QA Amendments 1 2 and 3 - combined.xlsx
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- Solicitation number
- W911QY-23-R-1021
About this file
This document contains questions and answers related to a solicitation for a base-wide fire alarm transmission system. The solicitation seeks design and installation of a new digital radio-based fire alarm system across 28 buildings on a military base. Key requirements include providing AES model transmitters and receivers, with a preference for the newer virtual receiver if available. The contractor will be responsible for design drawings prepared by a qualified fire protection engineer and shop drawings prepared by a NICET IV technician. The new system must be FISMA compliant and obtain an Authority to Operate. Clarification was provided that repairs to existing systems and additional work beyond what is specified are out of scope.
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Sheet1
| # | Question | Help | Answer |
| Amendment 1 Q&A Responses | |||
| 1 | The Campus Police receives the signals in their office, with an auxiliary computer laptop used to over ride signals located in Electric Room #035. The laptop sits on a folding chair. Cooling for the room, and all of the other equipment, is by a blower coil unit. Will some of the existing equipment be removed? Or will it be re-arranged to accommodate the new Fire Alarm receiving system? | Room 035 contains the headend of the Simplex computer(inside rack) to keep cool which needs to stay, that system is mirrored inside Room 036 (police desk). The monitor was placed on the chair for user convenience. | |
| 2 | How does the Lap top interface the Campus system currently? Do all buildings report to it, or only those with working systems? | The interface is connected by fiber to the building and report to the simplex computer inside Room A035 and A036. | |
| 3 | The “1.3 Project Background and Scope. 1.3.1.1 General” mentions a Phased Construction approach. Will this Phasing impact how the job/work is delivered? | All work within each building must coordinated with the Contracting Officer's Representative (Bruce Coffin), and approved by the Contracting Officer (Brandon Rivett). | |
| 4 | Assume HVAC work is limited to electrical room? | Correct; it is expected that the mechanical scope is limited to Room 035 in Building 1. Refer to scope of work within bid documents of expected to be designed and constructed. | |
| 5 | Is Spec intac specifications required for this project or can we do specs on the | No, specs can be completed in Word format. | |
| 6 | Can drawings be CAD or Revit? | Files to be submitted in both AutoCAD (2010 format) and Revit. | |
| 7 | Are there any buildings where adding an additional power source to energize the building’s new Fire Alarm Antennae is not feasible? | No, all buildings have enough power to handle a new fire alarm antenna. | |
| 8 | Section “1.3.7.4 Electrical New Work” states to provide a dedicated 120V 20 amp circuit, with a new circuit breaker in the existing panelboard. Does the existing Electrical panel have the capacity to add a new circuit breaker? | No capacity issues have been noted in existing infrastructure, electrical panels can carry the additional 120V, 20 ampere branch circuit. | |
| 9 | Table 1.3.8.4-1 indicates in several buildings that the existing feed to that builidng’s FACP was not able to be located. Is locating these missing feeds to be included? | Yes, this shall be included within the scope of work for the Designer of Record. | |
| 10 | Table 1.3.8.4-1 indicates that PP1 or PP2 in B86 does not have any spares? Will the Electrical Panel require an upgrade to accommodate a new circuit breaker for the Fire Alarm upgrade? | No, there are other panels in the vicinity that have spares that can accommodate new circuit breakers for the fire alarm upgrade. | |
| 11 | Assume electrical work (other than required to support FA) is limited to electric room? | Yes, outside the FA branch circuits and equipment all work is at the panelboards in their respective spaces. | |
| 12 | Section “1.3.8.8 Firestopping Utility Penetrations” states that the floor openings in the neighboring electrical room, including a large opening with multiple conduits, must be fire stopped. Is this Room #033 in Building 1? | This is Room 035 located within Building 1. | |
| 13 | Are life safety plans required for each building? | This requirement has been removed. Section 3.5.3 has been removed from TE-08. | |
| 14 | In the “1.3 Project Background and Scope. 1.3.1.1 General” section, it is noted that parts for repairs are difficult to find and is re-using parts from demo’d panels. Are there any buildings in the scope of work where the Fire Alarm Control Panels currently are not in function? | FACPs are all functioning. Many have active trouble signals but repairing trouble signals is not in scope of this project. | |
