Special Notice 4.pdf

Special Notice:

All Interested Bidders are advised that the Bid Opening for this Project has been extended to September 18, 2009. The Bid Opening time remains 2:00 P.M. CST. The Bid Opening will take place in the Lobby Conference Room, located at the River Center Building, 111 North Canal Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606. This will be changed formally by way of Amendment 0004, which will be posted on FedBizopps.gov on or before September 11, 2009.

Also Questions that have been responded to are as follows and will be incorporated into Amendment 0004.

Questions Submitted on August 28, 2009 by Shamrock Electric Co., Inc.

Question: “With regards to ITEM NO 0001AE (Exterior Electrical Distribution), please delineate a good demarcation point of exterior electrical work required under this pay item; or, please confirm that the work described here is only described as anything the Contractor is responsible for between the electrical utility pole and the utility transformer. At the most, would this only include the installation of the utility transformer pad or is this work under ITEM NO 0005 (Remaining Work Items)?”

USACE Response to Question: Site electric is defined as all electric work indicated on the project documents that are greater than 5' from the outside perimeter wall of the building. These costs should be included in pay item 0001AE. All other electrical work 5' and in, from the outside work are considered building work and should be included in pay item 0001AD.

Pay Item 0005 is to only include items described in Specification Section 01 22 00.00.

Question Submitted on August 27, 2009 by JL Burke

Question: “The drawings show the door schedule and the specs show all the hardware for the doors. Can we please have a clarification of what hardware goes with which door.”

USACE Response to Question: The door hardware for all Steel Doors and Frames, exterior and interior, fire rated where indicated, all those doors that are covered under Specification Section 08 11 13 are covered under Specification Section 08 71 00 DOOR HARDWARE. Door hardware for Blast Resistant doors is covered under Specification Section 08 39 54 BLAST RESISTANT DOORS. Please also reverence the Remarks column and Door Id column in the Door Schedule on Drawing Sheet A-05 ... the remark column indicates which doors are fire rated, which are blast resistant and which are Coiling... plus in Specification Section 08 11 13 the steel frame door IDs are called out matched with specific Classifications in Paragraph 2.1.1 Classification - Level, Performance, Model.

Questions Submitted on September 4, 2009 by Rausch Construction Company

Question #8: “Please confirm if the 6” steel bollards are to be painted. Please confirm paint type and color.”

USACE Response to Question #8: Bollards shall be hot dipped galvanized per Specification Section 05 12 00 STRUCTURAL STEEL AND MISCELLANEOUS METAL, Paragraph 2.5 GALVANIZING.

Question #9. “Detail B/S3/S3 shows ¼” weld, 3” long, on both side of the roof W16x67 beam to the metal roof decking. How often do these welds occur?

Please confirm the spacing of these welds.”

USACE Response to Question #9: There is no Detail B/S3|S3... in SECTION B-A3/A3 the 1/4" weld 3" long is shown TYP for each beam. Therefore this weld occurs at every location where the metal decking rests on the beam.

Question #10. “Specification Section 01 99 99, Section 2.8 states, “Steel Roof Deck shall be 2” deep, 18 gauge steel with a 36” cover manufactured from steel conforming to ASTMA 653/A653M. The Typical Roof Section detail on A03 shows a 6½” cover. The roof varies from 43/4” thick to 1’13/8” thick. Therefore the total cover shown on the plans would be 1’77/8”. Please confirm the concrete cover of the metal deck is 6½”. Please also confirm the makeup of the 36” cover mentioned in the specifications.”

USACE Response to Question #10: The term "cover" as it relates to steel deck is the width of the steel deck sheets. Generally they come in 24" cover (width) or 36" cover (width) i.e. they cover over 24" or 36" of the horizontal roof opening. The Concrete slab portion of the roof is 6 1/2" thick as shown in the TYPICAL ROOF SECTION on Sheet A-03. The roof does vary in thickness 4 3/4" to 1'-1 3/8" as shown in SECTION A-A1/A3 which is the thickness of the rigid insulation portion of the built up roof and has nothing to do with specification Section 2.8 STEEL ROOF DECK.

