FCDAS Boilers Replacement QA_Amendment Ver 2.docx.pdf

FCDAS Boilers Replacement – Questions & Answers

1 Please clarify whether a bid bond or other surety guarantee is required with quote submission.

Yes, a Bid Bond and Performance Bonds are required for this contract.

2 The PWS lists “surety bonds” as a preconstruction submittal. Please clarify whether performance and payment bonds are required after award. If required, confirm the required penal amounts.

Both Performance and Payment bonds are required for this contract after award. In accordance with standard federal thresholds for facility work, the required penal amount for both the Performance bond and the Payment bond shall be 100% of the total awarded contract price.

Offerors shall factor the cost of securing these bonds into their total quoted price for CLIN 0001.

3 Section L requires the quote to be organized into four volumes: Technical Understanding, Past Performance, Management Plan, and Price. Confirm whether the Government wants four separate PDF files or one combined PDF organized by volume.

Please arrange the proposal into two PDF binders/volumes.

● Binder 1 or Volume 1 shall contain "Technical Understanding," "Past Performance," and "Management Plan".

● Binder 2 or Volume 2 shall contain the "Price" with a detailed breakdown into labor, materials, equipment and other indirect costs such as bond, overhead and profit for each boiler/building.

4 Section L identifies the required quote contents. Please clarify whether any page limit applies to the quote submission.

The contractor's proposal has no page limit.

5 The PWS identifies Burnham boilers “or Government-approved equal.” Confirm whether approved-equal boilers may be quoted without pre-bid approval.

Offerors may quote an 'or equal' boiler brand without seeking any pre-bid approval from the Contracting Officer.

If an alternative manufacturer is proposed, the offeror must submit detailed technical specifications, drawings, and performance data sheets with their proposal. The Government's technical evaluation team will review these submittals after the solicitation closes to determine if the proposed alternative meets or exceeds the physical and mechanical characteristics of the baseline Burnham V905A model. Final determination of whether an alternative is an 'acceptable equal' rests solely with the Government during the evaluation phase.

6 The RFQ and PWS require BAS integration, lead/lag operation, and startup/commissioning. Please clarify the existing BAS/DDC manufacturer and platform.

Confirm whether NOAA will provide programming access to the existing system or whether the Contractor is responsible for furnishing all required BAS programming, licensing, and integration support.

The existing BAS is SIEMENS Desigo and the Contractor is responsible for furnishing all required BAS programming, licensing, and integration support.

Siemens installed Desigo about 2 years ago.

7 PWS Section 01 14 00, I-02.G states normal working hours are 0700–1500, Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. Confirm the quote should be based on performing onsite work during normal working hours only, unless off-hours work is separately approved by the COR.

Normal business hours are 0700 to 1530; however, the Government can support 10-hour work days for the contractor to maximize production under this contract.

8 PWS Section 23 52 00 requires forced-draft fans as part of the boiler design. Confirm the required draft fans are limited to the integral boiler/burner package. If any separate field-installed draft fan, induced draft fan, or auxiliary fan is required, please clarify.

True; the forced-draft fans are limited to the integral boiler/burner package.

9 PWS Section 23 52 00 references ductwork associated with the forced-draft fan/plenum connection. Confirm whether new ductwork is required as part of the project.

If required, please clarify whether this is limited to boiler/burner components or includes building combustion-air ductwork, intake ductwork, or exterior modifications.

New ductwork is required and this ductwork is associated only with the forced-draft fan and boiler vent.

10 PWS Section 23 52 00 requires a boiler plant master controller configured for lead/lag operation. Confirm whether the boiler plant master controller is intended to be a standalone boiler controller, integrated into the existing BAS/DDC system, or both.

Boiler Plant Master Controller shall be provided for each building and integrated into the existing BAS/DDC system.

11 The PWS references associated boiler components, including hydronic accessories, expansion tank, and water/glycol treatment system. Please clarify whether any ancillary heating components in the Facilities Building are intended to be located outside the existing mechanical room.

No ancillary heating components in the Facilities Building are intended to be located outside the existing mechanical room.

12 The PWS requires the existing operational boiler in each building to remain fully functional at all times.

Please clarify when the Contractor becomes responsible for maintaining heat to each building.

Confirm whether this responsibility begins only during Contractor-performed isolation, tie-in, or outage work.