| 15 | Are there any panels that are of an age where converting to a Digital Radio Masterbox is not possible, and would need further upgrades to make the conversion achievable? | Refer to TE-08 for year of installation of panels where known (included via amendment 1). Assume they are modern addressable panels for bidding purposes. TE-08 has been added via amendment to this solicitation. | |
| 16 | Section “1.3.8.10 New Work – Building 1 Item #5 states that if the new virtual receiver model is available at time of construction, this would be preferred to model 7705-II. Should this be shown as an Add/Alternate? | Yes, it is alternative and preferred if available at the time of construction. | |
| 17 | Section “1.3.8.12 Portable Fire Extinguishers” gives the requirements for Fire Extinguishers. Besides Electrical Room #035, what other locations will require Fire Extinguishers? | No other locations will require fire extinguishers. | |
| 18 | Section “1.3.8.14 Secondary Power” has requirements for Monitor Modules and Control Modules. Please identify location(s) and equipment that will need these to be added to. | If monitor or control modules are not needed this section can be ignored. | |
| 19 | Drawings need to be stamped by a FA P.E. ? | Refer to TE-08 which has been added via amendment 1 to the solicitation. | |
| Can the existing fiber be abandoned in place upon successful completion of the project? | Existing fiber cable to be cut, tagged, and labeled “abandoned fiber cable”. | ||
| 20 | RFP Section 1.3.8.6: The RFP requires that the fire alarm design be done by a NICET IV Technician. Does this apply to the Design drawings or just the Shop drawings? | See forthcoming contract amendment adding specification TE-08 DESIGN AFTER AWARD. Design drawings must be prepared by the Contractor’s Qualified Fire Protection Engineer (QFPE). Shop drawings to be prepared under the oversight of a NICET IV Technician, stamped by the NICET IV Technician, and reviewed and approved by the Contractor’s Qualified Fire Protection Engineer (QFPE) prior to formal submission to the Government for review. | |
| 21 | RFP Section 1.3.8.12: Please clarify where the portable Fire Extinguishers are required. | Additional portable fire extinguishers are not in scope. | |
| 22 | Please confirm that the Safety Plans and a Fire Protection design analysis are not required for each facility. | See amendment 1, adding specification TE-08 DESIGN AFTER AWARD. | |
| 23 | We are looking to obtain a copy of the plans and specifications, for the above project, INV# W911QY-23-R-1021. Could you advise where we may locate the plans and specifications? Or if the documents could be emailed? | Currently all the requirements to complete the job are explained in the solicitation and supporting documents on SAM.gov (see Solicitation W911QY-23-R-1021). No solicitation documents will be emailed. | |
| 24 | I am reaching out about the above solicitation that was posted on SAM.GOV. Monaco is a Fire Alarm and Emergency Communications company that has been serving the DoD for over fifty years, and has systems on over 300 DoD sites. This solicitation appears to call out one manufacturer's system (AES) and specifies it in multiple locations throughout the requirements. However I do not see a sole source notice, or J&A as would normally be required when a single source is defined. Can you clarify if alternatives are going to be considered? | A Justification and Approval has been provided via Amendment 1 to this Solicitation. Alternatives will not be accepted. |
| Amendment 2 Q&A Responses | ||
| 25 | Please provide sign in sheet from the site visit. | This has been uploaded to SAM.gov, under W911QY-23-R-1021; please see "Copy of Site-Visit Attendee List.pdf" |
| 26 | Since only one building was viewed during site visit, can pictures of the other buildings and locations be provided for review? | There will be no additional pictures provided, as the remaining locations have a similar setup. The Specifications provided should be sufficient for estimating purposes. |
| 27 | What is the full extent of the HVAC scope? | See Amendment 1 Q&A Responses and TE-01, Question #4. |
| 28 | Troubles were shown on the panel during the site visit. It is not certain these troubles will go away from the new system. What is the scope for the troubles on the panel(s)? | Offerors shall only include work shown within the specifications and bid documents. No other work to be included. |
