SOLICITATION NOTICE
Z -- Bat Exclusion (666-19-103)
- Notice Date
- 10/12/2022 8:16:12 AM
- Notice Type
- Solicitation
- NAICS
- 236220
— Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
- Contracting Office
- NETWORK CONTRACT OFFICE 19 (36C259) Greenwood Village CO 80111 USA
- ZIP Code
- 80111
- Solicitation Number
- 36C25922R0119
- Response Due
- 11/10/2022 1:00:00 PM
- Archive Date
- 01/03/2023
- Point of Contact
- Jared Detton (CS), Contract Specialist
- E-Mail Address
-
jared.detton@va.gov
(jared.detton@va.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- SDVOSBC Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Set-Aside (FAR 19.14)
- Awardee
- null
- Description
- Statement of Work Bat Exclusion, Sheridan VA Healthcare System Main Campus 666-19-103 1.0 Objective: Professional abatement services are required to remove bat colonies, conduct bat proofing/exclusion, remove bat guano, effect parasite sterilization as needed, and sanitize affected areas in the attics of residential housing quarters and Hospital and Industrial buildings at the Sheridan VA Healthcare System Main Campus, 1898 Fort Road, Sheridan, Wyoming 82801. The building schedule is specified in the list below. 2.0 Scope Work will generally consist of full site inspections, identification of entry points, bat removal, installation of exclusion devices, sealing the structures from re-infestation, and cleanup of guano through industry-accepted standards to include moistening the droppings before removal, bagging for disposal, and wearing HEPA-equipped respirators or self-contained breathing apparatus. Service is also required to install bat houses in surrounding fields to provide alternative roosting shelters and encourage permanent exclusion from VA facilities. The contractor shall provide all labor, equipment, materials, tools, transportation and supervision necessary to complete this project. Work will include a minimum five-year warranty against re-infestation. The COR is responsible for providing the Contractor with the name and contact information of the VA Bat Permit holder. The Contractor is responsible for ensuring they properly communicate with the VA Bat Permit holder and COR to effect proper communication with the state. 3.0 Requirements: To address public safety concerns and provide for bat population conservation, the following tasks will be conducted: conducting exit surveys to determine colony sizes and building points of entry/exit; conducting bat exclusions in each building as needed; guano cleanup; constructing and installing bat houses. Bats are roosting in multiple buildings throughout industrial and residential areas of this VA. A stepwise, targeted approach will be used to determine exclusion needs and priorities for each building. 1. Identify all buildings being used as roosts by conducting exit surveys. Multiple observers will be required to survey all buildings. See building list below. 2. Identify the number of bats and the type of roosts used for each building. Bats may use various parts of a building to roost in, not only attics. Determine which buildings bats are using attics or other structures where they are able to gain access to interior living spaces. This can be accomplished using a combination of exit surveys and interior inspection of building attics. 3. Prioritize for exclusion those buildings where there are larger colonies and where bats are able to access interior living spaces. Prioritize the hospital building currently identified as housing large numbers of bats, one of which tested positive for rabies. 4. Not all buildings may require exclusion if the colonies are small, bats cannot enter interior living spaces, and there is no public health risk; these buildings will be a lower priority for exclusion or may not require exclusion. Sealing any potential interior entry points, if present, may be all that is required to ensure bats will not enter interior living spaces. 5. Multiple bat houses will be needed to provide sufficient alternate roosting space for potentially large numbers of bats. Installation of 35 bat houses on the North side and 35 bat houses on the East side of VA for a total of 70 bat houses. This will be determined by the contractor on spacing and location. 6. Replace insulation saturated with urine and guano. The insulation will be replaced with the same grade/specifications. 