B09_Attachment_14_140G0126Q0288_Vendor_Questions_Amd_002_0002.docx
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- Solicitation number
- 140G0126Q0288
- Issued by
- Not on record
About this file
This is a Vendor Questions and Answers document for RFQ 140G0126Q0288, addressing clarifications on the scope of work for removing and replacing chilled water and condenser water piping systems at the USGS/EROS Science Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
The contract requires replacement of chilled water and condenser water piping serving the 1996 building addition, with work including removal of all pneumatic valves and actuators in the penthouse associated with chilled water, condenser water, heating water systems, and air handler dampers, replacing them with electric actuators compatible with the existing Honeywell BACnet building automation system. The scope encompasses design and stamped professional engineer drawings for heating water branches and controls updates, replacement of heating water piping branches to air handler preheat coils, pipe chase construction in office 1414, cleaning and flushing of new piping, testing and balancing, replacement of pneumatic heating water control valves and steam valve actuators with electronic equivalents, and integration with existing front-end controls. The Government confirms that general conditions and supervision costs must be included in CLIN labor costs, that Gruvlok/Victaulic-style piping is preferred, and that no hazardous materials are expected in existing pipe insulation. Work is restricted to Monday through Friday, 6:30 AM to 4:00 PM, with no weekend work permitted; all system shutdowns require Government coordination and approval. The period of performance runs from November 4, 2026, to July 31, 2027, with the anticipated award date of November 4, 2027. The contract is a total small business set-aside with NAICS code 238220 and PSC Z2DB, and the site visit is scheduled for October 6, 2026, at 9:00 AM, with an additional visit on October 21, 2026.
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Vendor Questions 140G0126Q0288 Amendment 002
1. Performance period. SF 1442 Item 11 states completion within 180 calendar days after notice to proceed, while the continuation sheet states a period of performance of 11/04/2026 to 07/31/2027. Please confirm which governs completion.
a. Neither. Block 11 notes that POP is negotiable.
2. Shutdown windows. Please identify the allowable outage windows for the condenser water and chilled water systems. Please also confirm whether the Government expects the contractor to furnish temporary cooling for the computer rooms during cutovers, or whether the existing piping may remain in service while the new piping is installed alongside it.
a. EROS has backup systems to cool computer rooms, but several areas including all office spaces are conditioned via chilled water and condenser water for the chillers. The building must remain fully functional during the renovation.
3. Heating season. Because condenser water supplies the AHU preheat coils in winter, please confirm whether condenser water cutover work is restricted to a particular season.
a. EROS heats office spaces via condenser water. We do have an alternate system which uses the heating water piping. This system is heated by the dual cool CRAC units via heat rejection as well as a hot water generator fed by steam.
4. Design responsibility. SOW II.c and II.d direct the contractor to "develop a design" for the heating water branches and the controls update. Please confirm whether a South Dakota licensed professional engineer's stamped design is required, and whether the Government will review and approve that design before installation.
a. Yes, a licensed professional engineer will be required
5. Controls integration. Please identify the existing building automation system manufacturer and protocol (for example BACnet). Please also confirm whether the new electric actuators and the updated sequence must integrate with the existing front end.
a. Honeywell BACnet. New actuators and sequences shall use existing front-end.
6. Pipe chase. The reference drawings route new piping through a new chase in office 1414. Please confirm whether the chase construction and office rearrangement are part of the contract scope.
a. Yes, this is part of the scope
7. Existing insulation. Please advise whether a hazardous materials survey exists for the existing piping insulation, and whether any asbestos-containing material is known.
a. There are no hazardous materials expected to be found. EROS has had testing done throughout the building and the pipe insulation in question has never been an issue.
8. Flushing and water treatment. Please confirm whether cleaning, flushing and chemical treatment of the new piping, and testing, adjusting and balancing, are in scope.
a. Yes, this is within scope.
9. Bid schedule. Attachment 5 provides Labor Cost and Material Cost columns per CLIN plus Overhead, Profit and Bond percentage rows. Please confirm that general conditions and supervision are to be carried within the CLIN labor cost.
a. Yes, general conditions and supervision should be included in the CLIN’s labor cost.
10. Wage determination. Clause H-6 incorporates SD20260026 (Mod 2, 05/18/2026), which is issued for Lincoln County, South Dakota. The EROS Center at 47914 252nd Street is in Minnehaha County, which is covered by SD20260028 (Mod 2, 05/18/2026). The two differ on Painter and Carpenter rates. Please confirm which determination governs, and whether an amendment will incorporate SD20260028.
a. Correction made in Amendment 002.
