Questions and Answers (19H08026Q0056).pdf

Embassy of the United States of America

Questions and Answers

RFQ 19H08026Q0056 - Emergency Generator System

1. Although the RFQ does not ask for a platform or a canopy to protect the Unit, we can provide separate pricing as an option besides what you requested?

Answer: A concrete pad is required; however, a separate cover is not necessary, since the generator must be enclosed.

2. Is the Municipality building the required platform? Building one is ideal, and we recommend a canopy, to protect from the weather elements

Answer: No. The Contractor shall include the design and construction of a new concrete pad in its proposal.

At a minimum, the generator shall be installed on compacted material and a concrete slab at least 0.30 meters thick, with a minimum compressive strength of 280 kg/cm². The slab shall be reinforced with a minimum of two mats—one upper and one lower—of No. 2 reinforcing bars spaced no more than 15 centimeters on center in both directions. The concrete base must also incorporate an appropriate containment pit to contain potential fuel spills.

The overall dimensions of the pad shall be determined based on the proposed generator and the manufacturer’s installation requirements.

A separate canopy is not required because the solicitation specifies an enclosed, weather-protected generator.

3. Can you specify the exact capacity of the required generator, or must it be exactly 100 kW?

Answer: The required generator capacity is 150 kW.

4. Must the electrical equipment hold UL certifications or similar?

Answer: Answer: Yes. All components of the emergency generator shall be UL (Underwriters Laboratories) listed or approved

5. Can you confirm that the final location of the generator will be on the northeast side of the building, as observed during the site visit?

Answer: Yes, that is the intended location. The generator shall be installed in the exterior area between the stairs and the property boundary, without obstructing the sidewalk.

Please refer to the image below.

6. Should the requested quote include the electrical feeder running from the ATS to the main electrical panel in the indoor electrical room?

Answer: Yes

7. Can you confirm whether the ATS should be installed outdoors next to the generator, outdoors mounted on an exterior building wall, or inside the building's electrical room?

Answer: The ATS shall be installed inside the building, in the location indicated on the drawings. Please refer to the image below.

8. If the ATS is to be installed outdoors, should we consider a NEMA 1 enclosure (assuming a shelter or cover is built later) or a NEMA 3R enclosure (so no additional cover is required)?

Answer: See previous answer. ATS should be installed inside the building.

9. Should we include the construction of the generator's concrete base in our proposal, or will the project's civil contractor build it? If we are to include it, must the base feature a containment pit for fuel spills?

Answer: Offerors must include the construction of the generator’s concrete base in their proposals. At a minimum, the generator shall be installed on compacted material and a concrete slab at least 0.30 meters thick, with a minimum compressive strength of 280 kg/cm². The slab shall be reinforced with a minimum of two mats—one upper and one lower—of No. 2 reinforcing bars spaced no more than 15 centimeters on center in both directions. The concrete base must also incorporate an appropriate containment pit to contain potential fuel spills.

The overall dimensions of the pad shall be determined based on the proposed generator and the manufacturer’s installation requirements.

10. Should we include excavation and backfilling for the electrical feeders in our proposal, or will the project's civil contractor handle this?

Answer: Yes. The proposal shall include all excavation and backfilling required for the installation of the electrical feeders.

11. Must the electrical feeders be made of copper, or is aluminum acceptable?

Answer: Unless otherwise indicated in the drawings, specifications, or other solicitation documents, copper conductors are preferred for indoor installations.

12. Must the electrical feeders be made of copper, or is aluminum acceptable?

Answer: Unless otherwise indicated in the drawings, specifications, or other solicitation documents, copper conductors are preferred for indoor installations.

13. Would it be possible to arrange an additional site visit before the quotation due date? Please advise on the available date, time, and access procedure?

Answer: Additional site visits may be arranged for the purpose of taking measurements only. Due to limited on-site personnel, no additional technical guidance or clarification can be provided during such visits. Additionally, the period between the publication of these responses and the quotation submission deadline is very short, which may make it difficult to schedule additional visits.

14. Please confirm whether attendance at August 20, 2026, site visit is a mandatory requirement for submitting a quotation or for determining technical acceptability.

Answer: Attendance at the August 20, 2026, site visit is not a mandatory requirement for submitting a quotation and will not be used as a criterion for determining technical acceptability.

15. If an additional site visit cannot be authorized, please provide any available drawings, photographs, measurements, electrical information, site visit notes, clarifications, or other technical information necessary to prepare the required equipment layout and determine conduit routes, cable lengths, cable types, and conductor sizes.

Answer: Diagrams are provided

16. Please provide the existing electrical single-line diagram, if available, or otherwise confirm the characteristics of the existing electrical service and distribution system, including service capacity, main breaker rating, and the intended point of connection for the new ATS and generator system.

Answer: The single-line diagram is shown on Drawing CHO-IE-04.

17. Please confirm the required minimum ampere rating, number of poles, enclosure rating, and whether the ATS shall be provided with a switched neutral or solid neutral configuration.

Answer: Please refer to the drawings, sand other solicitation documents. The offeror shall propose the most appropriate alternative based on the project requirements.

18. Please confirm whether the existing concrete pad is intended and considered suitable for installation of the new generator system. Please provide its dimensions and available installation area. If a new concrete pad may be required, please provide the minimum design and construction requirements to be considered in the quotation.

Answer: There is no existing concrete pad. The Contractor shall include the design and construction of a new concrete pad in its proposal.

At a minimum, the generator shall be installed on compacted material and a concrete slab at least 0.30 meters thick, with a minimum compressive strength of 280 kg/cm². The slab shall be reinforced with a minimum of two mats—one upper and one lower—of No. 2 reinforcing bars spaced no more than 15 centimeters on center in both directions. The concrete base must also incorporate an appropriate containment pit to contain potential fuel spills.

The overall dimensions of the pad shall be determined based on the proposed generator and the manufacturer’s installation requirements. The Contractor is responsible for the turnkey supply and installation of the complete emergency generator system.

19. Please confirm whether the Contractor shall provide the diesel fuel required for startup, testing, commissioning, and final acceptance of the generator system.

Answer: Yes. The Contractor shall provide the diesel fuel required for startup, testing, commissioning, and final acceptance of the generator system.

20. Section II – Warranty states that the ATS shall be covered by a minimum one-year manufacturer's warranty; however, Section 3 requires a written warranty covering all goods and services for a minimum of two years or 500 operating hours. Please clarify the required minimum warranty period for the ATS.

Answer: The required minimum warranty period for both the emergency generator system and the Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) is five (5) years from the date of acceptance by the Supervisor. The ATS is considered an integral component of the complete emergency generator system; therefore, the five-year warranty requirement applies to both the generator system and the ATS, including their associated components.

21. The solicitation cover letter instructs offerors to complete or mark FAR 52.204-26 in Section 5; however, Section 5 identifies FAR 52.204-26 as “[RESERVED].” Please clarify whether any action or representation is required from the offeror regarding this provision.

Answer: Please provide all requirements, terms, and conditions from Section 5 that are applicable to your company..

22. Would it be possible to extend the quotation submission deadline by five (5) calendar days, until August 31, 2026, to allow sufficient time to conduct the additional site visit, review the site conditions and clarifications, and prepare a complete technical and commercial quotation?

Answer: The submission of quotations has been extended until September 02, 2026.

23. Please confirm whether preventive maintenance services during the generator warranty period are required as part of the Contractor’s scope. If so, please indicate the required frequency and scope of the maintenance services to be included in the quotation.

Answer: Yes. Preventive maintenance services are required during the warranty period and shall be performed at least as frequently as required by the manufacturer.

The operating instructions and maintenance procedures for the system shall be clearly explained to the Owner’s maintenance personnel. Two copies of each manual shall be provided to the Supervisor.

24. PWS Reference: Section 1, Schedule of Supplies/Services, Item I (Specifications), Page 4.

Context: The PWS sets minimum requirements (100 kW Standby, 1800 RPM, 208/120 VAC, 3- Phase, sound-attenuated enclosure).

Question: Is there a specific preferred brand or standard manufacturer required for the generator unit, engine, and core internal components, or are all brands meeting or exceeding the minimum baseline specifications acceptable?