4.0 Mandatory Tasks: The contractor shall complete all mandatory tasks listed below. Task 1: Estimating Bat Colony Size and Determining Points of Entry Exit Surveys: Nocturnal external exit roost surveys (exit surveys) will be used to estimate the number of roosting bats in the building and determine the points of entry into the building. An estimate of colony size will be useful in planning the number and design of alternate bat house roosts to be installed and to locate the entry/exit points where exclusion devices will be used. Surveys will be conducted during the summer season from June through September on evenings with no rain and without excessive winds. Visual observations will be conducted by multiple observers stationed outside each building at likely bat entry/exit points or on each side of the building. Observers should use hand tally counters to keep track of the numbers of bats. Note that bats may swarm outside the building after exiting and re-enter the roost for a brief period before exiting again therefore, if possible, count separately the bats exiting and the bats going in. Night vision binoculars should be used to aid counting. Keep noise to a minimum as excessive or unaccustomed noise may alter emergence behavior. Arrive at the building approximately 45 minutes prior to sunset and end surveys 1 hour after sunset or when bats are no longer exiting the building. Depending on bat colony size, the number of entry/exit points, and weather, more than one survey (e.g., up to 3) may be needed for an accurate count. Data should be recorded on a standardized form. Record the date and duration of survey, building identification number, number of bats observed exiting the building, location of the entry/exit points, time of the first observed exit, and duration of exit. Once entry/exit points are located, inspection of the inside of the roost area (e.g., attic) is recommended, if feasible, to determine if young are being reared (nursery colony use) or if the roost is being used by non-reproductive females and bachelor males. The roost inspection should be conducted during the summer (June and July) when young would be present. The inspection should be brief to reduce disturbance. There is no need to handle any bats, unless species identification is desired. Task 2: Bat Exclusion: Bats will be permanently excluded from roosting in the VA hospital building using non-lethal exclusion methods following Bat Conservation International (BCI) and Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) recommendations. The technique includes using one-way exit devices (exclusion tubes and/or netting), sealing points of entry, and preventing access to the building interior. Exclusion activities will be conducted when bats are not present if feasible. If the exclusion is conducted during the winter months when bats are not present, and bats have been confirmed to not be roosting in the hospital building, one-way exit devices (described below) will not be necessary. If exclusion must take place during the summer months when bats are present, one-way exit devices will be required. One-Way Exit Devices (Exclusion Tubes or Netting) One-way exit devices through which bats can leave but cannot return are made from tube-type excluders or lightweight polypropylene netting (<1/6"" mesh) which are placed at all active entry points. Exclusion tubes should have a diameter of two inches, a length of 10 inches, and should project no more than one-quarter inch into the opening. Once the tube has been secured over the hole, a piece of lightweight, clear plastic can be taped around the tubes outside end to further reduce the likelihood of bats reentering, though this may not be necessary. Multiple exclusion tubes may be required for large structures. Lightweight, flexible plastic netting with one-sixth-inch mesh or smaller can be used to form a one-way valve over openings on smooth surfaces of exterior walls or attic louvers. The netting is secured at the top and sides and extends 18 to 24 inches below the lower edge of the opening with the bottom hanging loose. Further details on installing, making, or purchasing one-way exit devices is contained in BCI s Professional Guidelines (BCI 2010) and BCI s Do-It-Yourself Bat Exclusions (BCI 2012a). The one-way exit devices will remain in place for at least five to seven days. The devices will be removed after all bats have been excluded. It is important to note that simply waiting for bats to fly out at night and then permanently sealing the entrances without the use of one-way exit devices is not recommended because this often traps some bats inside the building. Sealing Exclusion Points Exclusion points will be sealed with silicone caulking, caulk backing rod, hardware cloth or heavy-duty polypropylene mesh. If one-way exit devices have been used, sealing will be conducted after the five-to-seven days that the devices have been in place. Preventing Building Interior Access The building s interior will be inspected for small openings through which bats could enter. Bats can enter buildings or living spaces through openings as small as one-half inch in diameter. All openings connecting potential roosting areas to living quarters should be sealed, while entry points on the outside of the building are left open. Caulking, flashing, screening or insulation can be used to seal most openings on the inside. Draft guards should be placed beneath doors to attics; electrical and plumbing holes should be filled with steel wool, caulking or weather stripping. Seasonal Timing Bat exclusion activities will occur when bats are not present, if feasible. This timing will also ensure that exclusion activities occur outside of the maternity season when bats give birth and raise their pups. Eviction of bats, or any activity that directly affects their roosting area, will occur only before or after the maternity season, when