Previous RFIs and Answers.pdf

Upgrade Electrical Systems Area 1 Project Number: 695-19-101

Solicitation Requests for Information

This project was solicited earlier in the spring unrestricted. Interested offerors asked many questions during that solicitation which the VA answered. The VA is supplying these questions and answers to assist interested offerors on this solicitation.

Q1. Provide area on plans and with size which will be made available to the GC for a trailer and lay-down area?

A1. Trailer and Lay-Down area to be coordinated with COR during preconstruction phase.

Q2. Is this project tax exempt A2. No

Q3. What is the ICRA level which is to be utilized in project infection control?

A3. Bldg. 111 Lab panels are in public corridors/areas and will require Class IV protection. Other construction will occur in MERs and Electrical closets which require Class II.

Q4. Specifications call for ICRA anti-room. Where is this to be constructed? Provide specific details and locations

A4. For all areas that require Class IV protection.

Q5. Transformers throughout the project are called out to be removed and replaced. Have all electrical transformers been tested for PCB materials?

A5. The transformers being replaced are dry type and have no PCB.

Q6. Will work access (room keys) be issued to the contractor upon commencement to the project which will be keyed to allow access into all rooms necessary?

A6. Contractors will be provided access to the SAMS key box after VA badges are issued. Contractors will check out keys for construction sites from the box for a maximum of 8 hours. Refer to Specification 01 01 10SN Sections 3.3 and 3.35.

Q7. What are actual hours which are to be worked by on site forces?

A7. See Drawing E-001 for details of normal construction hours and scheduled power

(equipment) outages.

Q8. Sheet E-104 / 11th floor – Cafeteria: Are there specific breakers and equipment which MUST remain on?

a. Are any of these pieces of equipment effected by SOW and require power refeed / rework? Please identify

b. Sheet E-104 / 11th floor – Room 6135-Video Control Room: Are there specific breakers and equipment which MUST remain on?

A8. For the 9th Floor Cafeteria: Power outages to be done during normal construction hours as detailed on sheet E-001 and cannot impact food services. To be coordinated with COR.

a. Refer to the respective panel schedule and the Scheduled Power Outage details on sheets E-635 and E-001.

b. For the 6th floor Video Control Room: Power outage to be done during normal construction hours as detailed on Sheet E-001. To be coordinated with COR.

Q9. Sheet E-104 / 11th floor – Room 6135-Video Control Room: Are there specific breakers and equipment which MUST remain on?

a. Are any of these pieces of equipment effected by SOW and require power refeed / rework? Please identify A9. For the 6th floor Video Control Room: Power outage to be done during normal construction hours as detailed on Sheet E-001. To be coordinated with COR.

a. See question 8B.

Q10. Will walls and floors where work has occurred in electrical rooms and walls & floors are existing painted be required to be repainted? If this is required provide specific rooms where this is to occur

A10. Any damages caused by construction shall be restored by the contractor.

Q11. Per site photos, there are some conduits which appear to be painted. Will any new conduit be required to be painted? If this is required provide specific rooms where this is to occur

A11. No painting on the conduits unless in the public space/area to match existing ceiling or wall color.

Q12. Do any electrical panels which are being installed require new plywood backer boards? If required in specific locations, provide locations and approx. size of plywood required

A12. No.

Q13. Drawings page EP-104, note 2: confirm that transformer is 45 Kva unit?

A13. 45kVA unit. Refer to E-613 for equipment details.

Q14. Drawing page E-607, note 1-4 calls for: “Provide new front cover for each vertical section. Hinged door is required if the circuit breakers are on panelboard”.

Provide panel manufacturer specific for these locations due to variations of panel fronts and costs associated to each

A14. Provide the supplier's circuit breaker manufacturer panel fronts

Q15. Spec 01 00 00 Sect 1.8.A.4 – Disposal and Retention: Is there any known PCB or Asbestos that needs to be disposed?

A15. No.

Q16. Spec 26 05 11 – Requirements for Electrical Installations: Is Temp Power required during switchboard installations?

A16. No for Building 111. Yes for Building 70, contractor to provide portable power distribution carts in the hallways.

Q17. Spec 26 05 11 – Requirements for Electrical Installations: If Temp power is required, what is the total load?

A17. Refer to E-106 and E-107

Q18. Spec 26 05 75 – Overcurrent Protective Device Coordination Study: Spec states to provide arc flash study for overcurrent protection devices and to provide arc flash labels. Is an arc flash study required for all the new equipment?