Question #11. “A pad thickness of 6” is shown for the heat pump pads, perdetail D/S1|S5 and 2/S5|S5. There is no detail for the other concrete pads. Please confirm that all concrete pads are 6”. Please also confirm if all concrete pads have #4 bars @ 12” o.c. each way, similar to detail 2/S5|S5.”

USACE Response to Question #11: See SECTION C-S2/S2 for typical equipment pad details.

Question #12. “Please confirm that the only concrete pads included in the contract price are the seven shown on A040 Foundation Plan.”

USACE Response to Question #12: That is correct, there are only 7 concrete pads.

Questions Submitted on August 27, 2009 by F.H. PASCHEN/SNNIELSEN, INC.

Question #1: “Please confirm that there is to be no repair work to the naturally occurring bedrock seawall included in this bid.”

USACE Response to Question #1: Per the environmental permit, there can not be any repairs done to the canal wall.

Question #2. “Please provide a boring map to locate the soil borings.

USACE Response to Question #2: Contractor shall refer to Drawing Sheet B-01.”

Question #3. “Please provide a copy of the schedule Smith-Root will follow during their portion of the work in Phase II.”

USACE Response to Question #3: No Schedule for Smith Root, Inc. (SRI) will be provided. All Bidders shall base their bid and construction schedule on the period of performance of this contract as specified in FAR Clause 52.211-10 COMMENCEMENT, PROSECUTION, AND COMPLETION OFWORK (APR 1984), as found in Section 00700 of the Solicitation package.

Question Submitted on September 1, 2009 by AMS Mechanical Systems, Inc.

Question “Drawing M-11 shows EA-Electric Valve Actuator, IFI-Inline flow indicator, T-Temperture sensor, AV-Automatic air vent, WM-Water Meter and AFC-Automatic Flow control device. Please identify where in the specifications these items, manufacture and model numbers can be found? Normally items like the EAs – AFC etc are provided by the controls division. We think that is in the electrical scope but can not fins any information to confirm this. Can you advise?

USACE Response to Question: Note will be added to Drawing Sheet M-11 by way of Amendment 0004 that states: "Items shown with (*) in the legend will be designed and supplied by others, and installed by the building contractor."

Question Submitted on September 2, 2009 by George Sollitt Construction Co.

Question: “The room finish schedule calls out for non-magnetic access flooring in Pulser Rooms #1,2 and 3. There is no specification for height, color etc. Also there are no details for this access floor. Will specification and details for the non-magnetic access floor be provided?”

USACE Response to Question: See Specification Section 01 99 99 GENERAL CONSTRUCTION - ARCHITECTURAL Paragraph 2.12 NON- MAGNETIC ACCESS FLOORING SYSTEM for Non-Magnetic Access Flooring specifications.

Question Submitted on September 1, 2009 by AMS Mechanical Systems, Inc.

Question “Drawing M-04 Note 1. All piping and pumps inside the cooler tank fan enclosure shall be heat traced. Can you provide a clarification as to the meaning of that Note (To include typeo f heat trace or location in the specs where it is shown.)”

USACE Response to Question: Note 1 on Drawing Sheet M-04 will be revised by way of Amendment 0004, to state: " All piping and pumps inside the evaporative cooling tank fan enclosure shall be heat traced (self-regulating type)."

Question Submitted on September 1, 2009 by JB Contracting Corporation

Question: “On drawing E-10 there is a riser diagram for a fire suppression system. Is this a fire suppression system or a fire alarm system? If it is a suppression system what is the electrical contractors responsibility?”

USACE Response to Question: The Fire Alarm System is part of the overall Fire Suppression System. The contractor is responsible for installing the Suppression System as stated in Division 21, Specification Section 21 22 00.

Questions Submitted on September 2, 2009 by Simpson Construction

Question #1. “Are there detailed instructions how to repair the canal limestone wall where it has been broken away in the area of the new building?”

