updated RFI 2.pdf

RFI List – PARAMOUNT CONSTRUCTION GROUP

1. This is the first project the contractor has seen where the commission spec requires the contractor to higher the commission agent, generally the VA hires the commission agent and the Contractor provides a commissioning manager to work with the CxA. Can the VA provide an explanation for why the Contractor is responsible for hiring the commissioning agent on this particular project, especially since there is several major owner provided equipment being installed?

2. Can the Superintendent be the Prime Contractor’s Commissioning Manager during commissioning?

3. Has this funding request been approved and full funding for this project available to the NCO station?

4. Will all of the above ceiling work on the basement level have to be performed at night or on weekends?

5. What will the ICRA requirements be for performing this work above ceiling in the basement area? Hepa Carts or floor to ceiling wall barriers with negative air pressure inside?

6. If temporary walls are required there is not a window in the area to vent the negative air outside, is there another means of venting air from the space to achieve the negative pressure required?

7. The new work area on the First Floor does not have any exterior walls with windows to allow

Negative Air venting. What means can the contractor use to vent the negative air to meet the

ICRA requirements?

8. How many phases does the VA plan for their to be in this project?

9. Will each phase have to be fully completed before moving to the next or can some phases be completed simultaneously?

10. In ICRA areas that require Category B Level 1 or 2, can we use zip-walls or plastic sheeting as containment?

11. In any ICRA areas that require above Category B containment, can plastic wall panels be used for the ICRA walls, such as STARC Panels or Temporary Wall System’s panels?

12. Will temporary sprinklers be required during demolition?

13. Will the contractor be required to turn the existing sprinkler heads up during construction once the ceiling is removed?

14. Please provide contact name and phone number for who services the current Nurse Call System

15. Please provide contact name and phone number for who services the current Fire Alarm System

16. Please provide contact name and phone number for who services the current Security and Access

Control System?

17. Please provide contact name and phone number for who services the current CCTV System?

18. Is there a RTLS system in this area such as Centrak?

19. If so please provide contact name and phone number for who services the RTLS system?

20. Please provide contact name and phone number for who services the current HVAC Controls?

21. Who is the manufacturer of the current Building Automation System?

22. Please provide contact name and phone number for who services the current Building

Automation System?

23. Who is the existing signage contractor for this VA?

24. Are doors to be factory finished or field finished?

25. Can the VA provide installation manuals or cut sheets for the Owner Furnished Contractor

Installed items?

26. What is the VA’s plan for getting the new machines up to the first floor and into the work area?

27. What is the height from finished floor to bottom of deck in the basement area below the Work

Area?

28. What is the height from finished floor to bottom of deck on the first floor in the Work Area

29. Will the VA have the space entirely cleared out before the contractor begins construction?

30. Will the contractor be required to move any of the existing furniture or equipment?

31. If the contractor is responsible for moving the existing furniture, will storage be available from the VA for the furniture, equipment, or casework?

32. Is there any reason to believe the slab has moisture in it and moisture remediation will be needed?

33. Have other areas on this floor needed moisture remediation on the concrete slab in past projects?

34. Per spec 09 05 16 Section 3.3.A specifies the use of a moisture remediation coating only when the results of ASTM F2170 relative humidity testing exceed the requirements of the flooring manufacturer. Similarly, pH and moisture testing are outlined in Section 3.2.G–H. Can you confirm that moisture remediation coatings, pH neutralization treatments, or other corrective measures included in this specification are only required if slab test results are unsatisfactory?

35. Specification Section 09 05 16 includes detailed descriptions and product requirements for both moisture remediation systems (Section 2.1) and underlayments (Section 2.2), yet it is unclear whether these items are part of the base bid or only applicable if testing shows deficiencies.

Please clarify is the intent that all floor slab testing is to be included in the base bid, and any required remedial treatment (e.g., moisture remediation coating or underlayment) would be added by change order/modification if needed, based on test results?

36. The specification 09 05 16 calls out multiple tests ASTM F1869, F2170, and pH testing. Which of these test are required in our base bid price?

37. Without knowing the actual moisture or pH conditions of the concrete prior to bid, there is significant risk in trying to price products like moisture remediation coatings (epoxy vapor barriers, etc.), cementitious self-leveling underlayment, or trowel-applied patches. Including these without confirmation could lead to either inflated pricing or post-award cost disputes. Thus, under

FAR principles of clarity in solicitation documents and equitable risk distribution please provide clear direction on what is to be included in our base bid for subsurface preparation?

a. Moisture Testing only?

b. An assumed square footage allowance price for all bidding contractors to carry in order for fair bidding?

38. Will the vertical duct support shown on S203 receive any type of architectural finish?

39. Will the VA confirm that the Plumbing Gravity demolition shown on the Basement Plan on Sheet

PD111 is above the ceiling and not below the slab of the Basement?

40. What type of ceilings is in the Areas shown on PD111 Basement Plan – Plumbing Gravity –

Demolition?

41. Are the areas shown in the Basement Plan detail on PD111 closed during the weekends, which would allow free and clear access for the contractor?

42. Sheet MD101 Note 9 states to protect the existing ductless split system that is mounted at 8’ 0”

AFF. Since there is a new door being installed under this split system, can the VA confirm that the bottom of the split system is at 8’0” AFF and therefore a doorway will fit underneath or is the center or the unit measured at 8’0” AFF and therefore will have to be moved up on the wall?

