Page 1 of 7 A.1 Scope of Work The project includes construction services for replacing the primary boilers serving the Albany VAMC main hospital. The goal of the project is to improve the boiler plant reliability and efficiency. The primary boilers to be replaced include three (3) 900 HP dual fuel fired steam water-tube boilers operating at 120 psig that date to 1978. Two temporary dual fuel 1,000 BHP steam boilers will be staged in the parking lot of Building 5. Services from the temporary boilers to the existing plant will also be supplied. A newer 400 HP fire-tube steam boiler is anticipated to remain in service until the temporary boilers are operating. The existing boilers provide high pressure steam for a combination of process loads (sterilization, kitchen, and humidification) and building heat (steam convectors for heating hot water). Due to the power requirements of the temporary boilers, the transformers and switch gear serving the chiller plant will be replaced as the first phase. All items contained in the approved drawings and specifications including the design narrative and appendices and any approved revisions are part of this contract. Contractors are also required to adhere to specification section 013200, Construction Documentation. Contractor will be required to use Autodesk Build as the construction management platform. Contractor will also be required to have completed and approved submittals prior to mobilizing. The submittals required to be completed prior to mobilization are shown in the submittal register. Note: C&A requirements do not apply and a security accreditation package is not required. The contract requires that a phased construction approach be employed with restrictions on allowable timing of certain construction activities and system downtime. The phasing was coordinated to minimize the shutdowns needed for both steam, domestic hot water, and electrical service. Contractor shall make every effort to minimize shutdowns. If the medical center is without a service for greater than 4 hours the contractor shall provide a temporary replacement for this service. This project is using a phased approach: All identified submittals shall be submitted and approved prior to beginning work phases. The initial phase will replace the existing electrical equipment and install new switchgear equipment in both the chiller and boiler plants. Coordinate with the VA COR on what electrical equipment has been purchased by the VA. This equipment will be installed by the contractor. Remove heat exchangers 1 and 2 in the chiller plant and replace with new switchgear to serve chiller plant. Install new electrical duct bank from Hi Yard to location of new transformers. Install new concrete pads and new switches and transformers. Install new switch gear to serve boiler plant. The new equipment shall be tested and commissioned by a third-party contractor. prior to being put in operation. The construction contractor shall assist with this commissioning as detailed. The second phase will install the two temporary boilers. These boilers will prove they can continuously operate for two weeks prior to removing the three 900 HP boilers. The 400 HP summer boiler will remain in service for as long as possible. The anticipated duration of the temporary boilers is two years. Contactor shall provide maintenance and 24-hour service for the boilers. Contractor shall also provide VA approved chemicals and riot testing. Construct a temporary structure to support the steam, condensate, gas, oil, DCW, conduits, etc. serving the temporary boilers. Replace the existing DHW boilers with steam converters. All control and monitoring points currently located in the boiler control room shall be mirrored in the temporary trailer. VA boiler operators shall be able to end one shift in the existing boiler control room and start a new shift in the temporary trailer with no down time. All equipment and points in the control room shall be new and be proved operational prior to moving the control room to the temporary trailer. The entire temporary construction, including the temporary boilers operation and temporary control trailer as well as the DHW converters, shall be commissioned by a third-party contractor. The construction contractor shall assist with this commissioning as detailed. The temporary boilers and steam fired DWH shall be operational and accepted by the VA prior to using this equipment to provide steam and DHW to the facility. Once the second phase is complete the third phase will commence. Removal of the (3) 900 HP boilers. Trench the slab to revise the sanitary piping and install. Installation of the new boilers. Remove the 400 HP boiler. Correct the operation of the make-up air unit. Install the emergency generator. Install all controls and monitoring points back to the existing boiler control room. All aspects of the installation shall be commissioned by a third-party contractor. The construction contractor shall assist with this commissioning as detailed. A.2 REFERENCES The work required under this contract is shown on specifications and drawings prepared by Alares Architects and Engineers entitled Replace Main Boilers, VA project #528A8-17-805, and dated June 05, 2024 and further defined in the project Design Narrative of the same date. A.3 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, and materials necessary to perform the work as indicated in this scope of work, project specifications and drawings. The contactor shall make every effort to maintain the existing conditions that are not part of the project. In addition to following FAR 52.236-9, Protection of Existing, Structures, Equipment, Utilities and Improvements the contractor shall remove or alter existing work in such a manner as to prevent injury or damage to any portions of the existing work, which is to remain. The contractor shall repair or replace portions of the existing work, which have been altered or damaged during construction operations to match existing or adjoining work, as approved by the COR and at no cost to the government. At the completion of operations, existing