11. Heating water scope. On the reference drawings, the AHU preheat coils are served from the condenser water loop, and no heating water branch piping is designed. Please confirm that Item 00001C, Replace Heating Water Piping, means the branches from the building's existing heating water main loop to the AHU heating coils, and identify how many AHUs are included.
a. JLB to verify
12. Coil and valve counts. Drawing M1.4 notes 10 existing AHU chilled water coils and 11 preheat coils, while the M0.2 control valve schedule lists 9 chilled water and 10 preheat valves. Please confirm the number of coils to receive new 2-way valves.
a. Verification to be done by the bidders during the site visit and subsequent design.
13. Cooling tower connections. Please confirm whether the condenser water tower header, tower drops, motorized bypass valves and 10 inch strainer shown on M1.1 and M1.4 were installed with the completed cooling tower replacement, or remain part of this contract.
a. Contractor shall verify during site visit and before subsequent design.
14. Bid schedule project number. Attachment 5 lists Project Number 140G0126R0017. Please confirm that the offeror should use the attached schedule as issued for RFQ 140G0126Q0288.
a. Correct. Please update the excel field when entering your inputs for submission to indicate 140G0126Q0288.
15. There is a Phase 1: EROS Fluid Cooler Design project out for bids right now. There is a chiller scheduled around York (plans were put together in 2020) on the schedules. I’m curious since we were awarded the chiller in 2024, if EROS wants to keep consistency and use Trane on the next chiller? The specs currently only allow York.
a. The project does not include a new chiller at this time. This should be stated in the SOW and on the prints.
16. Future Taps: What are the exact tie-in locations and accessibility of tees, valves, and caps for the future pond heat rejection.
a. Upon further discussion, this work shall not be included at this time. The pond heat rejection provisions will not be included.
17. It appears that the Statement of Work mentions piping on chilled and hot water piping to be replaced on pages 1 and 2 “a through d”. So reading this I’m assuming we are replacing 33 valves/actuators for the heating and cooling mentioned on b and c on page 2?
a. The intention is to remove all pneumatic valves and actuators in the penthouse which would include all pneumatic valves and actuators associated with the chilled water, condenser water, and heating water system in the penthouse. A CAD print with a schedule of valves / dampers is pending and will be posted as soon as it is ready. (pending Amendment 003)
18. There are also pneumatic actuators on the ahu’s for the dampers. D on page 2 mentions update the controls, does this include the actuators on the AHU mixed air / return air / outside air dampers?
a. The intention is to remove all pneumatic actuators in the penthouse which would include actuators on the air handlers and cooling towers as well. A CAD print with a schedule of valves / dampers is pending and will be posted as soon as it is ready.
19. The Honeywell controllers in the penthouse are current version of CPO controllers. Assuming these may be reused and that D on page 2 mentioning update controls could refer to actuators on valves (and possibly dampers) being updated from pneumatic to electric?
a. These may be reused when replacing the pneumatic actuators with electric actuators.
20. What are the allowable contractor working days and hours for this project?
a. The Center is open Monday through Friday, 6:30-4:00. The center is closed on all Government holidays.
21. Are extended shifts permitted, such as 10-hour workdays?
a. The Center is open Monday through Friday, 6:30-4:00
22. Is Saturday and/or Sunday work permitted, and if so, is prior approval or advance notice required?
a. Weekend work is not permitted.
23. Are there specific restrictions or advance coordination requirements for chilled-water and condenser-water system shutdowns?
a. Yes. All shutdowns must be coordinated and approved by the Government. This is a full-functioning office building and data center and all aspects of the project shall keep the facility offices and computer rooms operational to the greatest extent possible. However, shutdowns to cut-over to the other piping network will be permitted.
The computer rooms have dual-cool CRAC units which can run on compressor cooling as a backup mode of cooling. These systems can keep the computer rooms running. The cut-over of air handlers can be done swiftly and should not impact the office spaces
24. Are there any portions of the work that must be performed after normal facility operating hours?
a. No
25. Does the EROS project have an approved manufacturer or supplier list we need to follow when purchasing piping, fittings, and valves?
a. No
26. Are there any specific material restrictions we should be aware of?
a. Gruvlok / Victaulic style piping is preferred for ease of maintenance.
27. Will the existing pneumatic hot water control valves on the AHUs be replaced with electronic valves?
a. Yes. A CAD print with a schedule of valves / dampers is pending and will be posted as soon as it is ready. (pending Amendment 003)
28. Will the steam valve serving the steam to hot water converter be changed from pneumatic to electric?
a. Yes. A CAD print with a schedule of valves / dampers is pending and will be posted as soon as it is ready. (pending Amendment 003)
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .