FCC Pollock Q-A.pdf

FCC Pollock – Replace Cooling Towers – Solicitation 15BFAO22B00000014 – Project 22Z5AC4 - Questions and Answer from Site Visit held July 19, 2022 / Additional Questions and Answers from Amendment 0001.

1. The electrical disconnect switches mounted at the cooling towers are rusty. Is there is a requirement to replace them with stainless steel safety disconnects?

ANSWER: Yes

2. The contract documents distributed with the solicitation seem to be for the Remote Utility Building (RUB) and during the Site Visit on July 19, 2022 we walked the Central Utility Plant (CUP). Please confirm which building will the work be performed.

ANSWER: The work will be conducted at the Central Utility Plant (CUP)

3. There were no Specifications found in the contract documents. Will Specification be added to the solicitation documents, or should we use a Master DOJ Specification? If so, please Advise where the specifications can be found.

ANSWER: Refer to specs stated in the Statement of Work (SOW) and answers to questions provided from the site visit.

4. In the Introductory paragraph it calls out the installation of "new all stainless steel cooling towers", however, further down under "B. Scope of Work" the details for the new cooling towers call for galvanized steel with a stainless steel basin. Please clarify the intent is to provide only stainless steel on the basin.

ANSWER: The basin must be stainless steel and all other supporting structures should be galvanized.

5. The Scope of Work says "Contractor shall remove existing cooling towers (3) BAC 3860" however, the existing towers are Trane TQ8310G-3BG. Please confirm the existing make and model numbers of the units to be removed.

ANSWER: The contractor shall remove the Trane TQ831OG-3B6

6. The basis of design Cooling Tower given for this solicitation calls for a "Baltimore Aircoil Company: Series 3000". From the submittal package receive from the BAC representative it appears the new units will not fit on the existing steel structure. Please clarify the structural steel requirements for this project.

ANSWER: The existing steel structure must be replaced.

7. The Scope of Work says "Contractor shall protect existing piping, does this mean the contractor is not replacing the piping all the way from the new cooling tower connection back the first valve inside the building as discussed during the site visit?

ANSWER: Contractor shall replace piping from the new cooling tower connection back to the first valve inside the building.

8. In the Scope of Work Clarification section item 1.02 Components. It is talking about an Equalizer Connection between the basins. The existing cooling towers have a common basin. Using and equalizer line between basins will not make the units have a common basin. Please advise which way is correct, equalizer line or common basin.

ANSWER: No equalizer connection is required, FCC Pollock would like to maintain a common basin.

9. In the Scope of Work Clarification section item 1.03 Accessories at 2.0 includes providing new VFD's. Will the disconnects be removed and replaced as well? And if so, will the new disconnects be located outside like they are currently?

ANSWER: See question #4, this is a duplicate question.

10. In the Scope of Work Clarification section 1.03 in part D Serial Communications says “The standard protocols shall be Modbus, Johnson Controls N2, Siemens Building Technologies FLN, and BACnet" which of these systems is the basis of design for this project?

ANSWER: We have the Siemens Apogee system

11. In section C "Quality Assurance/Installation Requirements" of the SOW, it does not call out any Control or Building Automation System (BAS) to be installed as an end-user front-end nor does it mention an existing system that we can tie in to. Please clarify the controls scope of work for integration including a points list.

ANSWER: Controls must integrate to the current Siemens BAS system (Siemens Apogee).

12. In section C "Quality Assurance/Installation Requirements" of the SOW, item number 2 asks that each tower be completed, as far as "rigging, hoisting and installation" in an (8) eight-hour day. The existing towers at the Central Utility Plant are a common basin and this is not an achievable requirement within the given timeframe. Please clarify the intent or need for 8-hour installations of each tower.

ANSWER: This is no longer a requirement.

13. Will there be a need for a Temporary Cooling Tower for this project and if so, please provide design criteria for the Temporary Cooling Tower, so all bidders are on the same page.

ANSWER: The removal of the old unit and the installation of the new unit must take place during a time frame from December 15th through February 1st to prevent the need for a temporary cooling tower.

14. Are we to install Butterfly Valves on the cooling tower piping outside as well as low pint drains to help with isolation during maintenance of the towers? If so, please advise for all bidders to be on the same page.

ANSWER: FCC Pollock is requesting a low point drain valve on makeup water supply.

15. Will any new piping be repainted to match existing, or will insulation be added to the cooling tower piping? Please give direction so all bidders are on the same page.

ANSWER: New piping should be repainted to match.

16. There is a 3-way valve inside the building that is not working correctly now due to motor issues, will this valve be part of the scope of work on this project? If so, please provide direction for this scope of work.

ANSWER: Yes

17. Please provide any updated drawings as was noted during the pre-bid walk through.

ANSWER: The documents were provided on sam.gov on July 26, 2022. The question period was extended until August 1 for additional questions to be asked based off the amended drawings and Statement of Work. The bid opening was also extended to September 1, 2022.

18. The lead time for the requested cooling towers is currently at a minimum 20 weeks.

Would the government consider extending the period of performance to accommodate for this lead time?