| 29 | What troubles are shown on the panel(s) not viewed during the site visit? | Offerors shall only include work shown within the specifications and bid documents. No other work to be included. |
| 30 | What are the wall types for where the work is to be done? | Specifications to be determined during design phase. Existing data provided in this solicitation will be sufficient for estimating purposes. |
| 31 | Please provide any test reports that have been recently completed on the existing fire alarm system. | No recent tests have been completed. |
| 32 | Division 09 is shown in the submittal register attachment. Please provide pictures or scope summary for Division 09 items so it can be quantified for bid purposes. | The Submittals are not to be provided until the Design Phase of the work. The generic descriptions provided should be sufficient for estimating purposes, and they correlate directly with the information provided for each location within TE-01. No additional pictures will be provided with the Solicitation. |
| 33 | Division 08 is shown in the submittal register attachment. Please provide pictures or scope summary for Division 08 items so it can be quantified for bid purposes. | The Submittals are not to be provided until the Design Phase of the work. The generic descriptions provided should be sufficient for estimating purposes, and they correlate directly with the information provided for each location within TE-01. No additional pictures will be provided with the Solicitation. |
| 34 | Please provide layouts for each building. Locations are needed for the fire alarm panel. | Specifications to be determined during design phase. The details provided in TE-01 and Appendix A, should be sufficient to develop an estimate. |
| 35 | Please provide layout for each building. Locations are needed for the conduits runs; how far runs need to be | Specifications to be determined during design phase. The details provided in TE-01 and Appendix A, should be sufficient to develop an estimate. |
| 36 | Please provide layout for each building. Locations are needed for the penetration for roof | Specifications to be determined during design phase. The details provided in TE-01 and Appendix A, should be sufficient to develop an estimate. |
| 37 | Please provide layout for each building. Locations are needed for the doors needing to be replaced. Need existing door types to determine which ones need to be replaced. | Specifications to be determined during design phase. The details provided in TE-01 and Appendix A, should be sufficient to develop an estimate. |
| 38 | Please provide layout for each building. Locations are needed for all the scopes that do not have definable quantities. | Specifications to be determined during design phase. The details provided in TE-01 and Appendix A, should be sufficient to develop an estimate. |
| 39 | Please provide layout for each building. Locations are needed for the existing fiber optic that need to be demolished to quantify length. | See Amendment 1 Q&A Responses, located above. |
| 40 | Are the existing fiber optic cables in conduit? If so, does the conduits need to be demolished as well? | See Amendment 1 Q&A Responses, located above. |
| 41 | Please provide the number of fire extinguishers in each building, location, wall type, and fire rating of walls. | No fire extinguishers required. |
| 42 | The existing fire alarm conduit is not painted red. Is the requirement to only paint new conduit? | Yes, only paint new conduit. |
| 43 | What is the intent for the grounding requirement. Is there an existing ground issue? | No known grounding issues have been identified. Offerors shall only include work shown within the specifications and bid documents. If it is determined that work that was initially out of scope is required after award, it can be reviewed at that time. |
| 44 | Please provide as-built information on the chilled water system used for the equipment closet in building 1. | There are no available as-builts for the existing Chilled Water System in the subject closet, so the appropriate assumption has to be made to upgrade the existing Chilled Water piping as well as Blower Unit as required. The proposed upgrade of any items not specifically outlined within the scope of work, should be accompanied with a justification for their inclusion, and this will be taken into account when determining the technical aspects of your organization's proposal. |
| 45 | Please privde roof maufacturer. | The building 1 main roof is about 20 years old so there is no manufactures warranty. The lobby roof is under warranty and is a Carlisle System installed by Progressive Roofing. |