43. Sheet EL101 shows 6 new A2 light fixtures on circuit 1D.N.P1-19 in Surgical Pathology;

however on sheet E801 circuit 19 in Panel 1D.N.P1 is Lighting Corridor C366, which I assume is somewhere on the 3rd Floor. Please provide clarification?

44. Note 11 on the Air Cooled Chiller Schedule states that the chiller cannot be placed using a crane and must be air lifted using a helicopter. Please confirm this is true and specific to this project and was not included by accident from a previous project?

a. The cost difference of a crane lift and helicopter lift is substantial, please provide a firm, clear answer as to which one is required?

45. Will HVAC piping run between the 4th floor roof enclosure and 2nd Floor roof enclosure be run on the exterior or interior of the building? Will pipe insulation be required?

46. Are either the 6th floor roof or 2nd floor roof still under warranty? If so please provide the name of the contractor that installed the roofs?

47. The mechanical drawings are not clear on which equipment will require new concrete housekeeping pads. Will the VA please provide a list of the equipment that will require new concrete housekeeping pads?

48. There are a couple of notes in the Mechanical drawings that reference project 573-18-602. Please provide a scope of work for what this project is and provide any drawings for reference that are available?

49. Note 1 on Sheet MD102 requires the removal of radiant panels and piping. Can the VA confirm if these panels and piping are overhead or if they are in the floor slab?

50. Note 6 on Sheet MD101 states to remove ductwork up to that point. Can the VA confirm that rooms D338 A-1 (CT Scan-3), D338 C-1 (X-Ray Diagnostic 2), and D335 A-1 (Supply) will not be affected by our removal and capping of ductwork at note 6?

a. If this is not the case please confirm how the contractor is to handle continuing to supply air to these areas?

51. Detail 7 on Sheet P501 show the Gas Cylinder Storage requirement. Is there a basis of design for this storage unit or will this have to be custom fabricated? Does it need to be painted?

52. Will any overhead piping, conduit or ductwork require to be painted?

53. Will any mechanical piping running between the Chiller to AHU or Heat Exchangers to AHU be required to be painted or stenciled?

54. Will the VA provide a detail for how the new steel columns and curb bases need to be temporarily flashed-in for continuous waterproofing during construction? Details 10/S201 &

13/S201 lack this information.

55. The current specifications reference a Bio-Safety Cabinet; however, additional information is required in order to properly identify and price the equipment. There are multiple models and sizes available, and the specifications do not clearly indicate which model is required or what accessories should be included. Please provide clarification on the required Bio-Safety Cabinet model, size, and any associated accessories or configuration requirements?

56. In the previous RFIs, RFI #5 stated the contractor was responsible for Terminal cleaning. What does the VA mean by terminal cleaning?

57. In the previous RFIs, RFI #126 Previous RFIs, specifically RFI #126, indicated that the contractor may be required to provide temporary HVAC to occupied areas. However, no phasing plan has been provided to identify which areas will be impacted by the demolition of existing

HVAC systems or the duration of those impacts. Without a defined phasing plan, the contractor cannot reasonably determine which spaces will require temporary conditioning, the duration of the requirement, or the amount of temporary HVAC capacity that would be necessary. Providing temporary HVAC to occupied areas can represent a significant cost to the project. Therefore, the

VA must provide clarification regarding:

a. Whether temporary HVAC will be required.

b. The specific areas that will be affected.

c. The anticipated duration of temporary HVAC requirements.

d. The required temporary HVAC capacity (including tonnage or equivalent performance criteria).

The determination of temporary HVAC requirements associated with demolition and phased system outages is a design and coordination responsibility of the Designer of Record, not a contractor means-and-methods issue.

58. Spec section 08 08 00 part 2.4 refers to Blast resistant glazing. Please clarify where blast resistant glazing is required?

59. Please specify the maximum blast rating that will be required for the glazing?

60. Spec section 08 08 00 part 1.5 refers to Bullet resistant glazing. Please clarify where bullet resistant glazing is required?

61. Please specify the maximum bullet resistance rating that will be required for the glazing?

62. Factor 4 of the proposal is a draft project schedule. Please provide a hypothetical start date for the contractors to use for their draft schedules?

63. Draft schedules will be somewhat based on the contractors understanding of the project; however, the contractors need to know some sense of how the project needs to be phased. Will all of the above ceiling demo in the basement be performed first, then demo the first floor, then build back the surgical pathology and lounge to completion, then perform the work on the roof while the floor underneath is demoed so if any water intrusion happens it wont affect any new finishes, then install all of the new work above ceiling in the basement area, and lastly finish out the first floor radiology suites? If this is not the correct sequence please provide some guidance on the correct sequence the VA would like?

64. Part 1 of Factor 4 states for the contractor to provide written commitment within which the

Offeror will guarantee completion.

a. Does this project have liquidated damages?

b. If so, will these LD’s start when the contractor surpasses the number of days from their commitment?

c. If no LD’s, what is the purpose of this commitment, is it an evaluation factor where one contractor may get a more favorable rating if they provide a commitment of completion that is shorter than other contractor?

d. IF this is the case and there is not LD’s what is to stop a contractor from promising an unachievable delivery date just for a more favorable rating since there is no penalty for not achieving the commitment date?

65. Will the VA send out the site visit sign in sheet for the second site visit?

66. Can the bid date for the project be extended to provide more time for contractors?

67. Can a second round of RFIs be submitted once the initial RFI answers are provided as usually these answers call for more clarifications in most cases?