work shall be in a condition equal to or better than that which existed before new work started. The Contactor shall verify all existing conditions on the site and in the facility infrastructure that the proposed project may affect before the commencement of any construction. This includes but is not limited to verifying the location and elevations of existing utilities, verifying site items as shown on the project drawings, and taking appropriate field measurements. The government will not be held responsible for bidding errors made or the failure to adequately inspect the job site for existing conditions, dimensions or to fully review manufacturer s information related to the project. All discrepancies between the drawings, specifications and manufacturer s recommendations shall be brought to the attention of the Contracting Officer prior to the commencement of work. The Contractor shall abide by the Scope of Work regardless of whether or not a manufacturer calls for the task, level of preparation, etc. in question. The only exception is where the Contracting Officer agrees in writing that the item or task specifically voids a manufacturer s warranty and may be omitted. A credit for the work not performed may be due the government in such circumstances at the discretion of the Contracting Officer. All drawings notated with install, replace, provide, or new infer that the contractor is responsible for providing all materials and labor associated to complete that task or phase of the project as well as the project overall. A.4 SCHEDULES The work shall be substantially complete no later than 730 calendar days after notice to proceed. Rescheduling of any activities shall be done at no cost to the government unless negotiation and authorization of the rescheduled activity has been agreed upon by the government. Notify the Contracting Officer s Representative at least 72 hours prior to starting demolition work, minor utility shut downs, large deliveries or any event that may impact the normal operations of the facility. A.5 CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE Coordination with the government for project progress updates and scheduled items shall be a regular occurrence, initiated by the Contractor. Construction progress meetings shall be held weekly at a day and time agreed to with the Contracting Officer s Representative, unless otherwise agreed to. The Contractor will provide the previous week s meeting minutes to all attendees, including any edits required by the Contracting Officer s Representative, at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. A submittal schedule will be provided and updated at each meeting indicating the status of all submittals. The VA s project Contracting Officer s Representative shall govern all work done during the project duration. The Contractor will immediately correct any work that the Contracting Officer s Representative deems unacceptable or not in accordance with the plans or specifications at no additional cost to the government. Contractors shall pass the yearly contractor training class and be badged prior to working on site. A.6 Autodesk build construction management platform: The Contractor shall utilize VISN 2 Autodesk Build Construction management platform, also called Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC). Access to the platform and training portal will be provided by VISN 2 through project Contracting Officer Representative (COR) at no cost for the duration of the project. Autodesk Build is the management and collaborative environment that VISN 2 uses for all its Non-Recurring Maintenance (NRM), Minor Program projects, Feasibility Studies, Commissioning and Retro-Commissioning contracts. There is no user, license, or subscription fee to the contractor for using this cloud-based platform. The Contractor shall accomplish and complete the following tasks upon award of contract: Request access to ACC platform and ProductivityNOW eLearning Site to project VA COR within 14 days of contract award. Only staff that shall utilize the platform to be granted access. Examples: Project manager, sub-contractors POC, Site manager, Safety officer, etc. The access request shall be in writing and include a list of staff. The list shall include the following information: Full Name Company Name Email Address Role/Position on the project (i.e., Project manager, site super) Contractor staff granted access to the ACC platform shall complete ACC training through ProductivityNOW eLearning platform and provide certificates of completion to COR within 12 Calendar days of access being granted. Initial access to ProductivityNOW eLearning platform shall expire after 12 Calendar days after online access is granted. D) Additional Staff and Subcontractors can be added at any time with a request submission to the project COR. The contractor shall only use the ACC platform for contract required submissions, official project correspondence to be acknowledged, reviewed, and actioned by the responsible party. No additional time shall be added to the contract, nor an increase in contract amount be provided for the contractor s failure to utilize the ACC platform as the project s official communication and collaboration system. Any correspondence out of platform shall not be the governing authority contradicting direction and will be at the contractor s expense. Official project correspondence and collaboration includes but not limited to: RFIs, submittals, schedules, shutdown requests, actionable tasks, reports, testing, safety inspections, photos, and site surveys. Contractor shall inform the COR of any staff changes within 2 business days from the change. Staff changes pertains to staff granted access to the ACC platform. Contractor shall request termination of access, replacement of personnel and/or any other action that might impact the contractor ability to maintain required utilization of the platform. Contractor submission requirements cannot be accepted for work to begin without meeting all ACC Platform requirements outlined herein, including completing required ACC platform training.