A18. Yes. See details on ES-102 and E-613.

Q19. Spec 01 35 26 Sect 1.16 – Electrical: Spec states all qualified persons performing work under this contract shall be licensed journeyman or master electrician. Are field service representatives, deemed qualified by contractor, considered qualified person and can they work without supervision by journeyman or master electrician?

A19. No. All work shall be done by, or under supervision of a journeyman or master electrician.

Q20. Spec 01 35 26 Sect 1.8- SSHO and CP: Is the SSHO and QCM required to be on site at all times during the installation.

A20. The SSHO is required to be onsite during construction operations. Refer to Spec 01 35 26 Section 1.8D. Specification 01 45 00 Quality Control is being removed from the project as part of amendment 4. A QCM will not be necessary.

Q21. General - There are formatting issues with the drawings issued with the original solicitation, as a result, key information could be missed by the bidder. Will the VA reissue a corrected set.

A21. All drawings posted to SAMS were checked and no formatting issues were visible.

Q22. Sheet ES101 - Will the new Medium Voltage Feeders be installed in new underground conduit.

A22. No. Use existing conduits.

Q23. Sheet ES101 - Will it be a requirement that the new underground conduit be incased in concrete? If so, can the EOR provide a detailed sketch and a trench profile?

A23. No. Use existing conduits.

Q24. Sheet ES101 - Will new manholes or underground vaults be required? If so, can the EOR provide a detailed sketch, a trench profile and elevation?

A24. No. Use existing underground vault or manholes.

Q25. Sheet ES101 - Will directional Drilling an acceptable method of installing MV conduit?

A25. No. Use existing conduits.

Q26. Sheet ES101 - Please define who will be responsible to demo all the existing MV

Cable?

A26. Qualified persons of general contractor or electrical subcontractor.

Q27. Sheet ES101 - Are soil borings available in the areas of the required excavations?

A27. No. Use existing conduits.

Q28. Sheet ES101 - Is HDPE conduit acceptable for the medium voltage Cable?

A28. No. Use existing conduits.

Q29. Sheet ES101 - here are no landscaping, concrete paving, asphalt, or excavation specifications, please confirm their requirement? Please provide the specification sections.

A29. None required. Use existing conduits. Any damage caused by construction to be repaired by contractor.

Q30. Sheet ES101 - Can exterior site details be provided for the concrete paving, and asphalt paving?

A30. None required. Use existing conduits. Any damage caused by construction to be repaired by contractor.

Q31. Sheet ES101 - Sheet Notes A, can the VA issue a drawing/s with details for more clarity so we can quantify?

A31. Estimated quantities for MV feeder lengths are provided on sheet ES102 Q32. Sheet ES101 - Can the VA confirm the conditions of the existing underground manholes and will any structural repairs be required?

A32. The VA is not aware of any conditions requiring repair.

Q33. Sheet ES101 - Will the prime contractor/ electrical contractor be responsible to pump out flooded manholes?

A33. Yes.

Q34. Sheet ES101 - If there are new manholes will earth retention be a requirement?

A34. No. New manholes are not to be installed.

Q35. Sheet ES101 - Can the VA provide concrete equipment pad and transformer pad details?

A35. No, the equipment/transformer pad will depend on the transformer selected. See

Specification 26 22 00 Section #.1

Q36. Sheet ES101 - For the interior electrical panelboard installation, it appears the all doors are 3"-0" and shipping splits of the new equipment must fit through the existing openings?

A36. Yes.

Q37. Sheet ES101 - Sheet Notes A, can the VA issue a drawing/s with more detail so we can quantify

A37. See sheet ES102

Q38. Sheet ES101 - Will hydro excavation be an acceptable form of potholing at exterior trench locations?

A38. No trenching will be necessary.

Q39. Sheet ES101 - Has the VA been able to inspect the manholes during the design phase?

A39. No.

Q40. Sheet ES101 - Are all manholes existing?

A40. Yes

Q41. Sheet ES102 - Sheet Key Note 3, since the lengths are listed on the schedule, if any additional MV cable will be required will the VA issued a post bid change order?

A41. The lengths listed on the schedule are estimate. Contractor is expected to perform a due diligence on the cable lengths prior to submitting the bid.

Q42. Sheet ES102 - Can the VA confirm the condition of the existing underground conduit?

A42. The VA is not aware of any conditions requiring repair.

Q43. Sheet ES102 - Does the existing underground conduit contain asbestos?

A43. No.

