RFP - Construction Works for the Rehabilitation of the Mittaphab Hospital in Vientiane, Lao PDR

New clarification added: QUESTIONDear Sir or Madam,We would like to Request for Information as below1. For the exterior repairs of the main hospital, as repair existing wall and painting work, are we repainting the entire building or only the areas that mark in the material plan?2. please specify the color of toilet Partition in NTB Building 3. The Aluminium suspensed ceiling panel size 30x30cm haven't been produced in Asia market. Could we change to Aluminium suspensed ceiling panel size 60x60cm?ANSWER1. Scope of the repair work is marked on the drawings (material plans) and quantities are taken-off from those drawings. The intention is to fully repaint the facade.2. Toilet partitions in the NTB are expected to be in grey hues that can include RAL7035, RAL7040, RAL7037, RAL7021, RAL7016, RAL 7012 or RAL7044. Variations in color can be proposed by the contractor and corrdinated during construction.3. The ceilings are recommended to be 30x30 considering the limited space available. If supply of 30x30 is an issue, UNOPS does not object to changing to 60x60. This change is to be coordinated during construction with propoer justification and demonstration of the same level of performance.

New amendment added #2: The tender amendment 2 is for: 1) Extending the submission deadline by 1 week2) Uploading an additional Annex J - CAD Drawings  

New clarification added: QUESTIONReferring to point 1.4 of the Request for Clarification we posted just few ago, please find the link to the LME Copper Official Prices graph:https://www.lme.com/en/Metals/Non-ferrous/LME-Copper#Price+graphsKind regards,ANSWER Noted, and the answer for this has been reflected in the clarification response to the previous question 

New clarification added: QUESTIONDear UNOPS Procurement Team,Please find here below the points that we would like to clarify:#1: Variations in Quantity, in Design and in Work Schedule, Price fluctuations:During the pre-bid meeting dated 22 May 2024, it has been specified that Bidders should follow in their Technical & Financial Proposal, ToR's BoQ subject to variation in due course of contract implementation:=> Kindly reconfirm this possibility to call for variation and related applicability, several instances to be seggragated:1.1: If quantity measurement/count (no, set, Meter, m2, m3 and LS) differs between Drawings and BoQ ? Example: no pipes, no gas outlets, no Valve Box in MH3's OT room while shown on Drawings. Same for Bed Head Units...1.2: If listed Item is subject to forseen/expected design change/improvement in order to be completed/acceptable in compliance with minimum requirements and listed standards in Annex B or other ToR Documentation: should the Bidder raise a note in the technical proposal about auxiliary sub-item(s) ? Add also a note to reflect associated cost in the Financial Proposal ?1.3: If listed Item is subject to unforseen/unexpected design change and/or additional works ? Such as may encounter in-situ. & discovery of further defects necessitating additional works ?1.4. If listed Item (such as electric cable or medical copper pipes) has a cost sensitive to commodity price fluctuation (see attached graphic from www.lme.com demonstrating recent copper price fluctuation), knowing that period of delivery to Target Site occurs many months, if not years, after bidding period (June 2024) ? If acceptable for variation, should the Bidder propose a cost calculation method with reference to updated LME Rates ?1.5. If construction period is extended due to UNOPS or due to Project Owner's reasons, will be indirect costs also subject to variation ?#2: Equivalent Brands & Models: ToRs comes with a listing of suggested brands and models with the statement that 'equivalent' will be also considered & accepted. Kindly advise documentation of proposed 'Equivalents' such as and not limited to technical specifications, applicable main standards, type test reports, comparison tables, etc.. that should be enclosed in the Technical Proposal to support the qualification as 'Equivalent' or whether this is to be debated at contract execution level.#3: Warranty: Since the renovation is done floor-by-floor in many buildings, the period of elapsed time will be long. Does the warranty period start on acceptance of each section of completed works ? or does it only start  with global final completion ? Hence being longer for section completed earlier ?Pending UNOPS responses to these RfCs, we kindly hereby request an extension in order to prepare a fully compliant proposal.Thank you and kind regardsANSWER1.1 Drawings have precedence over the BOQ. Quantities provided in the BOQ are for information but the contractor retains responsibility to make sure that all works included in the drawings/specifications are included in the financial offer.1.2 Minimum requirements and standards are different cases. In case the design omits elements required to comply with standards stated in the documents, and said standard is confirmed to have to be complied with later during construction, then this would fall under variation/amendment for additional works. The offerors should follow the minimum requirements (not standard) stated in the design and price accordingly. In case the design reasonably specifies the minimum requirements, then it is assumed the price provided by the offeror is inclusive of all works necessary to comply with those minimum requirements, and therefore would not qualify for variation / amendment. Notes can be included by the offeror in the technical proposal, with no reference to price, to highlight such case if they are already foreseen. Notes / additions should NOT be included in the financial proposal.1.3 Unforseen/unexpected design change and/or additional works will be addressed as variations/amendments.1.4 The Contract Price shall not be adjusted for rises or falls in the cost of labour, Goods and other inputs to the Works. The Contract Price and the rates and prices shall be deemed to include amounts to cover contingency of rises and falls in the cost of labour, Goods and other inputs to the Works.1.5 This would be treated as Suspension. The Contractor can raise a claim for additional payment as a result of a Suspension requested by UNOPS. Refer to Clauses 6.6 Suspension by Employer, 6.7 Consequence of Employer’s Suspension and 16.1 Notice of Claim of the Conditions of the Contract for more details.2. Equivalencies will be considered and addressed during the execution of the Contract.3. There will be a separate Defect Notification Period (DNP) for each of the 14 Sections of the works, each starting at the taking over of the section. DNP of completed sections will therefore run in parallel with the works being implemented in other sections.Considering the additional information provided as part of the clarification process, we are extending the RFP by one (1) week.

