Background information: The ongoing issue of glare and temperature fluctuations affects the first and second floors in the South-West section of the building, which contains the largest concentration of glass. During the building s development, specifications indicated that high-performance glazing would admit light while minimizing heat transfer, and that window frames would be thermally broken to provide insulation comparable to standard walls. However, adjacent spaces continue to experience excessive heat in the summer and significant cold and afternoon glare in the winter. Question 1: Could you provide any drawings or spec documents that would help us put a bid together? We appreciate any help you can provide. Answer: PDF is what I have available on the building, though it is the same plan as what was provided in SOW/initial solicitation. The site visit was planned to make aware the specific details of the constructed building as often the plans do not reflect what was physically constructed. Question 2: Can you provide access to an AutoCAD drawing and any existing pictures of space? Answer: The As-Builts are attached in PDF form. Question 3: We understand the requirement is for commercial-grade roller shades; however, we did not see a specific fabric, openness percentage, color, or manufacturer listed in the notice. Answer: The VA is requesting quotes for optimal window coverings. The site visit was intended to familiarize vendors with the interior and exterior factors, enabling them to recommend solutions that effectively address glare and solar gain. Question 4: First, could you provide any additional guidance regarding the 1%, 3%, 5%, and 10% openness materials referenced in the specifications? We would like to better understand whether there are specific preferences or intended applications for the different openness factors throughout the project. Answer: "The site visit was scheduled to assess the interior space and evaluate how exterior elements affect it. Based on these observations, the vendor can recommend solutions to address glare and solar gain. Question 5: Additionally, during the walkthrough we identified a window where an existing structural element may impact a standard installation approach. Our installer has a potential solution and would appreciate the opportunity to discuss the condition with you to ensure our proposed approach aligns with the VA's expectations and project requirements. Answer: That is acceptable. The planned site visit was intended to identify areas that may require different mounting or products to ensure consistency. Please account for these conditions in your bid. If your bid is accepted, we welcome suggestions or reviews, provided that any proposed solutions do not increase costs Question 6: Any guidance you can provide would be greatly appreciated. If a brief call would be helpful, we would be happy to coordinate at your convenience. Are you able to get us roller shade specs/selections? Also, is there any way we can get an actual set of plans? There is a screenshot with an outline of windows, but a full plan set would help ensure the scope and sizes are matched to the quantities provided. It seems you have specific conditions we would need to work around, and I don t believe we can get accurate sizes with what has been provided Answer: Access to the As-Built drawings is currently limited to PDF format. The site visit was scheduled to assess the interior space and to evaluate the impact of exterior elements. Based on these observations, the vendor can recommend solutions to mitigate glare and solar gain.