Q44. Sheet ES102, E601 - Detail 2, can the VA provide additional details for the MV

Equipment?

A44. Except for the cables, there is not any new MV Equipment to be installed.

Q45. Sheet ES102, E601 - Detail 2, is the equipment in an underground vault?

A45. Section 2 is cable inside a manhole.

Q46. Sheet ES102, E601 - Will temporary gensets be required for any electrical cut overs?

A46. No. Maximum outage time is 11 hours as detailed in Scheduled Power Outage

Note in updated drawing E-001, amendment 4.

Q47. Sheet ES102, E601 - Please, for pre-bid phase, provide the areas that have critical areas that will require temporary gensets?

A47. No temporary gensets will be required.

Q48. Sheet ES102, E602 - Do all existing electrical equipment have a two hour fire rating?

A48. All electrical rooms have 2-hour fire rated wall.

Q49. All Drawings - Will the prime contractor/ electrical contractor be responsible to upgrade any existing fire wall ratings?

A49. Only for existing or new wall openings that are affected by the work.

Q50. All Drawings - Can the electrical reuse the all of the existing conduits?

A50. When possible.

Q51. Sheet E613 - Please define how the VA will handle if the existing branch wiring is not acceptable?

A51. An un-acceptable branch wiring is a multiple (1-pole breaker) circuits sharing 1-neutral. If during construction this situation is discovered, contractor to notify the

VA to visually inspect and submit an RFI. The VA will verify and follow contract procedures.

Q52. General - Please confirm if this is a tax-exempt project. If so, please provide documentation

A52. See question/answer 2

Q53. Sheet E601 - The contract drawings show (4) four new pumps. Please provide details for this equipment

A53. There is no new work to be done on these pumps. Please see updated sheet E601 included in amendment 4.

Q54. General - Are there any requirements for temporary fencing?

A54. Yes, temporary fencing is only required around contractor trailer and lay-down area.

Q55. Specification 01 00 00 - The specifications note that a land surveyor / registered civil engineer is required for this contract. Is this cost to be carried by the prime contractor?

A55. No. This requirement will be removed. See amendment 4 for updated amendment specifications.

Q56. Specification 01 00 00: Please confirm that the work is all between the hours of 6PM and 5AM.

A56. See Drawing E-001 for details of normal construction hours and scheduled power outages.

Q57. General - Please confirm if this project is to be phased and what is required per the contractor for each phase?

A57. Due to business operation, the contractor will coordinate with VA to phase and schedule the work. It is understood that the phasing and scheduling will be mutually decided, meeting outage requirements as per the contract documents and ensuring safety to patients in the medical center.

Q58. General - What barricades / signage / temporary traffic control is needed for the work on VA lots and roads? Will these roads be closed? Is it the responsibility of the contractor to plan and re-route for the facility?

A58. See specification 01 01 10SN.

Q59. Specification 01 35 26 - Please confirm that the SSHO and superintendent can be the same individual. Please confirm minimum qualifications for the full time on site superintendent.

A59. Yes, the SSHO and superintendent can be the same person, refer to specification 01 35 26 Section 1.8C. Please see Specification 01 01 10SN paragraph 3.40A for full-time onsite superintendent qualifications. Specification 01 01 10SN has been updated as part of amendment 4.

Q60. Specification 01 35 26 - Please confirm that there are two separate individuals on this project. One serving as the QC manager and one serving as the Superintendent / SSHO

A60. The requirement for QCM is being removed from this project. See the updated specifications included in amendment 4.

Q61. Are there any constraints with outages / shutdowns? Are there limitations for cutovers?

Is there any timeframes that must be met for shutdowns at the facility or in specific buildings.

A61. Yes, see Specification 01 01 10SN Section 3.34D.

Q62. General - Are there any commissioning requirements for this project? There are none listed in the specifications.

A62. Yes, VA to retain 3rd party commissioning agent.

Q63. General - Is there any environmental report that can be provided for this project? Is ACM a concern?

A63. There are no concerns for ACM at this time. If the contractor finds ACM suspect material, the contractor is to stop work and notify the COR.

Q64. Specification 26 05 11 Sect. 1.3A - Modifications to retrofit existing equipment for locations 70B, 70C, 70D and 70E will void any existing 3rd party UL listing on the existing equipment. Will UL field recertification be required on provided retrofits?

A64. Yes.

Q65. Dwg. E-608, MDP-70C, Sect #3, circ #1 - Sheet key notes state to replace the main breaker and the fused circuits. Are we also expected to replace this breaker in section #3?

