Z1DZ--Replace Gaskets Building 1 in Chilled Water Pipe System at the Northampton VA Medical Center

Amendment / Modification

This amendment announces several changes to Solicitation Number 36C24126Q0243:

• Site Visit: A site visit is scheduled for Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM EST. Interested vendors should meet at Building 60 (Chapel) at the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System, 421 N Main Street, Leeds, MA 01053. Attendance is encouraged for a better understanding of the requirements.
• Questions Due Date Extended: The deadline for submitting written questions via email to juliette.buchanan@va.gov has been extended to Friday, February 27, 2026, by 4:00 PM EST. Oral questions will not be accepted. Answers will be provided in a formal amendment.
• Responses Due Date Extended: The due date for quote submissions has been extended to March 11, 2026, by 4:00 PM EST.

This amendment primarily affects the site visit details, the deadline for questions, and the due date for responses.

Vendors must note the new due date for quote submissions (March 11, 2026) and the extended deadline for submitting questions (February 27, 2026). All other terms and conditions of the original solicitation remain unchanged.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation (RFQ) for commercial services to replace gaskets in the chilled water pipe system at Building 1 of the Northampton VA Medical Center. The work involves replacing approximately 490 gaskets and damaged insulation.

• Replace all gaskets in the Supply/Return Chilled Water mechanical pipe joining system in Building 1.

• Replace approximately 2,000 linear feet of damaged insulation in kind.

• All work must meet VHA, OSHA, EPA, and Mass DEP standards.

• Contractor must obtain necessary permits from the City of Northampton and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

• Contractor employees must obtain badges, have negative TB tests, wear face shields/safety glasses in patient care areas, and have annual influenza shots.

• Work must be scheduled to minimize disruption to hospital operations, with specific off-hours requirements for abatement, noisy, or excessively noisy work.

• Weather must be forecasted to be 56°F or below consistently for 3 days prior to and throughout the work.

• Period of Performance: 60 days after receipt of order.

• Place of Performance: Building 1, Edward P. Boland VAMC, 421 N Main Street, Leeds, MA 01053.

• Submission Deadline: February 26, 2026, 4:00 PM Eastern Time.

• Submission Method: Email to juliette.buchanan@va.gov. Hand deliveries are not accepted.

• Evaluation Factors: Comparative evaluation based on Price, Past Performance, and Technical Capability.

• Questions Deadline: February 19, 2026, 4:00 PM EST.

• This solicitation is set-aside 100% for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs).

• NAICS Code: 238220 (Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Contractors) with a small business size standard of $19.0 million.

• FSC/PSC: Z1DZ.

• Offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).

• Offerors must submit a Technical Capability Statement, Firm Fixed Price Quote, completed Limitations of Subcontracting form, and Past Performance Worksheet.

• Attached documents include Contract Drawings, VHA Directive 2011-036, FAR 852.219-75, and Wage Determination No. 2015-6115.

Wage Determination

This document is a U.S. Department of Labor Wage Determination (No. 2015-6115, Revision No. 2) applicable to Hampshire County, Massachusetts. It establishes minimum wage rates and fringe benefits for various occupations required for service contracts covered by the Service Contract Act.

• Occupational Wage Rates: The document lists numerous occupations with corresponding hourly wage rates. Bidders must ensure their proposed wages meet or exceed these rates for covered employees.
• Fringe Benefits: Required fringe benefits are listed separately and must be provided in addition to the wage rates. These include Health & Welfare benefits ($5.55 per hour or $222.00 per week) and specific provisions for Executive Order 13706 (Paid Sick Leave).
• Executive Orders: The document references Executive Order 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and Executive Order 13658 (minimum wage adjustments), outlining contractor obligations for paid sick leave and minimum hourly wages.
• Conformance Process: It details the process for requesting authorization of additional classifications and wage rates if a required occupation is not listed in the determination. This involves submitting a Standard Form 1444 (SF-1444) to the contracting officer.
• Holidays and Vacation: A minimum of twelve paid holidays and a structured vacation policy (based on years of service) are outlined.
• Hazardous Pay: Specific differentials are noted for positions involving hazardous materials or ordnance.
• Uniform Allowance: Contractors are responsible for the cost of uniforms and their maintenance if required.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is the VA Notice of Limitations on Subcontracting—Certificate of Compliance for Services and Construction (JAN 2023) (DEVIATION). It requires offerors to certify their compliance with subcontracting limitations if awarded a contract.