USACE Response to Question #1: No, see Drawing Sheet A-04, Foundation Notes for explanation.

Question #2. “Will it be acceptable to attach a safety fence to the new canal sidewalk during the construction of the building?”

USACE Response to Question #2: A Contractor can submit a method for attaching temporary safety fence that does not impact the structural integrity of the canal sidewalk for approval after contract award.

Question #3. “Will the general contractor be required to include Smith-Root under his perf. Bond in Phase II of the project?”

USACE Response to Question #3: No. Smith Root, Incorporated does not need to be included under the Performance Bond for this contract. In accordance FAR Clause 52.228-15 PERFORMANCE AND PAYMENT BONDS--CONSTRUCTION (NOV 2006)"...The penal amount of performance bonds at the time of contract award shall be 100 percent of the original contract price." The Payment and Performance Bonds must be provided for 100% of the Contract Price. The Contract Price will not include the cost of the work being performed by the other contractor (Smith Root, Inc.). This clause was inadvertently omitted from the Solicitation when it was originally released. By way of Amendment 0004 it will be incorporated into the Solicitation Section 00700 in full text.

Question #4. “Will the gen. contractor be required to provide flagmen on the roadway at all times during the workday operations of the project?”

USACE Response to Question #4: See Specification Section 01 52 02 - Page 3, Paragraph 3.1 of the specifications.

Question #5. “Are there any specifications for the epoxy flooring?”

USACE Response to Question #5: See Specification Section 01 99 99 GENERAL CONSTRUCTION – ARCHITECTURAL, Paragraph 2.6.

Question Submitted on September 2, 2009 by George Sollitt Construction Co.

Question: “Drawing C-01 shows a staging area to the north of the new utility company transformer. Is this part of this solicitation?”

USACE Response to Question: Yes. The staging area is within the work limits.

Questions Submitted on August 31, 2009 by P&T Fire Protection, Inc.

Question #1. “It is understood that the above serves the purpose to accomplish the biannually maintenance requires, Current cylinders are available with Liquid Level Indicators that serve the same purpose at a much lower cost.

Will Cylinders equipped with Liquid Level Indicator be acceptable?”

USACE Response to Question #1: Specification Section 21 22 00, Paragraph 1.2.2 Performance requirements will be revised by way of Amendment 0004 to state:

"The non HFC (HydroFluoroCarbons) clean agent shall be stored in Clean Agent storage tanks designed to hold pressurized non HFC Clean Agent in liquid form at atmospheric temperatures corresponding to a normal pressure of 5860 kilopascal at 21 degrees C 360 pounds per square inch (psi) at 70 degrees F.

Each tank shall be provided with a safety device to relieve excess pressure safely, in advance of the rated cylinder test pressure.

Clean Agent storage tanks shall be supported by suitable racks attached to walls and floor. Tank framing shall be fitted with a liquid level indicator to determine the amount of clean agent in the cylinders in place without deactivating the system.

System shall be arranged for fully automatic, manually operated, and remote-pushbutton electric control operation. Operating controls shall be the enclosed release type to prevent accidental operation."

Question #2. “Are low pressure switches for each cylinder required?”

USACE Response to Question #2: The contractor shall refer to Specification Section 21 22 00, Paragraph 2.2.2

Question #4. “Section 2.2.5.2 item 13 states "control system shall be able to communicate with and monitor the Fish Barrier Telemetry Control System." Can you elaborate on this? We assume this will be done via contact devices.”

USACE Response to Question #4: The Fish Barrier Telemetry System should be able to transmit a signal which indicates any alarm states or predetermined conditions as mentioned in Division 21, Specification Section 21 22 00.

Question #5. “It is understood that the Clean Agent Contractor will provide the supervision relays for the HVAC shutdowns and closure of the motorized garage doors.

What are the quantity of HVAC shutdowns, garage doors, and if any dampers?”

USACE Response to Question #5: The air handling units and garage doors are shown on the plans. Fire dampers shall be installed as per manufacturer recommendations.

Question #6. “We assume the EC contractor will provide power for the control panel, garage doors and dampers if any. Is this correct?”

