Q-A_Construct Sprinkler-System-Bldg 41418-41420-21AUG22_ccs.pdf

Q&A: Construct Sprinkler System Bldg. 41418 and Construct Sprinkler System Bldg. 41420

Questions & Answers

22 August 2022

1. Project 1, Building 41418, SOO Section 4.01.08.

SOO states to demolish all second-floor electrical lighting.

Is this to include all components of the system such as existing conduit, wire, switches etc. or fixtures only?

A. The electrical and communication including fire alarm and lighting system will remain.

Some conduits may have to be removed and reinstalled to accommodate the ductwork and/or sprinkler pipe. See SOO-4.01.10 dated 21 AUG 2022.

2. Project 1, Building 41418, SOO Section 4.01.09.

SOO states to match existing pendent light fixtures on the first floor.

What is the pendant fixture in the picture? Make, model, specs? How many lights? Can there be a lighting schedule provided for each room/floor?

A. The existing lighting fixtures shall remain. See SOO-4.01.10 dated 21 AUG 2022.

3. Project 1, Building 41418, SOO Section 4.01.13.

SOO states to remove wall partitions not attached to the structural system.

Is this to be understood that all walls that are not load bearing will be removed?

A. Building 41418, 2nd Floor. Remove wall partition marked on the picture #6. See Pic#6.

4. Project 2, Building 41420, SOO Section 4.01.09.

SOO states to match existing pendent light fixtures on the first floor.

What is the pendant fixture in the picture? Make, model, specs? How many lights? Can there be a lighting schedule provided for each room/floor?

A. The existing lighting fixtures shall remain. See SOO-4.01.10 dated 21 AUG 2022.

5. Projects 1&2. SOO Section 4.01.11 & 4.02.11.

The SOO states to design and install a duct system.

Does the contractor have to provide mechanical design documents that are stamped by an engineer? Or will shop drawings meet the requirement?

A. Building 41418.Yes, provide mechanical design stamped by an engineer. See SOO-

4.01.11 dated 21 AUG 2022

B. Building 41420. Yes, provide mechanical design stamped by an engineer. See SOO-

4.02.09 dated 21 AUG 2022

6. Projects 1&2.

What is the existing mechanical system for both the buildings?

Is there any as-builts?

A. Building 41418. No, we do not have mechanical as-built drawings for the 2nd floor. The system is Evaporative Air Cooler.

B. Building41420. No, we do not have mechanical as-built drawings. The system is Evaporative Air Coolers.

7. Projects 1&2.

Can the locations of the fire walls, if any, be provided? These penetrations will require fire dampers.

A. The Buildings 41418 and 41420 do not have fire rated walls. The contractor is not required to build fire rated walls.

8. Projects 1&2.

Can the government provide any additional photos of the existing mechanical equipment and the locations of each unit?

A. Additional pictures are provided.

9. Projects 1&2.

Can there be a few photos above the drop ceiling provided to contractors?

A. Additional pictures are provided.

10. 04.01.08 “Demolish all second-floor electrical lighting. The Contractor shall install new wiring, conduit and other items for a complete lighting system mirroring the existing configuration.” Could you provide as-builts for the existing electrical?

A. We do not have as-built drawings for the electrical system, 2nd floor. The existing lighting fixtures shall remain. See SOO-4.01.10 dated 21 AUG 2022

11. Will previously completed Past Performance Questionnaires or CPAR Evaluations be acceptable in lieu of the provided Form?

A. Previously completed PPQs must reflect the work specified in the requirement and the Solicitation.

12. Does the 200 days for the performance period include time for design? What are the design deliverable requirements for the purposes or review and approval, that is will we be submitting 30%, 60%, 90% etc.?

A. The Period of Performance of 200 Working Days includes design. The contractor shall provide 65% and 100% designs for Government review and approval.

13. RFP Section 00 21 16, F. Proposal Submission, Item #2 (page 6)/SOO Section 3.0 Proposal Requirements (3.04, page 2): Will the Government accept a milestone schedule?

A. Yes, the schedule must provide a detailed estimate of all activities to be conducted during the project period of performance.

14. Per Sketch 1, page 1, is the 8-inch line indicated in the sketch existing or is the contractor to install? If the contractor is to install, does it need to be looped?

A. The contractor shall install the 8-inch line as stated in SOO-4.01.18 dated 21 August 2022.

The line shall not be looped.

15. Per Sketch 1, page 1, are there any other utilities located in the street?

A. There are utilities that cross the street. After award, the contractor shall apply for a Dig Clearance. The utilities will be located at that time.

16. SOO Section 4.01 and 4.02: Is the sprinkler system to be suspended and/or exposed?

A. This project is a design/build. See the SOO dated 21 August 2022.

17. SOO Section 4.01 and 4.02: Will the fire riser need to come up in a dedicated room inside the building or will this be outside?

