Questions and Reponses Dated 18 August 2020.pdf

Questions and Reponses, CSS# 19999 Replace Air Conditioning Units, Baltimore, MD (MD003)

Solicitation # W15QKN-20-Q-5295 Dated 18 August 2020

Q1: For those of us who are following COVID-19 Social Distancing Suggestions - Will the government provide a virtual site visit option?

A1: A virtual site visit tour will not be conducted.

Q2: In Amendment 1 Section - Evaluation Criteria sub section b the government states "it will review past performance".

Q2a: How would the government like us to submit past performance for this opportunity?

A2a: Please refer to INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS, EVALUATION CRITERIA b.

Q2b: How many past performances should we submit?

A2b: Please refer to INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS, EVALUATION CRITERIA b.

Q2c: Can we submit past performances of the identified Construction Super Intendent when the Prime does not have applicable past performance to submit?

A2c: Please refer to INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS, EVALUATION CRITERIA b.

Q2d: Can we submit past performance for our proposed sub-contractor if the prime contractor does not have sufficient past performance?

A2d: Please refer to INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS, EVALUATION CRITERIA b.

Q3: On Page 34 of the Solicitation in the section titled "Alternative Payment Protections" the government states that payment protection should be submitted 10 days after contract award. Can a sub-contractor submit a Payment Bond on behalf of the prime contractor?

A3: No, the Government does not have privy or a contractual agreement with a subcontractor(s) of a prime contractor.

Q4: When does the government anticipate a contract award to be made?

A4: This information cannot be provided at this time.

Q5: In Attachment 2 - Specifications of Work, page 2 the government states " Shall submit, prior to commencing any work: A current Certificate of Insurance (Prime and Subs); A letter appointing a construction superintendent; A schedule of operations. The construction schedule shall be subject to change so Contractor’s operations do not conflict or otherwise disrupt normal operations of the government in the facility involved."

Q5a: How long after contract award would the government like these items submitted?

A5a: Prior to commencing any work.

Q5b: Are there certain qualifications of the Construction Superintendent that are required?

A5b: No.

Q5c: Would the government like information about the construction superintendent (resume or bio) submitted with the proposal?

A5c: No.

Q6: In Attachment 2 - Specifications of Work page 2 the government states "1.6.1. Shall submit on company letterhead to the QAR an “Entry Authorization Letter” registering all motor vehicles and driver/operators information as required to access individual installations." How many days prior to beginning work will the contractor need to submit this letter in order to ensure access to all required individuals?

A6: The Entry Authorization Letter shall be submitted before the commencement of work and is normally submitted at the pre-construction meeting.

Q7: In Attachment 2- Specifications of Work page 4 the government states that the pre-conference will serve as an opportunity to introduce key players. Key players include General Contractor, Job-Site Supervisor and Subcontractors.

Q7a: Is the construction superintendent also the Job-Site Supervisor?

A7a: Yes, the construction superintendent can also be the Job-Site Supervisor.

Q7b: Is the general contractor the prime contractor?

A7b: Yes, the general contractor is usually the prime contractor.

Q7c: Does the government want any personnel qualifications or information for the key players included in the proposal?

A7c: Please refer to INSTRUCTION TO OFFERORS, Section 8. COMPLETING A

QUOTE FOR SUBMITTAL.

Q7d: Does the government have any qualifications requirements for the job site supervisor or general contractor?

A7d: No.

Q8: In Attachment 2 - Specifications of Work page 7 the government states The Contractor shall submit in writing a Site Safety Plan and present the overall safety program via in-person conference with the Contracting Officer and/or Primary Project POC. The Site Safety Plan shall follow the requirements of the EM 385-1-1 and include all relevant Accident Prevention and Activity Hazard Analyses. The Site Safety Plan shall include provisions to deal with hazardous materials, pursuant to the Contract Clause entitled "Hazardous Material Identification and Safety Data".

Q8a: How many days after contract award will this safety plan need to be submitted?

A8a: Prior to the commencement of work.

Q8b: Will the in-person conference be included in the pre-conference or will a separate safety in-person conference be scheduled?

A8b: The in-person conference will be included at the pre-construction meeting.

Q9: Please confirm - the technical proposal mentioned in Paragraph 8 of Amendment 1 requires the submission of a completed Attachment 1 - Construction Worksheet for Proposal"

Q9a: Is the government requiring any other information within the technical proposal apart from Attachment 1?

A9a: Please refer to INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS, Section 8g.