New clarification added: QUESTIONDear Sir or Madam,Please find attachment for the RFI No.01. at the link below. Thank youANSWERPlease be advised that UNOPS have provided the answer on the document accessible below: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14OykG25g_atfSh6l-K9flqaWdIW4xZZV/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=101248908673535542792&rtpof=true&sd=true   

New clarification added: QUESTIONSubject: Request for Extension of Proposal Submission deadline (Tender Ref. RFP/2024/51779)Dear Mr. , We would like to confirm our interest in the rehabilitation of Mittaphap Hospital (Tender Ref. RFP/2024/51779) and inform you that our team is currently working diligently on the proposal submission. However, we find that the current deadline of June 10th, 2024, provides insufficient time to prepare a comprehensive and well-considered proposal. We respectfully request an extension of the bidding period to June 20th, 2024, for the following reasons: Limited Preparation Time: We received the invitation on May 15th and the site visit was conducted on May 22nd. This leaves us with less than three weeks to prepare our proposal. Given the complexity and scope of the project, we find this timeframe insufficient to ensure a thorough and accurate submission. Detailed Scope Review: The renovation works are extensive and involve partial refurbishments. We need adequate time to review the scope of work and compare it against the Bill of Quantities to ensure consistency between the drawings and the BoQ. This is crucial to avoid discrepancies that could affect the project's execution and cost estimation. Site Logistics and Operational Constraints: The hospital will remain operational during the renovation, which complicates site logistics. We need additional time to properly assess how to segregate access for patients and construction workers, ensuring minimal disruption to hospital operations. Developing a method statement that addresses noise and dust minimization, infection control, and safety measures requires careful planning and coordination. Complex Work Schedule: The proposed works schedule includes significant downtime periods of six or more months spread out throughout the project's duration. This makes developing an appropriate work plan more challenging and time-consuming. We request additional time to ensure that our work plan is realistic, efficient, and that it minimizes disruptions to hospital operations. Clarifications and Documentation: We are preparing a set of questions for clarification based on our review of the bidding documents. To incorporate the responses into our proposal and complete the required documentation, we need additional time. This will ensure that our submission is comprehensive and addresses all aspects of the RFP. Considering the above points, we kindly request an extension of the proposal submission deadline from June 10th to June 20th, 2024. We believe this extension will allow us to submit a more detailed and accurate proposal, ultimately benefiting the project's success.We appreciate your understanding and consideration of our request. Best regards, ANSWERConsidering the additional information provided as part of the clarification process, we are extending the RFP by one (1) week. 