| 46 | Is the exsiting roof under a warranty? | The building 1 main roof is about 20 years old so there is no manufactures warranty. The lobby roof is under warranty and is a Carlisle System installed by Progressive Roofing. |
| Amendment 3 Q&A Responses | ||
| 47 | Please advise if contact-ID is desired in addition to hardwired 8 zones indicated. This can be provided by adding DACTs to each FACU that can provide the required input for contact ID and provides enhanced annunciation beyond the established zones. | Offerors shall only include work shown within the specifications and bid documents. No other work to be included |
| 48 | Please advise if there is a preference for automation software. There are currently numerous options. Is this a preference for whether the software has to be purchased outright, monthly support, etc. | Automated software shall be purchased outright. |
| 49 | Please advise if a digitize LCD signal processor is desired as a backup to the automation software. The digitize equipment would be able to provide LCD readouts of events in the event there is a workstation equipment / monitor issue. | Offerors shall only include work shown within the specifications and bid documents. No other work to be included |
| 50 | Please confirm intent is for redundant AES receivers, AES IP links and antennae. | Bid as shown. Contract requires redundant receivers and decoders but not antennae. |
| 51 | Please confirm if redundant domain controllers, traffic processors, signal processors and UPS are desired for the automation software. | Bid as shown. Contract requires redundant receivers and decoders but not antennae. |
| 52 | Can the government provide a copy of the site visit sign in sheet to coordinate possible subcontractors? | This was previously provided, and is available on SAM.gov. |
| 53 | Will the base fire alarm contractor be responsible for tying in the existing fire alarm systems to the new transmitters? | Yes, refer to scope of work in the plans and specs. |
| 54 | Will the contractor be responsible for troubleshooting and repairing any existing issues with the fire protection systems? | Offerors shall only include work shown within the specifications and bid documents. No other work to be included. |
| 55 | If the contractor will be responsible for troubleshooting and repairing existing issues with the fire protection system, will the government be modifying the award to account for the cost associated with troubleshooting and also for the repairs? | Offerors shall only include work shown within the specifications and bid documents. No other work to be included. |
| 56 | If repairs and/or modifications are to be done to the existing fire alarm systems, will the existing systems need to be brought up to current code requirements? | Offerors shall only include work shown within the specifications and bid documents. No other work to be included. |
| 57 | The AES IntelliNet Network Control Center (INCC) is currently in Beta and is scheduled to be released around September 2023. The VAR Project version comes preinstalled on computer hardware and includes a Primary and a Secondary receiver. The initial release will not include Alarm Automation, but AES is hoping to add that capability by around the end of this year. While the INCC is UL Listed the initial release of our Alarm Automation will not be UL listed. Please advise if this is acceptable? | Bid as shown. Refer to Design Requirements paragraph 1.3.8.5. Non-listed items will not be acceptable. |
| 58 | Table 1.3.9.-1 lists existing fire alarm locations. The table lists a FACP in Building B42 located in West vestibule and another in Building B42A located in Southwest vestibule. Please confirm that these are 2 separate systems. | Bid as shown. Refer to Design Requirements Fig. 1.3.9-1 which clearly shows these panels as separate. |
| 59 | Specification 1.3.8.11 lists 28 buildings to be receive a transmitter but does not include Building 1. Table 1.3.9-1 lists building 1 as having a fire alarm. Will a transmitter be needed for Building #1, which would increase the transmitters needed to 29? | Refer to work shown within the specifications and bid documents, transmitter is included for Building #1. See Amendment, Q & A. |
| 60 | Specification 1.3.8.11 calls for the contractor to provide the factory-mounted 2.5 dB “rubber duck” antenna on the AES fire alarm transmitters. However, depending on the location of the transmitter and built of the building, the signal for the mesh-based radio system may not be communicated due to weak or no signal being able to be acquired outside of the building. The system would then need to have an alternate antenna mounted to the exterior of the building. This is a significant cost per each building affected. Will a subsequent modification to the award be given to account for the additional unforeseen costs? | Offerors shall only include work shown within the specifications and bid documents. No other work to be included. |
