J042--Jackson Fire Suppression Maintenance

Solicitation 36C10D25Q0129

Fire Suppression Maintenance at VBA Jackson Regional Office

Questions and Answers

Set #3

Can you please specify each element of performance from the Joint Commission standard EC.02.03.05 is required to be performed and documented under this contract? Referring to NFPA 25 and 72 does not provide the clarification needed.

Please refer to the updated SOW.

Which CLIN should the cost for fire alarm monitoring services be applied to?

It is included in the contract. Please refer to the SOW.

Which CLIN should the cost of the internal 5-year obstruction inspection be applied to? Please note, this is to occur in only 1 of the 5 years of the contract.

Refer to the SOW.

Can you please provide a complete inventory of fire extinguishers requiring inspection? This list should be broken down by type and size to determine appropriate inspection costs. Gathering an inventory of the fire extinguishers is not something that can be done during a site visit as that would require building drawings and access to every room to verify fire extinguishers. A previous inspection report will also provide us with the quantities and each type.

I have requested the list.

Previous responses to the RFI s included a fire alarm inspection report. Can you please provide the previous annual fire sprinkler, standpipes, fire pump, backflow preventers, kitchen suppression, and fire extinguisher inspection reports? These reports will help clear up uncertainty within the scope of work and as required by the joint commission they should be available.

I have requested the list.

Previous question 13.8, response stated see number 7 above. These 2 items are not same. CLIN 0011 is to replace 14 pull stations which the host of the site visit was under the impression this work was already completed. Please confirm if this work is completed or needed to remain in this scope of work.

Remain in the scope but changed from replaced to repair 14 pull station.

The scope of work for fire alarm and detection/monitoring services Paragraph a.vi states the monitoring service needs to be at a minimum NICET certified. This does not exist, NICET certifies individual technicians in fire protection related disciplines. Companies and facilities are not provided with NICET certifications for anything. Can you please remove or revise this requirement to ensure offerors will not be deemed unacceptable because of this? Remove the language for the NICET requirement. The contractor will provide the minimum NFPA 72 requirement. SOW has been updated.

(Does this mean that the monitoring service should be UL listed).

No

Relating to the RFI above, please confirm the intention for the NICET requirement is for technicians performing the inspection, testing, and maintenance to be NICET certified. Typically, NICET Level II technicians perform the inspection, testing, and maintenance work, and are overseen by NICET III or IV technicians. We would recommend qualification requirements such as this consistent amongst most fire protection and life safety solicitations we see through the VA. The Technician can be NICET certified but require per NFPA 72 requirements.

(This needs more clarification. In the past, the technicians were required to have NICET II license to perform inspections on site. This answer makes that sound optional, but I'm not sure that is what the customer meant. NFPA 72 has nothing to do with the license requirement. We need to confirm that all inspectors performing the inspections need to have NICET II certifications. We also need to confirm if that goes for all systems, (Fire alarm, sprinkler, extinguisher, suppression etc.), or if it only applies to fire and sprinkler).

Please look at the revise statement of work.

When were each of the required 5-year inspection services last performed? We need to know this for allocating resources for each contract year. The last five-year inspection was completed September 4, 2024.

(I have paperwork showing a 5-year internal/obstruction inspection was just completed on the sprinkler system in August this year. Is this in reference to another 5-year inspection? And which system is this 5-year referring to if it's not sprinkler?)

Please look at the revise statement of work. 5 year annual inspection is 5 years from September 4, 2024

The following questions are regarding the Price/Cost Schedule.

Item 0001: Is this two 100% inspections each year or two 50% inspections each year? Please read the information by Please refer to NFPA 25 standards.

(This seems to be very vague and leaves it up for interpretation by each vendor. The item refers to fire alarm, so it would be NFPA 72, not NFPA 25. I would say 100% annual once a year, (including smoke detector cleaning), and a simple panel battery inspection/test & visual of the rest of the system for the semi-annual requirement. Please confirm).

Please look at the revise statement of work.

Item 0002: Exactly what is to be included in monthly inspections? Just notification devices (A/Vs)? 100% or 1/12? Please refer to NFPA 25 standards

(This seems to also be referring to NFPA 72, since it's fire alarm. The monthly inspections are visual only for control equipment & system status checks according to NFPA 72. Please confirm).

Please look at the revise statement of work.

Item 0003: Exactly what is to be included in monthly inspections? 100% or 1/12? Please refer to NFPA 25 standards.

(Also for fire alarm, NFPA 72. This item also notes a monthly inspections. Item 0002 & 0003 seem to be the same thing Please confirm).

Please look at the revise statement of work.

Item 0006: Is this 100% each month or 1/12 each month? Please refer to NFPA 25 standards.

(Monthly is running the fire pump for 10 minutes each week, and visually checking valves & gauges on all sprinkler and standpipe systems once a month ..Please confirm).

Please look at the revise statement of work.

Item 0007: The specifications mention backflow to be inspected monthly, but this item specifies once per year. Can you please clarify? Please read the information from SOW and the CLIN again. Fire suppression (a)(x) shows a monthly inspection. CLNN 0007states that the backflow preventor will be TESTED annually.

(If the SOW calls for monthly backflow inspections, which CLIN should we put the price for that? 0006 mentions sprinkler, standpipe, and fire pump, but not backflow.. Please confirm).

I don t see a line item to provide pricing for monitoring services or for 5-year Internal Obstruction inspections listed in the specifications. There is no line item for that.  That is part of the contract when the contract is awarded.Â

(If there is no line for that, and this is part of the contract when it is awarded, does this mean we provide that price separately at the time these items are needed, or should the price be included in one of the CLIN. If we should include the price in a CLIN, which CLIN should we include it under?)

Please reference the Updated SOW.

Item 0011: Site visit guide was under the assumption that this item may have already been completed. Please clarify. See number 7 above.

(The SOW for 0011 is for replacing 14 pull stations. Was that completed? Number 7 only notes the backflow.)

Please reference the Updated SOW.

Do the devices already have unique identifiers or is this a new feature added to the scope this year? If they already have them, are they barcodes? And will the listing be provided to the winning bidder? Yes (The device names are listed on the points list provided. If they are already named and in the panel programming, I'm not sure what this CLIN is for. What is item 0009 exactly requesting?)

Please reference the Updated SOW.

In the section referencing the suppression (Ansul) system, it specifies that the contractor shall provide inspection & maintenance . including installation, maintenance, and testing of the system. Please define what is to be included with the terms installation and maintenance . Please refer to NFPA 72.

(Assuming this is NFPA 96, since it's referencing kitchen hood. We need to confirm if we are responsible for installing a brand new kitchen hood system, or any 'adds moves changes', in our quoted price, or if those larger items would be quoted outside of this initial price.)

Please review NFPA standard that applies to what you are doing relating to kitchen hood. Please refer to the SOW (repairs and Repair Charges) of once a problem is identified.

In the section referencing monthly preventative maintenance of the fire sprinkler system, what is considered preventative maintenance ? Preventative maintenance is a proactive approach to ensuring that equipment and facilities run smoothly, avoiding the high costs and disruptions of unplanned breakdowns. This will be related to the sprinkler system.

(I've always understood preventative maintenance to be inspections and testing, since that is the way to prevent issues in advance when possible. This would not normally include labor or materials to actually make the repairs Please confirm.

Please refer back to the SOW (repairs and Repair Charges) of once a problem is identified.

Can you please provide the make/model and location of the flame detector? Another site visit is required for that.

(During walkthrough, all agreed there is not a flame detector, and it should be removed from the RFQ in the device list .Please confirm.)

Yes, agreed No flame detector listed.