• Services Contracts: Offerors must certify that they will not pay more than 50% of the contract amount to firms that are not certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) or Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs).
• General Construction Contracts: Offerors must certify that they will not pay more than 85% of the contract amount to firms that are not certified SDVOSBs or VOSBs.
• Special Trade Construction Contractors: Offerors must certify that they will not pay more than 75% of the contract amount to firms that are not certified SDVOSBs or VOSBs.
• Acknowledgement of Jurisdiction: Offerors acknowledge that this certification is subject to Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001, and that false certifications may lead to penalties.
• Consequences of Non-Compliance: Details potential penalties for awarded SDVOSB/VOSB contractors who do not act in good faith, including referral to VA Suspension and Debarment Committee, fines, and prosecution.
• Record Keeping: Offerors understand they may be required to provide documents to VA to demonstrate compliance.
• Certification Requirement: The formal certification must be completed, signed, and returned with the offeror's bid, quotation, or proposal. Offers without this certification will be deemed ineligible for award.

This is a mandatory document that must be completed and submitted with an offer. Failure to provide the signed certification will result in the offer being deemed ineligible for award. Bidders must understand the specific subcontracting limitations applicable to their contract type (services, general construction, or special trade construction) and ensure their proposed approach complies.

Other / Unclassified

This document is a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Directive (2011-036) establishing policy for maintaining a safe and healthy worksite during construction and renovation activities at VHA-owned or leased facilities. It outlines responsibilities for various VHA offices and personnel, as well as requirements for contractors, to ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, NFPA, TJC, and other relevant safety standards.

While not a solicitation, this directive is highly relevant to potential bidders involved in VHA construction or renovation projects. It details the safety and health requirements that will likely be incorporated into contracts. Key aspects include:

• Contractor Safety Requirements: Mandates specific OSHA training (10-hour and 30-hour) for all onsite construction workers and requires verification of this training.
• Safety Officer Roles: Defines the roles and responsibilities of various safety officers, including the Construction Safety Officer (CSO) and the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR), who will oversee contractor compliance.
• Pre-Construction Risk Assessments: Requires contractors to conduct and document pre-construction risk assessments to identify and mitigate hazards, including specific assessments for Tuberculosis (TB) transmission.
• Past Safety Record Evaluation: States that prospective contractors' past safety records (OSHA/EPA violations, Experience Modification Rate) will be evaluated during the awarding of contracts.
• Intervention and Enforcement: Outlines procedures for intervention when hazardous conditions are identified, including the potential for stopping work and contract termination for non-compliance.
• Specific Hazards: Addresses requirements related to high-severity serious-construction (HSCS) accidents and Interim Life Safety Measures (ILSM).

Bidders should familiarize themselves with this directive to understand the stringent safety protocols and compliance expectations for VHA construction projects.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document contains architectural and mechanical drawings for the "B1 Chiller Pipe Victaulic Gasket Replacement" project at the Department of Veterans Affairs Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System. It includes a cover page with abbreviations and legends, general notes, and mechanical plans for the basement, first floor, second floor, and attic.

• Cover Page (GI001): Lists all drawing sheets, provides abbreviations for mechanical and architectural terms, and includes a piping legend.
• General Notes (GI002): Outlines project phasing, construction requirements (e.g., scheduling, environmental controls, working hours), coordination with other trades, and adherence to codes and permits.
• Mechanical Plans (M101-M104): Detail the layout of chilled water supply (CHWS) and return (CHWR) piping, condensate drains (CD), and steam lines throughout Building 1 across different floors (basement, first, second, and attic). These plans indicate pipe sizes, valve locations, and connections to air handling units (AHUs) and chillers.

These drawings are critical for bidders to understand the scope of work, the existing conditions of the chilled water piping system, and the specific locations where gasket replacements will occur. They provide essential visual information for planning the installation, identifying potential challenges, and estimating the resources required for the project.