Q9b: Can we submit 1 proposal volume with both the technical proposal, required contact and company information, and pricing within or would the government prefer submission of pricing as a separate volume?

A9b: Please refer to INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS, Section 8a. through 8.g.

Q9c: Is there a page limit?

A9c: No.

Q10: If the prime is proposing the use of a sub-contractor - where in the proposal should we introduce the proposed team and identify the relationship between the prime and sub?

A10: Proposing the Introduction to Sub-contractor teams and relationships between the prime and sub is at the Prime Contractors discretion

Q11: In Attachment 2 - Specifications of Work, page 2 the government states " Shall submit, prior to commencing any work: A curren t Certificate of Insurance (Prime and Subs); A letter appointing a construction superintendent; A schedule of operations. The construction schedule shall be subject to change so Contractor’s operations do not conflict or otherwise disrupt normal operations of the government in the facility involved." Can the government clarify which certificate of insurance they would like to see (ie: Workers Compensation and Employer's Liability or General Liability,)?

A11: Please refer to ACC-NJ LOCAL NARRATIVES, 52.228-4000 REQUIRED INSURANCE

OCT/2010.

Q12: Site Plans - Do you have any as built that show the mechanical layouts, piping, electric, etc. there is no real detail on the site plans provided?

A12: No. Please refer to the revised Site Maps and Images found in attachments labeled Attachment 0003 - Revised Site Maps Dated 14 August 2020 and Attachment 0004 - Site Image Dated 14 August 2020

Q13: I don't see it listed anywhere what the existing units are, can you provide the manufacturer and model numbers?

A13: Please refer to paragraph 11.3.1.4 of the revised SOW dated 14 August 2020 for Inside/outside unit model #’s.

Q14: Are there any photos available that were taken by the Government during the site visit?

A14: Please refer to the revised Site Maps and Images found in attachments labeled Attachment 0003 - Revised Site Maps Dated 14 August 2020 and Attachment 0004 - Site Image Dated 14 August 2020

Q15: Are there required spaces that will need to have temporary conditioning (heating/cooling) to be provided while the associated AHU is being replaced?

A15: No.

Q16: Are we to assume that you want new piping between the units?

A16: Yes.

Q17: How tall is the building and do the condensers sit on the roof?

A17: There are no units on the roof. All units are located on the ground.

Q18: Are there any obstacles during normal work hours that would require the work in the buildings to be performed after hours, e.g. utility outages

A18: No known obstacles.

Q19: Per Attachment 002 - 11.3.1.2. The contractor shall demo and remove 7 (seven) zone air conditioner condensing units, line sets between outdoor condensers and indoor air handler coil, electrical wiring and circuit breakers.

Q19a.Is it the government’s intention to replace all the electrical wiring and electrical components serving this equipment? Or is it the government’s intention to use the existing electrical components as needed and to increase only if the new equipment’s specifications require it.

A19a: The contractor shall replace all of the electrical components associated with each unit mentioned in the SOW. Please note that the SOW have been revised from 7 (seven) air conditioning units to 5 (five) air conditioning units. Please refer to revised SOW Dated 14 August 2020.

Q20: SITE WALK - Please provide a current Hazardous Material Building Report for this facility.

If the areas that contain the Hazardous Material is to be impacted, will the abatement be covered by the government?

A20: Please see Asbestos Inspection Report – MD002-19990908 and refer to paragraphs 4.7 through 4.10.6 of the revised SOW Dated 14 August 2020.

Q21: SITE WALK – Are the refrigeration lines to have UV Protective material covering the insulation or are they to match the existing conditions?

A21: The refrigeration lines shall match existing conditions.

Q22: SF1442 - Section 00 00 00 - Procurement and Contracting Requirements - 3. The Government intends to award a single, Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract. The period of performance for this effort shall be 90 calendar days from the Notice to Proceed date. Can this be changed to 120 Days?

A22: No, the period of performance for this effort shall be 90 calendar days from the Notice to Proceed date.

Q23: Per Attachment 002 - 11.3.2.2. The contractor shall run all condensate lines to the exterior of the facility through the wall sleeved in PVC and caulked (water and pest proof). The condensate lines, line sets and EMT shall be covered with a PVC chase attached to the exterior surfaces.

Can the condensate lines be ran to the nearest outside wall or do they have to terminate only at the rear of the building?

A23: The condensate lines shall run to the exterior of the facility through the wall sleeved in PVC and caulked (water and pest proof). The condensate lines, line sets and EMT shall be covered with a PVC chase attached to the exterior surfaces.