A65. Yes.

Q66. Dwg. E-609, MDP-70D, Sect #2, circ #27 - Sheet key notes state to replace the main breaker and the fused circuits. Are we also expected to also replace this breaker in section #2?

A66. Yes.

Q67. Dwg. E-610, MDP-70E, Sect #3, circ #1 - Sheet key notes state to replace the main breaker and the fused circuits. Are we also expected to also replace this breaker in section #3?

A67. Yes.

Q68. Sheet key notes state to replace the main breaker and the fused circuits. Are we also expected to also replace both breakers in section #3?

A68. Yes.

Q69. Dwg. E-613, MDP-70-E2F - The drawing calls for this switchboard to be retrofitted. Is it possible to provide a new switchboard, which would result in a cost-effective solution / faster replacement that the electrical contractor can do vs an electrical manufactures services team?

A69. Bid per contract documents.

Q70. Dwg. E-613, DL-B01-2 – The drawing calls for this panelboard to be retrofitted. Is it possible to provide a new panelboard for this item?

A70. Bid per contract documents.

Q71. Specification 01 01 10SN - Will work be allowed to be performed outside of the hours of 6 pm to 5 am if there is no interruption to power?

A71. Work that does not interrupt power must be coordinated and approved with COR, there is no guarantee that work will be allowed.

Q72. Specification 01 35 26 - Please confirm the SSHO and site superintendent can be the same individual. Also, will this person be able to have collateral duties?

A72. Yes, the SSHO and Site Superintendent can be the same person. See Specification 01 35 26 Section 1.8C.

Q73. Specification 01 35 26 - Please confirm that a quality control manager with only duties as the QCM is required at all times that work is being performed.

A7. The requirement for a quality control manager will be removed from this project.

Q74. Specification 01 45 00 Quality control states “This section specifies requirements for Contractor Quality Control (CQC) for Design-Bid-Build (DBB) or Design-Build (DB) construction projects. This section can be used for both project types.

a. Is this project considered a design build project?

b. Does this spec section apply to this project?

A74. Specification 01 45 00 will be removed from this project. See the updated specifications included in amendment 4.

a. No.

b. No. Specification 01 45 00 is being removed. See the updated specifications included in amendment 4.

Q75. Is spec section 01 81 13 sustainable construction requirements required as part of this project?

A75. Yes.

Q76. Will a laydown or storage area be provided for the project?

A76. Trailer and Lay-Down area to be coordinated with COR during preconstruction phase.

Q77. Will the contracting officer consider payment for materials that are stored locally?

A77. All payments for this project will be done IAW FAR 32 and will be progress payments based on a percentage or stage of completion. The contracting officer will consider payment for stored materials on a case-by-case basis.

Q78. Is this solicitation a small business set aside with a size standard of $16.5 million?

A78. As stated on page 1 of the IFB, the contracting officer determined that NAICS

238210 is the appropriate NAICS for this project. The current size standard for 238210 is $16.5 million.

However, this IFB is not a small-business set-aside and is instead unrestricted as the contracting officer’s market research was illustrative of neither the requirements of a veteran-owned small business IAW VAAR 819 nor a total small business set-aside IAW FAR 19 were satisfied.

Q79. Could the cable lengths on drawing ES102 be explained in a little more detail?

a. Is this the distance between electrical equipment with any additional footage on it?

b. Does it allow for vertical lengths?

c. Does is allow for any slack in the electrical equipment?

A79. See answers a, b, c below

a. Yes.

b. Yes.

c. Yes.

Q80. What hours and days of the week will the cables be able to be installed on ES101 and

ES102?

A80. Cable replacement is restricted to weekend work (Saturday and Sunday). Work is to be completed between the hours of 6:00AM and 6:00PM. All equipment must be re-energized at the end of each workday. Work must be coordinated with COR.

See Medium Voltage Feeder Work Hours note in updated sheet E-001, amendment 4.

Q81. What are the sizes of all MV Feeders being replaced?

A81. The sizes of the MV Feeders are listed on the Medium Voltage Distribution Feeder

Schedule, Drawing ES102.

Q82. Please clarify nomenclature feeder discrepancies between ES101, ES102 and E-601.

Specific Feeder numbers in questions are; # 21-24, 29, 30, 34, 35, 38, 57, 58, 64-67, 70- 73, 75, 76, 79, 80, 82-91?

A82. Please see sheets ES-101, ES-102 and E-601, which have been updated as part of amendment 04.

