H312--580-23-1-5129-0002 Fire Alarm and Sprinkler System Inspections

The purpose of this amendment to Solicitation 36C25623Q0281 is to provide responses to vendor questions and provide a list of Fire Alarm System Numbers of Devices (4 Attachments) and to extend the closing date.

The closing date is Tuesday, February 14, 2023 no later than 4:30 pm CST

Vendor Questions and Answers.

Q. There is language in the solicitation referring to this being a SATOC. We are confused since this is a Test/Inspect contract. Is the SATOC language in reference to the Parts Rider - Maintenance/Parts (CLIN x011)?

A. Out of scope maintenance/parts work

Q. If so, is this CLIN (for each year) filled in by the government upon award?

A. Yes

Q. Scope of Work 19 Contractor shall possess the following Texas state licenses / Registrations | 1. ACR (fire alarm)

Please confirm that the Contractor should hold an ACR license to cover the requirement of inspection and testing of this system.

A. All subs who will be working on station shall be certified. Since we are federal, the state isn t involved with our inspection process.

Q. Please confirm that the Contractor should hold an SCR-G rather than SCR-U to cover the requirement of inspection and testing of this system as outlined in the SOW.

A. SCR-G

Q. Please confirm that exceeding the minimum standards of qualification, licensure, and work experience will be considered advantageously in a Best Value assessment, i.e., that the Government recognizes there is significant value in having technicians and supervisory personnel who offer more than the bare minimum.

A. Any sub without experience, or not certified or capable of understanding fire and sprinkler systems shouldn t be considered.

Q. Please confirm that 13 CFR § 125.6 (a)(1) and 13 CFR § 125.6 (g) apply to this solicitation, i.e., that In the case of a contract for services (except construction), it will not pay more than 50% of the amount paid by the government to it to firms that are not similarly situated. and that Whoever violates the requirements set forth in paragraph (a) of this section shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in 15 U.S.C. 645(d), except that the fine shall be treated as the greater of $500,000 or the dollar amount spent, in excess of permitted levels, by the entity on subcontractors

A. 13 CFR § 125.6 (a)(1) and 13 CFR § 125.6 (g) apply to this solicitation

Q. Please confirm that copies of licenses/certs are required to be submitted with proposal.

A. Copies of licenses/certs are required to be submitted with proposal

Q. Please confirm that exceeding the minimum standards of qualification, licensure, and work experience will be considered advantageously in a Best Value assessment, i.e., that the Government recognizes there is significant value in having technicians and supervisory personnel who offer more than the bare minimum.

A. Please refer to E.5 52.212-2 Evaluation Commercial Products and Commercial Services.

Q. What is the number of fire rated doors to be inspected?

A. Main hospital: 760 swinging, exterior buildings: 30 swinging, 22 linen/trash chute doors.

Q. What is the number of fire drop overhead doors to be inspected?

A. 12

Q. How many standpipes are to be tested?

A. 37

Q. Does the elevator recall/shutdown need to be tested on the weekends?

A. Yes

Q. Do the audio/visuals need to be tested after normal hours?

A. Yes

Q. Section 3.0 of PWS states replace all batteries at commencement of contract. Should all batteries be replaced? If so, can you provide the quantity and Amp Hour Size?

A. Quantity 300. Amp Hour The amp hour size isn t documented on any of my reports. (Only Amp Panel, Main Panel and Nac Panel) Waiting on a more specific answer from one of our electricians.

Q. Can you provide an inventory of fire alarm, fire sprinkler, fire suppression systems devices to be tested? Such as smoke detectors, pull stations,

A. kitchen hoods/Haz Waste Pad fire suppression systems 8  duct detectors, fdc's, etc...

Q. How many fire hydrants are to be tested?

A. 21

Q. Section 19.1-5 Can you confirm that Certifications (NICET/State) are able to be a combination of the contractor and/or subcontractor certifications

A. All primes and subs need to be certified

Q. On requirement 1 maintenance is referenced, which is a bit ambiguous. Is this including parts and labor?

A. Yes

Q. Maintenance and repair is also on requirement 6. What does this mean?

A. The vendor should have the ability or resources to repair any discrepancies post inspection (repair quotes required)

Q. Requirement 11 states All inspectors shall be Notifier Factory trained to service and program Notifier 3030 fire alarm systems. We are not factory trained however we are trained and can work on Notifier but factory trained means you are a distributor and we are not.

A. Do they have current documentation within the past 2 years as proof of being formally trained?

Q. Page 7 of 69 line 11 lists parts rider maintenance parts but no parts are listed.

A. Notifier panel components, pull stations, releasing devices, horns, heat, tamper, smoke detectors, elevator shunt trips, strobes, sprinkler heads, speakers, flow switches, valves, gauges, batteries, fire hydrant/FDC components, duct detectors.

Q. References made to parts and labor included, but also says pricing per parts.

A. Remove pricing per parts.

Q. References made to 20 calls per year, does that mean we should work that into the price? Don t allocate any more than 20 calls, what are these calls for?

A. Emergent system repairs

Q. The list of fire alarm devices on the spreadsheet, lists buildings 100w-125, and outside but makes no reference to parking garage

A. Attached, Fisher House 1, Fisher House 2, or Fisher House 3 Attached

Q. The lists of fire alarm devices on the spreadsheet lists 4 elevator recalls total for all the properties but the SOW lists 8.

A. Main Hospital: 34, Outer buildings: 37 Confirmed today.

Q. What is the brand and model of the fire panel?

A. Notifier NCA 2. The mechanical rooms: Model 640

Q. Page 11 of 12 of Attachment 2_Fire_QSP says annual smoke detector testing but Attachment 1_Fire_and_sprinkler_SOW says smokes should be tested biannually (page 3 of 11). This is a discrepancy.

A. Annually

Q. Attachment 1_SOW start date says 9/22-9/23 but page 11 of 11 of the RFQ says 3/23-2/24. Which is correct?

A. 3/23/23, or as soon as the NTP has been issued.

Additional information:

There are different battery sizes throughout campus:

12v 7amp

12v 12amp

18v 18amp

Outer Building elevator recalls:

125 4

Fisher House 1 3

Fisher House 2 4

Fisher House 3 4

108A 5

109 8

110 4

125 = 5

There are a variety of notifier panels on station as well:

Main building - 100: Main Panel, 1- NFS-3030

                                      Mech Rooms: 16 - NFS-640

Fisher House 1 -NFS 320

Fisher House 2 NFS 640

Fisher House 3 NFS 320

125 NFS 3030

102/102A NFS - 640

103 NFS - 640

105 NFS2-640

114 NFS - 320

123 NFS 320

108A NFS2-3030

104A NFS- 2640

109 NFS - 2640

110 NFS-320

125 NFS-3030

108 NFS2-640

106 NFS - 640

Parking Garage NFS-320

To schedule site visits contact:

Kimberly L. Henderson

Safety Specialist

Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center

2002 Holcombe Blvd

Houston, TXÂ 77030

(713) 791-1414, x25106

Kimberly.henderson@va.gov