| 61 | Specification 1.3.8.14 call for the contractor to provide addressable monitor modules to supervise system components that are not equipped for multiplex communication with the fire alarm control panel and cannot transmit a unique identification signal, such as waterflow and tamper switches. Monitor modules should already be in place with the existing fire alarm system. Are there any additional modules needed to be installed? If so, please specify quantity, location, and component to be monitored. | Specification for monitor/control modules was provided in case additional modules are needed to interface with the transmitters. If they are not needed this section can be ignored. Mention of waterflow and tamper switches was mistakenly included in the specification. |
| 62 | Specification 1.3.8.14 calls for the contractor to provide Control Modules which must be capable of operating as a relay (dry contact FORM C) for interfacing the control panel with other systems/devices. Control modules should already be in place with the existing fire alarm system. Are there any additional modules needed to be installed? If so, please specify quantity, location, and component to be controlled. | Specification for monitor/control modules was provided in case additional modules are needed to interface with the transmitters. If they are not needed this section can be ignored. Mention of waterflow and tamper switches was mistakenly included in the specification. |
| 63 | Has the government received an FCC base frequency within the 450-470 MHz frequency for use with the base-wide fire alarm transmission system? Antennas outside this frequency would have to be special ordered to be compatible with the base frequency to be used and would add additional cost. | Specifications to be determined during the design phase. |
| 64 | The Specification calls out a radio mesh network under section 1.3.1.1. However there are alternative two-way systems out there that are in use at multiple DoD sites with existing approvals. By defining this as a radio type mesh system with no alternatives this in essence amounts to a sole source approval. Is there a sole source J&A that is going to be published as part of this solicitation? | Refer to J&A provided with Solicitation. |
| 65 | Mesh radio systems are a "Performance based technologies" under NFPA 72 chapter 26.5.3. As opposed to a proven two way system that has defined requirements under chapter 26.6.5. Performance based systems have limitations and require additional engineering and are based largely on concepts as opposed to a proven system. Please confirm the Government is only going to accept a mesh based radio system. | Refer to J&A provided with Solicitation. |
| 66 | "Radio Receiver: Provided a rack-mount AES model 7705-II receiver within an existing rack in Room 035 in the Basement of Building 1. If the newer “virtual receiver” model is available at the time of construction that would be preferred over the 7705-II." |
| This requirement only lists equipment from one source, (AES) and would constitute a sole source requirement. Will proven industry alternatives that are currently being used within the DoD be considered? | Refer to J&A provided with Solicitation. | ||
| 67 | There are multiple items listed as being AES. This would constitute a sole source requirement. There is not J&A for this being sole source. There are alternative two-way radio based fire alarm reporting systems in use within the DoD that already have been approved. Please confirm if alternative solutions will be considered | Refer to J&A provided with Solicitation. | |
| 68 | Please identify if there are additional applicable tests that the system will be required to meet in order to obtain an ATO such as DoD STIGs, as well as minimum required ongoing patching and cybersecurity for the duration of the project. | System must be FISMA compliant and have ATO | |
| 69 | "The Contractor will also be responsible for delivery of an edited Unified Facility Guide Spec 25 05 11 (UFGS25 05 11) Cybersecurity for Facility Related Control Systems for each facility control system identified and planned." Confirming that it is the intent of the government that the contractor is to write their own specification that they intend to meet. This is highly unusual, particularly when considering this solicitation is geared towards one source. | Refer to TE-01, section 1.3.10 for all cybersecurity requirements which includes the required C-I-A rating to be met. |
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