USACE Response to Question #6: Power for the garage doors, dampers, and the control panel shall be provided as mentioned in Division 26, Specification Section 2.17.1.

Question #7. “Is the EC contractor responsible to provide the wiring between the shutdowns and the clean agent control panel?”

USACE Response to Question #7: The process for installing connections between the Fire Suppression control panel and various termination points is specified in Division 21, Specification Section 21 22 00.

Question #8. “Section 3.1.1.1 seems to be incomplete. It talks a little about a possible air sampling system. Earlier in the spec it talks about crosszone detection. Should this section be ignored?”

USACE Response to Question #8: No. Division 21, Specification Section

3.1.1.1 Details the way the Fire Agent Detection system is to work.

Question #9. “Also, the prints do not show the Clean Agent control panel. (It is in the specifications.) The prints have a notation for a Vesda Alarm System. Vesda is an Air-Sampling system. Air-sampling systems are just another form of smoke detection. Is the intent to have smoke detectors A='1D Air-Sampling detection?

And is so, do you want air-sampling in all the protected spaces?”

USACE Response to Question #9: The Fire suppression Alarm System consists of a network of smoke detectors which work by sampling the air in the pre-determined zones. Yes, the Alarm System should cover all predetermined zones.

Question #10. “Understanding that the amount of agent required is a fixed number; do we need to provide the extra quantity of cylinders shown on the drawings or can we use larger cylinders to provide a cost saving?”

USACE Response to Question #10: As shown on Drawing Sheets M-03A and M-04A each zone to be protected independently from any adjoining space. Provide adequate storage container to comply.

Question #11. “Are reserved cylinders required?”

USACE Response to Question #11: The contractor shall refer to Specification Section 21 22 00.

Question #12. “There are multiple rooms being protected. It looks like there is common ductwork between these rooms. Is this System to be a common discharge or are others providing dampers to isolate the rooms and if so how many and who will wire.”

USACE Response to Question #12: The contractor shall refer to Specification Section 23 00 00, Paragraph 2.5.2.3.

Question #13. “What is the anticipated schedule for this project?”

USACE Response to Question #13: USACE’s Milestone Date for award is September 30, 2009.

Question #14. “Section 3.1.5 Painting - is painting to be provided by the Clean Agent contractor or the painting contractor?”

USACE Response to Question #14: Painting is to be provided by the paint contractor as per Specification Section 09 90 00.

Questions Submitted on September 3, 2009 by Rausch Construction Company

Question #2. “Non-magnetic Access Flooring System is called out to be installed in the 3 Pulser Rooms per the Room Finish Schedule on A-05. Specification Section 01 99 99, Section 2.12, only states that the system shall be comprised of floor panels and pedestal supports manufactured from fiberglass reinforced plastic. Section 3.7 states that the system is to be installed per manufacture’s recommendations. Please provide more detailed specifications for this flooring.

a. List of acceptable manufactures in compliance with ACOE’s requirements.

b. Loading requirements

c. Color finish of fiberglass panels”

Question #3. “ Please provide additional information for the fiberglass reinforced plastic railing.

a. Dimensions of the posts and rails

b. B. Color and finish of fiberglass reinforced plastic

c. C. Anchoring details – what are the load requirements that the anchoring needs to meet?

d. What is the size of the kick plate? What material is the kick plate?

USACE RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS 2 and 3: No further requirements for the flooring system and railing are provided other than those shown in Specification Section 01 99 99 GENERAL CONSTRUCTION – ARCHITECTURAL and the configurations shown on the drawings. All requirements shall be as per manufacturer recommendations and standards for these items. The kick plate material is to be fiberglass as it is part of the rail system.”

Question #7. “Detail C/S6|S6 shows the heavy duty trench frame and cover.

Dimensions are given for the depth (4.5”to6”) and the over all length (12’0”). No dimension is given for the width. Please provide.

USACE Response to Question #7: Please see Detail 1 on Drawing Sheet S-6 for the width of the trench.