A. Yes, the fire riser shall enter the basement at the location specified in the design.

18. SOO Section 4.01 and 4.02: Are any flow tests available as a point of reference?

A. Flow tests are not available, however the static pressure on the 8-inch pipe is approximately 120 PSI. The contractor shall provide flow test results for the new fire hydrants.

19. SOO Section 4.01 and 4.02: Does the Government anticipate the use/need for a fire pump?

A. No, the connection point for the new water main shall be before the existing pressure reducing valve (PRV) and the static pressure is between 120 and 130 PSI.

20. SOO Section 4.01 and 4.02: Does the fire sprinkler in the attic or outside need protection from freezing?

A. No, per SOO-4.01.25 and SOO-4.02.23, the Fire Suppression System in the open air shall be dry-pipe system to preclude freezing.

21. SOO Section 4.01 and 4.02: Is the contractor to install fire sprinklers under the eaves or overhangs?

A. Yes. See SOO dated 21 August 2022.

22. SOO Section 5.0 (page 8) indicates that both project 1 and 2 must be complete and ready for final inspection NLT 200 working days after NTP. Please confirm that work in both buildings can be completed concurrently?

A. Yes, contractor can work on both buildings concurrently. Both projects, Project 1 and Project 2, shall be 100% complete and ready for final inspection no later than 200 working days after the Notice to Proceed is issued.

23. SOO 17.02.01.02: How many design submittals are required?

A. See answer to Question 12.

24. SOO Section 5.0 Schedule (page 8) indicates that the schedule shall include consideration of "review periods for submittal items requiring Government review and approval." Please provide a duration for this review period.

A. See SOO dated 21 August 2022, paragraph 14.01.05.

25. Confirm that the Government will allow proposers a minimum of seven (7) days to respond to the RFP starting from the date that the Government responds to 100% of the RFIs received.

A. Offerors will not need seven days to respond, they have until the 25th of August.

26. Is this project exempt from the Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT)? If not exempt, please provide the TPT rate.

A. In accordance with the State of Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax guidelines: Prime contracting sales tax is based on state, county, and the city in which the work is performed. This would be calculated by combining the state’s transaction privilege tax rate of 5.6%, the county excise tax rate, which in this case is Cochise (COH), or 0.5% for a total 6.1%. Ordinarily, sales tax is also required to be paid at the city level in which the work is performed. However, in this case, Sierra Vista (Fort Huachuca) has an exemption provision in its tax code, referred to as “Local Option K”, which exempts construction contracting activity that occurs at Fort Huachuca, thereby excluding city sales tax of 1.95%.

27. For RFP Section 00 21 16, F. Proposal Submission, Item # 1 under past performance (page 7), the Solicitation is silent regarding the extent to which offerors may use the experience and past performance of affiliated entities. It only refers to predecessors, key personnel, and subcontractors, while providing no justification for any implied limitation. The GAO has found solicitations that restrict the ability of an offeror to provide the experience and past performance of its affiliates, even where those affiliates will participate meaningfully in contract performance, to be unduly restrictive of competition. Accordingly, we respectfully request that the Government amend the solicitation to expressly permit the submission of experience and past performance projects completed by parent companies, affiliated entities, and subsidiaries in support of the Experience and Past Performance requirements.

A. Past Performance Requirement Guidelines will not be amended.

28. RFP Section 00 21 16, F. Proposal Submission, Item # 1 under past performance (page 7) requires the use of the past performance evaluation questionnaire form, as provided as Attachment 2 of this solicitation. Oftentimes with unique past performance evaluation forms, the Government POCs responsible have difficulty submitting or responding to these requests in time for proposal submission. Please consider allowing use of previously completed PPQs or allowing the offeror to submit the first two pages in lieu of a completed form (with Government POC contact information) should these forms not be available in time for the submission.

A. The Past Performance Evaluation Questionnaire Forms provided, are mandatory.

29. Past experience within the 41418 Building, specifically the first floor, has shown that replacing the true ceiling requires removing most of the branch conduit and communication cabling serving the entire floor. The existing conduit with almost no exceptions cannot be re-used as it will have to be reconfigured as an exposed installation and will not be aesthetically acceptable. Should this be considered a complete re-piping of existing electrical?

A. No, the true or plaster ceiling shall remain as well as the existing communications cabling.

The existing lighting fixtures shall remain. A new suspended ceiling shall be installed. See SOO 21 August 2022.

30. Past experience shows that the communication cabling will need to be replaced as well for the same reasons stated above. Should the communications cabling be replaced to include a cable tray system as was installed in the 41418-1st floor?

A. No. See answer to Question 29.

31. The previous reconfiguration of 41418 - 1st floor required the communication room to be expanded and made to conform to I3A standards. Will this be a requirement as well?

A. No.