ANSWER: After award, the awardee can submit to the COR and Contracting Officer all material lead times issues. After all material lead times have been verified by the COR or Contacting Officer, the awardee can request an extension of time.

19. To follow the previous question, if the period of performance cannot be extended, would the government consider moving the work start to a later date in the winter months to minimize the need for cooling to the buildings? Offerors were told during the pre-bid walk through that the three cooling towers were equalized to one another. This is concerning as all towers would need to be shut down for the entire period of performance, leaving the prison buildings without cooled air.

ANSWER: The BOP is willing to accommodate extensions of time due to material issue lead times. This can be discussed between the COR, Contracting officer and awardee after award as the lead times issues will be verified.

20. To follow the previous concern, would the government be providing temporary cooling towers?

ANSWER: See answer to question #13, duplicate question.

21. Would the government be providing temporary air-cooled chillers?

22. Would the contractor be responsible for providing temporary cooling towers?

23. Would the contractor be responsible for providing temporary air-cooled chillers?

ANSWER: See answer to question #13, duplicate question.

24. Would the government consider a different brand of cooling tower (if comparable to the

BAC Series 3000) if lead time is shorter than that of the BAC model?

ANSWER: Must be comparable to the current Trane system.

25. What is the existing BMS?

ANSWER: Siemens Apogee System

26. Can the government provide a scope of work for the BMS? Our concern is that the installation of the cooling towers to the front end of the facility will be required and there is no reference to a BMS SOW within the solicitation’s SOW.

ANSWER: All equipment must be compatible with the Siemens Apogee system.

27. What is the basis of evaluation?

ANSWER: Evaluation is based off the lowest price technically acceptable in conformance with all bidding requirements.

28. What are the required personnel certifications?

ANSWER: Must meet certification requirements set forth by local, state and Federal regulations.

29. What are the required company licensures or certifications?

ANSWER: Must meet certification and licensures requirements set forth by local, state and Federal regulations.

30. Please confirm that the drawings provided with the bid package are the correct drawings.

If they are incorrect drawings can the period be extended at least 1 week after receipt of the correct drawings in order for us to formulate questions based off the new drawings?

ANSWER: See question 17.

31. During the pre-bid site visit, it was mentioned there is an existing Siemens Scada building automation system (BAS). The scope of work does not mention interface with a BAS. Does the scope of work include interface for the new cooling towers with an existing BAS?

ANSWER: Yes, Siemens Apogee System

If so: i. does the existing BAS need to be updated for the interface?

ii. Provide a sequence of operations and required control points for the cooling towers and any required control points for the condenser water system that is included in the scope of work.

ANSWER: No

32. During the pre-bid site visit, it was mentioned there are bypass valves which used to be controlled from the Siemens Scada system that no longer have control from the system – they are currently manually operated. These are two (what appear to be) butterfly valves, linked together with one actuator, approximately 10” or 12” valves and located above the VFDs inside the building. The field guys mentioned they would like the operation of these valves by the Scada system restored with this project but the SOW does not mention these valves. Please confirm if the operation of these valves from the Scada system is part of the scope of work.

ANSWER: The operation of the valves should be included.

a. Please confirm if the existing bypass valves should remain or if both bypass valves, linkage and actuator need to be replaced.

ANSWER: The bypass valves should remain.

33. The existing cooling towers have 3 connections per cells: supply, bypass and return.

There is a motorized valve on the supply connection at each cell and a manual valve at the bypass connection for each cell. The return pipe does not have a valve. The SOW does not mention valve requirements. Please confirm what type of valves are desired for each connection to each cell of the cooling tower.

ANSWER: The connections on each cell should remain functionally the same as it is currently set up.

34. The SOW section I-C-3.0-2 mentions providing one eight-hour day per tower for installation and it was mentioned in the pre-bid meeting minimum downtime is desired.

During the site visit, it was confirmed the outlet of each cell does not have a valve. The only shut off valves on the condenser water supply is at each condenser water pump. The condenser water supply is combined at the cooling tower before going to the pumps.

Therefore, each cell/tower cannot be simply isolated to replace only one at a time. Please provide information on how each cell/tower should be replaced and acceptable downtime for the condenser water system.

ANSWER: See answer to question #13, duplicate question. FCC Pollock knows the unit has to be removed as one piece.

35. The SOW does not discuss or clearly indicate what condenser water pipe should be replaced. During the pre-bid site visit, it was mentioned that it is desired to have the condenser water supply pipe replaced from the tower to the bypass valves located inside the building and the condenser water return pipe replaced from the tower to the isolation valves at the condenser water pumps inside the building. Please confirm what pipe replacement is desired. It would help to have a drawing marked with the desired pipe replacement.

ANSWER: See answer to question #7. Duplicate question.

36. The SOW section I-C-3.0-3 mentions to install the new tower on structural steel beams as instructed by manufacturer. This is the only reference to structural components. Are the existing structural steel beams, existing concrete pedestals, and existing concrete foundation suitable for the new tower installation without modifications?

ANSWER: No

37. The first paragraph in the SOW indicates the new towers should be all stainless steel. The third paragraph in the SOW mentions galvanized steel main section, frame casing and louvers with stainless-steel cold & hot water basins. Please confirm which material is desired for the new towers.

