Attachment 5 Questions from Industry REV 1.pdf

Questions from Industry 1232SA26Q0470 As of 7 May 2026

1. Will the use of slip fittings be allowed on the new piping? On previous work, the piping was not necessarily square and true, making it difficult to make connections using pre welded flanges.

Govt Response: Yes. This is in the specs.

2. Can the piping be hydro tested at the fab shop? or will it need to be hydrotested on site?

Govt Response: Prefabs can be tested in the shop but we (USDA staff) will hydrotest the system after the piping is installed as well.

3. How long are the individual shut downs?

Govt Response: Each shutdown will be 8 hours and this includes the decontamination time.

4. Are the shut downs during normal working hours?

Govt Response: Yes, probably start at 8AM

5. Do the shut downs include the decontamination time? If so, how long does it take?

Govt Response: Yes. Decons will vary especially with the condition of the piping. 20 minutes rinse of the piping, then we pump in the decon solution, let it sit for 1 hour then pump it out, short rinse, then release the project to the contractor. We allot at least 3 hours for decon time but it may be shorter.

6. Specifications state: “2.6 Testing - All (100%) buttweld joints for "PPW" piping shall be tested per radiography”. Confirm.

Govt Response: Since the prefabs will be utilizing slip flanges, the x ray will not be required for the welds that will occur in the field for these slip flanges. X ray testing should be used for the rest of the welds on the prefabs created in the shop.

7. Drawing P03 is for reference only?

Govt Response: This page is only to show the leak detection system and piping that will need to be removed temporarily until the piping is completed.

8. Will it be one vault at a time?

Govt Response: Yes.

9. Will it be consecutive days or will it be multiple weeks?

Govt Response: We will try to do consecutive days but it will depend on the projects that will be going on in the affected buildings at the time we schedule the shutdowns.

10. What are the dimensions of the in-ground vaults?

Govt Response: Average of 10.5 feet by 10.5 feet and about 10-11 feet in height.

11. What size is the access point or manhole?

Govt Response: I think the opening is 36 inches.

12. How do we get inside maybe a ladder?

Govt Response: Each vault has a ladder to enter

13. What are the confined space protocols? Ventilation, monitors, hole watch, 100% tether and winch ?

Govt Response: The USDAs confined space entry requirements are tripod hoist, air monitoring, body harness, attendant, ventilation if needed.

14. How will the old pipe be removed and new pipe entered? Manually or forklift and slings ?

Govt Response: Old piping will be cut out and removed through the manhole. Piping will be removed by the awarded contractor. Last time, they just manually pulled them out through the hole. Same with the new pipe.

15. How will the other two vaults be decontaminated and what effect will that have on us for pulling field measurements and installs?

Govt Response: The other 2 vaults will be ready for the awarded contractor after award and a date for field measurements is scheduled through the USDA and the contractor. For installs, a date/time will be worked out between the USDA and the awarded contractor.

16. Do the 2” laterals coming off the 4” pipes need to be lateral olets or can we substitute a tee and a 45 or a regular olet and a 45?

Govt Response: Configuration needs to remain the same as it is. The 2” laterals are decontamination ports and need to be 45 degrees into the 4” piping.

17. What is the purpose of the 2” valves coming off the 4” at a 45”?

Govt Response: Decontamination ports for injecting decontamination solutions and for unplugging the line if needed.

18. How many low point drains and high point vents are on the 4” lines?

Govt Response: No “vents” on the 4” lines as these are high level waste lines. Each spool piece has a drain located directly below the two lateral 2” decon ports. The “vent line” that appears on the drawings is just a piece of 2” pipe stubbed into the vault for connections to external equipment if needed.

18a. What size are they? 1.5”?

Govt Response: 2”

19. What is the routing of the vents and drains?

Govt Response: No vents, drains are piped to an external connection to pump out the vault.

20. Do they all tie into each other as to make one line or do they lead elsewhere?

Govt Response: 2” vents are all tied together but are separated by 2” valves so we can drain one section without cross contaminating the other.

21. I don’t see any prints or information on the smaller I’m assuming 1.5” vents and drains. I’m not sure if they are open ended after the valve or they all tie into each other. It looks like I have drawings for 2” drains but it also looks like there are some smaller low and high points that I’m referring to.

Govt Response: Answered above in question 20. All 2” drains are tied together but valved separately.

22. On the specs it asks for 100% of the butt welds to be X-ray tested. Are there any other NDT or QC measures that need to be taken such as die penetration or visual examination by a CWI? I understand all welds will be hydrostatically tested. Is there any other testing to be done to the olets, socket welds, or slip-on flanges ?

Govt Response: No, x ray is sufficient. Slip flanges will be used this time and we do not require x ray for those.

23. Besides the confined space and shutdown limitation do you foresee anything that would limit working conditions?

Govt Response: Decontamination protocols change sometimes, but if that happens, we will let you know in as much advance notice as possible. Weather could be an issue. We will not do this over the winter months.

24. Do you have any more information on the electrical that needs to be run as we are a piping contractor and would be subbing that out?

Govt Response: There is no electrical as part of this project. Some of the vaults do not have power at the vault so you may need to bring a generator.

25. How many other contractors are interested in this project?

Govt Response: This question is irrelevant.