N059--Fire Alarm Upgrade

940 Belmont Street, Brockton, MA Objective The objective of this requirement is to furnish all labor, supervision, programming, materials, tools, equipment, project management, testing, documentation, and training required to transition the VAMC Brockton campus fire alarm network from the existing Edwards EST-3 platform to an Edwards EST-4 networked platform while maintaining required fire alarm coverage and minimizing impairment duration. Applicable Standards and Requirements Work shall comply with applicable federal, state, local, VA, VHA, Joint Commission, OSHA, and Authority Having Jurisdiction requirements, including the latest adopted editions applicable to this facility. At a minimum, work shall be performed in accordance with the following, as applicable: NFPA 70, National Electrical Code. NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. NFPA 101, Life Safety Code. NFPA 25, where sprinkler supervisory and waterflow interfaces are affected. VA/VHA life safety, interim life safety measures, cybersecurity, infection-control, and facility access requirements. Manufacturer requirements for Edwards EST-4 hardware, programming, FireWorks integration, and compatible SIGA field devices. Scope of Work The Contractor shall provide a complete, operational, tested, documented, and accepted Edwards EST-4 upgrade of the existing Brockton campus fire alarm network. The scope includes, but is not limited to, the following work elements. Project Management and Coordination Conduct a kickoff meeting with VA Engineering, Safety, IT, Police/Dispatch, clinical stakeholders as needed, the VA fiber contractor if applicable, and the Contracting Officer Representative (COR). Develop and maintain a project schedule identifying submittal dates, material procurement, programming milestones, outage/cutover windows, fiber-demarcation coordination, testing, training, and closeout. Coordinate all work affecting fire alarm service, system monitoring, FireWorks, master box/monitoring paths, network drops, building access, and any life safety impairment with the VA before work begins. Submit a written cutover plan before any node, panel, annunciator, or network segment is taken offline. The plan shall identify expected downtime, temporary monitoring method, notifications, responsible parties, rollback steps, and acceptance testing sequence. Coordinate with VA IT staff for FireWorks integration, IP/network drops, cybersecurity review, firewall modules, and any network-connected components required for the EST-4 platform. Provide manufacturer-certified project supervision and programming support throughout the project. EST-3 to EST-4 Programming Migration Pre-program and transition the existing Edwards EST-3 fire alarm program/database into an Edwards EST-4 architecture for the existing campus fire alarm network. Use qualified Edwards/EST-4 factory-trained programming personnel. Complete pre-programming off-site to the maximum practical extent and have the EST-4 program ready for integration after hardware upgrades are completed. Replicate any approved changes made to the EST-3 program before implementation into the EST-4 program before cutover. Perform program verification, input/output mapping, matrix verification, cause-and-effect review, FireWorks point mapping, and device/zone/nodal naming verification before final acceptance testing. Hardware Replacement and Installation Decommission and replace existing EST-3 internal fire alarm panel components that must be replaced as part of the EST-4 upgrade. Furnish and install Edwards EST-4 networked platform components, panel hardware, power supplies, network cards, modules, enclosures, batteries, and accessories required for a complete operational system. Replace all existing remote annunciators and backboxes in their existing locations with compatible EST-4 units. New units may differ in size from existing units; contractor shall identify any surrounding finish impacts before installation. Reuse existing field wiring, initiating devices, notification appliances, sprinkler/suppression interface points, and SIGA addressable devices where compatible and functional. Label new and replaced components, update panel directories, and provide device/node identifiers consistent with the accepted program and testing documents. Protect existing finishes, equipment, patient care areas, and building systems. Cutting, patching, and painting are excluded unless separately authorized in the final contract. Field Device and System Integration Integrate all existing addressable initiating devices, notification devices, sprinkler points, control points, audio/visual devices, and field wiring into the EST-4 platform to the extent they are compatible and functional. Maintain existing fire alarm sequence of operations unless changes are approved in writing by the VA. Integrate the upgraded system with the existing FireWorks system and campus monitoring architecture. Advanced scheduling with VA staff and IT staff is required. Verify interfaces to supervisory circuits, waterflow/tamper devices, elevator recall/shunt trip interfaces, HVAC shutdown, door release, smoke control, or other building systems where such interfaces are part of the existing fire alarm sequence. Replacement of field devices, node-to-node rewiring, correction of existing wiring defects, and correction of pre-existing system troubles are excluded unless separately authorized by the Contracting Officer. Brockton Fiber Coordination and Network Stability Review the existing FACP node fiber terminations and identify any fiber-demarcation conditions that could affect EST-4 network stability. Coordinate with the VA and VA fiber contractor regarding local demarcation panels adjacent to each FACP, fiber patch cords within each panel enclosure to each FACP, and any other fiber remediation recommended before or during EST-4 cutover. Document any fiber-related deficiencies, risks, or recommended actions discovered during planning or cutover. Fiber-related costs, fiber installation, fiber remediation, and third-party fiber contractor work are excluded unless separately authorized. Do not proceed with final cutover of affected FACP nodes where identified fiber conditions create an unacceptable risk of network instability unless the VA approves the risk mitigation or sequencing plan. Continuity of Monitoring and System Impairment Control No fire alarm panel, node, annunciator, or monitoring path shall be removed from service until the VA approves a written impairment/cutover plan. The Contractor shall support the VA in identifying temporary measures required to maintain monitoring coverage during each cutover window. Temporary cellular dialer or similar temporary monitoring measures shall be used if included in the final award or otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall provide advance notice for all impairments and shall not leave a system impaired without VA approval. Fire watch is excluded from the base proposal unless separately authorized. If fire watch is required by VA or the AHJ, the VA will establish the fire watch approach or add it by contract action. Testing, Inspection, and Acceptance After hardware installation and programming are complete, perform 100 percent testing of the upgraded fire alarm system. Testing shall include, at a minimum, all addressable initiating