Currently, each building has one working boiler and one failed boiler. The Contractor must remove the failed boiler and install the new boiler without affecting the operation of the working boilers. A limited outage, not to exceed a few hours, can be granted for isolation and tie-in. Work in the Facilities Building also includes changing the orientation of the existing working boiler. This work will start once the newly installed boiler is started and commissioned.

13 PWS Section 23 52 00 requires balancing and operating tests for the heating system. Confirm the balancing requirement is limited to the affected boiler loop, new boiler piping, and associated tie-ins in each building. If whole-building hydronic balancing is required, please clarify.

True; The balancing requirement is limited to the affected boiler loop, new boiler piping, and associated tie-ins in each building.

14 The PWS requires verification of adequate combustion air and includes intake/exhaust venting requirements.

Confirm whether new combustion-air penetrations, louvers, intake vents, or exhaust penetrations through the existing buildings are part of the intended scope.

We believe that the existing intake vents and exhaust penetrations are sufficient for the new boilers; however, enhancements may be needed and made if verification determines them to be inadequate.

15 PWS Section 23 52 00 includes requirements for cold-water connections and separately requires the system to be charged with new 50/50 glycol solution.

Please clarify whether the new boilers at either location are intended to be connected to domestic cold-water makeup, existing glycol makeup equipment, or new glycol makeup tanks.

The contractor shall provide a new glycol makeup tank, new 50/50 glycol solution, and connections of the glycol loop to the boilers.

16 PWS Section 23 52 00 requires basket and “Y” type strainers suitable for the piping in which they are installed. Confirm whether “Y” strainers not currently in place are required to be added to each boiler loop. If required, please clarify the intended strainer locations.

Strainers shall be installed at the following locations:

1. Suction Side of Circulating Pumps for the Glycol

System

2. Boiler Return Header (Heat Exchanger Inlet).

3. Glycol Makeup Unit (GMU) Discharge Line.

17 It was mentioned at the site visit that the Government wants a new glycol makeup unit for the Facilities Building. Please confirm, as this does not appear to be indicated in the solicitation.

The PWS requires providing the glycol system and glycol for both buildings. Please refer to the PWS page 32 as detailed below.

SECTION 23 52 00 – HEATING BOILERS

PART III - EXECUTION

III-02 ERECTION OF BOILER AND AUXILIARY

EQUIPMENT

E 4 - Fluid and Thermal Protection – The Contractor shall provide and charge the system with new 50/50 glycol solution. All supply and return lines, from the headers to the boilers, shall be fitted with new high-efficiency insulation.

F 1 - The work shall involve, at a minimum:

Mechanical Systems – The Contractor shall provide all labor and materials for the comprehensive installation of the new boilers, including necessary modifications to hydronic (water/glycol) piping, fuel oil lines, and exhaust stacks.

18 Please forward information/data sheets for the existing Eclipse Hydronic Boiler in the Facilities Building. Due to the age of this equipment, it is likely that there are asbestos gaskets and/or insulation.

Under OSHA and EPA standards, any thermal system insulation, gaskets, or surfacing materials manufactured or installed in facilities before 1981 are legally classified as Presumed Asbestos-Containing Materials (PACM) unless physical laboratory testing proves otherwise. Therefore, the contractor should assume the Eclipse Hydronic Boiler contains ACM and handle it accordingly.

19 Please clarify whether hazardous material testing has been performed on the existing failed boiler in the Facilities Building. As the PWS indicates the equipment dates to circa 1980, confirm if it contains asbestos, PCBs, or lead-based paints. Furthermore, clarify how the contractor should price the disposal of said boiler;

should the proposal include hazardous material testing with special handling treated as a changed condition, or should the contractor assume a worst-case scenario?

No hazardous materials testing has been done for the failed boilers and the contractor shall make necessary assumptions based on the age of the boilers to be removed and disposed of. The Facilities Building Boiler is circa 1980 and the Powerhouse Boiler is relatively recent and was installed 2017. Presence of lead based paint or asbestos shall not be considered as differing site conditions.

20 It was mentioned at the site visit that the Government wants a new glycol makeup unit for the Facilities Building. Please confirm, as this does not appear to be indicated in the solicitation. Is a new glycol makeup tank required in the scope?