Q83. There are missing feeders that are not listed on E-601 (#82-91). Please clarify correct names and locations?

A83. Please see sheet E-601 which has been updated as part of amendment 04.

Q84. Please consider all issues listed above and make proper changes needed to clarify the information on ES101?

A84. Please see sheets ES-101 and E-601, which have been updated as part of amendment 04.

Q85. Can we schedule a second walk through?

A85. No. A second walkthrough will not be held.

Q86. On the drawings E-607, E-608, E-609 and E-610 there are ampere ratings listed for the breakers in the load schedule and on the one lines. These numbers sometimes differ from each other. For example, on drawing E-607, FS-70-XF-GE is listed as 400 A on the oneline, but listed as 1600 A on the load schedule. Which information should be used to provide breakers in the new switchboards?

A86. Use the new equipment design values, not the existing equipment values.

Q87. Drawings E-001 call for temporary power to building 70 when replacing distribution equipment.

a. If the power in the whole wing of the building is going down while replacing the switchboard, how much temporary power will be needed? Will portable power distribution units need to be provided all (3) floors and down all the corridors so that each office/lab can plug into them?

b. Is there an acceptable duration of an outage so that temporary power would not be required?

A87. See answers a, b below

a. Refer to Sheet Key Notes on E-106 and E-107. VA Maintenance will provide power from the portable power distribution to each critical load on the wing/floor.

b. No. Temporary power is to be provided as required per Sheet Key Notes on E- 106 and E-107.

Q88. In general, some equipment calls for retrofitting and some calls for replacement.

a. Will the contractor be required to follow the contract documents on the replacement or retrofitting listed for each specific piece of equipment? Or can the contractor retrofit/replace with whatever is easier/cost effective as long as it meets the specifications?

A88. See answer below

a. Bid per contract documents.

Q89. 26 05 73 Overcurrent Protective Device Coordination Study.

a. In general, what is the starting point of the coordination study? Will it need to go back to the MV gear in building 115?

b. Will the study need to go down to the last panelboard that is being fed?

c. Will the SKM file of the existing study be provided, or will the contractor be required to track down all the existing feeder sizes, lengths and information to be entered into a completely new study?

A89. In general, the existing study model will be provided. GC shall update the model with the new equipment (transformers and panelboards) including circuit breakers, conductors and raceways.

a. Yes.

b. Yes.

c. Only the feeder used for the construction.

Q90. Will any new electrical equipment that is retrofitted required to have UL certification after the retrofit is completed?

A90. Yes.

Q91. Drawing E-613

a. Some of the existing panelboards such as UL-B01-5 are flush mounted and are calling to be replaced. These existing panelboards are flush mounted in a drywall wall. If the panel needs to be replaced and drywall work, painting, etc. is required, will that work need to be included as part of this project?

b. If this drywall and painting work is required, could an estimate of how many panelboards will require this work be provided?

c. Could the contractor retrofit the panelboard instead of replacement to avoid the drywall and painting work?

A91. See answers a, b, c below

a. UL-B01-5 is a surface mounted panelboard. No flush mounted panel should need to be replaced.

b. All panels scheduled for replacement are surface mount.

c. Bid per contract documents.

Q92. Spec section 26 24 16 Panelboards

a. Section 2.3, D circuit breakers calls out “Circuit breakers shall have automatic, trip free, non-adjustable, inverse time, and instantaneous magnetic trips for less than 400 A frame.” Drawing E-613, note #3 calls out to provide breakers that shall coordinate with existing upstream and downstream devices. These items seem to contradict each other. What happens if an automatic, trip free, non-adjustable, inverse time, and instantaneous magnetic trips less than 400 A frame does not coordinate with the existing upstream and downstream devices? Until the study is performed, it will be impossible to know how many breakers will or will not coordinate.

A92. See below

a. Bid per contract documents. Non-coordination issues will be handled at time of discovery.

Q93. What are the sizes of all MV Feeders being replaced?

A93. See question 81.

Q94. Please clarify nomenclature feeder discrepancies between ES101, ES102 and E-601.

Specific Feeder numbers in question are; # 21-24, 29, 30, 34, 35, 38, 57, 58, 64-67, 70- 73, 75, 76, 79, 80, 82-9.

A94. See question 82.

Q95. There are missing feeders that are not listed on E-601 (#82-91). Please clarify correct names and locations.

A95. See question 83.

Q96. Please consider all issues listed above and make proper changes needed to clarify the information on ES101.

A96. See question 84.