Answer: It is preferred to be a US manufactured brand name or equal to: Cummin, Caterpillar, Kohler and SDMO.

25. PWS Reference: Section 1, Schedule of Supplies/Services, Item I (Specifications), Page 4.

Context: The PWS requests a factory-supplied ATS compatible with the generator output.

Question: Is a specific brand or manufacturer required for the Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS), or will any factory-supplied unit fully compatible with the generator controls be accepted?

Answer: Any factory-supplied ATS that is fully compatible with the generator controls will be accepted.

26. PWS Reference: Section 1, Schedule of Supplies/Services, Item I (Specifications), Notes & Deliverables, Pages 5–6.

Context: To ensure precise cable sizing, circuit protection, and seamless integration with the existing grid.

Question: Would it be possible to obtain the single-line diagram (SLD) of the electrical distribution system for the Choluteca Morgue building?

Answer: The single-line diagram is shown on Drawing CHO-IE-04.

27. PWS Reference: Section 1, Schedule of Supplies/Services, Item I (Specifications), Page 5.

Context: Proper layout and conduit routing require identifying the exact physical location for the

ATS.

Question: What is the designated installation location for the ATS? If an existing electrical/machine room houses the main load centers, is it requested to install the ATS within that room?

28. PWS Reference: Section 1, Schedule of Supplies/Services, Item I (Specifications), Page 5.

Context: To minimize dynamic equipment vibration transfer from the engine to the concrete mounting pad.

Question: Is it required that the generator assembly be equipped with anti-vibration spring/rubber isolators between the generator base frame and the concrete pad?

Answer: Yes. The generator shall be installed with vibration isolators and mounted on a welded steel base with sufficient clearance to allow proper installation.

29. PWS Reference: Section 1, Schedule of Supplies/Services, Item IV (Delivery Schedule, Paragraph E), Page 6.

Context: The solicitation stipulates that the complete system must be delivered, installed, tested, and commissioned within forty-five (45) calendar days post-award. Standard factory manufacturing, international freight, and customs clearance for US-compliant generators typically require up to four (4) months.

Question: In the event that the 45-calendar-day delivery timeframe cannot be extended, would the US Government allow offerors to propose alternative generator and ATS brands available in the immediate local market—featuring globally recognized engine brands such as John Deere, Cummins, or Kohler, but with components manufactured overseas/China—that fully meet performance requirements and guarantee immediate availability?

Answer: If the proposal is determined to offer the best technical solution, an extension of the delivery period may be considered. Additional brands proposed by the offeror may also be considered.

30. Confirm the desired location of the automatic transfer switch. Based on the confirmed location, the contractor will need to install the circuit from the transformer bank to the area where the automatic transfer switch will be located.

31. Provide the final electrical drawings needed to determine the routing and lengths of the circuits to be installed.

Answer: See attachments

32. Provide the design specifications and safety requirements for constructing the concrete pad for the generator.

Answer: See attachments

33. Confirm whether an electrical conduit can be installed during construction of the building to create a more direct route for the circuit from the generator to the electrical room. This would help streamline the installation process, reduce cabling costs, and minimize voltage-drop losses.

Answer: Yes, this is permitted. Any conduit installation performed during building construction shall be coordinated with and approved by the project Supervisor.

34. Confirm the building’s final electrical load and establish the required generator capacity in kilowatts (kW).

Answer: The required generator capacity shall be 150 kW. Please refer to the drawings and Technical Specifications for the building’s final electrical load.

1) In the area there are no transformers or main service; therefore, we can only leave the main switch connection ready.

Answer: The solicitation requires the generator to be fully installed and operational. Construction work at the morgue is currently progressing, and the electrical system is expected to be ready by the time the generator is installed. However, if the building’s electrical system is not yet operational, the generator shall be tested and left fully ready for connection to the main switch.

2) The connection between the planned generator location and the electrical room is not yet complete. It will require PVC C-40 conduit, piping, and the necessary wiring. Please confirm whether this work should be included in our proposal or completed by others. If you would like us to handle it, we can schedule a site visit to take measurements and prepare a quote for materials and labor.

Answer: Please include in your proposal.