New clarification added: QUESTIONDear UNOPS Team, Due to the limited time for bid submission; we Arcadia (Thailand) Co., Ltd. would like to formally request for extensions of time for bid submissionWe request that bid submission be on June 24th (an addition of 2 weeks) as opposed to the earlier proposed date of June 10th, 2024Your consideration and permission to the above request would be most appreciated.Regards,ANSWERAs of today, we have received only one request for extension and the request does not come with any detail explaining the need for additional time. Without proper justification (such as external factors that may have delayed all the offerors), an extension for only one offeror may produce an unfair disadvantage to those offerors who are prepared to submit on time. Therefore an extension of the deadline for submission is not considered at this time.

New clarification added: QUESTIONIncome tax: We understood that this project is tax exempted for UNOPS.  However, we would like to know that from our company standpoint (Thai company), do we have to pay income tax to the LAOS government?Space for labor camp.  Can we build a labor camp at the vacant area next to the site offices and storage area?Cost of temporary electricity and weter.  Will we have to pay for the cost of electricity and water during construction?Third party certification.  For the operation rooms to be completed.  We understand that the third party certification is required as part of the handover process.  We will price this requirement accordingly.Classification of opration rooms: Are they all class 7?Main equipment on site: Can we partially claim for main equipment on site during each period of progress claim submission?ANSWER1.  Although this construction project is exempted from indirect taxes, fees and duties associated with the purchase of goods/services (e.g., value added tax, customs duties, etc.), the direct taxes associated with the production/provision of goods/services (e.g., income tax, profit tax, etc.) shall be paid by the contractor as per the local laws.2. Yes, the contractor can build all temporary facilities they deem required for the works in the identified area, including labor camp (conditional to proper documentation being provided in advance and approved by UNOPS supervision). Access to those areas must be strictly restricted to labor force only and clearly segregated, with access control, from the public areas of the hospital. No kids or families are authorized in the labor camp as this space falls under the same HSSE requirements as any other work areas.3. Yes, the contractor is expected to cover the costs of electricity and water during construction.4. Third-party certification is NOT a requirement listed in the Tender Documents.5. The OT's are designed with "unidirectional" air diffusers; which means they cannot be classified as ISO Class 7 rooms as per EN16244 (which shall have a multi-directional flow). Both Class 7 and Class A (according to ASHRAE Standards) are high-level filtration rooms that require more measurements for particle control, which is NOT a design requirement. Therefore, the OT's are to be considered either as Class B (as per ASHRAE) or Class ISO5 as per relevant codes.6. As per SECTION V: REQUIREMENTS, 3.4 Valuation and Payment, as well as the General Conditions of the Contract (Article 10.3 Contractor’s Statements), the Contractor can claim 30% of the substantiated value of the following equipment, if they are in accordance with the Contract, delivered to and properly stored on the Site, and are protected against loss, damage or deterioration:1. Power Transformer 1000 kVA2. Generator 1000 kVA3. Main Distribution Board (MDB)4. Transfer pumps, jockey pumps and fire pumps5. GRP water tank 300m36. Air Handling Units (AHU) for operating theaters7. Medical air center equipment8. Medical vacuum center equipment

New amendment added #1: The tender amendment is made to add the following files to the tender package:Pre-Bid Meeting SlidesPre-Bid Meeting MinutesSite Visit MinutesAnnex H - Geotechnical Survey Report (as requested during the pre-bid meeting)Annex I - Existing Building Surveys (as requested during the pre-bid meeting)Annex F6 - Drawings - F-NTB NEW TOILET BUILDING R01Note: R01 of [Annex F6 - Drawings - F-NTB NEW TOILET BUILDING R01] updates the structural drawings for the New Toilet Building. We noticed that the export was of poor quality, making the drawings uneasy to read. R01 corrects those issues and makes the drawings more readable. Note that no change is introduced with this revision other than readability.