young will not be trapped inside (young that are unable to fly will become trapped inside and will die of starvation). Methods Not to Be Used The following methods will not be used for bat exclusion as these are not approved by BCI as effective, and can be fatal or harmful to bats: Simply waiting for bats to fly out at night and then permanently sealing the entrances without the use of one-way exit devices will not be used because this often traps some bats inside the building. Ultrasonic devices, chemical repellents and smoke will not be used to evict the bats from the building. In addition, canned spray foam can result in the death of bats that come into contact with it and should never be used when bats are still present. Traps and relocation will not be used. Removing large numbers of bats from a building through trapping and relocation is unlikely to be effective. Traps can be fatal to bats if left unattended or if overcrowding occurs. In addition, bats have excellent homing instincts; therefore, relocation attempts are unlikely to succeed. Task 3: Guano Cleanup Precaution: Bat guano may contain spores of the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum which can cause histoplasmosis, a respiratory disease. People risk infection when they inhale the spores of the fungus when guano containing the fungus is disturbed. The disease is usually asymptomatic or causes minor flu-like symptoms, although it can result in serious illness if a large number of spores are inhaled. Histoplasmosis is most common in areas of high temperatures and humidity; it is rare in Wyoming and has only been documented in one cave. For precautionary purposes during guano cleanup, avoid exposure to histoplasmosis by wearing a respirator capable of filtering particles as small as 2 in diameter or use a self-contained breathing apparatus when cleaning or entering areas with guano; dampen dry guano with water before removal; or use a vacuum cleaner to remove dry bat guano. Task 4: Buildings for bat removal and exclusion: The following is a list of buildings. Provided is an approximate roof area for each building. Some buildings do not have attics, these will need clean-up (if any) and interior/exterior exclusion done. Attics are either crawl spaces or standup. SECTION 1 Bldg 10, = 625sf Bldg 12, = 1903sf Bldg 14, = 3446sf A&B unit Bldg 15, = 1750sf Bldg 16, = 3441sf A&B unit Bldg 17, = 2074sf A&B unit Bldg 18, = 2615sf A&B unit Bldg 19, = 1600sf A&B unit Bldg 20, = 2616sf A&B unit Bldg 21, = 1597sf A&B unit Bldg 22, = 2074sf Bldg 28, = 1768sf Bldg 27, = 3016sf SECTION 2 Bldg 86, = 18060sf Bldg 71, = 6844sf Bldg 71 N, = 6733 Bldg 64, = 5820sf Bldg 6, = 5200sf Bldg 7, = 10230sf Bldg 8, = 10104sf Bldg 24, = 1920sf SECTION 3 Bldg 11, = 3212sf Bldg 37, = 3366sf Bldg 1, = 3340sf Bldg 32, = 1228sf Bldg 3, = 2525sf Bldg 4, = 9933sf Bldg 5, = 5200sf Bldg 41, = 5971sf Bldg 42, = 1039sf Bldg 32, = 1223sf Bldg 31, = 4284sf Bldg 35, = 4112sf Bldg 23, = 1582sf Bldg 37, = 7803sf 5.0 PHYSICAL SECURITY: The Contractor shall safeguard all Government property in the work area. At the close of each work period, facilities and equipment shall be secured and taken away from the work site daily 6.0 QUALITY CONTROL: The Contractor shall have a quality control program to assure the requirements of this contract are provided as specified. The Contractor and COR will inspect the work. Deficiencies will be noted and corrected before beginning work in another area. Any damage done by Contractor will also be noted and corrected by the Contractor within 2 working days. Damage causing an immediate impact on the environment of the hospital shall be corrected immediately. 7.0 QUALITY ASSURANCE: The Government will evaluate the contractor's performance under this contract. All surveillance observations will be recorded by the Government. When an observation indicates defective performance, the COR will document the defective performance and notify the Contracting Officer. 8.0 ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS: The VA reserves the right to dispute completion of contract scope if contract work is found not in accordance with industry standards, or is not satisfactorily executed in accordance with the SOW. All work completed by the Contractor must be reviewed and approved by the COR prior to final acceptance. 9.0 PERFORMANCE EVALUATION MEETINGS: The contractor may be required to meet periodically with the COR and Contracting Officer and at the beginning of contract performance. Meetings will be scheduled as needed. The contractor may request meetings to clarify any issues. The written minutes of these meetings shall be signed by the contractor's manager, Contracting Officer, and COR. If the contractor does not concur with the minutes, he shall state any areas of non-concurrence within 5 business days of receipt of the signed minutes. 10.0 POINT OF CONTACT: The Contractor shall specify a point of contact (with phone number) as the designated contact for VA and the parties shall meet as needed. 11.0 OPERATION TIMES: Contractor will be required to provide services between 7:30 AM 4:00 PM Mountain Time, Monday Friday. 