RFI Govt Response Pre Bid 001.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER:

W56ZTN22R0007 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION RFI NUMBER:

Pre Bid 001

PROJECT NUMBER / TITLE:

Fire Protection Systems Inspection, Testing, Maintenance (ITM) with Repair

PRIME CONTRACTOR:

SUBCONTRACTOR/SUPPLIER:

SUBJECT/TITLE OF RFI:

DRAWING(S):

DETAIL(S):

SPECIFICATION:

CPM ACTIVITY #:

PHONE:

FAX:

COST IMPACT:

DATE SUBMITTED:

02/09/2023

RESPOND BY:

INFORMATION REQUESTED

Q1 – Section 2.1.1 ITM – Use of NFPA 25 annual pump test report required. UFC requires pump tests every 5 years.

Please clarify which standard is intended to be used for pump testing.

Q2 – Section 2.9 $30K cap on repair estimates. Will the contractor be responsible for preparing proposals for repairs expected to exceed the $30K cap, or will they be simply asked to notify the COR that repairs are expected to exceed the cap? Repairs like these could require a substantial cost impact to the contractor for investigation and preparation of estimating repairs if they are ultimately going to be deemed out of scope.

Q3 – Section 2.1.15.2 – AES - It appears that the expectation is that pricing for replacing King Fisher transmitters is intended to be included in the cost. No number of transmitters is noted, no model number is included for the AES radio intended for use, and it is not clear if this cost should be included in the repair CLIN price.

Q4 – 2.17.2 – Notifier – Is it required that the contractor specifically hold a Notifier distributorship or will it be permissible to partner with one provided the 80% rule of in-house required labor is met?

Q5 – TE 2-H – Deluge - Buildings visited on the tour included E4081 and 1060 that are listed here. These buildings also contain foam systems that are not listed in the TE’s. How should these be handled, and are there other foam systems not listed? Additionally, also seen on the visit to building 699 is an ultra-high speed water spray system listed here as a simple deluge system. These systems are electro-mechanical in operation which include activation by IR flame detection and these points are not listed in the UFC requirements for the testing of a deluge system. These systems do not employ the use of a deluge valve which is the basis for testing requirements laid out by the UFC. Are there any other ultra-high speed water spray systems in use, and how should these be accounted for? There is a significant labor difference between the testing of a standard deluge valve and the ultra-high speed water spray system seen.

Q6 – Section 2.17.2 states that APG and ALC are predominately installing Notifier (MNS/FACP) combination systems. The contactor shall be a Notifier authorized distributer with three (3) years’ experience servicing the ONYX series systems including programming the systems. This solicitation is a firm fixed-priced requirements type non-personal services contract to provide fire alarm, fire sprinkler/suppression systems inspection, testing, maintenance, service and repair including AES transmitter installations for the U.S. Army Garrison Aberdeen Proving Ground and Adelphi Laboratory Center. This requirement is unfair and unduly restrictive of competition, contrary to the requirement for full and open competition. By limiting the companies that can bid on this solicitation. The base has a variety of fire alarm systems installed including Kingfisher IRAC, Notifier, Fire Lite, Gamewell, Siemens, Kidde, Silent Knight, EST, FCS, FCI, Simplex, Faraday, and CY Pyro. The contractor will have to provide services to all the fire alarm systems regardless of manufacturer. When a service that is needed is proprietary to a certain manufacturer, the service will be completed by bringing in the assistance of the proprietary system distributor. This occurrence is very limited as most of the work can be accomplished by the on site technicians. For example, a vehicle mechanic can provide services for vehicle inspection, testing, maintenance, and repair to various vehicle brands and not limited to one brand. When a system programming issue is found, the work is referred to the manufacturer for repair.

In addition, section 2.9 Project Work Orders (PWOs) states that new work that exceeds $30,000 shall be accomplished through a separate contractual vehicle. This would include new fire alarm installation and upgrades of existing fire alarm systems and associated programming. If the solicitations for the new contract specifically states that only a brand name (NOTIFIER) is to be used, the government would need a written justification and approval (J&A) in accordance with the FAR as to the decision to award a contract by a means other than full and open competition and the supporting data. Can the government omit this requirement from the solicitation?

Q7: 2.4.3.3 requires a Quality Control Manager. Can the Project Manager serve as the QC manager as well?

By: Date:

RESPONSE

Q1 Answer: The UFC requires FLOW tests every 5 years. The annual pump test form shall be used to document any required task listed in UFC 3-601-02 regarding fire pump testing. Any fields not required to be filled out shall be filled in with N/A or left blank.

Q2 Answer: Yes, the contractor is required to provide estimates for every DMO issued no matter the proposed cost. It is up to the Government to decide if the work will be funded.

Q3 Answer: A separate CLIN will be established for AES installations.

Section 2.1.16.1.3 Install a new AES Mesh model 7788F-ULP-P Transceiver and antenna system to monitor the fire protection system. The quantity for this CLIN will be approximately 180 AES transmitters.

Q4 Answer: The contractor named in Standard Form 1449, Block 17A and identified by Cage Code is required to have the Notifier factory authorized distributorship.

Q5 Answer: The contractor is responsible for Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance with repair on all deluge systems and components associated with the system. If the building is listed in the T/E’s under deluge TE 2 H, the contractor shall ITM the deluge system and all components in accordance with the relevant section of UFC 3-601-02 no matter the type or speed. This includes Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF), water spray systems, and infrared detection systems.

Q6 Answer: No, this requirement cannot be omitted. This certifies that the contractor has the technical skills, equipment, software, experience, and factory training necessary to work on these life safety systems. This is not a material specification. This requirement is certification that qualified personnel are provided by the contractor and authorized by the manufacturer (Notifier) to prepare engineering drawings, repair, replace, install, and program these systems. Notifier systems are inherently very complex.

More complex than most other systems. Notifier certification ensures that the awarded contractor can handle almost every type of fire alarm system on post with his in-house staff thus significantly reducing subcontracting to outside agencies and cost.

Almost every new building on the installation contains a Notifier ONYX NFS FACP/MNS system. The time it takes to subcontract the repair, obtain the proposal, and procure the required parts from a Notifier authorized distributer, prevents the repair from being completed in the 30-day requirement after approval. The PWS states in section 2.6.4 “All Priority 1 DMO Emergency repair proposals shall be provided within the same day (24) hours of DMO issue. All Priority 2-3 DMO repair proposals shall be submitted within (5) calendar days after the DMO was issued to the Contractor.” The only way to ensure that a Priority 1 emergency DMO repair on a Notifier system can be proposed in 24 hours is if the prime contractor has the ability to procure the parts and have the factory trained expertise to properly propose the repair in the time allotted in the PWS. The life, health, and safety of the personnel on the post depend on these fire suppression and detection systems being operational and quickly restored to proper operational status within the time constraints listed.

Q7 Answer: No. The Contractor shall designate a full time Quality Control Manager that shall be on site overseeing all work being performed. All Contractor personnel shall be certified technicians and under the direct supervision of a National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) Fire Alarm Systems Level III technician with (5) years’ experience, who holds the position as supervisor and cannot assume the role of the QCM. This position is a full-time position specifically for QCM inspections and quality assurance. The Project Manager cannot perform this full-time task.

By: Anthony Casagrande Date: 02/09/2023

Concurrence:Charles DePase Date:02/16/2023