Attachment 8 - Q and As Off Grid PV Solar System Batteries Responses.docx

Off Grid PV Solar System Batteries Attachment 8 - Q and As

1. If batteries require replacement will they be provided by the government or procured by the contractor?

Reply: Procured by the Contractor

2. Is the testing requirement a one-time event or is periodic testing required, and if so what is the frequency and duration of the testing.

Reply: a. Contractor to test which battery bank requires replacement

b. Contractor to test Mobile Solar System and Battery bank as functional.

3. Is complete solar production testing required- panels, inverters, charge controllers to make sure battery charging is optimized?

Reply: Yes

4. Are all 4 sites accessible year round?

Reply: No. Contact local POC for accessibility.

5. Battery identification. Please provide the make, model, nominal voltage, amp-hour rating and chemistry of the existing lithium-ion and lead-acid banks at each of the four sites, along with the quantity and bank configuration installed at each.

Reply: Review each site O&M Manual

6. Quantities. Are the 50 EA lithium-ion and 50 EA lead-acid shown on Attachment 1 the totals across all four locations, or the quantity per location?

Reply: Needed quantity and type per location will be determined by the contractor after testing the battery banks at each site which battery bank will need replacement.

7. Scope of replacement. The PWS calls to replace damaged batteries. Should quoters price replacement of all batteries at the listed quantities, or only those found defective on inspection, with the listed quantities as an estimating basis?

Reply: Only those found defective on inspection, with the listed quantities as an estimating basis.

8. Equivalents. Is like-for-like replacement required, or are equivalent products that meet or exceed the existing specifications acceptable?

Reply: Like-for-like replacement is required.

9. Inverters and charge controllers. Please provide the make and model at each site so that compatibility with the replacement banks can be confirmed as called for in PWS Section 3.0.

Reply: Review each site O&M Manual

10. Staging. The systems are described as mobile. Are the units trailer or skid mounted and roadworthy, and would the Government permit relocating them to a single staging location for the battery work, or must the work be performed in place at each site?

Reply: Work be performed in place at each site, except for the Sequoia NF Blackrock WS. Battery trailer is in the Porterville Supervisors Office. Testing of the functionality will be performed at the site.

11. Removed batteries. Does the contractor take ownership of the removed batteries for recycling, or does the Government retain them?

Reply: Contractor takes ownership and disposal/recycling of the removed batteries.

12. Will the government provide the make and model number of the lead acid and lithium-ion batteries that you would like priced. Or could you provide the voltage and amp-hour rating of both types of batteries that you would like priced.

Reply: See Question and Answer to #7

13. The SOW references 50 Lithium-Ion batteries and 50 Lead-Acid batteries; however, it is not clear whether these batteries will be provided by the Government as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE), or whether the contractor is responsible for supplying the batteries.

Reply: Batteries are not government furnished, they are supplied by the contractor.

14. The Schedule of Items identifies estimated quantities of 50 lithium-ion batteries and 50 lead-acid batteries; however, the provided documents do not identify how these quantities are allocated among the four sites. Please provide the required quantity and battery type for each location.

Reply: The contractor will need to test which battery bank requires replacement from each site. They will need to determine the required quantity and battery type for each location. We allocated 50 Lithium-Ion batteries and 50 Lead Acid batteries for all sites or could be a mixed quantity after testing.

The Sequoia NF Blackrock Mobile Solar Trailer is located in the SO in Porterville, Ca. The batteries could be tested at this location.