RFI 21 response.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

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From:

Date:

November 16, 2020

To: Contracting Officer

1. Solicitation Number:

W50S8R-21-B-0001

2. Location of Project:

Building 403

3. Information Requested: (Include Specification Section and/or Drawing Number and Page if inquiring about a discrepancy)

There are issues regarding the SSPC QP-1 painter certification that is required as specified in Paragraph 1.4.2 of Section 09 90 00 that we'd like to bring to your attention. First, we have found that the painters that have this designation do not do building construction painting and will not bid on a project like this one. Secondly, according to SSPC’s website, the objective of the SSPC QP 1 certification program “is to determine if an industrial/marine coatings contractor has the personnel, organization, qualifications, procedures, knowledge, and capability to produce quality surface preparation and coating application on complex industrial and marine steel and metal structures and components. Complex industrial and marine structures are defined as those constructed of steel such as metal producing and rolling mills, bridges and processing facilities, including chemical and petrochemical processing plants, pulp and paper mills, power plants and substations, food and beverage plants, terminals, storage tanks, Navy and commercial vessels. Complex structures also include any steel or metal components, or sections affixed to a steel structure.” The program description further states that the SSPC QP1 Certification process “does not cover coating application capability conducted exclusively at a contractor’s…paint shop facility nor does it cover installation of protective coatings on concrete or other non-metallic substrates.”

a. Based on the above description, the use of a SSPC QP1 contractor is not warranted on this project because it doesn’t fall into one of the intended categories of projects.

b. The SSPC QP1 certification program, as quoted above, is only applicable to steel structures and is not applicable to the painting of the (non-metallic) walls in Building 403. That reduces the possible components of Building 403 that could be covered by this program to the surface areas of the steel roof structure.

c. The SSPC QP1 certification program covers “surface preparation and coating application” however the surface preparation and prime paint coat on the steel roof structure is covered in Division 5 of the specifications and is NOT included in Section 09 90 00. In addition, the SSPC QP1 program does not include shop painting. So, the program doesn’t apply to the preparation and application of the prime coat of paint to the steel structure. In that case, the only remaining work that the SSPC QP1 program could possibly be applicable to is the two finish coats of standard paint described in paragraph 3.14.2 of Section 09 90 00.

d. The SSPC QP1 program, according to its website, “is not intended to guarantee the quality or safety performance of a specific contractor.” The program further states “to better ensure the success of a project, owners should write quality specifications, implement a plan to enforce the requirements of the specification through appropriate quality assurance”. The Ohio ANG, as the project Owner, has done this. The ANG has written quality specifications and required quality control actions to ensure compliance with those specifications. In reference to quality control, the SSPC QP1 program does not dictate quality control procedures but rather, the certification process ensures that the SSPC QP1 contractor has a company-wide quality control program “to verify that all stages of work are performed in accordance with contract documents and specifications”. We have adopted the Corps of Engineers quality control program as our own, to ensure that all stages of work are performed in accordance with the contract documents.

e. As on all of our projects, we intend to install the specified paint systems at the specified locations. The Ohio ANG’s quality control specification (01 45 00.00 10) includes the steps we are required to take to ensure that the finished painted surfaces meet the requirements contained in the specifications. As always, we intend to, and are required to, install all products in accordance with the paint manufacturer’s recommendations.

To summarize, our painting contractors are experts at applying the standard paints specified in Section 09 90 90 according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The QP 1 certification, as indicated on the SSPC website, is meant for complex industrial and marine facilities that include petro/chemical, waste water treatment, bridges, food/beverage facilities, storage tanks, power stations, and off shore drilling facilities, etc. There are no indications on the SSPC website that the need for a QP 1 certified contractor would be necessary for the type of painting that will be included as part of this project. Since the QP 1 certification appears to be a certification for much more complex facilities that involve petroleum/food preparation/bridge/water treatment facilities, it would stand to reason that the inclusion of this requirement is more than is necessary given the low complexity of the substrates to be painted and the fact that the majority of the painting is interior.

Please remove the requirement to provide a QP 1 certified contractor so the local painters, who routinely apply the specified products, can participate in this project. We have tried in the past to get painters with this certification to do building construction painting projects without success. This painting requirement is in the unedited version of the UFGS specifications and unintentionally shows up periodically in government specifications. When we point this out, the Government has then removed the requirement. We would appreciate it if you would do the same and please remove this requirement.

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To:

Date:

11/20/2020

Response:

We agree to remove the requirement for QP1 Certified painter based on installation of the specified paint systems as outlined above including meeting Ohio ANG’s quality control specification (01 45 00.00 10) and in accordance with the paint manufacturer’s recommendations and as long as any warranties associated with product or labor aren’t affected.

This information is a clarification of the solicitation/contract and does not change the contract terms or conditions.

This information is a proposed change to the solicitation/contract. An amendment will be issued.

Contracting Officer: