H241--Air Flow and Pressure Balance Testing at Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS)

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides clarifications regarding technical questions related to Air Flow and Pressure Balance Testing for opportunity 36C25626Q0445.

• Testing Frequency for New Rooms: Of the 87 New Rooms, 75 will be tested annually, and 12 Operating Room (OR) rooms will be tested quarterly. Any unmarked rooms will be assigned to annual testing.
• Data Entry for New Rooms: Required fields for these new rooms will be entered at a later date. The 12 New OR rooms will have a requirement of 20 AC/Hr. with Positive pressure.

This clarification provides specific details on testing schedules and data entry for new rooms, which may impact bidder understanding of scope and requirements.

Amendment / Modification

• The closing date for receipt of offers has been extended from 03/27/2026 3:00 PM CST to 03/31/2026 3:00 PM CST.

• Answers to previously submitted vendor questions have been posted.

• The Performance Work Statement (PWS) has been updated.

• An updated Air Flow Room list has been posted.

• Solicitation closing date

• Performance Work Statement (PWS)

• Air Flow Room List

• Questions & Answers

• The deadline for submitting proposals or quotes has been extended to 03/31/2026 at 3:00 PM CST.

• Bidders should review the updated PWS, Air Flow Room list, and the posted answers to questions to ensure their proposals are compliant.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Excel spreadsheet titled "Updated Air Flow Room List 26 Q1 032526.xlsx". It provides a detailed list of various rooms, categorized by their function (e.g., storage, utility, operating rooms, medical rooms, labs) and their air flow pressure (positive or negative).

• Room Identification: Each row lists a specific room or area within a facility.
• Air Flow Pressure: Indicates whether the room has positive (+) or negative (-) air pressure.
• Room Volume: Specifies the volume of the room in cubic feet.
• Required AC/Hr: Lists the required air changes per hour for each room.
• Testing Status: Columns indicate if the room is tested Quarterly or Annually.
• Other Data: Includes columns for Temperature, Humidity, Supply/Return/Exhaust CFH, and Pass/Fail status for tests.

This list is crucial for bidders to understand the environmental control requirements for different areas within a facility. It details specific room designations, their intended use, and critical air flow parameters (pressure, volume, air changes per hour). This information is essential for any work involving HVAC systems, environmental monitoring, or facility maintenance where maintaining specific air quality and pressure is paramount. Bidders should review this list to assess their capability to meet the specified environmental conditions for relevant areas of performance.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To test, balance, and maintain records of air flow and pressure sensitive rooms at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) campuses, ensuring compliance with VA standards and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) requirements.

• Perform annual testing and documentation of all pressure and air flow sensitive rooms.

• Conduct quarterly testing for rooms requiring it.

• Record room temperature, air flow, pressure, and air flow directions for all tested rooms.

• Measure rooms to determine total volume.

• Verify rooms meet required pressure and air changes.

• Adjust/balance airflows if rooms do not meet specifications, or consult with maintenance for corrective actions.

• Provide documentation including individual grill CFM, total CFM, room pressure, temperature, humidity, and fiscal measurements.

• Rooms must meet VA standards for air flow, air changes per hour, temperature, humidity, and pressure differential.

• Annual testing by a NEBB or AABC certified company.

• Quarterly testing for specified rooms.

• Documentation must be provided in an Excel spreadsheet format.

• Base year with 4 Option years.

• Locations: 2200 Fort Roots Dr., North Little Rock, AR 72114 and 4300 West 7th Street, Little Rock, AR 72205.

• Contractor must be certified by NEBB or AABC.

• All testing equipment must have NIST certifications.

• Work hours are typically 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM Monday-Friday, with potential for after-hours services in specific areas (e.g., operating room, pharmacy) with prior approval.

• Contractor employees must undergo background checks and may be issued non-PIV badges.

• Strict adherence to confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements regarding patient, employee, and facility information is required.

• Contractor must comply with Federal records management laws and NARA policies.

• Contractor is responsible for ensuring subcontractors also comply with these requirements.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment modifies Solicitation 36C25626Q0445 for Air Flow and Pressure Balance Testing at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS).

Key changes include:

• Extension of Closing Date: The response deadline has been extended from March 27, 2026, 3:00 PM CST to March 31, 2026, 3:00 PM CST.

• Posting of Answers to Questions: Responses to vendor inquiries have been provided.

• Updated Performance Work Statement (PWS): A revised PWS has been posted.

• Updated Air Flow Room List: An updated list of airflow rooms has been provided.

• The closing date for the solicitation has been changed.

• The following documents have been updated or added:

  • S06 - 36C25626Q0445 0001.docx
  • S06 - Technical Questions _ 36C25626Q0445 _ Air Flow and Pressure Balance Testing.docx
  • S06 - PWS Air Flow Updated 032526.docx
  • S06 - Updated Air Flow Room List 26 Q1 032526.docx

• Bidders are granted an extension to the response deadline until March 31, 2026, 3:00 PM CST.

• Bidders should review the updated PWS, Air Flow Room List, and the provided answers to technical questions when preparing their proposals.

Other / Unclassified

This document is a Wage Determination (No. 2015-5117, Revision No. 29) issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division. It establishes minimum wage rates and fringe benefits for various occupations in the Arkansas counties of Faulkner, Lonoke, Perry, Pulaski, and Saline, as required by the Service Contract Act.

This document is crucial for any bidder responding to a solicitation that requires services in the specified Arkansas counties. It details the minimum hourly wage rates and associated fringe benefits that must be paid to employees performing work under the contract. Bidders must use this information to accurately calculate labor costs in their proposals to ensure compliance with federal regulations. The document also outlines Executive Orders related to paid sick leave and minimum wage adjustments for federal contractors, as well as the process for conforming unlisted job classifications.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Excel spreadsheet titled "Air Flow Room List 26 Q1 030626.xlsx". It appears to be a detailed list of rooms, categorized by their air flow pressure (positive or negative), and includes various specifications such as room volume, required air changes per hour (AC/Hr), temperature, humidity, and supply, return, and exhaust air flow rates (CFH).

• Room Identification: Each row lists a specific room or area within a facility (e.g., "1A-102 STORAGE", "1C112A/1C127 CLEAN LINES").
• Pressure Type: Indicates whether the room is positive (POS.) or negative (NEG.) pressure.
• Air Flow Data: Includes columns for "Sup CFH" (Supply Cubic Feet per Hour), "Ret CFH" (Return Cubic Feet per Hour), and "Exh CFH" (Exhaust Cubic Feet per Hour).
• Room Volume: Specifies the volume of each room.
• Required AC/Hr: Lists the required air changes per hour for each room.
• Temperature and Humidity: Provides target temperature and humidity levels.
• Pass/Fail Indicator: A "Pass" column is present, suggesting a compliance or testing aspect.
• Date and RPM Data: Includes columns for "Date" and "RPM'S ON INSIGHT" / "RPM'S ON TRANE", which may relate to equipment or performance monitoring.

This document provides critical environmental and air flow specifications for various rooms within a facility. Bidders involved in HVAC, facility maintenance, construction, or any work requiring specific environmental controls would need to consult this list to understand the operational requirements and conditions of different areas. It may be relevant for understanding the scope of work related to maintaining or modifying these environmental parameters, ensuring compliance with air quality standards, or planning for equipment installation or upgrades.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a Request for Quote (RFQ) for Air Flow and Pressure Balance Testing services at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS). The government intends to award a firm-fixed-price contract.

• The contractor shall provide Air Flow and Pressure Balance Testing in accordance with the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

• Specific testing will be conducted at various locations within the Central Arkansas VA Healthcare System.

• Contract Type: Firm-fixed price.

• Place of Performance: Central Arkansas VA Healthcare System (CAVHS), Little Rock, AR 72205.

• Technical Questions Deadline: Thursday, March 19, 2026, 3:00 PM Central Daylight Time (CDT). Submit via email to t.miller@va.gov with subject line: “Technical Questions – 36C25626Q0445 – Air Flow and Pressure Balance Testing”. Include solicitation/page numbers in questions.

• Offer Submission Deadline: Friday, March 27, 2026, 3:00 PM Central Time. Submit offers via email to t.miller@va.gov with subject line: “36C25626Q0445 – Air Flow and Pressure Balance Testing”.

• This solicitation is a Set-Aside for Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB).

• Respondents must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov.

• Interested SDVOSBs must be listed and certified at SBA Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) to receive contract awards.

• NAICS Code: 238220

• Product/Service Code: H241

• Referenced Attachments: S02 - 36C25626Q0445, Air Flow Room List 26 Q1 030626, WD 2015-5117 Rev 29.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for "Room Air Flow and Pressure Testing" services for the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS). The objective is to test and balance air flow and pressure sensitive rooms, ensuring they meet VA standards for air flow, air changes per hour, temperature, humidity, and pressure differential. This testing is also necessary for Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) compliance.

• Provide all labor, tools, materials, equipment, transportation, and supervision for room air flow and pressure testing.

• Verify data against NIST-certified monitoring equipment.

• Annually test and document pressure and air flow sensitive rooms, providing a document showing room temperature, air flow, pressure, and air flow directions.

• Utilize the Trane Building Automation System (BAS) for quarterly testing where applicable, or manually test if automation is not available.

• Rooms require individual grill CFM and total CFM documentation, along with room pressure, temperature, humidity, and fiscal measurements.

• Contractor employees must be certified by the National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB) or Associated Air Balance Council (AABC).

• Testing equipment must be NIST certified.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price.

• Period of Performance: Base year with 4 Option years.

• Locations: Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System campuses at 2200 Fort Roots Dr., North Little Rock, AR, 72114 and 4300 West 7th Street, Little Rock, AR, 72205.

• Questions Due: 03/19/2026 by 3:00 PM CST via email to t.miller@va.gov.

• Offers Due: 03/27/2026 by 3:00 PM CST.

• Submission Method: Email to t.miller@va.gov.

• Evaluation Factors: Technical Capability, Price, and Test/Performance Schedule.

• Award: The Government intends to award one contract without discussions.

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

• Offerors must be verified/registered in SAM.gov and certified by the SBA as an SDVOSB at the time of offer submission and award.

• The provided room list is subject to change.

• Work hours are typically 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM Monday-Friday, with potential for after-hours work in specific areas with prior approval.

• Contractor personnel require specific security clearances and background checks.