Yes, a new glycol makeup tank is required for the Facilities Building. Please refer to the response provided under Q17 for its reference in the PWS.

21 Section 23 52 00 – Heating Boilers, Part II-05 Cold Water Connection describes a hydronic loop water makeup system. One of these is already installed in the Facilities building, and the Powerhouse Building has a glycol makeup tank. Please confirm that the cold water connection in the Facilities building is existing to remain and the Powerhouse building does not need one as it already has a glycol makeup tank.

Both the Facilities building and the Powerhouse building boilers shall be operated on a glycol solution. Cold water connection in the Facilities Building to remain.

22 Section 23 52 00 – Heating Boilers, Part III-02 Item E.4. calls for the contractor to “provide and charge the system with new 50/50 glycol solution.” Please confirm that the intent of the PWS is for the contractor to only provide new glycol to replace what is removed from the system to accommodate the new boiler installations and not to replace the glycol of the entire heating systems.

The contractor should plan on providing or replacing all the glycol within the glycol loop for newly replaced boilers in both the Facilities Building and the Powerhouse.

23 Section 23 52 00 – Heating Boilers, Part II-06 Item C addresses expansion tanks There appears to be an old, trapped air cushion style expansion tank serving the boiler being replaced in the Facilities Building. The other expansion tanks in each system appear to be new diaphragm-type expansion tanks. Please confirm the contractor is replacing the existing trapped air expansion tank with a new diaphragm-type expansion tank of similar size and capacity and not replacing the existing diaphragm-type expansion tanks.

The contractor shall plan on replacing only the old trapped air cushion style expansion tank serving the boiler being replaced.

24 It was discussed at the site visit that the boilers in the Facility Building are not currently connected to the Siemens BAS system. Section 23 52 00 – Heating Boilers, Part III-02 F.4. states that “The Contractor is responsible for integrating the new units into the Building Automation System (BAS) to ensure full monitoring and command capabilities.” Is the intent of the PWS to extend the Siemens BAS system in the Facilities Building to add control and monitoring of the boiler system?

The boilers in the Facilities Building are not connected to the SIEMENS BAS and the Facilities Building boilers shall not be tied to the BAS after replacement; however, the Powerhouse boilers are tied to BAS and new boilers shall be integrated into BAS for monitoring and control.

25 Section 23 52 00 – Heating Boilers, Part III-04 Fuel Oil System, Item B states to “Install fuel oil piping and storage tanks in accordance with specifications of manufacturer of the fuel storage tank.” Please confirm that the intent of the PWS is to reuse the existing fuel storage systems and piping to the extent possible as described in Section 23 52 00 – Heating Boilers, Part III-02 E.2., and that the contractor will not be providing additional day tanks or fuel storage tanks as part of this project.

True, the intent of the PWS is to reuse the existing fuel storage systems and piping to the extent possible and no day tanks or fuel storage tanks are required.

26 PWS Section 23 52 00, Part III-06 requires hydrostatic testing of the “entire heating system’s piping, fittings, and terminal heating units” at 1.5 times the design working pressure (minimum 100 psi). Confirm whether the testing requirement is limited to the new work and associated tie-ins only. If whole-building hydrostatic testing of the existing heating system is required for each building, please clarify.

These testing requirements are limited to new work only and not the entire heating system.

27 PWS Section 23 52 00, Part III-06 requires the contractor to perform balancing and operating tests upon the completion of system testing to demonstrate functional efficiency. Please clarify whether the contractor is required to engage a third-party Testing Agency to perform the balancing and operational testing of the new boilers.

Balancing and operational testing can be completed by in-house resources and engaging the third-party testing agency is not a contractual requirement.

28 Confirm that the balancing and operational testing requirements are limited to the new boilers installed

Balancing and operational testing is limited to the new boilers or the new work completed under this contract under this contract. Verify that the contractor is not responsible for balancing the complete heating system within each building.

i.e., the current operational boiler (Burnham) in the Facilities Building which will require change in orientation.

29 As per PWS (I-02, F4), To integrate the new boilers into the BAS at the Facilities building, networking will need to be provided between the Facilities Building and the Operations Building. Please confirm that existing NOAA furnished networking can be used or provide telecom as built so scope of network additions can be determined.

The Government has removed the requirement for integrating the Facilities Building boilers into FCDAS BAS and therefore this request is not applicable.