Q24: Per Attachment 002 - 11.3.2.1. The contractor shall furnish and install 7 (seven) new high efficiency air conditioning outdoor units for zone 2, zone 5, zone 6, zone 8, zone 10, zone 13 & zone 14 with a minimum 18 SEER verified by the Air Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). The replacement shall include complete units but not limited to new condensing units, new insulated copper line set between the coil and outdoor condenser, R410a high pressure refrigerant, new indoor fan units, new condensation pumps and lines, all new electrical wiring and circuit breakers, thermostats and remote controllers. Per the 8/7/20 site walk it was told to the group by government officials that there is only to be (5) systems replaced.

i. Zone 10

ii. Zone 6

iii. Zone 8

iv. Zone 13

v. Zone 14 Zone 2 & Zone 5’s Condensing units could not be located

Q24a: Further site discussions with the government representative reported that Zone 2 and Zone 5’s equipment had been previously replaced. Please confirm the total number of systems that need to be replaced.

A24a: Please refer to the revised SOW dated 14 August 2020which indicates only 5 units require replacement.

Q24b: On further investigation during this site walk it was discovered that Room 117 was marked to reflect ZONE 5. Further investigation it was discovered that the drawing was incorrect, it is in fact ZONE 6. It was reported by the government representative that the thermostats may had been swapped leading to this error. Room 123 is possible where ZONE 5 resides and that system had been previously replaced.

A24b: Please refer to the revised SOW dated 14 August 2020 for correct unit zones and locations.

Q24c: Is it the government’s intention to replace all the electrical wiring and electrical components serving this equipment? Or is it the government’s intention to use the existing electrical components as needed and to increase only if the new equipment’s specifications require it.

A24c: It is the Government’s intention to replace the electrical components associated with each unit.

Q25d: Is it the government’s intention to replace all the condensate lines serving this equipment due to leaks?

A24d: Yes, it is the Government’s intention to replace all the condensate lines serving this equipment due to leaks.

Q24e: Is it the government’s intention to use the existing condensate lines and verify any leak, to be replaced if necessary?

A24e: It is the Government’s intention to replace all lines.

Q24f: Per the 8/7/20 Site Walk, the Existing Systems have been replaced with a LIKE FOR LIKE AHU. This AHU is designed for the existing space. Per the RFI Responses that was developed from the initial site walk and received the morning of the second site walk there is a discrepancy and space issue that would be created due to the RFI Response.

Confirm the outdoor condensing units shall be replaced with new exact replacement condensing units? i. A3 - No, the replacements must be 18 seer or higher.

A24f: Please refer to the revised SOW dated 14 August 2020 in reference to the change in SEER rating requirements.

Q24g: If the RFI is to be followed to then an equipment manufacture direct match OR CONVENTIONAL AHU would have to be used and this would create a space issue and require work to expand the existing mechanical room closet. Also, a redesign of the duct work would have to be completed.

PLEASE ADVISE THE COURSE OF ACTION THAT IS TO BE FOLLOWED.

A24g: Please refer to the revised SOW dated 14 August in reference to the change in the SEER rating requirements. .

Q25: Per the 8/7/20 Site Walk, the Existing Systems have been replaced with a LIKE FOR LIKE AHU. This AHU is designed for the existing space. Per the e RFI Responses that was developed from the initial site walk and received the morning of the second site walk there is a discrepancy and space issue that would be created due to the RFI Response.

Confirm the interior space pak units are to be replaced with new exact replacement units?

Questions posted on 08-06-2020. A3 - No, the replacements must be 18 seer or higher.

To use any outdoor unit that is above 18 SEERS would be a waste of time due to the fact the match would not achieve that desired 18 SEER ARI Rating. The best that can be achieved due to the evaporator coil size of the existing allowable AHU Space, even with a variable speed AHU would not surpass 15 – 16 SEERS.

If the RFI is to be followed to then an equipment manufacture direct match OR CONVENTIONAL AHU would have to be used and this would create a space issue and require work to expand the existing mechanical room closet. Also, a redesign of the duct work would have to be completed.

PLEASE ADVISE THE COURSE OF ACTION THAT IS TO BE FOLLOWED.

A25: Please refer to the revised SOW dated 14 August 2020 in reference to the change in the SEER rating requirements.

Q67: Are they replacing the outdoor and indoor units?

A26: Yes.

Q27: Which units are required to be replaced- two out of the seven named on the SOW had already been replaced?

A27: Please refer to the revised SOW dated 14 August 2020.

Q28: Please provide the site visit sign-in sheet.

A28: The Sign-in sheet will be posted via BetaSam once available.