New Hampshire State Veteran Home: Renovation-First Floor Expansion

Procurement Summary

The State of New Hampshire’s Division of Veterans Services (NHDVS) proposes to construct a 13,748 gross square foot, first-floor addition to the existing State Veteran Home in Tilton, NH. The addition will allow NHDVS to transition 20-double occupancy rooms to single occupancy to promote better infection control practices, as well as improve Veterans’ quality of life, dignity, health, and safety. NHDVS and VA have made a good faith effort to obtain domestically produced iron and steel, manufactured products, and construction materials. This is both documented in NHDVS’s waiver request, and in the description of VA’s extensive research efforts listed below. VA conducted product scouting through a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contractor that concluded on October 10, 2024. The market research process included a thorough review of the waiver request submission, examination of domestic manufacturer catalogs and other technical data and marketing materials, direct communication with domestic manufacturers, inquiries with regional project officers, and outreach to contractors and engineers with expertise and familiarity with the project. During market research, the EPA contractor contacted: a. Nine (9) manufacturers and suppliers for circuit breakers b. Eight (8) manufacturers and suppliers for panel boards c. Five (5) manufacturers and suppliers of automatic transfer switches d. Six (6) manufacturers and suppliers for generator docking stations e. Six (6) manufacturers and suppliers of fire alarm systems f. Six (6) manufacturers and suppliers of ductless split systems EPA’s highly experienced technical contractor identified these manufacturers in their attempt to find all potential domestic manufacturers of the above-mentioned products. When contacted, (3) manufacturers for generator docking stations indicated potential to meet the specifications of the project while being BABAA compliant. The project has decided to utilize one of these options and is no longer requesting this product to be waived. When contacted, (1) manufacturer for fire alarm indicated potential to meet the specifications of the project while being BABAA compliant. Ultimately, the project is not able to utilize this option, as the manufacturer confirmed their system could not fully integrate into the existing Simplex system used for the entire campus. No (zero) manufacturers indicated they could produce BABAA-compliant circuit breakers, panel boards, automatic transfer switches, or ductless split-systems. Remaining manufacturers contacted either confirmed they cannot manufacture these products to meet the project specifications, did not respond to inquiries, or their products are not BABAA compliant. Thus, they are not viable options for this project. Absent a waiver, the NHDVS project is at risk for completion, since it will not meet the BABAA compliance requirements to obtain the 65% project funding through the VA State Home Construction Grant Program. This would adversely affect the state’s ability to house and serve our senior Veterans.

Description of items, products and materials or categories of such anticipated to be covered by this waiver

Circuit breakers (NAICS code 335313) - unknown country of origin. Panel boards (NAICS code 335313) - unknown country of origin. Automatic transfer switches (NAICS code 335313) - unknown country of origin. Fire alarm systems (NAICS code 238220) - unknown country of origin. Ductless split system (NAICS code 333415) - unknown country of origin.

Public comment link

Final waiver link

N/A

Is this a general applicability waiver?