12.0 HOLIDAYS: Federal Holidays and any other day declared a federal holiday by the President of the United States listed below. Contractor s work shall not interfere with the functions of the facility during weekends. Barricades, ICRA containment provisions shall be arranged to allow patients and staff unimpeded access (including wheelchairs and patient beds where applicable) to services and resources within the facility. Federal Holidays will not be workdays without special request from COR. New Year s Day Martin Luther King Jr s Birthday Presidents Day Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day Juneteenth If a holiday falls on Sunday, the following Monday will be observed as the National Holiday. When a holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday is observed as a National Holiday by the U.S. Government. If work requires after hours work due to ICRA constraints or inclement weather, then Contractor shall inform FMS seven (7) days in advance. Postponement/Delays: In the event climate or weather conditions become unsuitable for work or may induce an environmental hazard, then the entire work shall be rescheduled to a date and time satisfactory to the Contractor and the COR. Postponement due to inclement weather will not cause assessment of the penalty provision outlined above, nor should there be an additional cost to the Government. All work shall be scheduled and performed within the date and time approved by the COR, in conjunction with the department occupying the space served by this equipment. 13.0 DEFINITIONS: Contract Discrepancy Report: A written report when the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), discovers that there is a discrepancy between the contractor's performance and the actual contract. Contracting Officer (CO): A person duly appointed with the authority to enter into and administer contracts on behalf of the U.S. Government. Contracting Officer's Representative (COR): An individual designated by the Contracting Officer to act as his/her representative to assist in administering a contract. The source and authority for a COR are contained in the written letter of designation. Performance Requirement: The point that divides acceptable and unacceptable performance. When the method of surveillance is other than random sampling, the performance requirement is the number of defectives or maximum percent defective in the lot before the government will affect the price computation system in accordance with the Performance Requirements Summary and the Inspection of Services Clause. 14.0 Badging & Parking: All Contractor personnel are required comply with VAAR 852.273-74 (Available online at VA Technical Information Library) which covers the following requirements: Background checks, and the wearing of identification (I.D.) badges issued by the Sheridan VA while on VA property. Contractor must acquire PIV badge for all staff onsite prior to work beginning. The contractor shall communicate and work directly with the COR to complete the required badging and parking submittals. Failure of the background check may result in specific personnel not being allowed to work on VA premises and the Contractor will need to provide replacement personnel. Contractor to take into account lead-time on PIV Badging process. It is the responsibility of the Contractor s personnel to park in the appropriate designated parking areas. The designated parking area will be specified by COR upon award of contract. 14.0 ACCESS: No keys will be issued for this work. Contractor shall coordinate all access to and within facility with COR including badging (reference section 17.0 Badges and Parking above.) COR shall coordinate badge swipe access within the facility once issued. 15.0 APPLICABLE & SUPPORTTING DOCUMENTS: PDF Version of all buildings will be provided showing the size. 16.0 PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS: The Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) requires strict adherence to the Code of Federal Regulations 29, Part 1926. This includes the requirement that the contractor have a Competent Person on the job at all times (must have a 30-hour Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) card), and that all contractor employees have received a minimum of ten (10) hours of OSHA construction safety training. Documentation of these requirements shall be submitted and approved prior to performing the work. 17.0 WORK STANDARDS and ICRA/ILSM: Infection control risk assessment will be required prior to work beginning. COR will coordinate a meeting with Infection Control Nurses after the Pre-Construction meeting. 18.0 MEETINGS: The contractor is required to attend the pre-construction meeting after award, this meeting will be held at a date and time specified by the Contracting Officer to review project scope, site, and requirements, as well as provide answers to any questions. 19.0 Period of Performance: The period of performance for this project shall be 120 days from the issuance of the Notice to Proceed. End of Statement of Work
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