf, vinyl gypsum or products which contain urea-formaldehyde will be allowed". Is this saying none of these products are allowed or none allowed which contain urea-formaldehyde?

Answer: None are allowed. If have another option, please provide MSDS on materials.

15.

Attachment d-1 "rugged accessible manufactured home procurement specifications southern unit" has northern unit specifications attached. Should the southern specifications be used here?

Answer: Yes 16.

Section D.5 Included sample drawings for the UFAS accessible units….are the non-UFAS units assumed to be the same general floor plan, with the exception of the UFAS components?

Answer: Yes

17.

The specifications call for a 40 gallon water heater, but the proposed location on the sample floor plan won’t accommodate that size. Would an alternate location, within the guidelines, be acceptable?

Answer: Please submit a justification of how your plan will meet or exceed the specifications.

18.

Payment terms- I didn’t see any guidelines for payment terms. I am assuming that we should include our proposed payment terms with our proposal, but are there any requested or suggested payment terms?

Answer: Please see RFP.

19.

The specifications call for a 60” roll-in type shower for all units- is this correct, or is this specification just for the UFAS style units?

Answer: Roll in Showers are required for all units.

20.

Attachment D-1 is entitled “Rugged Accessible Manufactured Home Procurement Specifications Southern Unit”. However, every subsequent page begins with “Rugged Accessible Manufactured Home Procurement Specifications Northern Unit”. Are these pages mislabeled or are the correct specifications attached?

Answer: Yes, they are mislabeled. Please see subsequent page and headers on each page of the solicitation.

21. Both the Northern and Northern Accessible specifications reference bathtubs in “Plumbing Service”. Do these units require both a bathtub and roll-in shower?

Answer: They both require a roll in shower.

22. Both the Southern and Northern Accessible specifications accept a dining table with four chairs in “Furnishings” on page 2 and “Dining Room” on page 15. However, “Dining Room” on page 15 also requires a table with six chairs. In that the non-accessible units require six seats, should the accessible units also require six seats?

Answer: They both require at least four chairs.

23. Will you waive the Small Business Requirement?

Answer: No

24.

Do we correctly understand that the solicitation is for between 1 and 1,400 homes at a fixed price that are deliverable by June of 2009?

Answer: Yes

25. Can you please explain what the option periods under C.3 relate to? Do the options extend the time of delivery for the government, and is the Contractor obligated to provide such option. If so, is the price quoted for the base period automatically applied to the option periods, or can the Contractor provide separate pricing for the option period, or pricing at the time of the exercise of the option period?

Answer: Please see Section B of the Solicitation.

26.

Can FEMA provide any information on the science or basis of the ambient air standards that are required, and a list of materials that are used to comply with the standards?

Answer: No, FEMA will not provide a list, however, this can be addressed in the submitted proposal.

27. If no prevailing science can be provided to assist manufactures in a determination that homes can be built to meet the standard, will FEMA provide any relief to the manufacturers to accept homes that test higher than testing protocols provide, or will testing standards be reevaluated?

Answer: This may be an option that FEMA may exerciser if this case existence.

28. Will FEMA modify the requirement of the RFP in a way wherein homes that fail to meet the IAQ thresholds, but that can be inspected or certified to show they were constructed with materials that meet certain emission standards (such as CARB or some other applicable agency), would be accepted by FEMA, even if it’s a reduced amount?

Answer: No