RFIs.pdf

Requests for Information Solicitation 12505B23R0005

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Question 1: Do you have a company that you have already made contact regarding the purchase of the required Transformers and Switchgears, and can this information be shared?

Answer 1: USDA: The Government contacted several companies for marketing research and to research equipment capabilities and availability. To avoid potentially restricting other possible suppliers from participating in the bidding, the Government will not be providing information on the companies that we contacted. Offerors will need to determine suppliers that can provide specified equipment and materials.

Question 2: Can you facilitate the wall thickness that the contractors will be penetrating from the Outdoor TRN into the vault (6 X 4” conduits)?

Answer 2: USDA: Existing drawings dated 1966 indicate the exterior wall thickness of

Room 0042-northeast corner is 10”. Proposals from offerors shall be based on this 10” thickness.

Question 3: Does the current switchgear have the necessary part to support the fuses, such as

(See attached picture)

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Live parts, end (upper & lower), and silencer tubes for SML-20 fuse?

Are the fuse housing inside the existing bay as well as the 12KV fuses?

Do you have pictures of the inside of the existing switchgear where the jumpers need to be installed?

Answer 3: USDA: Currently, the Government does not have photographs of the interior of the 15 KV switching unit and a significant facility shutdown is needed to obtain. Photographs will not be available prior to bidding. The awarded contractor shall coordinate with USDA (after award) and schedule a facility shutdown to obtain photographs and confirm existing conditions.

The Government does have shop drawing information from the original installation of the 15KV switching unit. The shop drawing information is attached to these responses for review by offerors. Proposals from offerors shall be based on information shown in the attached shop drawing information.

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Question 4: Requesting 3 # 2/O copper to be installed as the 15kv jumper – The ground #2 is that a bare copper outer perimeter ground for the outside perimeter of the TRN and for inside the tub?

Answer 4: USDA: Existing drawings dated 1992 indicate that the “loop side” switches of the existing 15 KV switching unit is supplied with 3-#4/0 and 1#1/0 Grd (i.e.

facility’s 15 KV loop).

In addition to the #1/0 Grd routed in the facility’s 15 KV loop; existing drawing dated 1992 indicate the installation of four ground rods around the existing concrete pad , connected with #4/0 insulated copper conductor along with a #2/0 insulated copper conductor routed to the cut-out in the transformer pad (i.e. grounding electrode system). See Photograph A, B, and C below.

The #2 ground conductor routed with the 3#2, 15 KV conductors from 15 KV switching unit to new transformer shall be used to ground the new transformer along with existing #2/0 conductor from existing grounding electrode system. New transformer shall be grounded in accordance with requirements of National Electrical Code (for separately derived system).

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Photographs:

Photograph A – Transformer Pad Detail from existing drawings dated 1992. See Photograph B for associated notes.

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Photograph B – Transformer Pad Detail Notes from existing drawings dated 1992. See Photograph A for associated notes.

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Photograph C – View of transformer pad, showing conductor from grounding electrode system.

See Photograph A.

Shop Drawing Information from Original Installation of 15 KV switching units follows.