ANSWER: See answer to question #4. Duplicate question.

38. The SOW section I-B-1.02-A-1 indicates a removable vortexing hood and large area lift out strainers “will be provided.” Please clarify who is providing these items (owner or contractor).

ANSWER: The contractor shall provide.

39. The SOW section I-B-1.02-A-2 indicates to “see drawings” for connection type for the equalizer connection. Please provide these drawings as they were not included with the solicitation.

a. Please indicate the required pipe size for the equalizer pipe between the cells.

ANSWER: FCC Pollock would like to maintain a single basin design.

40. The SOW section I-B-1.02-A-3 indicates to “see drawings” for connection type for the bypass connection. Please provide these drawings as they were not included with the solicitation.

a. Please indicate the required pipe size for the common bypass pipe and the bypass pipe to each cell.

ANSWER: The pipe size should be determined by the manufacturer.

41. The SOW section I-B-1.03-C indicates to “see submittal documents” for access package requirements. Please provide this submittal as it was not included with the solicitation.

ANSWER: This sentence can be removed.

42. The SOW sections I-B-2.0-A and I-B-2.0-F-1 mentions a VFD schedule. Please provide this VFD schedule as it was not included with the solicitation.

ANSWER: Please refer to the electrical data provided on the reference drawings for VFD selection.

43. The SOW section I-B-2.0-C.1 requires the VFD to have contacts and interlocks to control a damper or valve. Please clarify what damper/valve should be controlled by the contacts in the VFD and the location of this damper or valve.

ANSWER: There is no need for a run-permissive circuit in this case.

44. The SOW section I-B-2.0-C-2 requires the cooling tower fan VFD to have a relay that will open VAV boxes. Please confirm what VAV boxes are controlled by the VFD, the location of these VAV boxes and the sequence of operations for this control.

ANSWER: The time-delay feature should be standard on VFDs, but there's no need for any VAV relay/control.

45. The SOW section I-B-1.02-G-1 indicates belt drive fans but the warranty section I-C-4.2-

1-C indicates direct drive fans. Please confirm which one is desired.

ANSWER: We will remove the reference to direct-drive fans in the warranty section.

46. The SOW section I-G-5 indicates to provide a complete narrative description of all system operations, section I-G-6 indicates to provide a complete set of drawings for the entire system and section I-G-10 indicates the contractor is responsible for obtaining all measurements and data to comply with manufacturer’s installation recommendations. Is this considered a design-build project with the contractor responsible for providing these documents and performing these tasks OR has the engineering for this project been completed and the owner will provide these documents?

ANSWER: I don't see the need for a narrative submittal or d-size design drawings (implying design-build). We do however want submittals for materials, product data, and shop drawings prior to construction.

Additional questions received from Amendment 0001 posted on July 26, 2022.

1. The revised SOW issued with the Addendum had added verbiage stating all bidders must submit all technical specification of the equipment and equipment schedules to be analyzed and a technical determination issued with acceptance/non-acceptance. Can you please provide what is required for the technical determination?

ANSWER: Refer to the SOW.

2. Where is the point of discharge for the existing cooling towers drain & overflow drain?

Is it acceptable to drain the new cooling towers to the same location?

ANSWER: It is acceptable to maintain the same location.

3. Existing support beam (sills) supporting cooling towers are sized properly and can handle the load for the new proposed cooling towers, please confirm.

ANSWER: That will be determined by the contractor

4. No engineering sealed drawings confirming existing structural supports are required.

Please confirm.

ANSWER: drawing must be provided for all components

5. Existing concrete pedestals and foundations are sized properly and can handle the load for the new proposed cooling towers, please confirm.

ANSWER: That will be determined by the contractor

6. Cooling tower blowdown goes to the pad. Facility is permitted for blowdown to go to grade. Please confirm.

ANSWER: Blowdown must remain the same.

7. Can you please provide some photos of existing equipment (Cooling Tower, Electrical Panel…) ?

ANSWER: Pictures will not be provided unless they were specific requests at the site visit.

8. Can Gov provide As-built drawing of Cooling Tower plan?

ANSWER: No, this will not be provided.

9. How far apart will the towers be from one another? Will they be installed right next to one another or will there be several feet in between each of them? Will the new towers be installed similar to the existing ones?

ANSWER: This will be determined by the contractor and the manufacture.

10. Does Gov refer any brand name of main equipment ? (For instance: Trane, York…)

ANSWER: Gov refers to the government

11. Is it 2250GPM @ 95°-85°-79° per each tower x 3 towers or 750GPM @ 95°-85°-79° per tower x 3 towers?

ANSWER: Information can be pulled from the model number of the trane unit on site

12. Can the towers be belt drive or direct drive with a gearbox?

ANSWER: direct drive

13. Typically, we just remove the existing towers from their grillage and set them aside for others to dispose of. Does this apply here, or do we need to break the towers down and place them in disposal bins?

ANSWER: The contractor will have to dispose of all removed equipment.

14. When is this work scheduled to take place and please confirm for working hour?

ANSWER: Refer to the SOW for working hours.