Amendment 3.pdf

Department of Commerce National Institutes of Standards and Technology Office of Acquisition and Agreements Management Acquisition Management Division 100 Bureau Drive

MS 1640

Gaithersburg, MD 20899

RFQ Number: 1333ND24QNB680402 Date: July 15, 2024

Amendment 3 Date: July 30, 2024 No. of Pages: 2

This Amendment provides responses to seven (7) questions received during the inquiry period, which ended on July 27, 2024.

Question 1: Pages 16 and 17 Exhibit 1 and 2 in SOW show them all but given only the first 10 were walked, is there any known defects in the last 6 structures. Related, a list of all sites with their tower type, heights, antennas and cabling, and a reference picture would be super helpful. If it does not exist, maybe that is something you would find beneficial to be done by the awardee of this solicitation.

On July 22nd, we conducted a comprehensive site walkthrough, focusing on Towers 3 and 4. During our visit to Tower #4, we discussed where the triatic had separated from the insulator at the top of the tower, necessitating halyard re-sheaving. Additionally, we inspected Tower 3, demonstrating to potential vendors the configuration of a tower connected to a winch via the halyard.

The technical point of contract (TPOC) emphasized that the remaining six towers closely resemble Towers 3 and 4, which we had already thoroughly examined. Furthermore, the TPOC guided the team to a vantage point overlooking the Tower 8 anchor, situated in Reservoir #6. He pointed out that an earth dam surrounds this anchor, serving to protect it from water exposure. He offered the group an opportunity for closer inspection of the dam. No one accepted the invitation.

As of now, the TPOC is unaware of any defects in the towers we assessed from a distance. As far as tower types goes, we believe, but are not certain that the WWV antennas are made from Rohn 55G towers.

The two broadband antennas are made by Collins.

Question 2: Are there any previous Structural Analysis on file for any and all of the towers to help determine TIA compliance especially since 222H includes Top Wind Load including the area's Topography instead of the 100 wind gust and radial ice from the past.

We are not aware of any.

Question 3: Are the towers transmitting at all times and what are the power levels being transmitted? We see the hour window to be worked in and wondered if all antennas are transmitting or if power levels will be turned down when inspections and repairs are to be done.

When ever work is being done on an antenna the broadcast is transferred to a standby antenna for the safety of the climber.

Question 4: Does your team foresee any future guy wire REPLACEMENTS on any of the towers for this solicitation?

We do not foresee any replacements, but the inspection by the awardee may tell us otherwise.

Question 5: Would there ever be a requirement in future installs/upgrades/maintenance or repairs for something new to be installed at a height where the item is heavy enough to require a gin pole and couldn’t be done by normal rigging?

We are unaware of any such future changes.

Question 6: Any chance there could be a diagram or photo for each applicable site with notes (even handwritten ones) clarifying what exact work is desired at Towers 1 thru 4 regarding the halyards and insulators?

That work is spelled out in the SOW under Task 6 – Capacitive Top Hat Antenna Repair. The halyard at the top of Tower 4 needs to be put back into the sheave, and the halyards on all four towers need to be replaced.

Question 7: We believe the 400 ft towers have Kevlar Guy wires… Can you confirm given the coating may require different "Pork Chops" or other cable grab devices. If other – please specify what is there.

None of the 400-foot WWVB towers have Kevlar guys – they are galvanized. Some of the WWV antennas have Kevlar guys.

Please direct all quotations via e-mail to Jenna Bortner, Contract Specialist at jenna.bortner@nist.gov.

[End of Amendment 2] mailto:jenna.bortner@nist.gov